University of Groningen

MSc in Interdisciplinary Research in Health Dynamics

Do you want to learn how health systems influence prevention and health outcomes at the population level? Then the Health Systems and Prevention (HSP) track is the right choice for you!

HSP is one of the two specialized tracks from the research master's in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology.

Responding to current health issues

This track combines cutting-edge interdisciplinary research with practical policy questions, aiming to solve complex public health problems related to societal issues like an aging population, increasing levels of chronic diseases, widening health inequalities, migration, and urbanization.

An interdisciplinary approach

In this track, you learn to tackle issues like these from various academic disciplines, as you are taught and supervised by experts in economics, spatial sciences, psychology, sociology, and medicine. The track is a small-scale selective program and is an initiative of the University Medical Center Groningen and the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health.

Applying research to real-world situations

A unique element of the program is the internship, a learning period during which students can collaborate with national and/or international societal partners such as the Ministry of Health, health insurers, municipal health services, occupational health services, and social security institutes. In this setting, you will develop skills for putting research into practice, in order to make a measurable impact on public health.

Why study this program in Groningen?

When selecting the Health and Prevention track you can look forward to:

• Focusing on future public health challenges
• Combining cutting-edge research with real-world policy issues to develop evidence-based prevention strategies
• Being involved in pioneering research alongside leading researchers
• Taking part in and contributing to projects of a non-academic (health) organization through an internship
• Becoming part of a close-knit international cohort of a maximum of 35 students
• Engaging in a stimulating multidisciplinary and intercultural approach to problem-solving
• Receiving ongoing individual guidance and mentorship for your personal and professional growth

Research

Research within the HSP track aims to contribute to strengthening the organization of health systems including the capacities of healthcare professionals, to deal with the demographic and societal changes, and to protect populations at risk for adverse outcomes. In this track, we focus our research in particular on the future public health challenges, for example aging population, increasing levels of chronic disease, widening inequalities, migration, and urbanization.

Examples of research questions from previous HSP students:

• Physical Accessibility to Public Healthcare Facilities and Undernutrition in Children Under 5 in Uganda
• Towards a stratified approach of population colorectal cancer screening: An analysis of literature and family history in a high-risk population and general population (Lifelines)
• A long-term prediction of multidimensional social inclusion in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder
• Country score tool for readiness assessment and evidence generation of immunization programs in aging adults in Europe
• Labour Market Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Examining the Prevalence and Determinants of Poor Labour Market Outcomes Using the Lifelines COVID-19 Cohort