Practitioners and professionals working in the public sector, particularly those in education, health and social care and local government, need to have a thorough understanding of the social determinants of health, and the magnitude and consequences of social inequalities in health, if they are to be successful in addressing them. This PhD study will examine awareness and understanding of health inequalities among final year university students intending to embark on careers in the public sector and whose professional responsibilities will have the potential to reduce health inequalities. The study will also critically evaluate the extent to which undergraduate and postgraduate curricula address health inequalities. Background The presence of social inequalities in health in the UK has long been recognised (Black, 1980). Evidence suggests that health status is influenced by a wide range of 'social determinants of health', including education; health care; the quality of living and working conditions; income; and 3 behaviours (Dahlgren and Whitehead, 1991). To improve population health and tackle health inequalities, action needs to be taken at different levels and across different sectors (Department of Health, 2009).