mme in

Master’s Degree Progra

Public Health (MPH)

F I N L A N D
Master’s Degree Programme in
Public Health (MPH)
The International Master’s Programme in Public Health,
operative as an MPH Diploma Programme since 1993,
started as a full Master’s degree programme (MPH)
in 2005. It is organized by the School of Public Health
and Clinical Nutrition in collaboration with experts
from many different national and international scientific
fields.
Aims of the programme
The programme aims to increase students’ knowledge
of philosophical, epidemiological, social, behavioural
and environmental aspects of public health. The
curriculum encompasses a variety of courses related
to management and leadership skills in preventing
and resolving health problems. The programme offers
training in various aspects of public health including
epidemiology, medical anthropology, environmental
health, ergonomics, exercise medicine, health policy
and management, public health nutrition, occupational
health and social pharmacy. The programme also
encourages students to pursue continuous education
throughout their lives.
Eligible applicants
The programme is designed mainly for international
students with a prior academic degree in an
appropriate field who are motivated in acquiring
further skills in public health. The programme is
suitable for individuals working in social and health
care at the primary municipal regional, or state level
and for employees of social and health insurance and
state administration.
Graduates of the programme are
qualified to:
• Initiate, organize and conduct important public
health research.
• Develop and execute proposals and projects, and
design programmes and interventions as part of
a professional team.
• Communicate health-related information to the
public, exchange ideas with professionals and
develop sensitivity to ethical issues, lifestyle and
cultural needs
• Creatively apply theoretical concepts of public
health, epidemiology and health promotion into
practice in local and global contexts.

Degree structure
The programme consists of 120 ECTS credits and
takes 2 years to complete. It includes compulsory
courses in public health, research methods and
epidemiology, as well as a wide range of elective
courses. For the completion of the Master of Health
Sciences degree an approved Master´s thesis is
required.
Admission requirements
Students eligible to apply should possess a bachelor’s
degree in an appropriate related field. Medical Doctors
are also invited to apply.
Application information
Application deadline for the MPH-programme is
February 1st annually.
The following documents are required to be
submitted along with the application form:
• Certified copy of Bachelor´s Degree, MD or MSc
degree certificate
• Certified copy of your academic transcripts
• Proven Proficiency in English (TOEFL or equivalent)
• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum Vitae
Further information at the programme homepage:
www.publichealthkuopio.info
Further information about applying as an exchange
student can be found at http://www.uku.fi/intl/english/
prospective/applying.shtml
Public Health is a multidisciplinary field of study that enables
graduates to work in the above areas.
Also available as:
Public Health Nutrition track
A new track called public health nutrition was
introduced to the programme in autumn 2008. Public
health nutrition focuses on the promotion of good
health and maintenance of well-being through nutrition
in the whole population. Prevention of diet-related
illnesses is also emphasized. The aim of the programme
is to train specialists in public health nutrition who
can work e.g. in related research, development and
projects.
University of Kuopio is one of the 19 European
institutions that offer the European Master’s in Public
Health Nutrition - EMPHN - programme. The studies
in the MPH Nutrition track can be chosen to meet the
requirements of the EMPHN programme.
Finnish-Russian Cross-Border
University Master’s Degree
Programme in Public Health
Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University Master’s
Degree Programme in Public Health is offered jointly
by partner universities both in Russia and in Finland
starting in autumn 2007. The aim of the programme
is to prepare graduates to apply a wide range of
professional knowledge and abilities in practice both in
Russia and in Finland.
Further information about the tracks:
www.publichealtheducationkuopio.info
Fees and living costs
Currently there are no tuition fees at the University
of Kuopio, because education is subsidized by state
in Finland. The University of Kuopio has very well
equipped libraries, so students almost never need to
buy books. The average monthly living costs for a single
student average around EUR 700.
Funding
The University of Kuopio has no scholarship
programmes. For finding work in Finland to finance
your studies, you need to be able to speak Finnish.
Tunji Toriola
When Tunji Toriola’s good friend came to study in
Finland four years ago and told good things about the
University of Kuopio, Toriola decided to give it a try
too. Toriola, a medical doctor with specialization in
anaesthesia, has studied in Kuopio for two years now
and finds his studies extremely interesting. Especially
the courses in epidemiology have offered lots of new
information.
– My work as an MD was so clinical that I wanted to
have more experience in public health practise,
School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition
MPH coordinators
P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, FINLAND
E-mail: coordinator.kansy@uku.fi, kansy@uku.fi
Phone: + 358 40 355 2919 or +358 40 355 2989
Fax: ++358-17-162 936
Programme’s homepage:
www.publichealtheducationkuopio.info
University of Kuopio, 2008
Therefore it is recommended that funding for the
entire study period be arranged by students before
leaving home country.
Exchange student option
Courses from this Master’s degree programme are
also offered to short term exchange students (3–9
months) through bilateral agreements and exchange
programmes from the partner universities of the
University of Kuopio.
especially in policy implementation. I find public health
studies an important way to contribute positively to
the overall health delivery in my home country, the
Nigerian explains.
Toriola is more or less a cosmopolitan who has
his roots in the heart of the Africa and his family and
wife in England. He travels a couple of times a year to
England and his wife has visited him in Kuopio. After
getting used to living in metropolises the size of Ibadan
and London, Kuopio feels small, but friendly.
– At first the Finns can seem a bit reserved but when
you get to know them, they are good friends and very
hospitable, Toriola says.