Introduction to Epidemiology (PG)

Postgraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
PUBH 5012
Course ID icon
Course ID
204727
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
5
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

The aim of this course is to give students a grounding in the basic concepts of epidemiology. Students will gain knowledge about: measuring and interpreting patterns of disease occurrence; routine sources of data, their strengths and limitations; study designs used in epidemiology and when to apply them; epidemiological models of causation; and will examine issues of study design and interpretation of results.

Course learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of routine sources of data used in descriptive epidemiology, and appreciate their strengths and limitations accordingly
  • Outline epidemiological measures of disease occurrence, calculate basic measures and describe patterns of disease occurrence
  • Correctly calculate and apply absolute and relative measures of risk
  • Differentiate epidemiological study designs, recognise the most appropriate circumstances in which to use each design, and describe the measures of disease occurrence that can be generated using each design
  • Recognise potential threats to correctly interpreting results from epidemiological studies, and identify those most relevant to each study design
  • Distinguish the difference between association and causation, and appreciate relevant issues in inferring causation from observational designs
  • Summarise the principles of screening and the conditions under which a screening program would be most appropriate and cost-effective.

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A