Focused on poverty-related health problems in low and middle income countries, the MSc in International Health course at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH) covers areas like promotion of health, prevention and treatment of disease, palliative care and rehabilitation. Studies of health systems, health economics, health policy, and management of health services are central.
Universität Heidelberg
| Location | Heidelberg has a population of around 135,000 inhabitants and is situated in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg in the south-western part of Germany. The city of Frankfurt with the nearest international airport is 90 km away. Besides the marvellous scenery and many historic attractions, Heidelberg is renowned as an important centre for teaching and research in Germany. The University of Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany, founded in 1386. Today, more than 27,000 students are enrolled with a high proportion of international students (ca. 18 per cent). |
| Course focus | International Health Focuses on poverty-related health problems in low and middle income countries. It includes the promotion of health, prevention and treatment of disease, palliative care and rehabilitation. Studies of health systems, health economics, health policy, and management of health services are central. A cursory view of diverse aspects of health in many developing countries shows a need for improved health policy, more efficient organisation and management at all levels of health systems, and sustainable financing. In order to make health services accessible to the people who need them most, reforms are urgently needed both at the policy-making level and on the delivery side. The MScIH was developed with these factors in mind.Teaching Approach Participatory teaching and learning methods are the underlying didactic concepts of the course. Participants are expected to take an active part throughout the course, e.g., small group work, individual study time and assignments, presentations based on their own working experience, case studies and group discussion.Structure The course has three distinct parts, each accounting for 20 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). In this system, credit points are given on the basis of Student Investment Time, i.e., how much time a student “invests” in a given topic (including lecture time, group work and individual learning time). The three parts of the MScIH are:
The course covers the diverse aspects of international health and may be taken either as part-time study within the TROPED network or as a compact one-year residential programme at Heidelberg (for details please see: http://www.ukl-hd.de/ph/MSCIH). DAAD scholarships are available for the residential programme. Quality Assurance A maximum of 25 students are accepted into the programme, which guarantees an intensive personal contact with lecturers and academic supervisors throughout the programme. |
| Target group | The MScIH is intended for physicians and other health-related academic professionals with at least two years’ work experience. Its focus is to provide students with a solid foundation in international public health principles and competency with the tools and methods necessary to initiate programmes that would improve health services in an efficient, sustainable and equitable way.
Career Perspective |
| Course language | English |
| Entry requirements | Degree in medicine or any other equivalent academic degree (minimum of four years Bachelor or Master’s degree, conform to the standard of Heidelberg University) plus at least two years of professional experience in a public health related position.
English language proficiency: if an applicant’s first language is not English, he/she is requested to provide evidence of his/her English language proficiency with a TOEFL or IELTS test (TOEFL required minimum score: 237 computer based, 92-93 internet based, 580 paper based, IELTS required minimum: Band 6.5) |
| Degree Awarded | Master of Science in International Health (MScIH) |
| Course Begins | September |
| Course Duration | 12 months |
| Module Handbook |
MScIH Module Handbook |
| Duration of German language course prior to the course | 2 months (for students awarded a DAAD-scholarship) |
| Application | An overview of the course can be found here: https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/Master-of-Science-in-International-Health.7084.0.html
Self-funding applicants can find all the information relevant to tuition and application here: https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/How-to-Apply.7131.0.html Applications for a DAAD scholarship must be completed separately using the DAAD application form. |
