This MSc programme in Global Public Health is aimed at graduates from international healthcare programmes who want to develop multidisciplinary skills for work in today’s interconnected and rapidly changing health systems. You will study how public health knowledge is used to manage and promote population health, alongside strategies for disease prevention. The course emphasizes a global perspective, preparing you to respond to challenges across different healthcare contexts.
You will examine public health issues that affect both high-income and low- and middle-income settings, and consider how major global health problems intersect with culture, politics, human rights and ethical principles. The curriculum provides a strong theoretical grounding—top graduates will be well placed to pursue doctoral research or scientific careers in the field of public health.
Curriculum overview This program is organized across three semesters to blend classroom learning, applied skills and independent research. The first two semesters focus on core knowledge and methodological training—covering epidemiology, health data analytics, digital health, public health fundamentals, the economics of health systems, law and ethics, and research methods—alongside elective choices to tailor your studies. The final semester is dedicated to an extended master's thesis supported by tutorials and scientific writing guidance.
Key modules and learning outcomes Core modules such as Epidemiology and Health Data Analytics, Digital Health, and Essentials of Global Public Health equip you to interpret population-level data, use digital tools in health practice, and understand the major determinants of health worldwide. Courses in Sustainable Health Economy and Universal Health Coverage develop the ability to assess financing and policy approaches for equitable health systems. Global Public Health Law and Ethics and Project Management strengthen your capacity to apply legal/ethical frameworks and manage health programs. Research Methods and the Research Methods and Writing Skills components prepare you to design studies, analyse results, and communicate findings; the concluding thesis and scientific writing tutorials train you to conduct independent research and produce publishable-quality work.
Practical relevance for international students Electives in each semester let you deepen specialist interests (e.g., health policy, informatics, or programme implementation) and adapt the degree to different career paths such as policy, research, NGO work, or digital health innovation. The mix of quantitative skills, legal/ethical insight, and project management makes the curriculum applicable across varied health systems and global contexts.
Program modules (by semester)
This programme requires a recognised university entrance qualification and a relevant undergraduate degree with a sufficient number of ECTS credits. International applicants should check their eligibility via the DAAD if their prior qualification is not the general German university entrance qualification. ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is used to measure study workload; international students should verify how their home-country credits translate to ECTS.
Academic prerequisites focus on subject relevance and credit volume: applicants must hold a bachelor’s (or equivalent) in health, medicine, a natural science, or another health-related field with either 210 ECTS, or at minimum 180 ECTS. If you have only 180 ECTS, you may make up the missing 30 ECTS by taking suitable university modules offered by the Deggendorf Institute of Technology. In addition, admission requires successful completion of an assessment test. Language requirements apply — check the programme’s official information for the exact language proof needed.
Admission requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
15 June 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 June 2026
Graduates are prepared for roles in public health practice, policy and research — for example as health data analysts, project managers, advisors in NGOs or international organisations, public-sector policy officers, or professionals in the health industry. The programme’s combination of quantitative methods, policy and ethics also supports transition into research roles or positions focusing on universal health coverage and digital health innovation.
Top-performing students who wish to stay in academia will have a theoretical and methodological foundation to continue into doctoral (PhD) programmes or to work in scientific research institutions.