MSc Health Promotion Practice part-time (Online)

Course Summary

This programme will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of health and wellness/health promotion and/or research roles in the statutory, community, and voluntary health and social care sector and the private sector. Such opportunities may include but are not limited to roles in acute hospital services, consumer services, health and wellbeing services, primary care services, mental health services, older person services, disability services, public health services, health and wellbeing projects, employee wellness programmes, research programmes, and the sports, recreation, and leisure sector.

This programme will provide those working to deliver on the ambitions of the Healthy Ireland framework with the skills to plan and deliver multi-disciplinary health promotion projects with professional competence. The programme combines the development of expertise in Health Promotion, including skills in research, analysis, and communication, with skills in the planning and execution of complex initiatives in this field. 

The programme includes taught online courses in three areas of specific relevance, namely:

·      Concepts and Competencies for Health Promotion

·      Health Project Planning and Design

·      Public Health Research

These modules will all support a practice-based research project, which will allow the participant to use a major work-based project as the focus for learning and reflection. In those students who are in employment, this research-based project may support the achievement of the employer’s objectives

Professional Accreditation

Graduates from the MSc Health Promotion Practice part-time (Online) are automatically eligible to apply to become an International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) Registered Health Promotion Practitioner. This means that graduates of the combined programmes have qualifications that are recognised worldwide.

Key Course Information

The flexible, online delivery of this programme facilitates a remote learning opportunity for those who are currently in employment and/or are unable to attend on-campus but are keen to further their education in health promotion practice at masters level. 

Study hours: Whether you are studying part-time online, blended or full-time online, it is very important that you allocate enough study time to your online course to stay focused, reduce stress and achieve your goals. For part-time online or blended learning, it is recommended that you should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5 credit module to your studies. For the MSc in Health Promotion it would be recommended that students complete up to 10 hours independent learning
   
Live Lectures: Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. For the MSc in Health Promotion, students are expected to attend 2-3 lectures each week which can range from 1-3 hours hours. If the Live Classroom scheduled times for the live online lectures do not suit you, recordings will be made available through Moodle. 
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Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025

Entry Requirements

Applications with a 2.2 Honours award in any discipline may apply. Applicants who do not meet this entry criterion may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions/ credit for some parts of the programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work or career. Further information is available at www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie .

As Healthy Ireland encourages all sectors of society to engage in promoting health we welcome graduates from a wide variety of backgrounds including but not limited to health science/ health promotion, sport and leisure, education, health and safety, social sciences and childcare.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be suitably qualified to work in a wide range of health and community settings.  Graduates may pursue careers in research, advocacy and policy development including evidence. Other opportunities include careers as health project managers, researchers and as wellness practitioners.

Further Study

Graduates can apply to funded PhD within the Institute or other Institutes. 

Testimonials

"My name is Audrey Colreavy, I have worked as a physiotherapist with the HSE for over 20 years. I choose to do the on line two year masters in Health Promotion in ATU Sligo for a number of reasons, it allows me to continue working full time, I am able to attend the lectures on line from my home, if I cant attend live they are all recorded so I can work around family,work,life commitments. The on line library access  and moodle platform are fantastic.  The lecturers are only an email away and always reply promptly to queries.  There is no time lost travelling to lecturers or reduced working hours needed. The modules are all applicable to my learning needs and continuous professional development requirement of CORU, as a health and social care professional". 

Audrey Colreavy, Senior Cardiology Physiotherapist, Sligo University Hospital. 

"Having completed a BSc in Public Health and Health Promotion I always hoped to continue with a Master’s Degree; so when I saw this online Masters Programme in Health Promotion Practice at ATU Sligo I felt the time was right. At first I did worry about studying online especially as it has been a number of years since I completed my degree, however, the online delivery of the course is very convenient and it suits my personal situation and current work commitments. The support in place for online students has been very beneficial, from induction to ongoing practical supports from lecturers. I find the course content well-structured and the modules have a strong relevance to my work as youth officer with Foróige National Youth Development Organisation. I certainly feel this course will provide me with practical skills and knowledge that will enhance my work practice in the field of health promotion, research and project management. I would highly recommend this Masters Programme to anyone who is contemplating continuing their education in this area of work".

Elaine Granaghan, Youth Officer, Foróige, Sligo   

Did you know?

Previous research thesis topics have included:

Identifying perceived health assets and challenges in their communities

- A youth Perspective from Ireland ATU Sligo Marketing Department 5 Changing the Lens

- Students’ Challenges & Opportunities from 3rd Level College Staff Perspectives. A normative situational analysis in ATU, Sligo Campus

- Developing a mobile phone / web-friendly student based mental health signposting tool for 3rd level students across the ATU Examining mental health literacy and attitudes towards suicide in Ireland.

- Assessing perspectives on attributes of care after miscarriage. Eating behaviour of children with Autism and associations with children’s health and parental stress

Programme Fees

Academic Year 2024/25 Fees

Total Programme Fee: €6,300

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

Semester 2

Semester 3