Program Overview

Introduction to the Diploma of Advanced Studies in Public Health

The Diploma of Advanced Studies in Public Health (DAS Public Health) is a postgraduate program designed for individuals seeking to advance their knowledge and skills in public health without requiring a master's thesis. This program is offered by the medical faculties of the Universities of Basel, Bern, and Zurich.

Overview of the Program

• Abschluss: Diploma of Advanced Studies in Public Health
• Start: 2026
• Dauer: 2 to 3 years
• Umfang: 34 ECTS
• Turnus: Ongoing
• Flexibler Einstieg möglich: Yes
• Einzelmodul besuchbar: Yes
• Ort: Basel, Bern, and Zurich
• Sprache: German, English
• Zulassung: Individuals with a university degree at the master's level; admission "sur dossier" possible in individual cases.
• Kosten: Approximately CHF 29,800
• Trägerschaft: Medical faculties of the Universities of Basel, Bern, and Zurich
• Partner: Federal Office of Public Health, Federal Statistical Office, Advisory Office for Accident Prevention, University Hospital Zurich, University of Italian Switzerland, University of Geneva

General Information About the Study Program

The DAS Public Health program allows for flexible entry and is designed to provide participants with the core competencies needed for public health work. After registration, a personal interview takes place to plan the individual curriculum, which is made possible by the modular and flexible structure of the program.

Objectives of the Program

The program enables participants to:

• Describe and evaluate disease and health problems in the population from an epidemiological and health economic perspective.
• Design, implement, and evaluate effective health promotion and prevention interventions for socially and culturally diverse population groups.
• Describe and evaluate health policies and reform processes in Switzerland and other countries against the legal, political, and economic background.
• Assess conditions and change processes in the healthcare system based on sound basic knowledge of health economics.
• Take a scientifically based and transparent position on public health issues in support of or vis-ŕ-vis decision-makers in politics, economy, administration, and associations.

Modules

The curriculum of the DAS program is divided into a basic and an advanced level. The timing of module visits can be flexibly designed.

Basisstufe:

• Introduction to Public Health
• Swiss Health System
• Introduction to Epidemiology and Study Designs
• Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology
• From Evidence to Implementation and Evaluation in Public Health
• Introduction to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
• Basic Biostatistics
• Fundamentals of Health Science and Social Epidemiology
• Social Science Research Methods in Public Health
• Environment and Health
• Health Law
• Health Policy
• Health Economics

Vertiefungsstufe:

• Applied Biostatistics: Regression Models and Confounding
• Evidence-based Public Health using the GRADE approach
• Identifying and Solving a Public Health Problem
• Socio-cultural contexts, migration, and health equity
• Economic Evaluation in the Healthcare System

Sponsorship and Lecturers

Trägerschaft

The sponsors of the continuing education programs in Public Health are the medical faculties of the Universities of Basel, Bern, and Zurich.

Dozierende

The program features a diverse range of lecturers from various institutions, including but not limited to:

• Prof. em. Dr. Dr. Thomas Abel
• Dipl. Ing. ETH Roland Allenbach
• Dr. Holger Auerbach
• Prof. Dr. Claudine Burton-Jeangros
• Prof. Dr. John Colford, MPH
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Egger
• Prof. Dr. Paolo Ferrari
• Prof. Dr. Annika Frahsa
• Dr. Yvonne Gilli
• Prof. Dr. Eva Heim
• Prof. Dr. Urs Hepp
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Kohlmann
• Prof. Dr. Christian Lengeler
• Prof. Dr. Nicole Probst-Hensch, MPH
• Prof. Dr. Milo Puhan
• Prof. Dr. Klaus-Peter Rippe
• Prof. Dr. Martin Röösli
• Prof. Dr. Christian Schindler
• Prof. Dr. David Schwappach, MPH
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Schwenkglenks, MPH
• Roger Staub, MPH
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Szucs, MPH
• Lic. phil. hist. Reto Wiesli
• Prof. Dr. Kaspar Wyss, MPH
• Prof. Dr. Jakob Zinsstag
• Prof. Dr. Marcel Zwahlen

Admission Requirements

Admission to the continuing education programs in Public Health requires a university degree at the master's level in a field relevant to public health, as well as professional experience. In exceptional cases, individuals with equivalent qualifications and corresponding professional practice may be admitted. Admission may be restricted. The study leadership issues implementing provisions in the study regulations. The program management decides on the admission of a candidate.

Registration and Costs

The entry into the diploma program is possible at any time for individuals with a university degree at the master's level. Individuals without a master's degree can be admitted after completing a CAS program. Interested individuals can initially visit individual modules before registering for the study program.

The study fees amount to approximately CHF 29,800, including registration and graduation fees, course materials, and refreshments during breaks.

Related Programs

Master of Public Health (MPH)

• Abschluss: MAS
• Start: 2026
• Sprache: German-English
• Kosten: Approximately CHF 40,000

The Master of Public Health (MPH) provides a thorough foundation in public health, offering a broad overview of methodological instruments and specialist knowledge, and imparting competencies for the careful analysis and solution of public health-relevant issues.

DAS Healthcare Management and Leadership MiG

• Abschluss: DAS
• Start: 2025
• Sprache: German
• Kosten: Approximately CHF 36,000

This modular DAS program includes two CAS modules of choice. The continuing education enables participants to quickly find their way into leadership positions in healthcare organizations, perceive changes in the framework conditions of their function, and continuously align their actions accordingly.

Summer School 2026 - CAS Healthcare Leader Excellence MiG

• Abschluss: CAS
• Start: June 29, 2026
• Sprache: German-English
• Kosten: CHF 11,460

The goal of the two-week Summer School is to understand current and future challenges of healthcare organizations through compact knowledge transfer and to draw the right conclusions for shaping one's own leadership role.

CAS Healthcare Management MiG

• Abschluss: CAS
• Start: 2025
• Sprache: German
• Kosten: Approximately CHF 9,000

This modular program serves as individualized specialist continuing education for tasks in higher management in healthcare organizations. Entry is possible at any time.