Master's Programme in Global Health

The master’s programme in global health places a priority on improving health and achieving health equity for all people worldwide, with a special focus on health problems in low- and middle-income countries. 

Our main thematic areas of research are:  

• maternal and child health 
• nutrition 
• communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases  
• oral sciences. 

With this education you can contribute in finding interdisciplinary innovative solutions in public health administration, NGOs and higher education. 

At the Centre for International Health (CIH), we try to foster an informal atmosphere with close ties between staff and students. As a student here, you will work in an international and vibrant environment, with colleagues and fellow students from all over the world. 

More information below

Career 

The master’s degree in global health will qualify for positions in academia, in international organizations and in public administration. The possibilities are particularly good for candidates from low and middle-income countries, both at national universities, on international projects, in international NGOs and health leadership. Our Norwegian candidates are eligible for positions in health education at university college level, in NGOs and increasingly in health services for asylum seekers and refugees.

Our alumni have found employment in very different settings, but the one thing they highlight is how the program equipped them with a broad range of working skills and a solid theoretical foundation. This makes them valuable employees and colleagues. 

92 percent of alumni with a master’s degree from the Faculty of Medicine say that they have found relevant work within two years of graduating.   

You can continue in academic research by pursuing a PhD. 

Structure 

The programme covers two academic years (four semesters) and starts in the autumn.  

Semester 1 

• core courses with mandatory learning activities 4—5 days a week.  

Semester 2 

• elective courses. You are free to choose from all CIH's elective courses, other open courses at the University of Bergen, courses offered by Nordic Network in Global Health or courses from the tropEd network. 

Semester 3 and 4 

• either a 60 ECTS thesis  
• or a 30 ECTS internship plus a 30 ECTS thesis 
• weekly research seminars 

See full list of courses

Student life

You will spend most of your time at Centre for International Health (CIH), located on the Alrek Health Campus in Bergen. Here you will meet an international community of staff and students in an informal atmosphere and take part in academic and social events.  

As a master’s student, you will be included in a relevant research group and have access to our reading rooms. 

You will work both independently with literature and assignments, and in groups on global health and research issues. In your first semester there are mandatory learning activities every day, such as seminars, lectures, and group work. As the study progresses, the schedule is more flexible, and you can design your degree through your choice of elective courses. 

You will spend your first year doing course work, and all of your second year writing your master’s thesis (worth 60 ECTS) or internship (30 ECTS) and master’s thesis (30 ECTS). A list of available master’s projects and supervisors is presented to the students in the first semester. 

Read more about what it’s like to study global health. 

What you will learn

You will learn about poverty-related health problems and interventions, and gain research skills and tools to address these in a fair and equitable manner. The student will be qualified to identify and critically analyse key factors shaping the health and well-being of populations in low and middle-income countries, and to formulate effective and appropriate responses to complicated health related issues. 

Full list of learning outcomes.

Study period abroad 

You can spend 3—6 months abroad as part of your studies. You have different options: 

1. Elective courses at partner institutions (second semester) 
2. Fieldwork (third semester) 
3. Internship (third semester) 

See list of recommended exchange agreements

How to apply

Follow these links to find the general entry requirements and guidelines on how to apply:

• Citizens from outside the European Union/EEA/EFTA (1 December)
• Citizens from within the European Union/EEA/EFTA (1 March)
• Nordic citizens and applicants residing in Norway (15 April)

You will also have to meet the programme specific entry requirements.