Master of Science in International Health (MScIH) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the Master of Science in International Health (MScIH) combines content from tropical medicine, public health, epidemiology, health economics, and health management sciences. The programme has a global health focus and allows students to identify and analyse key factors shaping the health and well-being of populations. The MScIH provides participants with the concepts, skills, and tools related to health promotion and disease prevention in low-income settings. Additionally, health system strengthening, universal coverage, and health policy formulation are key components of the programme. The MScIH covers a wide variety of research methods such as health economics, medical anthropology, social sciences research methods, epidemiology, and quantitative data analysis. Content includes reproductive and child health, mental health, major endemic diseases such as HIV, TB, malaria, or Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), parasitology, emerging infectious diseases as well as the double burden of disease (chronic or non-communicable diseases). 

The Master of Science in International Health (MScIH) is a flexible modular programme that can be studied full-time over two years (four semesters). If students have already gained the required relevant professional experience before enrolling in the programme (i.e. professional experience in a low- or middle-income country or with vulnerable populations), the programme can be completed in a one-year (12 months) fast-track option. The MScIH consists of the Core Course (20 ECTS), Advanced Modules (20 ECTS), a Master's Thesis (30 ECTS), and six to 12 months of professional experience related to International Health in a low- or middle-income country.

1. Core Course
The MScIH starts with a 15-week full-time Core Course (20 ECTS). This intensive class meets from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm CET and provides knowledge and skills based on the basic principles and concepts of International Health. It consists of three major blocks: (1) Concepts and Research Methods in International Health, (2) Health Problems with a special focus on Tropical Medicine, and (3) Health Systems and Management. The successful completion of the core course yields 20 ECTS credit points and allows students to proceed with advanced modules.

2. Advanced modules
Advanced modules deepen the knowledge on selected topics and facilitate specialisation. Advanced modules must yield 20 ECTS credit points. In addition to the advanced modules offered in Berlin, students can also choose from  the advanced modules offered through the tropEd Network (https://www.troped.org/courses/SPT--Advanced.php).

3. Relevant Professional Experience

The MScIH requires students to gain a minimum of six months of work experience (relevant professional experience, RPE) in a low income setting or with vulnerable populations.

4. Master's Thesis
The Master's thesis is based on a research project supported by a designated supervisor. The research project must be relevant to International Health. The research project can be experimental, quantitative or qualitative data analysis, policy analyses or a systematic literature review. Students can do their research at any of the tropEd partner institutions in Asia, Africa, and Central America or through any organisation or institution in an LMIC. The Master's thesis yields 30 ECTS credit points and must be completed in four months.

The relevant professional experience can be gained either through employment or through an internship. 

Academic admission requirements include a completed Bachelor's degree (minimum duration of three and a half years / 210 ECTS credit points) in a health-related field. 

In addition, all applicants must show a minimum of one year of work experience after their first qualifying degree.

Applicants with health-related professional experience in low- or middle-income countries will be given preference for admission.

Charité student enrolment fees of approx. 350 EUR per semester for every semester enrolled. This includes the "Deutschlandticket", a public transportation ticket for all of Germany.

The cost for housing in Berlin is approx. 800 EUR per month. Students should budget 1,200 to 1,500 EUR to cover their living costs per month.

Students are able to work part-time (20 hours per week) after they have completed the Core Course. 

Students must find their own housing. The MScIH does not provide designated student housing.