MSc in European Public Health

Do health policies intrigue you, and are you fascinated by the EU? Are you interested in why European health guidelines work in one country but not another? Then Governance and Leadership European Public Health might just be the program for you. This unique program provides you with the background and skills to analyze public health systems throughout Europe. Upon graduation, you’ll be able to prepare, support and monitor high-level decision-making processes in European institutions, in government, and in public and private organizations. The program will equip you with all the training you need to pursue as a health policy maker, but careers in research will also be open to you.

Fast facts

• Unique in its Europe-focused approach to public health
• Option for an international internship
• International staff and students
• Possibility to develop leadership skills
• Double degree possibility with the University of Bremen (Germany) and the University of Health Sciences Kaunas (Lithuania)
• Part of the Joint Diploma Erasmus Mundus, Europubhealth master
• 1- year, full-time, taught in English
• Study load per week: 12 hours classes, 2-4 hours group work, 18-20 hours individual study
• Starts in September

Why this program?

The master’s program Governance and Leadership in European Public Health will train you to become a health professional with a well-defined outlook. After you have completed the program, you'll be able to conduct independent research and formulate effective and appropriate health policies by putting forward arguments and supporting data from a comparative, often cross-border point of view.

Unique focus on European policy domain
The search for best practices is a key and unique part of Governance and Leadership in European Public Health in Maastricht: nowhere else in Europe will you find a program like this. The program provides you with the background and skills to analyze public health systems throughout Europe. You’ll also learn how to prepare, support and monitor high-level decision-making processes in European institutions, in government, and in public and private organizations.

Key topics
The key topics in this program are:

• the situations, determinants, interventions and practices relevant to the health of populations, of particular groups within populations, and between European member states
• the diversity of practices and ways of organizing health and healthcare delivery systems both within and between European member states
• the demand of European institutions for modern, scientifically educated professionals with the analytical tools and innovative research instruments to help them formulate and implement effective health policies at the national, international, and supranational level
• organizational development for the delivery of effective and appropriate healthcare

Close interaction with international staff
One of the key features of this program is its educational format. It’s self-directed and it requires you to be active participant. Close interaction with international students and staff will help you acquire skills needed to look across borders and learn from practices elsewhere. The staff is also well-connected to important international organizations in the field. These connections may also be valuable to you when you are looking for a job later on in your career.

Our differences are our greatest strength
Maastricht University is focused the development of its International Classroom, a place where our differences become our strengths. From day 1, you’ll be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over Europe and the world. Your preconceptions and worldview will be enhanced by this interaction, bringing you closer to the program’s goal of teaching students not only facts and concepts but also international accessibility and understanding. Roughly 60% of the students in this master’s program come from outside the Netherlands. Such diversity creates an international atmosphere that is strengthened by the international orientation of the program.

Get in touch with experts in the field
The program includes guest lectures from international health policymakers, and a 10-week internship at a selected European health or research institute. This means you’ll have ample opportunity to get in touch with experts in the field. Upon graduation, you’ll be completely up-to-date with the latest developments.

• Measuring and Comparing Health in Europe – Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches EPH4012
• Introduction to Governance and Leadership in European Public Health EPH4014
• Public Health Leadership Strand EPH4016
• Identifying and Assessing Good and Best Practices in Health EPH4003
• Europe as one Zone - European Health Law & Policies: The Translation of Evidence into Norms EPH4004
• Research Methods HPI4005
• Diffusion, Implementation and Quality Assurance of Health Innovations in Europe EPH4013
• Public Health Law and Governance EPH4017
• The EU, Enlargement and Global Health EPH4008
• Research Project and Masters’ Thesis EPH4011

Governance and Leadership in European Public Health graduates can be found all over the world: at the European Commission, in Thailand’s national health ministry, an Australian NGO organizing congresses, an insurance agency in Dusseldorf, etc.

Career paths

Common Governance and Leadership in European Public Health career paths include:

Policymaking
As policymakers, Governance and Leadership in European Public Health graduates help formulate, implement and assess health policies for local, national and international governments. But they sometimes also work there as researchers or health inspectors.

Insurance
At insurance companies, Governance and Leadership in European Public Health graduates can be found in positions where they are responsible for providing advice on health policies or for managing relations between their employers and other healthcare providers.

National and international NGOs
Some graduates end up working at national and international non-governmental organizations. They work on things such as creating equality and reducing health disparities, advancing global health or providing access to health education.

Alumni @ Work

Graduates have found positions as:

• LHR Health Advisor at Fraport AG
• Clinical Research Associate at Grünenthal
• Ph.D. Candidate at Maastricht University, Department of International Health
• Gentest Application Coordinator at Gentest, Istanbul
• Health Economics & Reimbursement EMEALA at Fresenius Medical Care
• Project Officer at Unie KBO