The Master of Public Health and Health Equity (MPH-HE) is a mid-career Master of Science programme, organised by KIT Institute and the VU University Amsterdam. The MPH-HE offers a contemporary and interdisciplinary curriculum with a primary emphasis on health equity in low-resource settings with disadvantaged populations, using a gender and inclusive approach. It is meant for professionals working in health service delivery or health management, in national health systems or international organisations.

Content

The Master in Public Health and Health Equity programme offers five specialisaton tracks, allowing you to tailor your studies to your specific interests.

Four full-time, 12 month tracks:

• Health Systems and Policy
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
• Epidemiology
• Tailor-made track

One part-time customizable track:

• Selected Challenges and Solutions in Public Health can be completed in 1-5 years. This track provides the flexibility to take modules at KIT and at other member institutions of the tropEd network.

Public Health and Health Equity in a Changing Environment

Health systems in low- and middle-income countries face a wide range of complex challenges. These include, among other challenges, the inequalities in health and healthcare; the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases; the unfolding demographic transition; and the health needs in fragile and conflict-affected settings. These challenges disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Addressing these issues requires well-trained professionals, capable of solving complex public health problems systematically, in either a public or private sector organisation responsible for public health. To this end, the MPH-HE programme specifically focusses on health equity in low-resource settings and in high-resource settings with disadvantaged populations, using a gender and inclusive approach.

Programme Objectives

The MPH-HE is designed to enable mid-career professionals, working at any level (subnational, national, international, global) within the health system, to use an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to address public health issues. In all programme components, participants are encouraged to interact with participants from other backgrounds and countries, who may face similar issues but with alternative solutions.

Learning methods

The content of the course is practice-based and oriented as much as possible to the working situation of participants. Staff/student contact is intensive throughout the course. Students learn through lectures, discussion, group work, individual presentations, case studies, exercises, study visits, an internet-based virtual learning environments and ‘serious gaming’, self-reflection, self-study and written assignments including a thesis.

How to Apply:

Your profile

The Master’s in Public Health and Health Equity is aimed at health professionals, such as doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as social scientists, (health) economists and other professionals, who already work in public health in low- and middle-income settings and/or with marginalised communities and are seeking a deeper understanding through training (or a degree) in public health.

It is also directed at professionals working mostly in health service delivery who are considering a career switch to public health. In addition, this programme would prepare you to work with refugees or disadvantaged populations in a high-income country. You may aim to work at a national or decentralised level (region, district, local authority) with the government or you may want to participate in healthcare projects with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

If you would like to finish your programme in one year and remain in KIT during the year, you can apply for the full-time programme, indicating your preference for one of the four tracks described above. If you would like to take more time, be flexible, and possibly take courses outside KIT, you can apply for the track Selected Challenges and Solutions in Public Health.

Application procedure

The application deadline is two months before the start of the course (unless you need a visa, then it is due 3 months before start of the course).

Please upload your application online.

Contact

Visit our website for more information on this masters programme. Should you still have questions you can contact us at courses@kit.nl