PuUB001-1: Foundation for Public Health Assignment Support Session (2) | UoB

PuUB001-1: Unit learning objectives:

On completion of this unit, you should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the key concerns relating to a current public health or healthcare related topic. 
2. Demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to use key public health principles to analyse the key concerns relating to the chosen topic. 
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify at least one solution, or why a solution is not possible, to the concerns that were considered. 

Key assignment details

Assignment type: Essay
Weighting of assignment: 70% 
Word count: 2500 words
Submission deadline: 19th December, 2025

What am I required to do in this assignment? (1)

Students are required to write a 2,500-word essay on the issue related to a current public health or healthcare related topic. 

The essay should identify a contemporary concern, and critically analyse and evaluate it. 

The essay should propose a solution to the issue(s) discussed or explain why a solution is difficult to find in the context of the study area/setting.

You are encouraged to use the same topic as with your assignment 1 powerpoint/presentation. Please speak to me if you intend to change this.

What do I need to do to pass? (2)

• Expand on your assignment 1 topic on a public health area where you’ve identified its impact to a specific social group, community or country and public health strategies needed to improve people's lives. This can be a condition, behaviour or access to service. 
• Explore relevant public health, principles, philosophies, and approaches, and evaluate their impacts within the context of the public health area. Information on these can be found in week 1, 2, 4 & 9 lecture slides.
• Provide some justification for your choice of public health issue and its impact on the chosen population.
• Finally, demonstrate knowledge of different strategies and priorities (2-4 strategies/priorities) to improve health and reduce health inequalities in practice.

What do I need to do to pass? (3)

• You will be expected to draw on parts of at least ten academic/peer-reviewed sources (that is academic books or academic journals) to support your discussion to pass.
• Of this minimum of ten sources, only three can be an Internet source and the ten does not include lecture notes. The ten is a minimum; students are encouraged to carry out wider reading.
• You need to submit your essay electronically via BREO. 
• Your essay should include a full list of references in accordance with the Harvard Referencing guidelines.

Essay structure:

Introduction

1. Description of the existing public health issue and the chosen population.
2. Evidence of research justifying your choice of topic (this may include the prevalence of the population affected, the impact of the issue on socio, economic and cultural aspects) 

Public Health Principles/Approaches 
Explore relevant public health, principles, philosophies, or approaches, and an ability to evaluate their impacts within your work.

Government policies

1. Discuss relevant government policies and legislations
2. Discuss how the problem has been tackled (treatment, intervention, behavioural change, strategies) or provide at least one solution, or why a solution is not possible, to the problem that were considered. 

Conclusion

1. Summary 
2. Recommendation and concluding remarks.

References/ Academic writing Reference List:  

You must include academic references and reference to the core text. You must use the Harvard referencing system. 
The University officially advises students to use the following website for referencing guidelines: https://www.citethemrightonline.com/. 
Ensure that you include your in-text references. In all cases, in-text references must match up with what appears in your reference list. Every in-text citation/reference should correspond to a reference on the list at the end (and vice versa). 
No more than 5% of your work should be in the form of quotes. You must write in your own words. 
You are reminded that plagiarism of any type will be penalised and result in a fail. Proofread and edit your work before handing it in. 

Mitigation circumstance

Finally, if you think you cannot meet the submission deadline due to an unexpected circumstance acceptable to the mitigation team, you can apply for your deadline to be extended.

See this link for mitigation circumstance: https://www.beds.ac.uk/student-support/mitigation/ 
Email: mitigation@beds.ac.uk

Please note that I or any other lecturers cannot authorise to extend your submission date- it can only be authorised by the mitigation team and your application form must go in prior to your submission deadline.