This MSc takes a multidisciplinary approach to global health, bringing together Tropical Medicine, Public Health, Social Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Economics and Health Management Sciences. Taught in English, the programme is designed to deepen understanding of worldwide health challenges and to equip students with the mindset and methods needed to examine the factors that shape population health and well‑being.
You will gain practical and conceptual skills for health promotion, disease prevention, clinical management and rehabilitation, as well as for strengthening health systems and informing policy decisions. The course emphasizes the principles, concepts and tools used in program design, implementation and evaluation across diverse settings, especially low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including Medical Anthropology, Social Sciences Research, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Parasitology and Vaccinology, Reproductive and Child Health, Gender and Health, Mental Health, Primary Health Care, Social Determinants of Health, Urban and Environmental Health, Nutrition, Health Project Management, Health Economics, Health Policy, Health Systems Strengthening and Universal Health Coverage. There is particular attention to major endemic diseases in LMICs—infectious diseases such as HIV, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases—alongside chronic and non-communicable diseases. This combination prepares graduates for roles in research, policy, program management and practice within NGOs, international agencies, health systems and academic settings.
Requirements and practical notes
This modular Master’s programme is designed to be flexible for international students and can be taken part‑time or, if you already have relevant professional experience in a low‑ or middle‑income country (LMIC), completed full‑time in one year. The curriculum is built from four components: a 15‑week core course, a set of advanced modules for specialisation, an independent master’s thesis, and at least one year of health‑related professional experience in an LMIC. Each taught element carries European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) points so you can clearly see workload and progression.
The core course (20 ECTS) runs over 15 weeks of full‑time study and develops foundational knowledge and practical skills in international health. It is organised into three blocks: (1) Concepts and Research Methods in International Health — emphasizing study design, quantitative and qualitative methods and evidence appraisal; (2) Health Problems with a focus on Tropical Medicine — covering major disease burdens and clinical/public health approaches in tropical settings; and (3) Health Systems and Management — addressing organisation, financing, policy and management of health services. Learning outcomes include the ability to design and critically appraise research, understand key tropical disease challenges, and apply systems‑level thinking to health service delivery in resource‑constrained settings.
Advanced modules (20 ECTS) let you deepen expertise in selected topics and build a specialisation relevant to your career goals. More than 120 different advanced modules are available through the tropEd network, delivered by partner institutions worldwide, allowing study in areas such as epidemiology, programme management, health economics or infectious disease control. At least 10 ECTS of these advanced module credits must be completed at the Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health at Charité. These modules typically require three to four months of full‑time study and aim to develop advanced analytical, managerial or technical competencies.
The master’s thesis (30 ECTS) is an independent research project supervised by an academic mentor. Thesis formats are flexible — experimental work, diagnostic or intervention research, quantitative or qualitative field studies, policy analyses or systematic reviews are all possible. You may carry out the research at one of tropEd’s partner institutions in Asia, Africa or Central America, or with any suitable organisation in an LMIC. The thesis period is typically four months and is intended to demonstrate your ability to plan, conduct and report a substantive piece of independent research that addresses a practical international health problem.
Key requirements (concise)
Entry requirements
The programme expects applicants to hold a health-related Bachelor's degree that corresponds to 210 ECTS (typically a three-and-a-half-year programme in the European credit framework). International students should note that ECTS equate roughly to 60 credits per full academic year, so 210 ECTS corresponds to about 3.5 years of study.
Applicants who completed a three-year Bachelor's (180 ECTS) in a health-related field may still apply, but must make up the missing 30 ECTS through specified coursework: 15 ECTS of advanced modules plus a 15 ECTS critical literature review. In addition, candidates are required to have at least one year of professional experience after completing their first qualifying degree. Preference is given to those with health-related work experience in low- or middle-income countries; contact the admissions office if you need clarification on how and when the additional 30 ECTS must be completed.
Winter Semester (International)
31 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 March 2026
Graduates are prepared for roles in international and national public health organisations, NGOs, multilateral agencies, ministries of health, research institutions and health policy groups. Typical responsibilities include programme design and management, disease surveillance and control, health systems strengthening, monitoring and evaluation, and policy analysis.
The MSc also provides a strong foundation for research or doctoral study in global health, epidemiology, tropical medicine and related fields, and for technical advisory positions in global health initiatives and development programmes.