Description

The master’s degree programme in Public Health Science develops your expertise in political, social and economic approaches to improving the health of populations and population groups. We focus on key aspects such as global health, health economics and health promotion. The teaching and diverse study environment with international students ensures that students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle complex public health challenges locally, nationally and globally.

Public health interventions aim to identify and reduce inequalities between different groups in society through evidence-based decision-making. But how can action be taken to support people in making healthy choices? What health economic perspectives can be applied when it comes to organising interventions and how do we ensure they are economically efficient? Another key question is: how do we organise prevention campaigns so that they benefit those who are most in need?

New international crises such as war in Europe and climate change are putting pressure on our healthcare system and may lead to increased migration. How can migrants’ health be safeguarded? Will the climate crisis lead to new pandemics? These and many other questions are addressed in our public health programme, where policy analysis is combined with behavioural science, medicine, sociology, epidemiology and statistics.

With an MSc degree in Public Health Science, you can help improve public health by working with health economics and health promotion at local, national and international levels. For example, by analysing and assessing the effect of different initiatives and measures among the population. You will be qualified to work with, for instance, health planning, development, counselling, economic evaluations, teaching and research in relation to disease prevention and health promotion.

Choose from two specialisations

The University of Southern Denmark offers two specialisations in English:

• Global Health and Equity (Esbjerg)
• Health Economics and Policy (Esbjerg)

Read more about the structure of the programme here.

Career opportunities

With a degree in Public Health Science, you will be qualified to work with tasks in areas such as:

• Health planning
• Healthcare administration, management and analysis
• Development and consultancy
• Teaching and research related to disease prevention and health promotion

Examples of possible jobs include healthcare-related operational, management and planning tasks in both public and private institutions, companies and organisations.

These can be state, regional and larger municipalities’ agencies and institutions, such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior, and the Ministry of Employment and related agencies. Hospital and health administrations and social and health planning departments in regional and local government can also be your future workplace.

Other options include national and international organisations with preventive and disease control functions such as the WHO, EU, Red Cross, OECD and World Bank.

Similarly, major patient organisations, such as the Danish Cancer Society and Hjerteforeningen (The Danish Heart Foundation), as well as large national and international sports organisations, are natural employers of people with a public health degree.

People with qualifications in public health and health promotion are involved in staff management and development, as well as project initiation and management. These kinds of business functions are becoming increasingly important – both in the public sector and in private companies.

Many graduates also find employment in research and teaching at universities and colleges, as well as teaching in social and healthcare programmes.

Entry requirements

To apply for the Master's programme in Public Health, you need a relevant Bachelor's degree.

You can read more about which relevant Bachelor and Professional Bachelor degree programmes that qualify for admission here.

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.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

There are no tuition fees for EU/EEA/Swiss students.

Tuition fees apply to all full-time degree students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.

SDU offers 75 scholarships each year.

For more information about scholarships, please visit:

SDU Scholarships

Further Information

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

Information about the Danish assessment of foreign qualifications is available here.

For general information about the educational system, please visit The Danish Higher Education System.