Program Overview

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Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences

The Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences is a two-year programme that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of public health principles, methods, and applications. The programme has two specializations: Public Health Epidemiology and Health Promotion and Prevention.

Programme Overview

• Programme code: 4FH19
• Programme name: Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences
• Specializations:
  • Public Health Epidemiology
  • Health Promotion and Prevention
• Credits: 120
• Start term: Autumn 2019
• Decision date:
• Approved by: Board of Education
• Last revised:
• Revised by: Committee for Education at Basic and Advanced Level
• Reference number: 3-4672/2025

Eligibility Requirements

• Bachelor's or professional degree of at least 180 credits in public health science, health care, or a relevant social science subject area.
• English B/English 6 with a passing grade.

Main Field of Study

• Public Health Science

Degree

• Master of Medical Science (120 credits) with a Major in Public Health Sciences

Programme Goals

National Goals for Advanced Level

The education at the advanced level shall essentially build on the knowledge that students have acquired during their education at the basic level or equivalent knowledge.

Education at the advanced level shall involve a deepening of knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to education at the basic level and, in addition to what applies to the basic level, shall:

• Further develop students' ability to independently integrate and use knowledge.
• Develop students' ability to handle complex phenomena, issues, and situations.
• Develop students' prerequisites for professional activities that place high demands on independence or for research and development work.

Goals According to the Higher Education Ordinance

For a Master's degree, the student shall:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deepened knowledge in certain parts of the field, as well as insight into current research and development work.
• Demonstrate advanced methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Programme Structure

The programme consists of two specializations and includes compulsory courses, elective courses, and a degree project.

Compulsory Courses

• Public Health Science - Concepts and Theories
• Methods for Studying the Occurrence and Spread of Diseases
• Biostatistics 1
• Collection and Handling of Epidemiological Data
• Scientific Theory
• Epidemiological Methods for Studying Disease Determinants
• Biostatistics 2
• Qualitative Methods
• Project Management
• Epidemiological Methods for Effect Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
• Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Specialization Courses

Public Health Epidemiology

• Applied Epidemiology 1 - Disease Occurrence and Spread
• Applied Epidemiology 2 - Disease Determinants
• Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Health Promotion and Prevention

• Introduction to Planning and Development of Programs
• Theories and Methods for Implementation and Evaluation
• Applied Health Promotion and Prevention

Degree Project

• Degree Project in Public Health Science, 30 credits

Assessment and Grading

The programme uses a grading scale with the following grades: Fail, Pass, and Pass with Distinction.

Internationalization

The programme has an international perspective, providing students with the competence to work in multicultural environments and on the international job market. Student and teacher exchange is offered through agreements with several universities, both within and outside Europe.

Transition Provisions

Students who are admitted and registered have the right to complete their education according to the syllabus that applies at the time of their admission. In the event of a study break, an individual study plan is created.

Other Guidelines

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is Fail, Pass, and Pass with Distinction. Other grading scales may be used in individual courses.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction is English.

Special Eligibility Requirements for Courses within the Programme

There are special eligibility requirements for courses within the programme, which can be found in the course syllabi. In cases where requirements are linked to progression to a higher term, these requirements are described on the programme website.