Master of Public Health (M.P.H) - Course Details, Eligibility, Fees, Exams, Scope, Careers, Degree

Master of Public Health (M.P.H) is a two-year postgraduate programme that provides studies in public health and related areas. More than 100 colleges, which include over 80 private colleges and 24 government colleges, offer MPH programmes in India. The MPH degree programme consists of a curriculum covering core and elective courses.

Some of the areas where students can get an MPH degree are community medicine and public health, clinical epidemiology, health informatics, health science, and more. Admission to an M.P.H degree is offered based on entrance exams such as NEET PG and CUET PG. The fee of the programme may vary depending on the institute, ranging from Rs 24,000 to Rs 3 lakhs.

Highlights – M.P.H (Master of Public Health)

Why Choose MPH?

The Master of Public Health programme is focused on developing public health administrators with expertise in public health. The course covers topics such as disease characteristics, prevention and cure, crisis management, strategic health policies, and regulatory affairs.

The MPH degree programme emphasises improving the disease prevention measures that carry a huge threat to public health. It also aims at health treatment and prepares students to be responsible enough in promoting community awareness about injury, violence prevention, communicable and non-communicable diseases and other diseases that affect health and safety.

The Master of Public Health programme is beneficial for candidates who aspire to improve themselves in the field of healthcare management and administration. The course also helps develop practical skills and knowledge in areas related to public health specifically focusing on the crisis and endemic conditions.

Master of Public Health Eligibility

The MPH course eligibility criteria can vary from one institute to another. However, there are certain requirements that students need to fulfil in order to enroll in the MPH degree programme.

• Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in any of the health sciences fields such as MBBS, BDS, BPT, Nursing, Biomedical engineering, and other professional health science courses.

• Students who are in the final year of their graduation can apply for the programme.

Master of Public Health Admissions

Candidates meeting the eligibility criteria can apply for admission to an MPH degree programme by visiting the official websites of their respective colleges. Admission to the programme is done based on merit and entrance exams.

The MPH course admission process involves filling in the registration form, proof of academic credentials, work experience, references (academic or professional) and a Statement of Purpose (SOP). Candidates are advised to follow the admission guidelines defined by the universities and institutes.

The common admission procedure to get admission to the Master of Public Health programme is as follows:

• Candidates are required to check the university/institute website they wish to take admission in.

• Candidates must ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria set by the institute or university.

• They are then required to fill in the admission form and provide the necessary documents asked by the university.

Master of Public Health Examination

Candidates willing to pursue the MPH degree programme are required to qualify for an entrance examination. The entrance examination requirement may vary depending on the institute. Some of the popular MPH entrance exams are CUET PG and NEET PG.

Candidates must keep certain things in mind while preparing for the admission to Master of Public Health:

• Practical knowledge: Candidates to have practical knowledge to pursue the MPH degree programme. It is essential as the programme is a medical domain course and requires on-field experience.

• Presentation skills: Candidates are required to have presentation skills to present their work during their course or after the course completion. So having presentation skills would give an added advantage.

• Understanding of the field: As an MPH student, it is important to have an understanding of the public health sector. This will help learners perform better in their work setting and spread awareness about health.

Master of Public Health Syllabus

The syllabus of the MPH programme is designed in such a way that it provides insights into public health management, its importance and ways to improve health. The syllabus is divided into four semesters covering core subjects and electives. Below we have discussed the semester-wise MPH course syllabus of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

MPH 1st Year Syllabus

The MPH 1st year syllabus emphasises the organisation of public health services. Some of the subjects are epidemiology, nutrition, and maternal and child health. The table below shows the MPH first year syllabus.

MPH 2nd Year Syllabus

The MPH second year includes core and optional subjects. During the last semester, students are required to submit Field Work Report Writing. In the table below we have discussed the 2nd year subjects of MBBS degree. The table below shows the MPH second year syllabus.

MPH Optional Courses

The MPH course syllabus also consists of optional courses which are offered during the second and third semesters. The table below shows the MPH optional courses.

Top MPH Colleges by Location

Several government and private colleges in India offer an MPH degree. Students can enroll in their chosen colleges based on their academic performance and admission exam results. Here is a list of the MPH colleges in India's major cities.

Master of Public Health Specialisations

The MPH programme trains students to play a better role in promoting community awareness about injury, violence prevention, communicable and non-communicable diseases and other issues that affect health and safety. The course offers several specialisations that students can choose based on their preferences. Given below are some popular MPH specialisations chosen by candidates:

• Clinical Epidemiology
• Public Health Dentistry
• Biostatistics
• Public Health Policy & Management
• Public Health Education

What after Master of Public Health?

The scope for Master of Public Health graduates is huge. Candidates with a good academic record and a little experience in the field can expect a great start for a career in health science. Job opportunities are available for MPH graduates from government to private hospitals, NGOs, and other healthcare units.

After completing the MPH programme, students are required to work on improving health by creating awareness among young people on the importance of healthcare and different ways to avoid diseases. They can also get countless perks in the field of health sciences while pursuing challenging and leadership roles.

Careers Opportunities after M.P.H. Degree

There are various career opportunities available for the MPH graduates. They can work in the private as well as public sectors. Some of the popular job profiles after an MPH degree are as follows:

Healthcare Administrator: A Healthcare Administrator is someone who oversees the mundane administrative operations of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Also known as Health Service Managers, they are responsible for planning and supervising all medical services. The responsibilities of a healthcare administrator include monitoring budgets and updating health records.

Health Informatics Specialist: A Health Informatics Specialist is a professional who is not on the front lines of healthcare. Generally, he or she cannot be found roaming the halls of hospitals or interacting with patients. But, as computers and technology become increasingly all over the place, Health Informatics Specialists play an important role in the medical care we all receive.

Epidemiologist: An Epidemiologist is responsible for planning and directing studies of public health problems to find ways to prevent and treat the problems. He or she also collects and analyses data through observations, interviews, surveys, and samples of blood or other bodily fluids to find the causes of diseases or other health problems.

Environmental Scientist: An Environmental Scientist is responsible for studies in the field of environmental science. He or she works on many different tasks involving environmental and public health. Environmental Scientists work locally or abroad on the public health of different populations.

Biosecurity Specialist: A biosecurity specialist is tasked with developing and implementing different safety measures related to biosecurity. Biosecurity specialists are required to create plans and develop new procedures to ensure that a population within a region, including any public health professionals present, has a safety protocol to follow should a biological emergency or risk occur.

Conclusion

MPH is one of the degree programmes that provide students with public health education and research activities. After the programme, learners can apply their ideas to influence program organisation and management, critical thinking and problem-solving in the public health domain.