01/ Objectives
The objective of the Specialized Master in Public Health Methodology is to provide a large degree of autonomy in the use of public health methods. The programme is intended for various health professionals, who work at different levels of the health system: medical doctors; nurses and other paramedical with complementary training in research; social sciences professionals involved in public health; public health researchers; decision makers and executives... The goal is to acquire high-quality scientific skills needed for the development of analytical and specialized approaches: operational research of high scientific quality; health strategies, planning and management; health services research… The targeted skills tend towards the achievement of an overall objective intended to: "ensure methodological approaches and public health decision-makings, consistent with the needs of people, communities and individuals."
This Specialized Master thus addresses methodologies of analysis and investigation of major health problems which affect low-income countries as high-income countries, including a global health approach. It also intends to give, to the learners, strong basis for a systemic understanding of health problems as well as contextual and environmental factors that may determine answers to the health problems.
Thanks to diversified teaching methods and the commitment of teachers and learners, this Specialized Master enables health professionals to master and to specialize themselves in: epidemiology and biostatistics; public health research, planning and policies; systems and health services management (health economics, quality and risk management…); social approaches to health. They will develop transversal skills such as research methodology, scientific writing and capitalization of public health actions.
02/ Training content
The programme, which covers different methodological aspects, is composed by a compulsory part (50 ECTS) and by an optional part (10 ECTS must be chosen among the 20 proposed ECTS). The compulsory part of the program includes:
- Biostatistics in public health (2 parts of 5 ECTS) and epidemiology (5 ECTS),
- Qualitative methods and contextual factors in public health (5 ECTS),
- Health economics and Quality management (5 ECTS),
- Planning and health system research and management (5 ECTS),
- Operational research and South lectures (5 ECTS).
The remaining 15 credits are devoted to the Master's Thesis which integrates skills in Epidemiology (protocol development and interpretation) and Biostatistics.
In addition to these 50 credits, 4 optional teaching unis, of 5 ECTS each, are available. The student must take at least 10 ECTS in order to reach a 60 ECTS master; an alternative is to take a maximum of 25 ECTS to reach a 75 ECTS master. The several optional teaching units are related to:
- Advanced methods in biostatistics and epidemiology (5 ECTS),
- The WHO strategy for incorporation of traditional medicine in healthcare (5 ECTS),
- Special research questions in public health (5 ECTS),
- Special research question in emergency situations (5 ECTS).
03/ Conditions of admission
The Specialized Master in Public Health Methodology is open to a wide range of practitioners (medical doctors; nurses and other paramedical with complementary training in research; social sciences professionals involved in public health; public health researchers; decision makers and executives...).
This course is a Specialized Master degree i.e. a master subsequent to a previous master or equivalent. Therefore the general admission requirement for the course is that the students must possess a diploma at least equivalent to a master degree (5 years of university education).
To be admitted, students must bear a 2nd cycle degree considered equivalent to 300 credits (minimum 5 years of study) by the Jury. If the degree represents only 240 credits (minimum 4 years of study), the candidate should have acquired 60 extra credits through other 2nd cycle studies or through some form of specialization, or must prove to have acquired the useful knowledge through personal or professional experience.
04/ Additional information
Number of scholarships available: 12
Length of the training: 1 year (starting in mid-September 2021)
Teaching language: English
05/ Universities
Université libre de Bruxelles, École de Santé Publique
- Academic Supervisor: Katia Castetbon (ULB)
Université catholique de Louvain, Faculté de santé Publique
- Academic Supervisor : Annie Robert (UCLouvain)
Université de Mons, Faculté Warocqué d'économie et de gestion & Faculté de médecine et pharmacie
- Academic Supervisor : Lahcen El Hiki (UMONS)
