Maestría en Ciencias en Salud Pública y Equidad en Salud (MPH-HE)

Program

Course start date

• Año académico 2025-2026: del 8 de septiembre de 2025 al 28 de agosto de 2026

First trimester: Core Course in Public Health and Health Equity

The Core Course consists of the following modules:

• Equity and Global Health Concerns
• Research Methods
• Health Systems and Policy Making
• Learning and Communication Skills and Professional Development

The introduction to the MPH starts with learning and communication skills that will be needed throughout the course. These include skills in internet searches for health-related information and literature, presentation, and writing skills.

In the first trimester, students are introduced to the broad categories of factors that influence health: culture, lifestyle, socioeconomic, political, and natural environments and the impact of the health care delivery system. Throughout the course, there is a strong emphasis on the gendered nature of many of these factors.

Basic concepts and tools for the analysis and discussion of health problems through modules in health planning and management are introduced, including health economics and financing and epidemiology and statistics. The basic knowledge and skills acquired or reinforced in the first part of the course will be applied to a practical strategic planning exercise carried out in small groups. Towards the end of the first trimester, students begin to clarify their thesis topics and investigate the literature related to those topics.

Second trimester: advanced courses for all 5 tracks.

• Health Planning and Programming
• Qualitative Health Systems Research
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

And specialisation courses per track. Visit our website for all detailed information.

Learning methods

The content of the course is practice-based and oriented as much as possible to the working situation of participants. Contact between teaching staff and students is intensive throughout the course. Students learn through lectures, discussions, group work, individual presentations, case studies, exercises, study visits, an internet-based virtual learning environment and ‘serious gaming’, self-reflection, self-study, and written assignments including a thesis. They receive study material before each module. During the lessons, students share information about health issues of countries in which they have worked and compare experiences. Online repositories are used for learning material. Laptops and/or tablets are required.

Study load

A total of 60 EC credit points must be accumulated for successful completion of the MPH program. The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between institutions at the same academic level. 1 EC requires 28 hours of student time, which includes class time and independent study.

Graduation requirements

Each module is assessed by means of either a written examination or a take-home assignment. At the end of the program, an independent external examination committee assesses the thesis and the candidate’s oral examination.

If the overall assessment is satisfactory, the degree of Master of Public Health is awarded. Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the degree may be eligible for a certificate of attendance.

Objetivos del Curso

El MPH-HE está diseñado para permitir que los profesionales de mitad de carrera, que trabajan en cualquier nivel (subnacional, nacional, internacional, global) dentro del sistema de salud, utilicen un enfoque integrado y multidisciplinario para abordar problemas de salud pública. En todos los componentes del programa, se anima a los participantes a interactuar con participantes de otros orígenes y países, que pueden enfrentar problemas similares pero con soluciones alternativas.

Después del programa podrá:

• Examinar críticamente problemas de salud actuales y emergentes, analizar determinantes e identificar necesidades en diferentes grupos de población.
• Evaluar el papel de los sistemas de salud en términos de objetivos, funciones, actores y desempeño.
• Identificar necesidades de investigación, evaluar métodos y resultados de investigación, generar evidencia éticamente sólida y traducir los resultados en políticas y prácticas.
• Desarrollar, implementar, monitorear y evaluar programas e intervenciones rentables, de calidad y centrados en la comunidad.
• Analizar, influir y desarrollar políticas, teniendo en cuenta la evidencia y el contexto.
• Colaborar profesionalmente, establecer contactos y comunicarse de manera efectiva en un entorno multidisciplinario, intersectorial y multicultural.
• Trabajar y defender los principios de equidad y derechos humanos.
• Autorreflexiona críticamente y desarrolla profesionalmente tus actitudes, motivaciones, prácticas y valores, para actuar como agente de cambio.