Master of Science (MSc) in Public Health

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

As shown in the figure below, the MSc PH programme consists of:

• A core of 20 ECTS credits
• A set of advanced courses (25 ECTS credits in total)
• A master thesis (15 ECTS credits)

Core

• CC1: Health Systems & Health Policy
• CC2: Research Methods in Public Health
• CC3: Health Problems & Programmes

TIME SLOT 1

• Health Systems Research Methodology (HSRM)
• Evaluation of Health Programmes EHP)

TIME SLOT 2

• Health Policy & Governance (HPG)
• Multivariable Analysis (MVA)
• Qualitative Mixed Methods (QMM)

TIMESLOT 3

·       Thesis writing workshop

·       Optional: Literature review or Data analysis workshop

TIME SLOT 4

• Sexual & Reproductive Health and HIV: beyond Silos (SRH)
• Data for Action (DAC)
• (New course under development – to be announced at later stage)

TIME SLOT 5

• Health Systems Performance Analysis (HSPA)
• Outbreak Investigation and Research (OIR)
• Non-communicable Diseases (NCD)

TIME SLOT 6

• Health Systems Strengthening (HSS)
• Sustainable approaches to infectious disease control and elimination (SUSTAIN)
• Global Health (GH)

Additional courses (at ITM) ONLY FOR PART-TIME TRACKS

• Pharmaceutical policies in health systems (5 ECTS credits)
• Demographic Health Survey (5 ECTS credits)
• Short course in clinical research and evidence-based medicine (9 ECTS credits)
• Clinical Decision-Making for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (5 ECTS credits)
• Ecology, epidemiology and control of infectious diseases (6 ECTS credits)

THESIS

• Thesis (15 ECTS credits)

FLEXIBILITY

The structure of the MSc PH allows students to build a tailor-made study plan. A provisional study plan is part of the application file. Students have to choose:

• A study track: full-time or part-time
• A set of advanced course components (25 ECTS credits in total)
• A thesis topic

STUDY TRACK (full/part-time)

Students can opt for a full-time (one year) study track at ITM or spread the programme over a period of maximum 5 years in the part-time study track alternating study and work periods. Applicants for the full-time track need to have at least 2 years of relevant public health experience prior to application. Applicants for the part-time track need to have at least 6 months of relevant public health experience prior to application.

CORE COURSE (20 ECTS credits)

The core course consists of 3 course components. Detailed descriptions are available via the links in the course programme structure above.

The core course aims at the development of competencies in the domains of health systems and policy, health problems/programmes, and research methods, each covered by one course component. The students are expected to build on their experience in the application of concepts, frameworks and methods to analyse (local) health systems and health and disease control programmes.

Holders of the ITM postgraduate certificates Research Approaches and Challenges in International Health or Tropical Medicine and International Health, the former ITM credit certificate Introduction to International Health or an equivalent certificate from another higher education institution, can register for the MSc PH full- or part-time track, and be exempted from the 3 core course components, provided they have the relevant professional experience and diploma. As a rule, the validity of the credits of above stated courses are limited to five years, starting from 1 September of the year during which the credit certificate was awarded. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.

ADVANCED COURSE COMPONENTS (25 ECTS credits)

The second part of the programme consists of a number of 14 Advanced Course Components (ACC) and 5 additional courses (only for part-time track students). The second part of the programme is divided into time slots of 3 weeks. Each time slot has 2-3 courses in parallel.

In the first two timeslots methodological courses are organised. These are followed by two timeslots of courses on specific areas or themes. The courses of the last timeslot aim at the integration of concepts and methods in the course Health Systems Strengthening, Sustainable Approaches to Infectious Disease control and Elimination and Global Health.

The courses are organised face-to-face at ITM and have a duration of 3 weeks. Each course corresponds to 5 ECTS credits or 150 hours of student investment time. Please read the course descriptions carefully (click on the hyperlinks).

The ACC allow the students to acquire advanced methodological competencies and apply these methods to specific thematic domains. Students are expected to choose a coherent combination of methodological and thematic courses in function of their learning needs and thesis topic. The resulting study plan should fit within the scope of the MSc PH learning outcomes.

For the design of the study plan, the following criteria are to be considered: 

• Candidates must indicate their preferred ACC at the time of application, and motivate their choice according to their career goals, learning needs or planned thesis subject.
• Previously earned credits from ITM short courses can be accepted if relevant for the study plan and if obtained within 5 years prior upon application (exceptions are on a case-by-case basis).
• Once admitted, students will be further advised. They will be able to adjust their study plan in discussion with the programme coordinator. Their final study plan will be agreed upon before the start of the ACC.

Part-time track students can choose among the above ACC, the additional courses at ITM (see course programme structure) and/or can opt for credit mobility and follow courses at other higher education institutions (for a maximum of 10 ECTS), via:

• Accredited courses offered in the international TropEd network http://www.troped.org/
• Relevant NVAO-accredited courses organised by Flemish/Dutch universities

THESIS (15 ECTS credits)

All students write a thesis and defend it at the end of the academic year in front of the international examination board. The programme provides the students with time for thesis writing in time slot 3 (2 weeks), 1 week between each timeslot (3 x 1 week) and at the end after Timeslot 6 (4,5 weeks). The thesis counts for 15 credits.

The students will select their thesis topic in line with the programme learning outcomes, and personal interests and experience. On application, they submit a draft thesis outline. Admitted students will revise their thesis outline during the core course. Each student will work closely with a thesis coach who will support her/his thesis project and writing process. Students will receive additional support for data analysis, literature review and presentation skills.

During the writing of their thesis, students integrate knowledge, methods and skills acquired during the programme. They will gain the ability to critically appraise their results and personal experiences and reflect on a way forward. They can collect, analyse and use primary and secondary data, including quantitative and qualitative data, carry out literature reviews or develop case studies.

For more detailed information please read the description of the thesis under the Programme Structure above.

https://www.itg.be/en/study/courses/design-evaluation-of-health-programmes

https://www.itg.be/en/study/courses/write-your-paper-based-on-demographic-and-health-survey-dhs-data-on-reproductive-and-child-health/2025-2026?tab=about-the-course

https://www.itg.be/en/study/courses/health-policy-and-systems-research-methodology

https://www.itg.be/en/study/courses/global-health-in-times-of-crises

https://www.itg.be/edu/hshp/2027-2028

Our teaching and learning model is based on interaction, exchange of experiences between participants and staff, and critical reflection on multiple perspectives on contemporary challenges in health. Studying in Antwerp facilitates the student to take a temporary distance from their professional and personal activities, zoom out and explore new ideas.

The lecturers adopt methods that emphasize an active learning approach. These include interactive lectures and student-centred individual learning activities, such as exercises to apply concepts and critically reflect on perspectives, practice for data analysis and information retrieval, and assignments focusing on presenting and writing skills. In addition, students often work in small groups for exercises and discussions on case studies or papers; these are followed by plenary presentations and discussion. For some topics, debates are organised. All course components include individual or group assignments with some degree of individual or collective coaching.

Beyond scheduled contact hours, personal study time is systematically programmed, allowing for reading, personal or group assignments, discussion and reflection.

Reflection and exchange on prior experience is strongly stimulated at different stages of the programme. Personal assignments, for instance, focus on professional experience and require students to apply concepts, analyse problems, and develop contextualized problem-solving competencies. Special focus is also given to cultivating transversal competencies, like communication, teamwork, peer feedback, critical thinking, and reflexivity.

We emphasize the importance of face-to-face learning to foster interaction, but we make use of technology-enhanced learning when appropriate. All teaching materials, including theme-specific readers, are available on the learning management platform Moodle.