Public Health
HAW Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Master of Public Health (MPH) at HAW Hamburg equips students with academic knowledge and skills for evidence-based public health practice, empirical research, and the implementation of research findings, including designing and improving public health policies and practices at regional, national, and global levels.
The programme covers determinants of health and major health problems from a global and interdisciplinary perspective across two semesters of modules, followed by a final semester focused on the Master’s thesis on a public health topic of individual interest.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Covers 10 modules over two semesters (60 CP total) exploring determinants of health and major health problems from a global and interdisciplinary perspective.
- Focuses on evidence-based practice, empirical research foundations, and implementation-oriented learning in public health.
- Builds your analytical skills for interpreting population health challenges across regional, national, and global levels.
- The third and final semester is worth 30 CP.
- You work on your Master’s thesis examining a public health topic of individual interest.
- Applies research and implementation skills to investigate and present findings on a relevant public health issue.
Curriculum
90 ECTS total. Programme organised over three semesters: two semesters with 10 modules (60 CP) plus a third semester consisting of the Master thesis worth 30 CP.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 5 modules | Global, European and German Public Health | 6 | 30 |
| Health Promotion and Prevention | 6 | |||
| Epidemiology & Study Designs | 6 | |||
| Infectious and Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology | 6 | |||
| Nutrition, Health Behaviour and Lifestyle | 6 | |||
| Semester 2 | 5 modules | Ethics and Scientific Methodology in Public Health | 6 | 30 |
| Health Policy | 6 | |||
| Health Economics | 6 | |||
| Physical, Chemical and Biological Environment and Health | 6 | |||
| Occupational Health | 6 | |||
| Semester 3 | Master Thesis | Master Thesis MPH | 30 | 30 |
| Total | All modules of the Master of Public Health (10 modules across Semesters 1–2, plus Master Thesis in Semester 3). | 90 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You are prepared for roles in international health organisations and NGOs, where population health knowledge and policy implementation skills are directly needed.
- You can pursue positions in health promotion organisations by learning how to design and improve public health policies and practices at regional, national, and global levels.
- You build career-ready competence for health management in hospitals and public administration, supporting evidence-based decision-making for health systems.
- You gain the research and surveillance foundations to work in health research and surveillance institutions, including using empirical approaches to address emerging and continuing health challenges.
- You develop a strong profile for health insurers and pharmaceutical businesses by combining scientific evidence with implementation skills relevant to real-world public health needs.
Employability rate
Graduates of public health-related master programmes in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting ongoing demand for trained public health professionals.
Together, these figures indicate a reasonably stable outlook for roles in public health organisations, health services, research, and health policy-adjacent employers in Germany.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| First degree (foreign qualification) | International applicants must hold a first professionally qualifying university degree in health sciences/public health or a similar field relevant to health sciences (for example medicine, social sciences or nursing), or a degree in a healthcare profession or a closely related discipline (for example economics) with a minimum of 210 ECTS credit points. |
| Professional experience or qualified scientific work | International applicants must provide proof of one year of professional experience in public health or qualified scientific work with convincing substantial and methodological relevance to health sciences/public health, supported by a letter of reference from the employer. |
| Preliminary review documentation (VPD) | International applicants require a VPD (preliminary review documentation). The program page states that international students require a VPD from uni-assist. |
Language requirements
The Master of Public Health is taught in English. For admission, international applicants must submit proof of English-language knowledge at CEFR level C1 using an internationally recognised certificate.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Master tuition | EUR 2400 / per semester | Official tuition for the Master of Public Health is EUR 2,400 per full-time semester; total tuition cost is EUR 7,200. |
| Semester fee | EUR 397 / per semester | General semester contribution includes a semester ticket for unlimited travel on Hamburg public transport and a Germany-wide rail pass. |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants should be prepared to cover study fees and living costs while in Germany. Follow the German immigration guidance for proof of financial means required for a student residence permit.
- Proof of financial means for studying in Germany as required for the student residence permit process
- Evidence that you can cover the program’s published study fees and the general semester contribution during your studies
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | December - Winter intake | June - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | December 01, 2026 | June 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | February 28, 2027 | August 31, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2027 | April 01, 2027 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | December - Winter intake | June - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | December - Winter intake | June - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
🎓 Scholarship
| Provider | Scheme name | Coverage | Eligibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD | DAAD Study Scholarships — Master Studies | Monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance, study and research allowance | This Master of Public Health is a postgraduate degree programme taught in English and is designed for international students with relevant prior academic study and professional experience. |
📝 How to Apply
Confirm international eligibility and gather documents
Check that your foreign university degree meets the program’s minimum credit requirement and that you have the required professional experience in public health or qualified scientific work. Collect your diploma supplement/transcript of records and the letter of reference for your professional experience. Plan for the VPD step, as the program page notes that obtaining a VPD may take up to 8 weeks.
Prepare English-language proof at the required level
Make sure you can provide an internationally recognised English certificate showing CEFR level C1. Use your official test certificate and prepare any documentation in the format requested for the online application upload.
Apply during the published application window (online)
Submit your application within the official period listed for the relevant intake. Complete the online application form and upload the necessary documents as PDF files. The program page states that you do not need to print and post documents.
Submit and wait for admission decision steps
After submission, keep track of the communications from the admissions office and ensure any requested follow-up documents can be provided. Because the VPD is part of international application requirements, confirm it is ready before the application is submitted. If you have questions, the program page provides the Master’s Degree Course Admissions Office contact for applicants.