Professional degrees of public health

The Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Public Health, Master of Medical Science in Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health, International Masters for Health Leadership are interdisciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health. The MPH degree focuses on public health practice, as opposed to research or teaching. Master of Public Health programs are available throughout the world in Schools of Public Health, Programs in Public Health, Medical Schools, and Schools of Public Affairs. MPH degrees, in addition to including a core curriculum, will usually also let students pursue a specialization in a specific field, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, or health management.

General

A professional degree is one that, based on its learning objectives and types of positions its graduates pursue, prepares students with a broad mastery of the subject matter and methods necessary in a field of practice; it typically requires students to develop the capacity to organize, analyze, interpret and communicate knowledge in an applied manner.

Master's degrees

In some countries the MPH program is only available for physician graduates. In those countries, individuals without a medical degree may enter a Master of Science in Public Health or Master of Medical Science in Public Health programs.

Core disciplines

The traditional MPH degree is designed to expose candidates to five core discipline areas of public health:

Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Environmental Health
Health Policy and Health Administration
Social and behavioral sciences
Doctorate degrees

The Doctor of Public Health degree is for those who intend to pursue or advance a professional practice career in public health and for leaders and future leaders in public health practice. They face the particular challenge of understanding and adapting scientific knowledge in order to achieve health gain and results. This degree leads to a career in high-level administration, teaching, or practice, where advanced analytical and conceptual capabilities are required. The usual requirement for entry into this program is a master's degree in Public Health. The DrPH program develops in its candidates all competencies included in MPH programs, with increased emphasis on high-level skills in problem-solving and the application of public health concepts.

Croatia

The main institution for postgraduate public health education in Croatia is the Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, part of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. Founded in 1927 and named after Andrija Štampar, a pioneer of social medicine and one of the founders of the World Health Organization, the school has played a central role in shaping public health training and practice in Croatia.
The school offers a programme equivalent to the Master of Public Health , now formally awarded as a university specialist postgraduate degree. Introduced in 1947, it is the oldest medical postgraduate programme in Croatia. The programme lasts at least one academic year and is primarily intended for physicians, though applicants from related fields are also eligible.
The curriculum consists of both mandatory and elective courses. Required modules cover areas including statistical and epidemiological methods, planning and quality management in health systems, public health interventions, community health assessment and intersectoral cooperation. Electives include topics such as public health informatics, qualitative research methods, mental health promotion, pharmaceutical policy and healthcare financing.
A similar postgraduate degree is offered at the University of Rijeka under the title Health Promotion and Addition Prevention. This programme also leads to a university specialist postgraduate qualification in public health, with a comparable academic level and professional orientation.

India

In India, the MPH degree course is a two-year full-time postgraduate course or a postgraduate diploma of one year, approved by the University Grants Commission, which is open to candidates with a bachelor's degree in any discipline of arts, commerce or science from a recognized university, with at least 50% marks. Many government medical colleges, ICMR institutions like ICMR-NIE and non-governmental institutions like the Public Health Foundation of India, private universities like Azim Premji University, O.P. Jindal University and DST instituitons like Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum and other non-governmental scientific and industrial research organisations such as the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru have started certificate courses, short courses and MPH courses in public health.
Initially students from health science backgrounds would opt for MPH course, but post COVID-19 the job markets have opened up where students from any discipline are encouraged and there's growing avenue for jobs across sectors. Online Masters of Public Health is banned and not recognized as per UGC in India.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the first MPH programme started in 1973 by the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya. It was in response to an acute need of the Ministry of Health Malaysia for Medical Offices of Health to serve in the then fast expanding rural health services. The first batch of specialist graduated in 1974. Thus the programme during the first decade of its existence was aimed at producing competent public health specialist to serve the rural areas.
Currently, universities in Malaysia that offer the master programme in public health are the University of Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Perdana University, International Medical University, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus, University of Cyberjaya, MAHSA University, Lincoln University, and Monash University Malaysia.
The programmes include Master of Public Health, Master of Medical Science in Public Health, Global Public Health, and Master of Science in Public Health. The duration of the programmes is between 1 and 1.5 years full-time, and for part-time students, the duration will be longer. The entry requirement for the Master programme in Public Health in Malaysia is a medical, dental or pharmacy undergraduate degree, or any other science degree, and with the relevant working experience.
The Doctor of Public Health degree programme is the highest professional degree for individuals focusing on Public Health practice. It is intended for leaders and future leaders in public health who want a flexible career which combines high-level leadership, management and research. Their career pursuits may include applied research, teaching and/or practice in the field of health services and public health administration. In Malaysia, the DrPH programme is available from the University of Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Teknologi Mara.

Public health medicine specialist

The public health medicine specialists are medical specialists in the field of public health registered with the Malaysian National Specialist Registry. The prerequisites for registration is the process of a medical degree who is registered with the Malaysian Medical Council, a Master of Public Health degree, and either a Doctor of Public Health degree or a Doctor of Philosophy degree from a medical or public health school, and with six months to one-year postgraduation working experience in Public Health.

Zambia

Postgraduate education in public health in Zambia has developed in response to national health priorities and the need for trained professionals in disease prevention, health systems management, and population health. Public health programmes are offered by both public and private higher education institutions and are structured to address regional and global public health challenges.
Master of Public Health programmes in Zambia are generally open to candidates from medical, health sciences, and selected non-health disciplines, subject to institutional entry requirements. These programmes typically span one to two academic years for full-time study and combine taught coursework with applied research and field-based learning. Core areas of study commonly include epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, health policy and administration, and social and behavioural sciences.
Doctoral-level programmes, such as the Doctor of Public Health, are designed for experienced professionals seeking advanced roles in public health leadership, policy development, research, or academic teaching. Admission usually requires a relevant master’s degree and professional experience in health or related sectors.
Institutions offering postgraduate public health education in Zambia include the University of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Texila American University Zambia, and Cavendish University Zambia. Graduates of these programmes typically pursue careers in government health services, non-governmental organisations, international agencies, research institutions, and academia.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the MPH or MSc in Public Health is usually a one-year full-time program. Taught modules typically account for two-thirds of the MPH and a project one third. Students may be medical or non-medical graduates. Degrees vary in their content, but most cover similar areas of public health. Because of the key role played by public health practitioners in the NHS a UK MPH also often includes health economics.
Degrees that include a substantial epidemiological component are more selective and some require applicants to demonstrate ability before applying, by the completion of an online test MPH Selection Test.