KIT Institute

Master of Science in Public Health and Health Equity (MPH-HE)

Amsterdam, Netherlands

DURATION

1 up to 4 Years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time, Part time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

15 Jun 2025*

EARLIEST START DATE

08 Sep 2025

TUITION FEES

EUR 20,600 / per year **

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

* Scholarship Deadlines: see KIT website for more information.

** EUR 20.600 (full-time fee track 1-4) // EUR 13.200 (full-time fee track 5) // EUR 13.850 (part-time fee track 5)

Introduction

The Master of Public Health and Health Equity 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.

Duration full-time tracks: 1 year. Part-time option for this master programme possible (see track 5).

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

KIT has launched the ‘Women Leaders in Global Health Development Initiative’ and as part of this initiative, we strongly encourage women to apply.

The MPH-HE is organized by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and is accredited by the Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO).

Content

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 others, 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.

Gallery

Admissions

Student Testimonials

Curriculum

Program

Course start date

Academic year 2025-2026: from 8 September 2025 until 28 August 2026

First trimester: Core Course in Public Health and Health Equity

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

The introduction to the MPH starts with learning and communication skills that will be needed throughout the course. These include skills in internet searches for health-related information and literature, presentation, and writing skills.

In the first trimester, students are introduced to the broad categories of factors that influence health: culture, lifestyle, socioeconomic, political, and natural environments and the impact of the health care delivery system. Throughout the course, there is a strong emphasis on the gendered nature of many of these factors.

Basic concepts and tools for the analysis and discussion of health problems through modules in health planning and management are introduced, including health economics and financing and epidemiology and statistics. The basic knowledge and skills acquired or reinforced in the first part of the course will be applied to a practical strategic planning exercise carried out in small groups. Towards the end of the first trimester, students begin to clarify their thesis topics and investigate the literature related to those topics.

Second trimester: advanced courses for all 5 tracks.

Health Planning and Programming
Qualitative Health Systems Research
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

And specialisation courses per track. Visit our website for all detailed information.

Learning methods

The content of the course is practice-based and oriented as much as possible to the working situation of participants. Contact between teaching staff and students is intensive throughout the course. Students learn through lectures, discussions, group work, individual presentations, case studies, exercises, study visits, an internet-based virtual learning environment and ‘serious gaming’, self-reflection, self-study, and written assignments including a thesis. They receive study material before each module. During the lessons, students share information about health issues of countries in which they have worked and compare experiences. Online repositories are used for learning material. Laptops and/or tablets are required.

Study load

A total of 60 EC credit points must be accumulated for successful completion of the MPH program. The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between institutions at the same academic level. 1 EC requires 28 hours of student time, which includes class time and independent study.

Graduation requirements

Each module is assessed by means of either a written examination or a take-home assignment. At the end of the program, an independent external examination committee assesses the thesis and the candidate’s oral examination.

If the overall assessment is satisfactory, the degree of Master of Public Health is awarded. Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the degree may be eligible for a certificate of attendance.