Master in Public Health

Combining traditional and advanced methods of medical science and implementing a scientific approach to a disease-free society, Public Health professionals aim to bridge the gap between quality health measures and health deficiencies. Unlike Medical Science courses which focus on disease diagnosis and treatment, a course in Public Health concentrates on making relevant cures accessible and within reach of people. Further, it not only deals with disease prevention and health policy but also with environmental health, social health, and emergency practices. A master’s degree in Public Health helps medical professionals delve deeper into the issues prevalent amidst the healthcare sector and how they are impacting society. Here is a detailed guide on Master in Public Health that covers the structure of this postgraduate course as well as the career opportunities you can avail in the field of Public Health.

Course Highlights

Course Level	Post Graduate
MPH Course Duration	2 years
MPH Course Examination Type	Semester-based
MPH Course Eligibility	Bachelor’s degree in any Health Science discipline, completed from a recognized university
MPH Course Admission Process	Based on counselling after qualification of a relevant entrance test and merit ranking
MPH Course Course Fee	INR 3 to 6 Lacs p.a.
MPH Course Salary	INR 3 to 15 Lacs p.a.
Top recruiting companies	WHO, McKinsey & Company, UN Children’s Fund, PHFI, The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, etc

Master in Public Health: Course Structure

Offered as a one or two-year master’s degree program, a Master in Public Health involves both comprehensive coursework and rigorous data analysis. Typically, during the first half of the course, students are expected to develop a solid understanding of five core disciplines, namely, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Health Policy and Administration and Biostatistics. During the latter part of the course, however, a more student-specific approach is employed with specialisation options, research projects and practicum training. Further, students are encouraged to pursue internships to get field exposure.

Master in Public Health: Specialisations Offered

For a Master in Public Health course, universities offer a wide variety of specialisation options for students to choose from. These specialisations concentrate on one particular facet of Public Health, namely Health Policy, Global Health, Community Health, amongst others. With appropriate research projects and training, an individual gets groomed into a quality professional possessing advanced technical knowhow and a concrete grasp of the nuances of the academic discipline of Public Health. Below we have listed some of the major specialisations offered in a Master in Public Health program:

• Global Health
• Environmental Health Science
• Occupational Health
• Health Policy
• Maternal and Child Health
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness
• Health Services Administration
• Community Health
• Nutrition

MPH Course Entrance Examination 

Entrance Name	Application Dates	Exam Dates
NEET PG	7-27 Jan 2023	5 March 2023
JIPMER	February 2023	7 May 2023
SRMJEEE (PG)	23 Nov – 16 Apr 2023	April- July 2023

MPH Syllabus

Semester I	Semester II
Introduction to Public Health	Epidemiology
Human Biology & Public Health Chemistry	Demography & Population Sciences
Medical & Health Statistics	Project Planning & Management
Research Methods in Public Health	Communicable & Infectious Diseases
Health Psychology, Communication & Counselling	Non-communicable Diseases
Practical’s/Field visits	Practical’s/Field visits
Semester III	Semester IV
Health of Vulnerable Populations	Public Health Nutrition
Environmental Health & Sustainable Development	Health Systems Development & Management.
Occupational, Industrial and Urban Health	International Health
Health Policy, Planning & Economics	Research Project
Public Health Internship	Practical’s/Field visits
Practical’s/Field visits	–

Must Read: Masters in Public Health in Canada

Top Universities Abroad

From Harvard University and John Hopkins University to the University of Chicago, there are plentiful master’s degree programs in Public Health that are offered across the globe. Moreover, dual degree collaborations with areas of Business, Medicine, Nursing, Governance, and Social Work are also worth a look. Here is a list of top universities and their offered Master of Public Health courses availed to students around the world:

Universities Course Offered
National University of Singapore Master of Public Health (coursework and research)
University of Toronto Master of Public Health in Occupational and Environmental Health; Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences
University Of Melbourne Master of Public Health
University of Hong Kong Master of Public Health
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Master of Public Health

Master of Public Health Top Institutes in India

The following are the top institutes in India for masters in public health:

Indian Institute of Public Health	Gandhi Nagar	2.2 Lacs
Manipal University	Manipal	2.65 Lacs
University of Lucknow	Lucknow	50,000
Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University	Jaipur	36,000
Paravara Institute of Medical Sciences	Ahmednagar	8 Lacs
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi	Delhi	3,640
University of Hyderabad	Hyderabad	7,450
KLE University	Belgaum	–
Noida International University	Gautam Budh Nagar	83,000
Amity University	Noida	80,700
Manipal University	Manipal	65,500
AISECT University	Bhopal	–
NITTE University	Mangalore	78,000
Panjab University	Chandigarh	5,850

MPH Eligibility

An array of master’s degree courses in Public Health are offered around the world including the highly recognised universities in USA and Europe.

• Eligibility conditions of these universities typically enrol students coming from health-related or technical fields so that students are already familiar with some of the topics that will be taught during the course.
• However, students hailing from unrelated backgrounds but having work experience in the field of Public Health also have a high chance of admission.
• Further, to apply for a Master in Public Health abroad, you might also need to submit a strong statement of purpose, relevant letter of recommendations, amongst others.
• Prospective students are required to go through the university webpage to know more about a particular course’s eligibility requirements.

Career Prospects

Owing to the rigorous coursework, advanced analysis portion and research inclinations of the Master in Public Health program, it is useful across a spectrum of industries and job areas. Its versatility can be assessed from the fact that companies ranging from consultancies and research organisations to governments and NGOs, Public Health professionals are highly valued. Popular organisations include Clinton Health Access Initiative, Deloitte, McKinsey and Company, UN, WHO and so forth. Given below are some of the key work profiles you can discover in the field of Public Health:

• International Healthcare Worker
• Epidemiologist
• Healthcare Administrator
• Biostatistician
• Biomedical Scientist
• Nutritionist
• Environmental Health Scientist
• Public Health Promoter/Educator
• Health Consultant
• Public Health Practitioner
• Health Policy Associate

Must Read: Health Inspector Course

Master of Public Health Jobs And Salary

Job Profile	Average Annual Pay Scale in INR
Biostatistician	5 to 6 Lacs
Management Policy Advisor	10 to 25 Lacs
Tropical Disease Specialist	10 to 25 Lacs
Reproductive Health Specialist	20 to Lacs
NGO Director	30 to 50 Lacs
Outcomes Researcher	30 to 40 Lacs
Health Center Administrator	10 to 30 Lacs
Assistant Public Health Professor	10 to 25 Lacs
Community Activist	5 to 15 Lacs

Public Health is steadily growing into an advanced field of research that parallelly offers highly rewarding prospects for career growth and development. Pursuing a Master in Public Health, you can also further work with internationally renowned organizations who are making a difference in the lives of people. If you are planning to pursue a career in Public Health but are unsure about the course and university suitable for you, you can take assistance of the AI tool at Leverage Edu which narrows down your choices according to your interests and helps you take an informed decision in favour of a vibrant career.