Master of Science in Public Health, consecutive (MScPH)

The joint, consecutive Master of Science in Public Health is a research-oriented degree program that the three BSPH partner institutions teach together.

Alice Salomon Hochschule
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Technische Universität Berlin

We are proud of the expertise each partner contributes!

Online Information Event MSc Public Health, consecutive: 15 May 2025, 17:00–19:00

The next information session for the Master of Science in Public Health will take place via Zoom on Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

You can find the invitation and registration link here.

Key Facts MScPH

The consecutive Master of Science in Public Health (MScPH) at the BSPH:

A joint collaboration between Alice Salomon Hochschule, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin
Application period is June 1 - July 15. Enrollment is at the Charité. The program accepts about 60 students each year. Official enrollment numbers are published here.
The program has a methods and research focus and is geared toward students who have completed a bachelor degree in a public health related field.
The program requires 4 semesters (2 years) of full time study and encompasses 120 credit points (ECTS) according to the European Credit Transfer System
A total of 17 modules must be completed that convey theoretical and practical competences from a variety of public health domains.
The language of instruction in most modules is German, but some of the modules (Public Health Research Methods (MET1), Epidemiology and Public Health Research Methods (MET2) and Health Economics / Health Technology Assessment (HPE2b) are taught in English. German proficiency is required to apply for the program.
The MScPH is an accredited academic program and is evaluated regularly.

If you are looking for courses in English, please consider our Intensive Short Courses or the post-graduate Master of Science in Epidemiology.

BUA-Joint Degree

The Master’s program in Public Health (MScPH) at the Berlin School of Public Health, a joint institution of the Alice Salomon University, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Technical University of Berlin, was classified as a BUA-Joint Degree in September 2021. This classification is given to research-oriented cooperative programs at Berlin University Alliance partner institutions that are dedicated to topics of global importance and have a pronounced interdisciplinary and international profile.

The Berlin University Alliance is an alliance between Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the State of Berlin as part of the federal and state government's excellence strategy.

Conceptual Framework and MScPH Program Structure

The MScPH is designed as a full-time course of study. There is coursework daily requiring an average of 20 attendance hours per week. In addition, students are expected to spend around 20 hours preparing for classes each week, which results in a student workload (Student Investment Time, SIT) of around 40 hours per week. In order to create equal opportunities for students with children, required courses are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Each semester has 15 weeks of coursework and lectures followed by a lecture-free period in which exams and homework are completed.

During the program, a total of 17 modules must be completed. Most of the modules are 6 ECTS in length. Two introductory (basic) modules serve to establish a balance of knowledge between the disciplines of origin of the students. The two core modules serve to help students identify with the field of public health, to raise ethical awareness for overarching public health issues and to present current challenges in public health. The eight advanced modules serve to deepen and expand scientific competencies in the areas of research methods, health determinants, health system research and management as well as health promotion and prevention. Three elective modules provide students with the opportunity for individual specialization. Courses can be selected freely from the other universities in Berlin, Germany or internationally, as long as there is a connection to public health. The master's thesis (24 ECTS) and the accompanying colloquium (6 ECTS) conclude the program.

Students who are unable to complete the program in full time (e.g. due to family, employment or relatives in need of care) can apply for part-time study. The application must be submitted before the start of the semester. If you study part-time, the course is extended to 8 semesters. Students register their desired modules of 12 or 18 ECTS each semester at the examination office.

1st Semester: Schedule und modules

In the first semester, the identification with the subject area, an ethical sensitization for overriding public health issues and a presentation of current challenges of public health are achieved via the first core module. In addition, the module HPP 1 - Prevention and Health Promotion and MET 1 - Population Public Health Research and Epidemiological Research Methods are mandatory. The study structure endeavours to establish a balance of knowledge between the disciplines of origin of the students via the basic modules in the first semester. The basic modules reflect the subject areas that had to be proven in the application. Students attend basic modules in the two subjects that they did not present in their application.

Mandatory modules:

Core module 1 - Burden of Disease and Public Health Action
MET 1 - Population Public Health Research and Epidemiological Research Methods (in English)
HPP 1 - Health Promotion and Disease Prevention - interdisciplinary challenges

Two out of four basic modules:

Introductory module 1 - Introduction to Public Health Biology
Introductory module 2 - Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Introductory module 3 - Introduction to Policy, Economics and the German Health Care System
Introductory module 4 - Introduction to Sociology of Health and Illness Qualitative Research Methods

2nd Semester: Schedule and modules

The second semester is particularly challenging due to the five focus modules to be taken and serves to deepen and expand scientific competencies. The compulsory modules are PHD 1 - Health and Society, HPE 1 - Health Systems and MET 2 - Epidemiology and Public Health Research Methods. In addition, students must choose two further modules. In the area of health determinants, either PHD 2a - Environmental Health or PHD 2b - Infectious Diseases Surveillance are available. In the second elective module, students can choose between HPP 2a - Health promotion and HPP 2b - Prevention.

Mandatory modules:

PHD 1 - Health and Society
HPE 1 - Health Systems: Stakeholders, Functions and Goals (in English)
MET 2 - Methods of Epidemiology and Statistics in Population Health Research Methods (in English)

Electives:

PHD 2a - Environmental Health or PHD2b - Infectious Diseases Surveillance (in English)
HPP 2a - Health Promotion or HPP2b - Prevention

3rd Semester: Schedule and modules

In the third semester, the focus is on preparing the Master's thesis. The Core 2 module gives students the opportunity to discuss research topics for the Master's thesis. The lectures are held by actors in the health care system and are intended to present current challenges in public health. In the accompanying seminars, students develop exemplary research projects (including study design, data basis and evaluation method). The research projects developed can be further implemented in the master thesis.

In addition, a final compulsory elective module from the MScPH must be completed. Either HPE 2b - Health Economics / Health Technology Assessment or HPE 2a - Management of Health Organisations and Health Systems must be chosen from the modules in the area of Health Economics and Health Policy for which the TU is responsible.

The remaining 18 ECTS of the semester can be completed freely via in-depth modules. This serves the individual specialisation and the development of own interests. A total of 18 ECTS modules can be freely chosen from the interdisciplinary elective range of other universities in Berlin, Germany or abroad, provided they are related to Public Health. Furthermore, an internship or a relevant student collaboration can be claimed for up to 6 ECTS credits.

Mandatory modules:

Core module 2 - Addressing Public Health Challenges of the 21st century

Electives TU Berlin:

HPE 2b - Health Economics / Health Technology Assessment or HPE 2a - Management of Health Organisations and Health Systems

Electives ASH:

ASHV MET - Diversity-sensitive care and research-based learning
ASHV HPP3 - Quality development for complex interventions in health promotion and prevention

The mobility window for a stay abroad is also planned for the 3rd semester. A stay abroad within the framework of your studies expands your horizon of experience and offers exciting opportunities for acquiring specialist, cultural and linguistic skills. The stay abroad via Erasmus offers a supervised and financed study exchange in a European context. The Erasmus Office of the Charité coordinates the applications for the Erasmus exchange (https://erasmus.charite.de). The application deadline is 30 November for a stay in the following year. Independently of Erasmus, stays abroad can also take place outside Europe and through other sources of funding. These must be organised and financed independently by students, as there is no advice and support available.

4th Semester: Schedule and modules

The fourth semester is devoted to the Master's thesis. In the Master's thesis, students demonstrate that they can work on a clearly defined topic or problem on public health-relevant questions independently and scientifically within the specified period of 6 months. Students are encouraged to publish their Master's theses - provided they are of the appropriate quality. In principle, the Master's thesis is conceived as an empirical research project in the form of a monograph. A research question is derived from the presentation of the state of research, a suitable study design or methodological approach is identified, data is analysed, results are presented and discussed in the scientific context. The colloquium accompanies the Master's thesis.

Mandatory module:

Colloquium - Colloquium for the Master Thesis

Career perspectives

A Master's degree in Public Health serves to deepen knowledge and to specialise for a career in the health care sector:

BSPH graduates can opt for a research-oriented orientation and are equipped for a science-related activity.
Students can also study in a more application-oriented manner, which enables them to work in a wide range of areas such as health administration and health policy, planning and management of and in health care institutions, supporting organisations and associations in the health and social sector.