Master of Science in Public Health and Health Equity
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Master degree
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 21,960 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EUR 21.960 2026-2027 fulltime. Visit our website for parttime fees and more information
Key Summary
The Master of Public Health and Health Equity (MPH-HE) is a mid-career Master of Science programme, organised by KIT Institute and the VU University Amsterdam. The MPH-HE offers a contemporary and interdisciplinary curriculum with a primary emphasis on health equity in low-resource settings with disadvantaged populations, using a gender and inclusive approach. It is meant for professionals working in health service delivery or health management, in national health systems or international organisations.
Important: This Master programme is a merger of the former Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master in International Health (MIH) and since September 2024 it replaced both programmes.
The Master in Public Health and Health Equity programme offers five specialisaton tracks, allowing you to tailor your studies to your specific interests.
Four full-time, 12 month tracks:
- Health Systems and Policy
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Epidemiology
- Tailor-made track
One part-time customizable track:
- Selected Challenges and Solutions in Public Health can be completed in 1-5 years. This track provides the flexibility to take modules at KIT and at other member institutions of the tropEd network.
Public Health and Health Equity in a Changing Environment
Health systems in low- and middle-income countries face a wide range of complex challenges. These include, among other challenges, the inequalities in health and healthcare; the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases; the unfolding demographic transition; and the health needs in fragile and conflict-affected settings. These challenges disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Addressing these issues requires well-trained professionals, capable of solving complex public health problems systematically, in either a public or private sector organisation responsible for public health. To this end, the MPH-HE programme specifically focusses on health equity in low-resource settings and in high-resource settings with disadvantaged populations, using a gender and inclusive approach.
Programme Objectives
The MPH-HE is designed to enable mid-career professionals, working at any level (subnational, national, international, global) within the health system, to use an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to address public health issues. In all programme components, participants are encouraged to interact with participants from other backgrounds and countries, who may face similar issues but with alternative solutions.
The Master’s in Public Health and Health Equity is aimed at health professionals, such as doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as social scientists, (health) economists and other professionals, who already work in public health in low- and middle-income settings and/or with marginalised communities and are seeking a deeper understanding through training (or a degree) in public health.
It is also directed at professionals working mostly in health service delivery who are considering a career switch to public health. In addition, this programme would prepare you to work with refugees or disadvantaged populations in a high-income country. You may aim to work at a national or decentralised level (region, district, local authority) with the government or you may want to participate in healthcare projects with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
If you would like to finish your programme in one year and remain in KIT during the year, you can apply for the full-time programme, indicating your preference for one of the four tracks described above. If you would like to take more time, be flexible, and possibly take courses outside KIT, you can apply for the track Selected Challenges and Solutions in Public Health.
The arrangement of financial support to cover all study costs is the responsibility of the applicant.
Some candidates are sponsored by their own governments, universities or employers while others apply for fellowships offered through the United Nations and its specialised agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, WB, UNDP or through other international programmes, such as those of OECD, EU or OAS. There are scholarship opportunities from World Bank, MENA and KIT Fund. For more information on these and other possibilities, go to the KIT scholarship web page.
Programme Structure
The entire MPH-HE programme encompasses three parts of 20 credits (EC) each:
- Core Course
- Specialisation Courses
- Thesis
First trimester
Core Course in Public Health and Health Equity (20 EC)
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
Second trimester
Specialisation Courses (20 EC)
Three initial ‘specialisation courses’ are common across the full-time tracks (Epidemiology, Health Systems and Policy, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights):
- Qualitative Health Systems Research
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Health Planning and Programming
The tailor-made track (full-time) and the Selected Challenges and Solutions in Public Health track (full-time or part-time) allow for a flexible choice of specialisation courses.
All tracks have specific ‘advanced specialisation courses’, presented below.
Participants can choose from the following 5 study tracks:
- Track 1: Health Systems and Policy
- Track 2: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Track 3: Epidemiology
- Track 4: Tailor-made track
- Track 5: Selected Challenges and Solutions in Public Health
Third trimester
3. Thesis (20 EC)
The third trimester consist of the following three parts:
- Study tour
- Thesis
- Oral examination
The thesis focuses on a topic relevant to your chosen track and current or envisaged work environment. Guided by a thesis advisor, you will write a thesis on a significant health issue in your country or another geographical scope, systematically analysing the core problem and suggesting solutions based on qualitative and quantitative data or literature review or both.
After completing the Master’s programme, you will be able to:
- Critically examine current and emerging health issues, and analyse determinants and identify needs, in different population groups.
- Appraise the role of health systems in terms of goals, functions, actors and performance.
- Identify research needs, appraise research methods and results, generate ethically sound evidence, and translate results into policy and practice.
- Develop, implement, and monitor and evaluate, cost-effective, quality, and community-centred programmes and interventions.
- Analyse, influence, and develop policies, taking into account evidence and context.
- Professionally collaborate, and network and effectively communicate in a multi-disciplinary, inter-sectoral and multi-cultural setting.
- Work towards and advocate for the principles of equity and human rights.
- Critically self-reflect and professionally develop your attitudes, motivations, practices, and values, to act as an agent of change.
The content of the course is practice-based and oriented as much as possible to the working situation of participants. Staff/student contact is intensive throughout the course. Students learn through lectures, discussion, group work, individual presentations, case studies, exercises, study visits, an internet-based virtual learning environments and ‘serious gaming’, self-reflection, self-study and written assignments including a thesis.
They receive study material before each module. During the lessons they share information about health issues of countries in which they have worked in and compare experiences. Online repositories are used for learning material; laptops and/or tablets are required.