Postgraduate Taught

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

UCAS code 1234
Duration 1 year full time
2 years part time
3 years part time
Entry year 2025
Campus St Luke's Campus
Discipline Healthcare and Medicine
Contact
Typical offer

View full entry requirements

2:2 Honours degree in relevant subject

Contextual offers

Overview

  • Offered in collaboration with the University of Exeter Business School, the programme combines the expertise of our world-renowned public health experts with specialists in leadership and management and aims to deliver high quality, integrated, multi-disciplinary learning for leadership and problem-solving across the broad field of public health.
  • This programme aims to equip you with the competencies and capabilities to assess, analyse and take action against disease, prolong life and promote health. It addresses the broad issues that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, populations, and societies.
  • We work closely with healthcare collaborators in the region, and across the globe, to ensure we are meeting the complex needs of a changing healthcare sector
  • The programme has been developed with reference to the training requirements of the UK Faculty of Public Health, the credentialing requirements of CPH and meets the common core requirements of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) to maximise your future employability in the discipline of environment and human health sciences.
  • This programme supports your development as a Public Health leader through phased engagement with both fundamental and more advanced concepts, in the context of the delivery of healthcare at team and system levels to understand organisational complexity and making change at large scale.
  • The programme is delivered via blended learning. It offers a combination of in person and online teaching that provides exceptional flexibility for students. Modules include immersive, in-person learning at the start and end of the taught components of the programme. In most of the remaining core modules, students can attend some or all of the face to face lectures and workshops either in person or online.

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View 2024 Entry

Apply for individual modules 2024/25

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Accreditation of prior learning (APL)

Open days and visiting us

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Contact

Programme Director: Professor G.J. Melendez-Torres

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Discover Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of Exeter.

View the online study version of this programme

Medal with star on icon

Our Public Health research is 11th in the UK for research power

Submitted to UoA2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care. REF 2021

Medical building icon

Major capital investment in new buildings and state-of-the-art facilities

Rosette with tick in icon

Co-delivered with the Triple Accredited University of Exeter Business School

ACCA, AMBA, EQUIS

Medal with star on icon

Our Public Health research is 11th in the UK for research power

Submitted to UoA2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care. REF 2021

Medical building icon

Major capital investment in new buildings and state-of-the-art facilities

Rosette with tick in icon

Co-delivered with the Triple Accredited University of Exeter Business School

ACCA, AMBA, EQUIS

Entry requirements

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds. You will have, or be predicted, at least a 2:2 Honours degree in a relevant subject such as Life, Health or Medical Science degrees, or intercalating medical students, with relevant public health work experience. 

We will also welcome applications from people who can demonstrate evidence of significant Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) experience. 

A personal statement, detailing your reasons for seeking to undertake this subject, will be required. 

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.

Please visit our international equivalency pages to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements.

International students are normally subject to visa regulations which prevent part-time study. It is recommended that international students apply for the level of the final award you intend to complete i.e. PGCert, PGDip or Masters, due to the associated cost and requirements for a Tier 4 student Visa.

Accreditation of prior learning for Masters courses in Healthcare and Medicine

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is a process whereby students, who have already gained relevant skills and knowledge prior to the start of their course, may be granted a partial credit exemption from their programme instead of unnecessarily repeating work. Find out more about APL

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.

Read more

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

Public health is everyone’s business, now more than ever. In these rapidly changing times, where knowledge is created at speed and new health challenges are always on the horizon, visionary public health leadership is urgently needed. This programme aims to equip you with the competencies and capabilities to become one of those future leaders.

Informed by the increasing importance of a systems approach to health and social care, the programme examines distributive leadership and the need to develop compassionate and inclusive leadership attributes, making change through the use of quality improvement methodologies and the importance of collaboration and boundary spanning

This programme is internationally unique and focuses on moving from knowledge to action. One of the compulsory modules, Structuring and Solving Public Health Problems, focuses on how to ‘think in public health’, providing the foundation for the rest of your study and is the only public health module of its kind in the UK.

Programme structure

This MSc course can be studied on a full time basis over one year or over two or three years (part time), which may suit applicants who are already working full time. It is delivered at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7. 

The programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with one credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work, a 15 credit module being equivalent to 150 hours of work and a full Masters degree being equivalent to approximately 1,800 hours of work.

See the MPH Programme Schematic‌ to see the programme structure.

MPH timetable 2024-25

Please note: This timetable is draft and subject to change.

Modules

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

The MPH comprises 180 credits in total: taught compulsory modules worth 135 credits in total, one optional module (Masterclass) of 15 credits, and a Capstone Project worth 30 credits.

It is also possible to exit with a PGCert after completing 60 credits of taught modules or a PGDip after completing 120 credits of taught modules. The list of modules below shows which are compulsory.

The last contact day and assessment deadline for the programme will be earlier than the actual end date of your registration with the University, to allow a period of time at the end of your active studies for further support and mitigation, if needed.

Specialisms

Master of Public Health specialisms (full time, 2-year part-time, 3-year part-time)
Three specialisms are available to Master's students. These specialisms involve the content specified below. These specialisms provide opportunities for Master's students to focus their studies in one of three key areas of contemporary public health, and to gain a qualification indicating that specialism in parentheses.

Master of Public Health (Global Health)
This specialism requires that you follow the programme’s compulsory modules, plus one of the following as your ‘Masterclass’ optional module:

HPDM183 Global Public Health and Environmental Change (15 credits)

HPDM027 Contemporary Environment and Human Health (15 credits)

HPDM164 Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development (15 credits)

NB: The other required module for this specialism is HPDM122 Planetary Health (15 credits). It is already a compulsory module on the programme.
Your Capstone Project (HPDM126) must also be focused on a relevant topic in global health, as agreed with HPDM126 module leads. This specialism provides the opportunity to focus on public health topics in the domain of global health.

Master of Public Health (Pandemics)
This specialism requires that you select either:
HPDM122 Planetary Health (15 credits) OR HPDM141 Pandemics: Drivers, Preparedness and Response (15 credits)
HPDM124 Principles of Health Protection (15 credits) should be selected as the ‘Masterclass’ option.
Your Capstone Project (HPDM126) must also be focused on a relevant topic related to pandemics, as agreed with HPDM126 module leads. This specialism provides the opportunity to focus on public health topics related to pandemics.

Master of Public Health (Public Mental Health)
This specialism requires that you follow the programme’s compulsory modules. You must also select the following optional modules:
HPDM174 or HPDM174Z Public Mental Health (15 credits)
HPDM173 or HPDM173Z Child and Adolescent Mental Health (15 credits)

Your Capstone Project (HPDM126) must also be focused on a relevant topic in Public Mental Health, as agreed with HPDM126 module leads.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
HLS MPH compulsory modules 2023-4

Notes: 

a If you are a part-time student, you will take these modules in your first year: HPDM118, HPDM119, HPDM120

b If you are a part-time student, you take these modules in your second year: HPDM121, HPDM123, HPDM125, HPDM126

c If you are a student on on a 3-year part-time route, you  will take these modules in the third year: HPDM125, HPDM126

 
HPDM118 Structuring and Solving Public Health Problems 15
HPDM119 Analytics and Evidence Based Public Health 30
HPDM120 Leadership Strategy and Change 30
HPDM121 Epidemiology 15
HPDM123 Behaviour Change 15
HPDM125 Integrative Policy and Practice Exercise 15
HPDM126 Capstone Project 30

Optional modules

 

 

CodeModule Credits
HLS MPH optional modules 24-25

a. You must take HPDM122, HPDM141, HPDM174 or HPDM174Z
b. You must take one of these 'Masterclass' modules: HPDM027, HPDM183, HPDM124, HPDM127, HPDM136, HPDM173 or HPDM173Z
c. If you are a part-time student, you take these modules in your second year: HPDM122, HPDM124, HPDM127, HPDM136
HPDM122 Planetary Health 15
HPDM174 Public Mental Health 15
HPDM124 Principles of Health Protection 15
HPDM127 Principles of Primary Care 15
HPDM136 Evidence to Decision: Health Technology Assessment, Health Policy and Resource Allocation 15
HPDM027 Contemporary Environment and Human Health 15
HPDM173 Child and Adolescent Mental Health 15
HPDM141 Pandemics: Drivers, Preparedness and Response 15
HPDM164 Disability, Social Justice and Climate Resilient Development 15
HPDM183 Global Public Health and Environmental Change 15
HPDM173Z Child and Adolescent Mental Health 15
HPDM174Z Public Mental Health 15

PGCert in Public Health Modules:

1 year, part-time

All students must take the following compulsory module:

Compulsory modules

 

 

 

 

 

CodeModule Credits
HPDM118 Structuring and Solving Public Health Problems 15

Optional modules

a - All students must take ONE 30 credit module from the list below.  Either HPDM119 or HPDM120

b - All students must take ONE 15 credit module from the options marked b in the table below

CodeModule Credits
HPDM119 Analytics and Evidence Based Public Health a30
HPDM120 Leadership Strategy and Change a30
HPDM121 Epidemiology b15
HPDM122 Planetary Health b15
HPDM123 Behaviour Change b15
HPDM124 Principles of Health Protection b15
HPDM127 Principles of Primary Care b15
HPDM136 Evidence to Decision: Health Technology Assessment, Health Policy and Resource Allocation b15

Compulsory modules

PGDip in Public Health Modules:

2 years, part-time

All students must take the following compulsory modules:

 

a You will take these modules in your first year

b You will take these modules in your second year

 

 

CodeModule Credits
HPDM118 Structuring and Solving Public Health Problems a15
HPDM119 Analytics and Evidence Based Public Health a30
HPDM120 Leadership Strategy and Change a30

Optional modules

* All students must take TWO 15 credit modules from the list below marked with * 

# Students must also select one 15 credit masterclass indicated below with # 

CodeModule Credits
HPDM121 Epidemiology b *15
HPDM122 Planetary Health b *15
HPDM123 Behaviour Change b *15
HPDM124 Principles of Health Protection b#15
HPDM127 Principles of Primary Care b#15
HPDM136 Evidence to Decision: Health Technology Assessment, Health Policy and Resource Allocation b#15

Three specialisms are available to Masters students. These specialisms involve the content specified below. These specialisms provide opportunities for Masters students to focus their studies in one of three key areas of contemporary public health, and to gain a qualification indicating that specialism in parentheses.

Master of Public Health (Global Health):

This specialism requires that you follow the programme’s compulsory modules, plus one of the following as your ‘Masterclass’ optional module:

  • HPDM033 Global Public Health and Environmental Change (15 credits)
  • HPDM027 Contemporary Environment and Human Health (15 credits)

NB: The other required module for this specialism is HPDM122 Planetary Health (15 credits). It is already a compulsory module on the programme.
Your Capstone Project (HPDM126) must also be focused on a relevant topic in global health, as agreed with HPDM126 module leads. This specialism provides the opportunity to focus on public health topics in the domain of global health.

Master of Public Health (Pandemics):

This specialism requires that you select either:

  • HPDM122 Planetary Health (15 credits) OR HPDM141 Pandemics: Drivers, Preparedness and Response (15 credits)
  • HPDM124 Principles of Health Protection (15 credits) should be selected as the ‘Masterclass’ option.

Your Capstone Project (HPDM126) must also be focused on a relevant topic related to pandemics, as agreed with HPDM126 module leads. This specialism provides the opportunity to focus on public health topics related to pandemics.

Master of Public Health (Public Mental Health):

This specialism requires that you follow the programme’s compulsory modules. You must also select the following optional modules:

HPDM174 Public Mental Health (15 credits)

HPDM173 Child and Adolescent Mental Health (15 credits)

Your Capstone Project (HPDM126) must also be focused on a relevant topic in Public Mental Health, as agreed with HPDM126 module leads.

Specialisms

Depending on the specific modules taken, students may receive one of the following named awards:

  • Master of Public Health (Global Health)
  • Master of Public Health (Pandemics)
  • Master of Public Health (Public Mental Health)

These specialisms are only available at Masters level, and not for PGDip or PGCert.

Your eligibility for the particular award will be confirmed by the final Assessment Progression and Awarding Committee (APAC) on the basis of the modules that have been completed. In order to graduate with a particular named award in parentheses, you will need to select the appropriate specified option modules detailed below, and notify the programme support team accordingly. Otherwise the award name will be Master of Public Health.

Master of Public Health (Global Health)

Specialising in Global Health gives you the opportunity to focus on the environment and human health topics affecting the world today. You can tailor your programme according to your personal interests or career goals by selecting one of our optional ‘Masterclass’ modules: Global Public Health and Environmental Change (HPDM033) or Contemporary Environment and Human Health (HPDM027).

Global Public Health and Environmental Change introduces the concept of global health and explores worldwide health improvement/inequality reduction. This highly relevant module utilises real world examples to explore a range of global public health issues from a variety of perspectives, within the context of environmental change and its predicted health impacts at both a global and a local, place-specific, level.

The environment in which we live is inextricably linked, both positively and negatively, to human health. Contemporary Environment and Human Health focuses on the theoretical principles and concepts that are at the forefront of academic thinking and practices in environment and human health. You will also explore the potential impacts of environmental change on human health.

Your Capstone project, which will focus on a relevant topic in global health, provides you with an opportunity to consolidate your learning and transfer your new analytical and critical thinking skills to the design and execution of a research project which reflects your professional interests.

Master of Public Health (Pandemics)

Specialising in Pandemics will give you the opportunity to focus on related public health topics. The ‘Masterclass’ optional module Principles of Health Protection (HPDM124) explores the ways in which this often needs to be dynamic and responsive to the evolving health needs of the population. This versatile field of study brings together specialist knowledge and skills from a broad range of specialities including PHE; environmental health departments; hospital microbiologists and infection and prevention control teams; GPs; community specialists and educational institutions. You will be introduced to a wide range of topics which may include outbreak management, global health, data collection and timely actions and epidemiology of infectious diseases.

You can tailor your programme according to your personal interests or career goals by selecting one of our optional modules. Planetary Health (HPDM122) will introduce you to medical sociology, environment and human health, social epidemiology and global health. You will learn how health in its widest sense and health and environmental inequalities are created, and the potential strategies for addressing them more effectively. Pandemics: Drivers, Preparedness and Response (HPDM141) will get you critically engaging with pandemics from the perspectives of science and technology studies (STS), health systems policy and delivery and social and behavioural sciences.

Your Capstone project, which will focus on a relevant topic in pandemics, provides you with an opportunity to consolidate your learning and transfer your new analytical and critical thinking skills to the design and execution of a research project which reflects your professional interests.

Master of Public Health (Public Mental Health)

This specialism provides the opportunity to receive a focused introduction to public mental health, taking a population-based approach to the understanding of mental health, including prevention of mental ill-health, promotion of good mental health and treatment of mental health disorders.

To follow the Public Mental Health specialism, you must study the Public Mental Health (HPDM174) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health (HPDM173) modules. In the Public Mental Health module (HPDM174), you will explore key areas relevant to global public mental health, including what causes and maintains mental health problems, things that put individuals at risk for mental ill-health, specific mental health challenges or disorders relevant to public health, and approaches to prevention, promotion, intervention and treatment.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health module (HPDM173) outlines key concepts and evidence relating to child and adolescent mental health, with particular focus on the approaches relevant to public health. You will gain an understanding of a range of mental health challenges in childhood and adolescence, including population trends over time and the impacts of both good and poor mental health during development on life course trajectories.

Your Capstone project, which will focus on a relevant topic in public mental health, provides you with an opportunity to consolidate your learning and transfer your new analytical and critical thinking skills to the design and execution of a research project which reflects your professional interests.

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Course variants

  • Full time, studied over 2 years. Scholarships available
  • Gain both a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University’s College of Medicine and Health, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Exeter Business School
  • Dedicated induction sessions will ensure a smooth transition between study on the MPH and the MBA
  • Gain a deep knowledge and expertise in a specialist field while developing a comprehensive understanding of business, exceptional leadership skills and practical experience from the University’s triple accredited Business School
  • Students will learn how to use the expertise gained in business and management to solve crucial health and healthcare issues, and advise on policy issues

Overview

Students will commence the MPH in Year 1 of their studies and then progress to the MBA in Year 2. See our course listings for full details of both the MPH and the MBA:

Successful students will receive individual awards for each of the two programmes. You can choose to exit the course after completing the MPH in Year 1.

Entry requirements

You’ll need to meet the entry criteria for both the MPH and MBA at point of entry to the MPH. See the MPH and MBA course listings for details of the entry requirements for each programme of study.

Candidates will also be required to attend an interview as part of the admissions process to the MPH, and again prior to admission to the MBA.

How to apply

To apply to the 1+1 MPH to MBA you will need to submit a separate application to each programme, noting in each application that you would like to be considered for the 1+1 MPH to MBA.

You’ll need to submit an application to the MPH for the current year of entry, as this will be your first year of study, and a separate application to the MBA for entry next year, as this will be your second year of study.

You can add a second programme of choice on the Applicant Gateway.

Fees and funding

At the University of Exeter Medical School and the University of Exeter Business School we want to ensure we attract the very brightest minds and talent from all over the world, regardless of financial background. That’s why we have an MPH and MBA 1+1 Fee Discount. See our scholarship page for more information.

Important information for International students

As you will be studying two separate programmes please be aware that you will need to apply for two separate visas, one for the MPH year which you will take first and another for your MBA year which will be taken in Year 2. Guidance on visa applications can be found on our dedicated pages for international students. 

Fees

2025/26 entry

UK fees per year:

  • MPH  £12,100 full-time, £6,100pa part-time 2 years, £4,050pa part-time 3 years
  • PGCert £4,050 part-time 2 years
  • PGDip £4,050 part-time 2 years

Standalone module fees: UK: £1,150 per 15-credit module

International fees per year:

  • MPH  £28,600 full-time, £14,300pa part-time 2 years, £9,550pa part-time 3 years
  • PGCert £9,550 part-time 1 year
  • PGDip £9,550 part-time 2 years

Standalone module fees: International: £2,600 per 15-credit module

Find out more about tuition fees and funding

Fee information

Fees can normally be paid by two termly instalments and may be paid online. You will also be required to pay a tuition fee deposit to secure your offer of a place, unless you qualify for exemption. For further information about paying fees see our Student Fees pages.

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Funding and scholarships

UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Postgraduate loans of up to £12,167 are now available for Masters degrees. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

Funding

The Funding website has information on all available options for funding open to prospective students of taught Masters programmes. You can also use the searchable database of all Scholarships and Bursaries to find funding for which you are eligible.

Scholarships

Details of scholarships, including our Global Excellence scholarships for international fee paying students, can be found on our Masters funding page.

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Teaching and research

Our purpose is to deliver transformative education that will help tackle health challenges of national and global importance. This programme provides a safe ‘practitioner-researcher’ led environment of multi-disciplinary learning for you to share your ideas, perspectives and current experiences in response to realistic scenarios.

Teaching

This course will challenge you to consider offering solutions alone, and in collaboration, which address complex health issues from the perspective of the patient, their carer, a healthcare provider, a commissioner, employer or organisational collaborator in a related sector.

The programme is delivered via blended learning. It offers a combination of in person and online teaching that provides exceptional flexibility for students. Modules include immersive, in-person learning at start and end of the taught components of the programme. In most of the remaining core modules, students can attend some or all of the face to face lectures and workshops either in person or online. The amount of content delivered using this approach differs slightly from module to module. Most optional modules are available online only. Across all the modules, learning will consolidated by self-directed learning resources and ELE activities.

See the MPH Programme Schematic to see the programme structure.

Research

Underpinned by the themes of complexity, leadership and decision-making, this MPH couples reflective learning and practice with research-led teaching from world-leading academics to balance transdisciplinary learning about public health with ‘real-life’ skills and tools.

At the University of Exeter, our research is globally recognised and our partnerships with healthcare providers, industry and above all, the public, mean that this work is constantly at the cutting-edge of innovation in improving lives.

Our research is organised within in two Institutes:

Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science

Institute of Health Research

Explore some of the many highlights of our research on our research impact page.

Learning

We use a blended approach which includes a significant self-directed online learning, peer supported learning groups, facilitated chat rooms, and personal learning logs. This will be complemented by face-to-face networking opportunities and the opportunity to attend a number of lectures across the core programme modules either face to face or online.

Teaching methods on the Masters course include:

  • case-based discussion
  • simulation and problem-based learning
  • seminars
  • group discussions
  • reflection sessions
  • buzz groups
  • chat backs
  • interactive workshops

Project work

Public health leaders are responsible for developing and implementing major strategy or institutional projects that will contribute towards organisational strategic objectives. The Capstone module at the end of this programme allows students to choose a public health problem relevant to their professional interests and develop a focused discussion to support decision-making for a journal meeting a mixed policy-practice audience.

Support

You will be allocated an academic tutor who will remain with you throughout the programme. Academic tutors are able to provide guidance and feedback on assessment performance, guidance in generic academic skills and pastoral support. They are also able to refer you to more specialist support services, both within the College and elsewhere across the University.

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Facilities

This programme is based at the St Luke’s campus in Exeter, just a 15 minute walk from the city centre and just over a mile away from the Streatham Campus. The campus is close to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and RILD building, which is home to the NHS funded Exeter Health Library. Students have studied at St Luke’s campus for over 150 years and the campus enjoys a vibrant atmosphere set around the lawns of the quadrangle.

Facilities at St Luke’s campus include:

Careers

Graduation

Who is this course for?

The programme offers a collective learning environment in which professionals of all disciplines in healthcare study together to develop public health competencies.

The programme suits graduates who are planning or already undertaking a career within public health, health promotion, environmental health and protection, occupational health, workplace wellbeing or social enterprise.

Employer-valued skills this course develops

Through developing the skills to promote the health of populations by influencing lifestyle and socio-economic, physical and cultural environment and exploring the complex inter-relationship between health and the environment, you will develop the research-facing skills needed by contemporary leaders in public health. This programme supports your development as a Public Health leader through phased engagement with both fundamental and more advanced concepts, in the context of the delivery of healthcare at team and system levels to understand organisational complexity and making change at large scale.

Our interdisciplinary module Planetary Health will also help you to develop and understanding of key health issues facing populations around this world in multidisciplinary ways. The Leadership, Strategy and Change module will focus on taking public health knowledge and transforming it into public health action through expert and compassionate leadership.

Career paths (graduate destinations)

You will be equipped to work in interdisciplinary healthcare teams to tackle the exciting opportunities and challenges in public health across a wide range of careers. Careers include working in the health and pharmaceutical industry, supporting local commissioning, local authority public health, and work at the frontlines of health policy.

Careers support

All University of Exeter students have access to Career Zone, which gives access to a wealth of business contacts, support and training as well as the opportunity to meet potential employers at our regular Careers Fairs.

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