Epidemiology (Online Learning) MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

How online learning works

• Interactive learning environment: Engage with our interactive and user-friendly online platform, where you can access course materials, discussion forums and assessment activities 24/7.
• Global community: Learn from and with other professionals working across the world, enhancing your learning and giving you new perspectives.

Teaching and assessment

• Teaching: Learn through a mix of online course content, reading lists and interactive discussions with your peers.
• Assessment: Demonstrate your understanding and skills through a mix of essays, projects, blog posts and other pieces of written work.

Time commitment

The programme is part-time, requiring a commitment of around 15 hours per week. This allows you to manage your studies alongside your professional and personal responsibilities effectively.

Technical requirements

• Equipment: A reliable computer with internet access and an updated web browser.
• Software: All necessary learning platforms and tools are provided online by the University. It is also desirable for you to be able to install new open-source software packages on your machine.

Support for online students

Our dedicated support teams are available to assist you throughout your studies. You will have access to the University of Edinburgh's extensive online library, 24/7 technical support, and support from the programme team for academic or administrative queries.

The MSc Epidemiology programme at the University of Edinburgh is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the field, blending core competencies with specialised elective options.

This part-time, fully online programme is spread over three years, and you can exit the programme after:

• Year 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate
• Year 2 with a Postgraduate Diploma
• Year 3 with a Master of Science degree

Course content

• Year 1: You will take five courses, covering epidemiology, statistics and data analysis using R.
• Year 2: Focus on research design and the epidemiology of infectious diseases and choose four elective courses to tailor your learning. Options include:
  • data visualisation
  • genetic and molecular epidemiology
  • big data analytics
• Year 3: Engage in a substantive research project that allows you to explore in-depth a topic of your choice within the field of epidemiology, under the guidance of experienced researchers.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

You will gain:

• a critical understanding of the principles and practice of epidemiology
• research and enquiry skills
• the ability and skills to critically evaluate epidemiological evidence
• the ability to convey complex information to a range of audiences
• skills for working in teams and leading where appropriate

The skills developed by this programme are key for most types of health science research, focusing strongly as they do on different types of enquiry.

Many aspects of this programme involve problem solving, critical thinking and evaluation, thus developing research skills and personal and intellectual autonomy. A key aim of the programme is to contribute to your ability to conceive and execute epidemiological research.

On completing the programme, you will:

• have developed an understanding of the principles and practice of epidemiology
• be able to design research projects and collect data
• be able to evaluate and interpret epidemiological evidence and communicate this evidence to a range of audiences
• have acquired skills for working in teams and groups
• be equipped to move into a range of health science research or allied careers, or progress to further doctoral-level training

Graduating from the MSc Epidemiology programme at the University of Edinburgh opens doors to a wide range of career paths in both public and private sectors.

Sectors and roles

• Research and academia: Engage in cutting-edge research or teach at universities and research institutions, contributing to the academic community and guiding future public health professionals.
• Public health agencies: Take on roles such as epidemiologist, public health analyst, or infection control officer, where you can directly influence disease prevention and health promotion strategies.
• Government and policy-making: Shape health policies by working with government bodies or international health organisations, translating epidemiological data into actionable policies.
• Industry: Join pharmaceutical companies or health consultancy firms as an epidemiologist, where you can impact health outcomes on a large scale through research and development.

• Non-governmental organisations: Work on global health challenges with international organisations, focusing on outbreak response and health improvement initiatives worldwide.

• More information about career opportunities for Epidemiology graduates

Support for career advancement

The University of Edinburgh's Careers Service offers extensive support, from CV workshops to personalised career advice, ensuring you are fully equipped to make an impact in your chosen field.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in science, medicine, biomedicine, nursing, social science, statistics, or other related discipline.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan

  • family support

• personal savings

• income from work

• employer sponsorship

• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Online Learning Scholarships

Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding candidates who are citizens of and resident in low- and middle-income countries, and will be applied toward tuition fees. Successful applicants will benefit from the University’s Global Academy network.

• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarship
• Glenmore Postgraduate Scholarship

The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of scholarships to outstanding candidates. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.

• Scholarship applications - success rates

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status.

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

• Online Learning Scholarships

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding