Description

The purpose of the programme is to provide students with scientifically based thorough knowledge of the field of public health. It aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the field of Public Health to provide a basis for originality in developing and applying ideas in both research and practice contexts. This enables students to use the competences achieved for the purpose of treating a variety of public health related issues in an independent, critical and constructive manner.

The programme has two specialisations: Global Health and Equity or Health Economics and Policy

Upon graduation, the Public Health student will have some of the following competences: 

• Explain and argue on the health status and the determinants of health in various settings and population groups
• Explain and exemplify appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods and approaches within public health research, practice, policy, and training
• Choose and apply theories, methodologies, and tools to investigate and intervene in relation to public health problems
• Apply advanced methods in public health research and practice including collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data
• Plan, develop and conduct activities (projects, strategies, interventions) in relation to prevention of diseases and promotion of health
• Communicate public health issues to various stakeholders, policy/decision makers, health care professionals, academia, and the public
• Develop, implement and evaluate programmes, policies and institutions that aim at prevention, health promotion, care, rehabilitation and treatment
• Collaborate interdisciplinary in public health-related initiatives with relevant stakeholders on local, Bational, and international level
• Be able to analyse and critically assess the influence of behavioural, environmental and social conditions on the physical, mental and social health and quality of life of population groups

Read more about the structure of the programme here.

Career Opportunities

With a Master’s degree in Public Health Science you will be qualified to work with assignments within areas like:

• Health planning
• Health administration and analysis
• Development
• Planning
• Consultancy
• Teaching and doing research in relation to disease prevention and health promotion
  

Examples of potential jobs may be health related service-, project management-, and planning assignments within public and private institutions, companies, and organisations.

Potential jobs can be found in national and regional agencies and institutions such as the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and their agencies, hospitals and health managements. Agencies and institutions of large municipalities such as social and health planning departments in counties and municipalities are also potential job avenues.

Students can also apply for jobs in national and international organisations working with prevention and combating of disease – e.g., WHO, the EU, Red Cross, the OECD and the World Bank.

Large patient organisations such as the Danish Cancer Society, the Danish Heart Foundation and large national and international sports organisations are also potential career paths.

Finally, students can apply for jobs within research and teaching at universities and higher education institutions as well as teaching within social and health educations.

Admission  

To apply for the Master’s programme in Public Health, you need a relevant Bachelor’s degree. You can apply if you hold one of the following degrees:

• Public Health
• Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Sports Science
• Human Biology
• Dentistry
• Biomedicine
• Pharmacy
• Health Promotion
• Psychology

You can also apply if you hold a Professional Bachelor’s degree in:

• Nursing
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Radiography
• Nutrition
• Midwifery
• Biomedical laboratory technician
• Global Nutrition and Health
• Teacher with main subject/specialization within sports/health

If you hold a similar Bachelor’s or Professional Bachelor’s degree, the Faculty will assess the relevance of your degree once you have applied.

English language requirements

The programme is taught in English. If your Bachelor’s degree is not from SDU, you are required to submit proof of your proficiency in English. See the English language requirements.

Application

Apply directly at the University of Southern Denmark with all relevant information. To find out whether the level of your foreign certificate or diploma satisfies the general entry requirements, you should contact University of Southern Denmark directly. A list of the most commonly recognized exams and diplomas can be found at the Danish Agency for Higher Education http://en.ufm.dk/recognition.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

No tuition fees for EU/EEA/Swiss students.

Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students. Read more here.

Further Information

Information from the Danish Agency for Higher Education can be found here.

You will find information about the Danish assessment of foreign qualifications in Guide to diploma recognition.

About the Educational System in general visit the section The Danish Higher Education System.