Course Summary
The Covid 19 pandemic has taught us about the importance of the role of public health across all sectors of society. This programme will help learners develop knowledge and skills in health intelligence and epidemiology, health protection, health promotion and in developing quality and improving health and social care.
To find our more about the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health, contact:
Email: Admissions.sligo@atu.ie
Telephone: 353 (0) 71 931 8510
Head of Department : Thomas Smyth
Email: thomas.smyth@atu.ie
Key Course Information
Programme Aim
The aim of the programme is to equip students to take a population health approach incorporating the overlapping public health domains of health protection, health promotion and improvement, health economics and health service quality and delivery supported by robust health intelligence.
Programme Objectives
- To advance learners public health intelligence abilities to source, collect, verify, appraise, interpret, communicate and disseminate evidence to improve health outcomes of a population.
- To support learners understanding of principles of prevention, control and management of infectious diseases.
- To cultivate learners’ critical thinking skills in assimilating public health research and practice and communicate evidence effectively to different audiences.
- To assist learners to critically appraise and utilise evidence on effectiveness of interventions to improve population health and wellbeing.
- To equip learners with evidence-based knowledge to engage in a multi- stakeholder collaborative approach to public health.
- To enable learners to become reflective practitioners so they may ethically act within their professional scope of practice and identify opportunities for continuous professional development.
Live Lectures/Workshops
All lectures/workshops are recorded for those who may not be able to attend the lectures live. Therefore, if you have missed the live lecture/workshop, you can download the recorded version and listen to it in your own time. Other asynchronous learning (not live) will include discussion forums, case studies and reflective practice.
An induction session will be held at the start of each academic year on site in ATU Sligo. Attendance at this session is not compulsory.
Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025
Entry Requirements
Applications with a 2.2 Honours award in a relevant discipline may apply.
Applicants who do not meet this entry criterion may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Advice, guidance and support for applicants can on be found at www.myexperience.ie
We welcome applicants from all areas of health and social care sector who have responsibility for, or an interest in public health. Not limited to but including digital health, medicine, public health, nursing and midwifery, health and welling, acute care, health education, health promotion, primary care, disability services, services for older persons, mental health services, emergency management, quality improvement services or patient safety.
We also welcome applications from those who have a role to promote and protect health who are working outside the health services including Local Authorities and Industry.
Applicants may be interested in a career in public health or wish to incorporate public health principles into their current role in a variety of settings including healthcare, community and public and private sectors. The programme is open to graduates who have a relevant qualification in health, education, medical/ biomedical or science or social sciences, occupational health or other relevant discipline.
Career Opportunities
This programme will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of project and service improvement roles in the statutory, community and voluntary health and social care sector.
Graduates may pursue work opportunities as Public Health Researcher, Public Health Policy Officer, Advocacy Worker. Immunisation Programme Co-ordinator, Public Health Screening Co-ordinator, Policy Advisor, Health Surveillance Officer, Biostatistical and Health Informatics Analysis, Community Health Worker, Global Health Researcher, Health Communications, Communications Worker and Public Health Data Analyst.
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Further Study
Graduates of this award may continue onto the Certificate in Health Project management or the Certificate in Health Promotion and Wellbeing, or the Diploma or MSc in Health Promotion and Project Management.
Did you know?
On 15th of April 2021 the Irish Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced a new public health model.
The new model introduces a strong Public Health Function strategically aligned within the HSE to protect and promote the health of the Irish population, to contribute effectively to major service design and policy implementation, to address health inequalities, and ensure a population needs based approach to integrated healthcare delivery.
The model seeks to rebalance capacity to deliver effectively across all four domains of public health practice (Health Protection, Health Intelligence, Health Service Improvement and Health and Wellbeing)
Under the new model, Consultants in Public Health Medicine (CPHM) will lead appropriately resourced multidisciplinary teams, that include surveillance scientists/epidemiologists, senior medical officers, trained contact tracers, administrative and, crucially, robust operations and management support.
Department of Health (2021)
Programme Fees
Academic Year 2024/25 Fees
Total Programme Fee: €2,100
To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage.
If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.
For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.
If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage.
Course Format
Semester 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Principles of Public Health Practice | 10 |
| Epidemiology | 05 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Quality Improvement in Healthcare | 10 |
| Health Protection | 05 |