Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the scientific foundation of public health practice. It focuses on the core knowledge and skills of the discipline to provide a solid foundation for understanding the applied aspects of public health which you will encounter on other courses.

In this course, you will develop skills in describing and analysing epidemiological data, critically appraising study designs, and reflecting on different public health issues in a way that is informed by an understanding of epidemiological principles.

Who is it for?

This course will benefit students with interests or involvement in public health, health promotion, health research, as well as research-minded medical and allied health professionals.

Timetable

Term 1

Sep: Wednesday 30 September 2026

Oct: Wednesday 7, 14, 21 and 28 October 2026

Nov: Wednesday 4, 11, 18, 25 November 2026

Dec: Wednesday 2 and 9 December 2026

Benefits

You will develop skills in describing and analysing epidemiological data, critically appraising study designs, and reflecting on different public health issues.

This course may be undertaken as part of the School of Health & Psychological Sciences Masters programmes, or as a CPD course worth 30 CPD hours.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

This course covers the definition, scope and history of epidemiology, the fundamental strategies of  epidemiological research and measures of disease frequency and association. We examine the main epidemiological study designs, their strengths and limitations, and the ways that epidemiological data is analysed and reported.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Critically assess the key components of epidemiology (population, distribution, determinants, and control of disease)
• Estimate and interpret measures of disease occurrence and describe their association to different epidemiological study designs
• Critically evaluate the principles of different types of common epidemiological study
• Synthesise and evaluate theoretical models for causation and discuss the principles of causal mechanisms
• Identify and explain possible sources of bias in epidemiological studies
• Explain and critically assess epidemiological concepts within the context of different epidemiological study designs.

Skills

• Perform and interpret statistical analyses of population-based data to describe occurrence and distribution of ill-health and its determinants
• Critically review and criticize scientific literature regarding study design, results and accuracy
• Communicate knowledge of the determinants of diseases
• Outline and present an evaluation plan that includes methods of data collection and data analysis in relation to a public health intervention within a given area of prevention or health promotion, as well as a communication plan for the evaluation results under different scenarios.

Values and attitudes

• Identify and explain the range and complexity of the interacting factors influencing the health and illness of individuals and societies
• Exhibit an ability to make epidemiological assessments informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues as well as demonstrate awareness of the ethical dimension of research and development work
• Critically evaluate the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.

Teaching will involve lectures and workshops in which a combination of individual and group-learning activities will be used.

This teaching will be supplemented by self-directed study using worksheets and exercises, which will be made available either via Moodle or via email.

The assessment for this course is a 3-hour examination of multiple-choice questions and structured extended-response questions relating to the topics covering in this course.

This course is provided by the School of Health & Medical Sciences.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

• A first degree in a medical, health-related or social sciences discipline is required (minimum 2:1 honours degree, 3.0 GPA or an equivalent international degree)
• Applicants with equivalent qualifications or substantial experience in health services will also be considered on an individual basis.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

• Aschengrau A, Seage GR (2014) Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning
• Hennekens CH, Buring HE (1987) Epidemiology in Medicine Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Principles of Epidemiology:
• https://www.cdc.gov/ophss/csels/dsepd/ss1978/index.html and https://www.cdc.gov/ophss/csels/dsepd/ss1978/SS1978.pdf
• The Public Health text book
• Coggon D, Barker D, Rose J (2003) Epidemiology for the Uninitiated