Tuition: $300 (UGX 1,170,000) Per Module
About the Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health features a challenging variety of core modules such as Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Policy, Planning & Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Monitoring and Evaluation for Healthcare Service Delivery Programs and many others intended to give students the theoretical basis, technological awareness and social responsibility needed for developing, operating and advancing health and healthcare management. Globally, there is a high burden of disease due to the high prevalence of preventable communicable and non-communicable diseases. Whereas the developed world has a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes and hypertension, developing countries like Uganda and other countries in Africa have a persistently high burden of communicable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition to mention but a few. To make matters worse, now they have entered an epidemiologic transition in which non-communicable diseases are on the increase even before the communicable diseases are eliminated. It is estimated that non-communicable diseases will be the leading cause of mortality in developing countries by 2030. Ministry of Health (1997) through the first Uganda’s National Health Policy emphasised the importance of Public Health, Health Promotion and disease prevention approaches at all levels, however this policy is challenged by, among others, inadequacy of suitably qualified health professionals, especially public health cadres. Through different specializations that include: # Health Economic and Financing, # Public Health Nutrition, and # Health Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, learners are groomed to demonstrate advanced understanding, skills and the integrity needed to produce successful outcomes in the public health sphere. At this Master’s level, the learners are facilitated to develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, research and communication skills that are essential in advancing to leadership roles in a variety of settings and organisations.
What you will learn
In this programme, you will take 10 modules each weighted at 5 Credit Units and write a Master’s dissertation worth 10 Credit Units in the specific area of Public Health. You are free to take a minimum of 1 module to a maximum of three modules in a term. A term is made up of 3 months of study and one week of final module examination. Each student shall spend an additional 6 to 9 months of supervised dissertation writing to fulfill the requirements for the Master of Public Health). Therefore, this study model provides the flexibility that enables you to complete the MPH programme in 2 to 4 academic years depending on the pace that suits your schedule and learning goals.
You will study:
There is a growing realisation that many people can enroll into MPH from different academic backgrounds. With this rationale, a foundational course in public health is used in this program to bring everyone enrolled to the same level. In developing the foundational course Principles and Practice of Public Health, extensive case studies were used. The objective is close the gap of lack of sufficient basic exposure to concepts of public health and health promotion by the incoming students.
Foundational Course for the Programme
- Principles and Practice of Public Health
Institutional Requirements (Mandatory)
- Critical Thinking and Decision Making
- Research Methodology
Core Modules (Mandatory)
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Health Policy, Planning and Management
- Advancing Community Health & Primary Health Care
- Issues in Public Health
Supportive/Electives (Optional)
- Health Communication and Promotion
- Population Studies and Reproductive Health
- Key Issues in Public Health
Specialisation 1: Health Economics and Financing
- Health economics and microeconomic theory
- Health Economic Evaluation Methods
- Health Financing and Healthcare Equity
- Economic Analysis for Health Policy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Specialisation 2: Public Health Nutrition
- Nutrition in the human lifecycle, health & disease
- Nutrition assessment and interventions
- Nutrition Policy: Food Security and Human Rights
- Nutrition in Emergencies
Specialisation 3: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
- MEL for Complex Health Intervention Programmes
- MEL in Health Systems Financing
- Human Resources for Health
- Monitoring and Evaluation for Health Care Service Delivery Programs
MPH Dissertation in the area of Public Health (Mandatory for all specialisation areas)
Career Paths:
Graduates of NIU’s MPH are qualified for a number of jobs that call for their background and knowledge. Our MPH graduates can be employed for roles as: Public Health Specialist; Head of Public Health Intelligence; Health Partnership Programme Manager; Health Promotion Campaign Manager; Epidemiologist; Health Data Analyst; Project Coordinator; Public Health Advisor; Health Protection Specialist; Public Health Screening Coordinator; Vascular Prevention Programme Coordinator; Health Improvement Practitioner; Public Health Specialist: Healthy Living; and Lecturer in Public Health. Other MPH students may go on to PhDs at other universities.