Advanced Master of Global Health

Master in Global Health

Influenced by increasing globalization over recent decades, a new approach has arisen for working and thinking about health internationally. Here, abstraction is made of the concepts of national or international, and the idea of global health has been introduced. Global health strives for equality in health between countries. Within this new paradigm, problems are approached as global issues that require an interdisciplinary approach, with all countries contributing jointly.

With the Master of Science in Global Health, we want to focus on health issues and determinants that are regarded as global challenges for the 21st century: chronic conditions, mental health, and ageing, but also the effects of pollution, climate change, and migration on health. The complexity of these challenges requires a transnational, interdisciplinary approach (including social sciences, ecological sciences, health sciences, legal sciences, and economics) with input from a variety of actors (including governments, international organizations, civil society, and professional associations). Global health is, therefore, to a large extent multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and focused on cooperation.

The Master of Science in Global Health provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage these complexities by giving you a sound theoretical basis, mixed with applied classes and an internship. This training package prepares you to become a catalyst for change as a global health professional.

The master is a collaboration between Ghent University, Catholic University of Leuven, Hasselt University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Antwerp.

• Do you want to tackle health inequalities between countries?
• Are your ready to unravel the complexities of major global health challenges?
• Do you have an open mind and collaborative spirit?

Then this advanced Master of Science in Global Health is for you!

Complex health problems require interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international solutions. We welcome students with a recognized Master’s degree from any background discipline.

The Master of Science in Global Health is a two-year advanced Master’s programme (120 ECTS) comprising three components: 1) theoretical courses; 2) a Master’s thesis; and 3) an internship.

The theoretical courses are largely based on three aspects of global health:
I. Global concepts, problems and frameworks concerning health (Global – Year 1)
II. Local and context-specific organization and interventions concerning health (Local – Year 1)
III. Extensive focus on a specific aspect of global health (Focal – Year 2)

The theoretical courses also include:
I. Courses on transferable skills, including complexity theory, systems thinking and evidence synthesis
II. Research methods and tools, including key methodological insights relevant to global health

Master’s dissertation: The Master’s dissertation is a paper in which the student independently develops a research project.

Internship programme: Students will undertake a 10-week professional internship in the field.

Students acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to face the complexity of Global Health problems, and to formulate holistic, transnational, interdisciplinary solutions, taking into account a multitude of actors. Read more about the acquired competences on the programme's website.

Career opportunities

In the second year, the Master’s programme offers two tracks. Students graduating from our ‘Global Health Policy and Programmes’ option will be more oriented towards government institutions, international organizations, development agencies, non-governmental organizations, or lobbying and advocacy. Those graduating from our ‘Research Methods in Global Health’ option will focus more on national and international research institutions working in fields related to global health.