PgDip in Population Health Leadership
€7,500 (EU)/€17,000 (non-EU)
Critical understanding, leadership, and decision-making for positive population health outcomes.
Postgraduate Diploma
2 years
Online - Part-time
60 ECTS
September 2026
About
The Postgraduate Diploma in Population Health Leadership from RCSI School of Population Health is designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with essential knowledge of the key factors influencing population health, alongside the leadership skills needed to drive meaningful change.
This programme provides a strong foundation in population health science and leadership, enabling learners to develop critical thinking, decision-making, and applied skills to inform policy, system design, and practice for improved population health outcomes.
A core feature of the programme is the appraisal, synthesis, and application of fundamental population health principles and leadership strategies, aligned with the WHO-ASPHER Core Competency Framework for the Public Health Workforce.
The Postgraduate Diploma is delivered part-time in a fully online format, making it accessible to working professionals. Live online sessions take place weekly on Tuesdays from 12:00–2:30 PM (Irish time), so participants should ensure their availability during this period.
This programme is a 60-ECTS Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications and offers a pathway for further study, including progression to higher qualifications in population health leadership.
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Synthesise the principles of population health science and demonstrate how these are applied in complex health, social and community care ecosystems.
Critically appraise and evaluate the core rationale and research designs of population health sciences.
Apply appropriate methods drawing from social sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics, environment health sciences, health policy and economics.
Suitable for
This programme is ideal for allied health professionals including doctors, managers, nurses, interdisciplinary health and social care workers, clinical specialists, and administrators. It is also relevant for those in medical supplies, the pharmaceutical sector, and healthcare regulation.
What you will learn
Introduction to the understand-decide-act framework, population-health strategies, scientific guidance, and effective implementation.
Skills to design, interpret, and communicate population health research using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.
Global health challenges and evidence-based decision-making.
Evaluating evidence for designing and assessing effective individual and population health interventions.
Holistic understanding of population health, focusing on systems, leadership, and connecting organisational drivers for health generation.
Challenges in implementing evidence-based health policies, integrating implementation sciences, economics, and community engagement.
Conducting health needs assessments considering social determinants and make resource allocation decisions to meet public health needs.
Frameworks to integrate scientific disciplines and evidence for prioritising resource allocation and action in population health.
Cultivate ethical awareness, synthesise evidence, and develop strategies for effective communication and implementation in population health.
Faculty highlight
Biography
Dr Sarah E. Barry
Dr Barry is Director of Academic Programmes at RCSI's School of Population Health. She uses methods for the co-production of knowledge in local contexts, contributing to national policy development and design.
Learn more
Register your interest
Are you interested in learning more about the PgDip in Population Health Leadership with RCSI? Register your interest below and a member of the team will be in touch with you.
Course information
- Understand existing population health frameworks to develop effective plans of action incorporating key needs assessment and multi-disciplinary evidence, and practical planning.
- Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental research study designs, including their strengths and limitations.
- Explain the social determinants of health and how they can be effectively addressed to improve population health.
- Determine key health behavioural factors impacting individual and population health.
- Appraise the governance structure in a defined population health ecosystem, and identify examples of how that structure drives performance.
- Explain the principles and describe applications of implementation science in action taking account of the outcomes evaluation methods in use, and drawing on examples. from different global contexts.
- Interpret and apply findings from diverse types of intervention effectiveness research to prioritise health system, health promotion, and health policy options.
- Identify key leadership actions for population health case studies and assess how these actions or decisions addressed or resolved the presented challenges.
Note: this list is not exhaustive.
The Population Health Leadership curriculum builds cumulatively in three stages of development from a Postgraduate Certificate (30 ECTS) to a Postgraduate Diploma (60 ECTS) and there is an option to progress to a full MSc (90 ECTS) with an applied project. Each cycle allows for exit awards at PgCert (Year 1), PgDip (Year 2) and MSc level.
The programme builds on the scientific core knowledge established in the PgCert (Year 1) and expands upon students' key decision-making and leadership skills.
This programme is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.
Admissions
English language requirements for Postgraduate programmes are published on the RCSI website.
Fees: €7,500 (EU)/€17,000 (non-EU).
For more information, please register your interest using the form above.
How to apply
Applications for the PgDip in Population Health Leadership will open soon. Please register your interest using the form above.