Master of Public Health (M.P.H) - Course Details, Eligibility, Fees, Exams, Scope, Careers, Degree

Master of Public Health (M.P.H) is a two-year postgraduate programme that provides studies in public health and related areas. More than 100 colleges, which include over 80 private colleges and 24 government colleges, offer MPH programmes in India. The average salary of a healthcare administrator in India is Rs. 3.7 LPA.

Some of the areas where students can get an MPH degree are community medicine and public health, clinical epidemiology, health informatics and health science. Admission to an M.P.H degree is offered based on entrance exams such as NEET PG and CUET PG. The course fee ranges from Rs 24,000 to Rs 5 lakhs.

Highlights: M.P.H (Master of Public Health)

Master of Public Health Fee Structure

The course fee of MPH will vary from college to college. The fee will be less in the public colleges in comparison to the private ones. The fee in private colleges starts from Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 5 Lakhs whereas the fee in government colleges is between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2.31 Lakhs.

Why Choose MPH?

The Master of Public Health programme is focused on developing public health administrators with expertise in public health. The course covers topics such as disease characteristics, prevention and cure, crisis management, strategic health policies, and regulatory affairs.

The MPH degree programme emphasises improving the disease prevention measures that carry a huge threat to public health. It also aims at health treatment and prepares students to be responsible enough in promoting community awareness about injury, violence prevention, communicable and non-communicable diseases and other diseases that affect health and safety.

The Master of Public Health programme is beneficial for candidates who aspire to improve themselves in the field of healthcare management and administration. The course also helps develop practical skills and knowledge in areas related to public health specifically focusing on the crisis and endemic conditions.

Master of Public Health Eligibility

The MPH course eligibility criteria can vary from one institute to another. However, there are certain requirements that students need to fulfil to enrol in the MPH degree programme.

• Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate marks in any of the health sciences fields such as MBBS, BDS, BPT, Nursing, Biomedical engineering, and other professional health science courses.
• Students who are in the final year of their graduation can apply for the programme.

MPH Course Duration

The duration of the Master of Public Health course is two years. The course is structured in four different semesters. The MPH degree programme consists of a curriculum covering core and elective courses.

Skill Required for MPH Course

While taking the Master of Public Health, having certain skills will benefit candidates during the course as well as in their careers. Some of the such skills are listed below:

• Critical Thinking
• Communication Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Research Skills
• Empathy

Master of Public Health Admission

Candidates meeting the eligibility criteria can apply for admission to an MPH degree programme by visiting the official websites of their respective colleges. Admission to the programme is done based on merit and entrance exams.

The MPH course admission process involves filling in the registration form, proof of academic credentials, work experience, references (academic or professional) and a Statement of Purpose (SOP). Candidates are advised to follow the admission guidelines defined by the universities and institutes.

The common admission procedure to get admission to the Master of Public Health programme is as follows:

• Candidates are required to check the university/institute website they wish to take admission in.
• Candidates must ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria set by the institute or university.
• They are then required to fill in the admission form and provide the necessary documents asked by the university.

Top Master of Public Health Entrance Exam

Candidates willing to pursue the MPH degree programme are required to qualify for an entrance examination. The entrance examination requirement may vary depending on the institute. Some of the popular MPH entrance exams are given in the table below:

MPH Course Cut-Off

The admission into Master of Public Health is provided based on the cutoff mark scored in the entrance exam. The MPH course cutoff is decided based on various factors like the number of candidates and available seats, the difficulty of the exam, previous years’ cutoff score and the like.

Master of Public Health Syllabus/Subjects

The syllabus of the MPH programme is designed in such a way that it provides insights into public health management, its importance and ways to improve health. The syllabus is divided into four semesters covering core subjects and electives. Below we have discussed the semester-wise MPH course syllabus of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

MPH 1st Year Syllabus

The MPH 1st year syllabus emphasises the organisation of public health services. Some of the subjects are epidemiology, nutrition, and maternal and child health. The table below shows the MPH first-year syllabus.

MPH 2nd Year Syllabus

The MPH second year includes core and optional subjects. During the last semester, students are required to submit Field Work Report Writing. In the table below we have discussed the 2nd year subjects of MBBS degree. The table below shows the MPH second-year syllabus.

MPH Optional Courses

The MPH course syllabus also consists of optional courses which are offered during the second and third semesters. The table below shows the MPH optional courses.

Top MPH Colleges by Location

Several government and private colleges in India offer an MPH degree. Students can enrol in their chosen colleges based on their academic performance and admission exam results. Here is a list of the MPH colleges in India's major cities.

• M.P.H. Colleges in Pune
• M.P.H. Colleges in Bangalore
• M.P.H. Colleges in Gurgaon
• M.P.H. Colleges in Jaipur
• M.P.H. Colleges in Kolkata

Top MPH Colleges by States

Various private and government colleges in different states offer Master of Public Health. Some of the top colleges in various states are listed below:

• M.P.H. Colleges in Maharashtra
• M.P.H. Colleges in Karnataka
• M.P.H. Colleges in Rajasthan
• M.P.H. Colleges in Delhi NCR
• M.P.H. Colleges in Uttar Pradesh

Master of Public Health Specialisations

The MPH programme trains students to promote better community awareness about injury, violence prevention, communicable and non-communicable diseases and other issues that affect health and safety. The course offers several specialisations that students can choose based on their preferences. Given below are some popular MPH specialisations chosen by candidates:

• Clinical Epidemiology
• Public Health Dentistry
• Biostatistics
• Public Health Policy & Management
• Public Health Education

What after a Master of Public Health?

The scope for Master of Public Health graduates is huge. Candidates with a good academic record and a little experience in the field can expect a great start for a career in health science. Job opportunities are available for MPH graduates from government to private hospitals, NGOs, and other healthcare units.

After completing the MPH programme, students are required to work on improving health by creating awareness among young people on the importance of healthcare and different ways to avoid diseases. They can also get countless perks in the field of health sciences while pursuing challenging and leadership roles.

Careers Opportunities After M.P.H. Degree

There are various career opportunities available for the MPH graduates. They can work in the private as well as public sectors. Some of the popular job profiles after an MPH degree are as follows:

Healthcare Administrator: A Healthcare Administrator oversees the mundane administrative operations of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Also known as Health Service Managers, they are responsible for planning and supervising all medical services. The responsibilities of a healthcare administrator include monitoring budgets and updating health records.

Health Informatics Specialist: A Health Informatics Specialist is a professional who is not on the front lines of healthcare. Generally, he or she cannot be found roaming the halls of hospitals or interacting with patients. But, as computers and technology become common, they play an important role in the medical care we all receive.

Epidemiologist: An Epidemiologist is responsible for planning and directing studies of public health problems to find ways to prevent and treat the problems. He or she also collects and analyses data through observations, interviews, surveys, and samples of blood or other bodily fluids to find the causes of diseases or other health problems.

Environmental Scientist: An Environmental Scientist is responsible for studies in the field of environmental science. He or she works on many different tasks involving environmental and public health. Environmental Scientists work locally or abroad on the public health of different populations.

Top Recruiters

• UN Children's Fund
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• WHO
• McKinsey & Company
• The Clinton Health Access Initiative

Salary after MPH Course

The salary packages of Master of Public Health graduates can differ based on different factors like the experience and skills of the professionals, the types of organisations and more. The table below details the average salary of some of the job profiles.

Source: AmbitionBox

Top Private MPH Colleges in India with Fees

Many private colleges offer Master of Public Heatlh. They are more expensive than the public colleges. Some of the top private colleges offering MPH are tabulated below:

Top Government MPH Colleges in India with Fees

Various government colleges provide Master of Public Health degree programmes. Some of them are tabutled below:

Conclusion

MPH is one of the degree programmes that provide students with public health education and research activities. After the programme, learners can apply their ideas to influence program organisation and management, critical thinking and problem-solving in the public health domain.