Public health is the field of medicine that is concerned with the health of the community as a whole. The subject area involves understanding the causes of health and disease, and identifying effective interventions for the purpose of improving population health. Important subject fields of study are biostatistics and social epidemiology.
| Duration: | 2 Years |
| Location: | Tromsø |
| Credits (ECTS): | 120 |
| Qualification: | Master of Public Health |
| Admission requirements: | Bachelor's degree |
| Application deadline: | 15. april |
| Application code: | 3013 |
Programmet ønsker både norsk- og engelskspråklige studenter.
Heltid / deltid:
All undervising i de ulike emner er samlingsbasert, og egner seg derfor for studenter som har jobb ved siden av, og som ønsker å ta graden på deltid. Normert deltidsprogresjon på programmet er fire år.
Søkere som ønsker deltid søker som normalt i søknadsweb, deltid registreres ved oppstart i august.
Språk:
I alle emner gis forelesningene på engelsk, men arbeidskrav og eksamen kan besvares valgfritt på engelsk, norsk, dansk eller svensk.
All international applicants should read the admisson requirements thoroughly.
Please note that the programme only accepts self-financing international students (see "Admission requirements").
The first year of the programme consists of six mandatory courses (60 ECTS credits). In the third term the students choose any two courses of the four elective courses offered, in addition to a mandatory course in Ethics. The fourth term is allocated to thesis writing.
The Master's thesis (30 ECTS credits) should be written on a topic related to the elective courses chosen by the student.
The purpose of the thesis is to prepare for planning, developing and presenting a scientific project in the field of public health. The thesis can be an empirical study based on data to which the student has been given access, or data that the student has collected. It can also be a literature review or a project of more theoretical character.
Please note that attendance to all the lectures and seminars in the Master Public Health courses is mandatory.
| Term | 10 ects | 10 ects | 10 ects | |||
| 1 term (autumn) | ||||||
| 2 term (spring) |
Class of 2014 will have HEL-3008 here |
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| 3 term (autumn) Mandatory: HEL-3008 in addition to two of the four elective courses |
Class of 2014 will have HEL-3070 here |
Students choose any two of the four courses above |
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| 4 term Master's thesis (spring) | ||||||
The objective of this study programme is for students to understand, and be able to identify, the determinants of population health, i.e., the range of biological, environmental, social and behavioural factors that affect the health of a population. Furthermore, students should be capable of evaluate different measures that can improve people's health.
After completing the study, it is expected that students will be able to:
It is essential that students learn to apply relevant theories and methods for analysing basic health questions. Emphasis is placed on learning to master quantitative research methods. After completing this programme, students should be able to map disease and health in a population and identify the social factors that affect health. They should be able to assess and initiate preventive health measures, evaluate the impact of healt-related measures and give an account of adequate solutions regarding allocations of resources.
The programme consists of nine courses, each of which has 10 credits (ECTS). Seven courses are mandatory and two elective, chosen from a list of four alternative elective courses. The Master's thesis (30 ECTS credits) completes the programme structure to total 120 credits (ECTS).
Admission to the Master's programme in Public Health requires a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS credits) in Health Sciences, Social Sciences or Natural Sciences, or equivalent qualification. For students who hold a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences or Natural Sciences, the students must also document that they have some knowledge of physiopathology/human health subjects.
The minimum average grade requirement is:
C - for Bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
B - for Bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in all other countries.
The students must master the use of a computer and have access to a PC, MacBook or laptop with Internet connection.
Applicants will be ranked by the Admission committee for the Master Public Health programme, and up to 30 qualified applicants will be admitted. In 2014 all qualified Nordic applicants (C average grade) were offered admission.
More information on admission requirements:
Applicants from Norway or Nordic countries:
Applicants from outside the Nordic countries:
The teaching will consist of on-campus classes, normally between two to three or three to five days duration per course. The number and the duration of the on-campus classes will vary across the different courses. Attendance at lectures and seminars is mandatory in all courses. In addition, teaching will be based on the use of Internet by means of the learning management system Fronter. This Master's degree is an intensive programme. All courses demand active participation from the students.
Teaching and assessment methods are described in the course plan for each course. The Department of Community Medicine primarily uses the following methods of evaluation: Home assignment on a given topic; home assignment on a topic chosen by the student; written examination, and; portfolio assessment on the basis of submitted assignments that are a part of a course.
A Master's degree in Public Health (MPH) is increasingly well recognised internationally and the Department of Community Medicine at UiT the Arctic University of Norway is regarded as a centre of international excellence for the quality of its research. Graduates from the programme will find career opportunities in health planning and regulatory roles, hospitals, community care, as well as industry. An MPH will also provide highly relevant knowledge for international health work, e.g. in international humanitarian organisations.
The health service has a constant demand for qualified personnel. There is a particular need for expertise in understanding the causes of, and prevention of, communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as accidents and suicides. Etiology and prevention are central topics in this programme with its emphasis on epidemiology, and biostatistics and global health.
Course descriptions for the academic year 2015 / 2016 can be found in the table further down on this page.
