Medicine / Public HealthMaster of Sci<strong>en</strong>ce in International Health (Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg)InstitutionLocationCourse focusRuprecht-Karls-Universität Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg (Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg University),Institute of Public HealthHei<strong>de</strong>lberg has a population of around 135,000 inhabitants and is situatedin the state of Ba<strong>de</strong>n-Wuerttemberg in the south-western part ofGermany. The city of Frankfurt with the nearest international airport is90 km away. Besi<strong>de</strong>s the marvellous sc<strong>en</strong>ery and many historic attractions,Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg is r<strong>en</strong>owned as an important c<strong>en</strong>tre for teaching andresearch in Germany. The University of Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg is the ol<strong>de</strong>st universityin Germany, foun<strong>de</strong>d in 1386. Today, more than 27,000 stu<strong>de</strong>ntsare <strong>en</strong>rolled with a high proportion of international stu<strong>de</strong>nts (ca. 18 perc<strong>en</strong>t).International HealthFocuses on poverty-related health problems in low and middle incomecountries. It inclu<strong>de</strong>s the promotion of health, prev<strong>en</strong>tion and treatm<strong>en</strong>tof disease, palliative care and rehabilitation. Studies of healthsystems, health economics, health policy, and managem<strong>en</strong>t of healthservices are c<strong>en</strong>tral. A cursory view of diverse aspects of health inmany <strong>de</strong>veloping countries shows a need for improved health poli-accessible to the people who need them most, reforms are urg<strong>en</strong>tlynee<strong>de</strong>d both at the policy-making level and on the <strong>de</strong>livery si<strong>de</strong>. TheM.Sc.IH was <strong>de</strong>veloped with these factors in mind.Teaching ApproachParticipatory teaching and learning methods are the un<strong>de</strong>rlying didacticconcepts of the course. Participants are expected to take an activepart throughout the course, e.g., small group work, individual studytime and assignm<strong>en</strong>ts, pres<strong>en</strong>tations based on their own workingexperi<strong>en</strong>ce, case studies and group discussion.StructureThe course has three distinct parts, each accounting for 20 ECTS(European Credit Transfer System). In this system, credit points aregiv<strong>en</strong> on the basis of Stu<strong>de</strong>nt Investm<strong>en</strong>t Time, i.e., how much time astu<strong>de</strong>nt “invests” in a giv<strong>en</strong> topic (including lecture time, group workand individual learning time). The three parts of the M.Sc.IH are:1. A three-month core module, providing a basic overview on ess<strong>en</strong>tialtopics in International Health.2. Advanced modules, offering more in-<strong>de</strong>pth learning on selectedtopics.3. A thesis module, allowing for gui<strong>de</strong>d individual research work with aThe course covers the diverse aspects of international health and maybe tak<strong>en</strong> either as part-time study within the TROPED network oras a compact one-year resi<strong>de</strong>ntial programme at Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg(for <strong>de</strong>tails please see: http://www.ukl-hd.<strong>de</strong>/ph/MSCIH).DAAD scholarships are available for the resi<strong>de</strong>ntial programme.101
Medicine / Public HealthMaster of Sci<strong>en</strong>ce in International Health (Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg)Target groupCourse languageEntry requirem<strong>en</strong>tsDegree awar<strong>de</strong>dCourse beginsCourse durationDuration of Germanlanguage courseprior to beginningof programmeQuality AssuranceThe programme is accredited at the national level. All taught parts(Core Course, Advanced Modules) are additionally accredited in theTROPED network. An international standard is further <strong>en</strong>sured by facultymembers of other Institutes of Public Health acting as lecturersand external examiners.A maximum of 25 stu<strong>de</strong>nts are accepted into the programme, whichguarantees an int<strong>en</strong>sive personal contact with lecturers and aca<strong>de</strong>micsupervisors throughout the programme.The M.Sc.IH is int<strong>en</strong><strong>de</strong>d for physicians and other health-related aca<strong>de</strong>micprofessionals with at least two years’ work experi<strong>en</strong>ce. Its focusis to provi<strong>de</strong> stu<strong>de</strong>nts with a solid foundation in international publichealth principles and compet<strong>en</strong>cy with the tools and methods necessaryto initiate programmes that would improve health services in anCareer PerspectiveGraduates are expected to take up policy, planning, managem<strong>en</strong>t orteaching positions in, for example, international organisations, ministriesof health, national health programmes, non-governm<strong>en</strong>t organisationsand universities.EnglishDegree in medicine or any other equival<strong>en</strong>t aca<strong>de</strong>mic <strong>de</strong>gree (minimumof four years Bachelor or Master’s <strong>de</strong>gree, conform to the standardof Hei<strong>de</strong>lberg University) plus at least two years’ professionalexperi<strong>en</strong>ce in a public health related position.English, he/she is requested to provi<strong>de</strong> evi<strong>de</strong>nce of his/her English(TOEFL required minimum score: 237 computer based, 92-93 internetbased, 580 paper based, IELTS required minimum: Band 6.5)The typical scholarship hol<strong>de</strong>r is no ol<strong>de</strong>r than 36, respectively his/heraca<strong>de</strong>mic <strong>de</strong>grees should normally be no ol<strong>de</strong>r than 6 years.Master of Sci<strong>en</strong>ce in International Health (M.Sc.IH)22 September 201412 months2 months (for stu<strong>de</strong>nts awar<strong>de</strong>d a DAAD-scholarship)102