Program Overview

Specialized Master in Public Health Methodology

The Specialized Master in Public Health Methodology is designed for public health professionals and health managers working at different health system levels. The program aims to provide a high degree of autonomy in the use of public health methods to achieve the overall objective of ensuring methodological approaches and public health decision-making consistent with the needs of people, communities, and individuals.

Description

This program highlights the methodologies required for the critical analysis and investigation of major health issues, especially in developing countries, while adopting a global health approach.

Training Content

The 60-credit program consists of compulsory courses (50 ECTS) and 3 optional courses (5 ECTS each). The student must select two optional courses (10 ECTS) out of the three proposed to acquire the required 60 ECTS necessary to validate the Master's program.

• Compulsory courses:
  • Biostatistics in public health
  • Methods in epidemiology
  • Clinical-decision making
  • Contextual factors in public health
  • Health system and public health research
  • Health economics & risk management
  • Management of health services
  • Protocol development and health examination surveys
  • Qualitative methods
  • Research in health: dissemination & systematic reviews
  • Thesis
• Optional courses:
  • Advanced methods in biostatistics and epidemiology
  • International health and rights: organizations and actors
  • Infectious & environmental diseases: epidemiology & prevention

Career Opportunities

Graduates enter careers in global health and national health policy and planning, academic and operational research, as well as advisory roles in governments and international agencies.

Inter-University Programme

The program is organized by:

• Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), École de Santé Publique (coordinator)
• Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Faculté de santé publique
• Université de Mons (UMONS), Faculté Warocqué d'Économie et de Gestion & Faculté de médecine et pharmacie

Specific Features

• Seminars given by lecturers from foreign universities and by invited experts, especially from low- and middle-income countries
• Students from various countries and diverse backgrounds
• Opportunities to follow local conferences and seminars
• Opportunity to follow French classes

Conditions of Admission

• Master degree (minimum of 5 years of university education, equivalent to 300 credits)
• Open to medical doctors, nurses, and other paramedics, social sciences professionals involved in public health, public health researchers, decision-makers, and executives.

Registration & Scholarships

• Registration deadline:
  • For EU students: from April to the end of September
  • For non-EU students: from mid-February to the end of March
• The registration procedure is not required for students who benefit from a scholarship from the Belgian development cooperation (ARES scholarships).

Price for the Academic Year

• Belgian, European, and assimilated students: 835 €
• Non-European students:
  • Students from countries listed in annex 2 and 3 - ARES: 835 €
  • Students from countries listed in annex 1 - ARES: 2425 €

Scholarships

• Various opportunities exist, including ULB student social service, Study in Belgium, and ARES-CCD.

Practical Information

• Location: Classes are organized part-time in Erasmus campus (ULB), part-time in Woluwe Campus (UCLouvain), and a few days during the year at Mons University.
• Accommodation: ULB offers a wide choice of accommodation in its own halls of residence and private halls of residence.
• Learning French: Help is available for students who want to learn French.

Start of the Academic Year

• September 2026