Program Overview

Programme: Master of Public Health [MPH]

The Master of Public Health (MPH) programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public health principles and practices. The programme is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of School of Health Systems and Public Health.

Programme Information

The curriculum includes four compulsory modules and a range of elective modules, with a blended learning approach combining online, distance-based learning, and face-to-face teaching modalities.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• PGDip (Public Health) or equivalent with an average of at least 60%
• Relevant honours degree
• Relevant four-year bachelor's degree and at least two years' applicable practical (work) experience
• Relevant three-year bachelor's degree and at least five years' applicable practical (work) experience

Additional Requirements

Candidates may be required to register as a special student in the Faculty to pass a status examination in certain instances, such as:

• A three-year bachelor's degree with less than five years' applicable practical (work) experience
• A four-year bachelor's degree with less than two years' applicable practical (work) experience
• Any applicant in possession of an approved bachelor's degree, who the School's Selection Committee deems fit to register as a special student

Other Selection Criteria

The selection criteria include:

• Academic merit
• National/International need for public health
• Under-represented groups in public health
• Public health-related employment
• Track record (e.g., employment, academic, community-building, etc.)

Programme Structure

The programme consists of:

• Core modules
• Elective modules
• A mini-dissertation on an approved research project

Core Modules

The core modules include:

• BOS 874: Biostatistics 1
• CDC 880: Introduction to disease control
• EHM 881: Basis of environmental health
• HCM 875: Introduction to health management
• HME 874: Epidemiology 1
• HMS 873: Scientific writing
• PHM 880: Learning in public health
• PHR 870: Mini-dissertation
• SCM 880: Social determinants of health and primary health care
• TNM 802: Applied research methodology

Elective Modules

The elective modules include:

• ACM 872: Individual study in public health
• ACM 874: Individual study in public health
• ACM 875: Individual study in public health
• CDC 876: Principles of communicable disease control
• CDC 877: Seminars in tropical health (Agent)
• CDC 878: Seminars in tropical health (Environment)
• CDC 879: Seminars in tropical health (Host)
• CDE 870: Principles: Chronic disease epidemiology
• CDS 871: Disease outbreak and control
• CDS 872: Economic evaluation of disease control intervention
• CDS 874: Human nutrition and public health
• CDT 870: Infectious disease epidemiology
• EHM 871: Health risk assessment
• EHM 872: Methods in exposure assessment
• EHM 874: Environmental chemical pollution and health
• EOH 871: Introduction to toxicology
• EOH 872: Introduction to toxicology
• EOM 871: Environmental epidemiology
• EPM 873: Conducting surveys
• EPM 874: Disease surveillance
• HCF 872: Financial management in public health
• HCI 871: Health systems operations management
• HCM 876: Health policy and systems
• HCS 876: Project management in health
• HIN 874: Introduction to monitoring and evaluation for health managers
• HMS 874: Data science for Public Health
• HRM 872: Principles of human resource management
• OHS 873: Postgraduate studies in occupational hygiene 1
• OHS 874: Postgraduate studies in occupational hygiene 2
• QHR 870: Qualitative research methods
• SCC 873: Communication in health
• SCP 870: Health promotion
• SCP 871: Sexual and reproductive health
• SCP 872: Health promotion in practice
• TQM 872: Principles of quality assurance

Research Information

A mini-dissertation on an approved research project must be passed, contributing 100 credits to the programme. The expected outcome of the mini-dissertation is that the student will be able to identify and investigate health and health systems problems in a comprehensive manner and formulate appropriate interventions.

Pass with Distinction

The MPH degree is awarded with distinction to a student who has obtained a mark of at least 75% for the dissertation and a simple average of at least 75% for the other required modules.

General Information

Concurrent registration for two study programmes is not allowed, except in cases of exceptional academic achievement, and requires the permission of the Dean. Students must complete elective modules from the list provided, with a total of 50 credits for elective modules.