Programme Identity and Institutional Setting

The MSc in Public Health is a postgraduate programme hosted by the Department of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece. It is a public-university programme that provides interdisciplinary education and training in public health, epidemiology, preventive and social medicine, and environmental health.

The programme has a minimum duration of three academic semesters and carries 90 ECTS credits. It leads to the award of a Master’s Degree in Public Health and offers two specialisation pathways:

• Health and Environment
• Preventive and Social Medicine

The MSc is coordinated by Professor Apostolos Vantarakis, Professor of Hygiene, Department of Medicine, University of Patras.

Mission and Educational Purpose

The MSc in Public Health aims to provide high-level postgraduate education to scientists and professionals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds who wish to develop expertise in public health.

The programme addresses major contemporary population-health challenges and their prevention and management, primarily at population and community level. It focuses on environmental and social determinants of health, health promotion, prevention, epidemiology, health inequalities, health policy, public-health research and the protection of vulnerable population groups.

Its educational purpose is to equip graduates with the knowledge and practical competencies required to design, implement and evaluate public-health programmes, interventions and policies.

Educational Model and Student Profiles

The MSc applies a hybrid educational model, combining in-person teaching with synchronous distance learning. This model supports participation by working professionals while maintaining structured academic engagement, practical assignments and supervised learning.

The student body is interdisciplinary and includes a substantial proportion of health and social-science professionals. The programme therefore promotes exchange across professional perspectives and links scientific knowledge with real-life public-health needs.

Teaching is supported through lectures, seminars, case-based discussion, practical assignments, research activities, presentations and individual supervision.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum combines a shared public-health foundation, specialised study, electives, practical project work and an individual Master’s dissertation.

Semester I: Common Public Health Foundation

All students complete core modules in:

• Environmental Hygiene, Health Promotion, Health Education, Preventive and Social Medicine
• Biostatistics and Applications of Biostatistics in Epidemiology
• Epidemiology and Research Methodology

Students also select two elective modules from:

• Special Topics in Epidemiology
• Health Law
• Introduction to One Health
• Principles of Social Research

Semester II: Specialisation Pathways

Health and Environment

Core modules include:

• Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology
• Global Public Health and One Health
• Practical Project I

Preventive and Social Medicine

Core modules include:

• Global Public Health, Nutrition, Preventive and Social Medicine
• Health Systems Organisation, Health Policy and Health Economics
• Practical Project II

Students in both pathways select three elective modules. Available areas include occupational health and safety; digital technologies in public health; food hygiene; healthcare-associated infections; zoonoses, emerging infectious diseases and tropical diseases; public-health research methodology; social medicine; bioethics; study design and research-proposal development; statistical software in epidemiology; and public-health seminars.

Semester III: Master’s Dissertation

The final semester is dedicated to an individual Master’s dissertation, worth 30 ECTS. Under academic supervision, students design and complete an original research project or a rigorous applied public-health study.

Public Health Knowledge and Competencies

Through the curriculum, graduates develop the ability to:

• assess population-health needs and analyse environmental, social and behavioural determinants of health;
• apply epidemiological, biostatistical and social-research methods to public-health questions;
• critically appraise scientific evidence and use it to inform public-health decision-making;
• develop prevention, health-promotion and health-education interventions;
• understand and address environmental-health risks, One Health challenges, infectious diseases and food-safety issues;
• analyse health systems, health policy and health economics;
• design, implement and evaluate public-health programmes and actions;
• work ethically, collaboratively and effectively with public-health, health-service, local-government and community stakeholders.

Applied Orientation and External Engagement

The MSc has a strong applied orientation. Students undertake practical projects and dissertations that are linked, where appropriate, to public-health bodies, municipalities, health structures and social organisations.

Students are encouraged to participate in research, scientific events, public-health communication activities and community-oriented initiatives. This strengthens the connection between academic training, public-health practice and societal needs.

Quality Assurance

The MSc operates within the quality-assurance framework of the University of Patras and the Department of Medicine. Its quality processes include student feedback, curriculum review, monitoring of the educational experience, academic oversight and continuous improvement actions.

The programme has successfully completed the certification process of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education, confirming its academic quality, scientific robustness and compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

The programme actively participates in European research and educational initiatives through the Department of Medicine and the Laboratory of Public Health, Epidemiology and Quality of Life. Students benefit from an international academic environment supported by collaborations with universities, public authorities and organisations across Europe.

Contact

MSc in Public Health
Department of Medicine, University of Patras
Greece
Email: mscpubhealth@upatras.gr
Tel.: +30 2610 969876