Global Health-Related Master’s Programs in Northern Europe

Introduction
For students interested in global health, there are a number of master programs to choose from. Some of these programs focus specifically on global health, while others focus on closely related topics such as health economics, humanitarian action or sustainable development. The committee for global health have compiled information about programs in Sweden, and a few from other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, and Norway), to make it easier for prospective master students to overlook the opportunities. If you know about an additional program that should be included on the list, let us know and we will be happy to consider including it!

The most updated information on each program is always found on the program website. We therefore refer you to the respective program website for specific details, application deadlines and other questions!

Master’s in Public Health

The Master’s in Public Health program provides an interdisciplinary perspective for understanding the links between society and health, drawing from such diverse disciplines as sociology, psychology, public policy, and quantitative research methods. This program in Northern Europe emphasizes the impact of welfare policies on health and its distribution in society. All programs require successful completion of a master’s thesis in public health, typically entailing 30 credit hours. Furthermore, some of these programs require students to complete a minimum number of elective courses and/or an internship with a relevant organization.

Stockholm University - Master’s in Population Health: Societal and Individual Perspectives

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Stockholm Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 for international students; April 16 for students within the EU/EEA (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://www.su.se/publichealth/english/education/courses-and-programmes/advanced-level/master-s-programme/courses-within-the-programme

*In the third semester, students can take an optional course, which can either be an individual in-depth course or traineeship. The traineeship can include work at organization, public health authority, or university department.

Umeå University – Master’s programme in Public Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Umea, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 for international students; April 15 for students within the EU/EEA (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://www.umu.se/en/education/master/masters-programme-in-public-health/programme-syllabus/

*During the second year, students are required to take electives on advanced topics in public health. During the third semester, students can choose between 1) Advanced Topics in Health Economic Evaluation Methods or 2) Social Epidemiology: Theory and Methods. During the fourth semester, students can choose between 1) Health, Environment, and Sustainability or 2) Planning and Management in Healthcare. Students can choose between doing two separate 15-credit theses during the second semester (Year 1) and fourth semester (Year 2) or doing a cohesive 30-credit master’s thesis with the work divided between the second and fourth semester.

Umeå University – Master's Programme in Public Health (one-year)

Full-time, 1 year (60 ECTS), Umeå, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 for international students; April 15 for students within the EU/EEA (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://www.umu.se/en/education/master/masters-programme-in-public-health-one-year/programme-syllabus/

*This program does not offer any elective courses. Students complete a 15-credit thesis during the second semester of the program. This program offers the same courses as Year 1 of the 2-year Master’s in Public Health Sciences.

Karolinska Institutet – Master’s in Public Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Solna, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://ki.se/en/selma/programme-syllabus/4FH19

*Students can specialize in either 1) Public Health Epidemiology or 2) Health Promotion and Prevention. Both programs require the same core courses the first semester (Year 1) and overlap occasionally in subsequent semesters.

Lund University – Master’s in Public Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Lund, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://www.student.med.lu.se/en/support-tools/course-overview-syllabi/masters-programme-in-public-health

*This program includes gradual specialization in three domains: 1) Health and Society, 2) Theory of Science and Methods of Public Health Science, and 3) Professional Development. The third principal area, Professional Development, requires an elective course or internship, to be completed during the third semester (Year 2).

University of Southern Denmark - Master’s in Public Health Science

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Esbjerg, Denmark

Application Deadline: 1 February for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA students (as of spring 2019).

Program Syllabus: https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/kandidat/folkesundhedsvidenskab/uddannelsens_opbygning

*Each year is organized into four quarters, lasting 8 weeks each. In the second semester (Year 1), students can take courses within their chosen specialization: 1) Health Promotion, 2) Global Health, 3) Risk Research, or 4) Health Economics and Management. In the third semester (Year 2), students continue taking courses within their chosen specialization track. They also have the option of completing an internship or studying abroad.

Södertörn University – Master’s in Infectious Disease Control

Full-time, 1 year (60 ECST), Stockholm, Sweden

Application Deadline: April 15 (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://www.sh.se/program--kurser/program/avancerad/infectious-disease-control/whats-included

*In the second semester, students must complete a 15-credit master’s thesis based on an epidemiological study conducted in a national or international context.

Master’s in Health Economics

The Master’s Program in Health Economics combines economic evaluation methods with public health policy to understand the distribution of resources in society and its impact on public health. Furthermore, this program analyses alternative models of financing healthcare. This program requires students to complete a 30-credit degree project.

University of Gothenburg – Master’s in Public health science with specialization in either health economics or health equality

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Gothenburg, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 for international students; April 16 for students within the EU/EEA (as of fall 2018)

Program syllabus: https://studentportalen.gu.se/digitalAssets/1735/1735733_programme-syllabus.pdf

*In the third semester, students take optional courses, which can either include individual in-depth courses in their chosen specialization or a traineeship/internship course. The traineeship/internship can for example include work at organizations or public health authorities at national or international level.

Umeå University – Master's Programme in Public Health with a Specialization in Health Economics

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECTS), Umeå, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 for international students; April 15 for students within the EU/EEA (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://www.umu.se/en/education/master/master-programme-in-public-health-with-a-specialization-in-health-economics/programme-syllabus/

*The first year of the program is identical to the first year of the 2-year Master’s programme in Public Health at Umeå University. In the third semester (Year 2), students can take one of the following elective courses: 1) Methods and Tools for Economists or 2) two short courses; Evidence-based public health and Equity and health. Furthermore, students can choose between the following elective courses: 1) Social and Environmental Entrepreneurship, 2) Project Management, 3) Environment and Natural Resource Economics, or 4) Advanced Biostatistics and Epidemiology. In the fourth semester (Year 2,) students can take one of the following electives: 1) Health, Environment and Sustainability or 2) Planning and Management in Health Care. Students can choose between doing two separate 15-credit theses during the second semester (Year 1) and fourth semester (Year 2) or doing a cohesive 30-credit master’s thesis with the work divided between the second and fourth semester.

Umeå University – Second year of Master's Programme in Public Health with a Specialization in Health Economics

Full-time, 1 year (60 ECTS), Umea, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 for international students; April 15 for students within the EU/EEA (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://www.umu.se/en/education/master/second-year-of-masters-programme-in-public-health-with-a-specialization-in-health-economics/programme-syllabus/

*Prerequisites for this program is that the student has courses equivalent to a one-year master’s programme in Public Health including 10 ECTS health economics.  The courses resemble the courses offered during Year 2 of the 2-year Health Economics program. In the third semester (Year 2), students can take one of the following elective courses: 1) Methods and Tools for Economists or 2) two short courses; Evidence-based public health and Equity and health. Furthermore, students can choose between the following elective courses: 1) Social and Environmental Entrepreneurship, 2) Project Management, 3) Environment and Natural Resource Economics, or 4) Advanced Biostatistics and Epidemiology. In the fourth semester (Year 2,) students can take one of the following electives: 1) Health, Environment and Sustainability or 2) Planning and Management in Health Care. Students who have not completed another 15-credit master’s thesis must complete a 30-credit thesis during the second semester. Students who have completed a 15-credit master’s thesis for a separate program can complete a 15-credit thesis the spring semester focused on health economics.

Karolinska Institutet – Master’s in Health Economics, Policy, and Management

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Solna, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://ki.se/en/selma/programme-syllabus/4HM17

*Students must complete a degree project in medical management the final semester of the program. Students can specialize in 1) health economics, 2) health policy, or 3) management for the final project.

Master’s in Sustainable or Global Development

The Master’s in Sustainable Development and Master’s in Global Development programs explore poverty and human development on an international scale. Some of these programs offer courses in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and economic evaluation. Students must complete a 30-credit master’s thesis.

Lund University – Master’s in Development Studies

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Lund, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://www.graduateschool.sam.lu.se/education/programmes/master-of-science-in-development-studies/programme-structure-development

*This program is housed within the School of Social Sciences. In the third term, students can choose between taking elective courses, studying abroad, or completing an internship. A handful of students are given the opportunity to study their second year at Fudan University in Shanghai, where they will complete their master’s thesis. In addition to taking courses on Chinese Society and Chinese Culture, students can complete elective courses, ranging from Culture and Health to Chinese Social Development and Globalization.

Study Away Exchange Programs: https://www.sam.lu.se/sites/sam.lu.se/files/student_exchange_agreements_faculty_of_social_sciences.pdf

Lund University – Master's in Innovation and Global Sustainable Development

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Lund, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://lusem.lu.se/study/masters/programmes/innovation-and-global-sustainable-development/courses

*This program is housed within the School of Economics and Management. Students can complete their third semester at Aalborg University and return to Lund for their fourth semester to complete their master’s thesis. Students can complete an optional internship during the summer before Year 2 or during the third semester (Year 2).

Uppsala University – Master’s in Sustainable Development

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Uppsala, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: http://www.uu.se/en/admissions/master/selma/utbplan/?pKod=THU2M&lasar=19%2F20

*This program is housed within the Department of Earth Sciences. In the third semester, students can complete an internship for 15 or 30 credits. 

University of Copenhagen – Master’s in Global Development

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Copenhagen, Denmark

Application Deadline: 15 January for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA students (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://studies.ku.dk/masters/global-development/programme-structure/

*Students must complete a mandatory field course in a low or middle-income country. In the third semester, students can complete electives and/or internship domestically or abroad. Electives can be completed within the following disciplines: 1) anthropology, 2) sociology, 3) political science, 4) economics, 5) geography, 6) food and resource economics and nutrition, and 7) African studies.

Study Away Exchange Programs:

Nordic Partners: https://international.ku.dk/exchange-partners/nordic-partners/

European Partners: https://international.ku.dk/exchange-partners/european-partners/

Global Partners: https://international.ku.dk/exchange-partners/global-partners/

Norwegian University – Master’s in Globalization and Sustainable Development

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Trondheim, Norway

Application Deadline: 1 December for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA citizens; 15 April for Nordic students (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/msglopol/components

*In the second semester, students can select from a variety of electives. In the third semester, students must complete an internship with a relevant organization.

University of Bergen – Master’s in Global Development Theory and Practice

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Bergen, Norway

Application Deadline: 1 December for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA citizens; 15 April for Nordic students

Program Syllabus: https://www.uib.no/en/studies/MAPS-GLODE/table

*The program offers two specializations: 1) Health Promotion and 2) Gender in Global Development. Students can choose between completing both an internship (semester 3) and 30-credit master’s thesis (semester 4) or doing a 60-credit master’s thesis during the third and fourth semesters. Students can complete the internship abroad at a collaborating university or at Norwegian organization. Students have the option of conducting field work abroad for their 60-credit master’s thesis. 

Master’s in Disaster Management or Humanitarian Action

The Master’s in Disaster Management and Master’s in Humanitarian Action programs emphasize risk assessment, preparedness, and capacity development to respond to natural disasters and complex humanitarian crises. Students must complete a 30-credit master’s project.

Lund University - Master's in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Lund, Sweden

Program Syllabus: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/sites/www.lunduniversity.lu.se/files/drmcca-programme-overview-2018.pdf

*This program housed within the Department of Engineering. Students have the option of taking a 15-credit internship course during the third semester (Year 2).

Karolinska Institutet - Public health in disasters

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST)

Program Syllabus: http://publichealthdisasters.eu/

*Thisprogram is is a joint academic programme offered by the Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster of the Universidad de Oviedo (Spain), the Centre for Research on Health Care in Disaster at the Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), and the Department of Primary Care and Population Health of the University of Nicosia Medical School (Cyprus).

Uppsala University – Master’s in International Humanitarian Action

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Uppsala, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA citizens (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: http://www.uu.se/en/admissions/master/selma/utbplan/?pKod=HIH2E&lasar=19%2F20

*This program housed within the Department of Theology in conjunction with the Department of Law and Department of Women’s and Children’s Health. In the second semester, students must go on “mobility” to another European University within the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA). These universities include Universidad de Deusto in Spain, Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany, Université Aix-Marseille in France, University College Dublin in Ireland, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in the Netherlands, Uniwersytet Warszawski in Poland, and L-Università ta' Maltain Malta. In the third semester, students have the option of studying at a European or non-European university while completing a 10-credit internship or working at a humanitarian organization.

Master’s in Global Health

The Master’s in Global Health program provides students with empirical methods and theoretical perspectives to address global challenges in health. In addition to assessing the global burden of disease, this program looks at the distribution and determinants of health and the relevant social, cultural, and economic characteristics. This program requires students to complete a 30-credit degree project in global health. 

Karolinska Institutet – Master’s in Global Health

Full-time, 1 year (60 ECST), Solna, Sweden

Application Deadline: January 15 (as of fall 2018)

Program Syllabus: https://ki.se/en/selma/programme-syllabus/3GB12

*For the 30-credit master’s thesis, students can conduct research in a low or middle-income country as part of an existing collaboration or ongoing project.

Uppsala University – Master’s in Global Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Uppsala, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://www.uu.se/en/admissions/master/selma/program/?pKod=MGH2M

 

*In the third semester, students’ can either do field research in preparation for the master’s thesis or do an internship at a global health organization. 

University of Gothenburg – Master’s in Global Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Gothenburg, Sweden

Application Deadline: 15 January for internationals students; 15 April for EU/EEA citizens (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus:  https://utbildning.gu.se/education/courses-and-programmes/program_detail/?programid=V2GLH

 

 

University of Copenhagen – Master’s in Global Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Copenhagen, Denmark

Application Deadline: 15 January for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA students (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://studies.ku.dk/masters/global-health/programme-structure/

*In the second semester, students are required to complete a country exposure course in a middle or low-income country in either Europe or Africa. In the second year, students can choose between 4 different tracks to complete elective courses within, either in Denmark or abroad. Furthermore, students can complete an internship to fulfill elective requirements. The specialization tracks include: 1) Global Health: Policy, Financing, and Health Care Systems, 2) Global Health: Disease Burden, Challenges, and Changes, 3) Global Health: E-health and ICT in health, and 4) Global Health: Disaster Risk Management

Norwegian University of Science and Technology – Master’s in Global Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Trondheim, Norway

Application Deadline: 1 December for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA students; 15 April for Nordic students

Program Syllabus: https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/mspuhe/components

*The master’s thesis comprises 60 credit hours and is completed during the third and fourth semesters.

University of Bergen – Master’s in Global Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Bergen, Norway

Application Deadline: 1 December for international students; 1 March for EU/EEA students; 15 April for Nordic students (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://www.uib.no/en/studies/MAMD-GLOB

*In the second semester, students have the option of taking elective courses at the University of Bergen, through the Nordic Network in Global Health, or courses from the tropEd network. In semesters 3 and 4, students can complete a 60-credit master’s thesis or a 30-credit internship in conjunction with a 30-credit master’s thesis.

Arcada University – Master’s in Global Health Care

1.5 years for full-time or 2.5 years for part-time (120 ECST), Helsinki, Finland

Application Deadline: 31 January (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: https://start.arcada.fi/en/curricula/0/580000/593

*In the first year, students must complete all core courses and 5 credits worth of elective studies as well as begin work on the master’s thesis. In the final semester, students must complete a 30-credit master’s thesis.

Tampere University – Master’s in Public and Global Health

Full-time, 2 years (120 ECST), Tampere, Finland

Application Deadline: 23 January (as of spring 2019)

Program Syllabus: http://www.uta.fi/hes/en/studies/master/structure.html

*Students must complete a 10-credit internship abroad or in Finland, either during the summer after Year 1 or during the fourth semester (Year 2). The master’s thesis is to be completed during the final two semesters. Furthermore, students must complete 15 credits worth of elective courses in the second and third semesters, either at UTA or other universities in Tampere or elsewhere (e.g. Unipid course).