Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with how our living, working and leisure environments affect our health. It's a gripping subject to study and a fascinating field to work in. Whether you're helping improve the living conditions of society's poorest, or working with a company to improve health and safety for staff and customers, your work will have a huge, life-changing and often life-saving impact.

Why study MSc Environmental Health at Middlesex University?

Middlesex University is the largest and foremost provider of environmental health education in the UK. This course is highly work-focused, with a strong emphasis on practical laboratory work and real-life case studies and you'll be able to take advantage of our close links within the industry.

The course is centred on UK law and practice, but is designed to be flexible and provide education and training that will be valuable internationally. You will have access to a range of excellent facilities include a microbiology laboratory and pestology materials. You will be able to study specialist modules areas such as food safety, and health and safety which are particularly valued by both local authorities and the private sector.

Many of our teaching staff are chartered environmental health practitioners and under their expert guidance, previous students have done research into a wide variety of areas, including listeria in food, the effects of heavy smoking, skin lightening, water pollution and the attitudes of people living in high-rise buildings towards recycling.

Course highlights

• The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, and you'll be eligible to apply for membership of the institute.
• As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.

The work of an environmental health practitioner is incredibly wide-ranging, covering anything from dealing with outbreaks of food poisoning or TB, to ensuring the health and welfare of farmed livestock. It is a rewarding, varied, challenging and satisfying career. Traditionally, our graduates have gone on to be public health practitioners with local authorities. This rewarding role gives you the chance to work on different sites and in different settings, and draws not only on your science background but your ability to be a good communicator and listener.

Equally, you might be interested in developing you career into research, consultancy, education or training. There are also a growing number of international opportunities which you might wish to consider.

The variety of roles available means that you will be able to work in a wide range of sectors such as:

• The Environment Agency
• Public Health England
• DEFRA
• The Food Standards Agency
• The Health and Safety Executive
• NHS

There are also opportunities within local authorities, housing associations, or in sectors ranging from travel to retail or waste management.