The Master's Degree Programme in Public Health (MPH) is offered by the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, in collaboration with the Department of Nursing Science. We educate experts for public health related fields and sectors in regional and global contexts. Our graduates work as epidemiologists, researchers, administrators, managers, field workers, health educators, and entrepreneurs around the world. The MPH is a 2-year programme of 120 ECTS credits. It is primarily contact teaching with elements of online learning.
We incorporate modern teaching methodologies according to the UEF's aims, which we are very proud of. Global health is the way of the future, and here at UEF we are at the centre of creating solutions for it.
For instructions on how to apply and a direct link to the application form on Studyinfo, please scroll down. The application period is open 7 January 2026 - 21 January 2026.
Key information
- Level of degree: M.Sc. (Health Sciences)
- Programme duration: 2 years full-time (120 ECTS credits)
- Language of instruction: English
- The programme admits 30 students annually
- Programme starts annually in September
- Campus: Kuopio
Studies
The Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition offers training in Public Health in English. Our internationally recognised Master's Degree Programme in Public Health (MPH), which has been running since 1993, is at the forefront of integrating the global dimensions of public health. Our educational atmosphere is characterised by interaction between Finnish and international students from different educational and cultural backgrounds.
To contribute to the wider community, we examine health-related issues from social, cultural and global aspects. Students are trained in areas such as: public health, health promotion, epidemiology, nutrition, community medicine, health policy, health economics, occupational health, and environmental health.
Curriculum
We use student-centred teaching methods, and the teaching includes both class-room teaching and online elements. In the class-room students will benefit from the interactive sessions with fellow students and teachers with a multicultural background. Online assignments are designed to help gain a deeper understanding and apply their knowledge. Different assignments also provide training in scientific writing. Studying includes both group work and independent learning.
The curriculum includes both compulsory and elective studies. Each student creates a personal study plan. This also helps with scheduling and adjusting the work-load over the two-year studies on campus. In their study plans, students can choose courses from a wide selection, including those offered by other departments, university networks (e.g. UNIPID, Finnish University Partnership for International Development) and UEF Summer Schools. The courses offered by the university library and language centre help students improve their general academic skills. An elective internship can also be included in the study plan.
Curriculum of the MSc Degree Programme in Public Health 2026-2028
Information will be updated in January 2026!
Students of the MPH programme follow instructions and guidelines of the University of Eastern Finland and the Faculty of Health Sciences. Please visit our student handbook KAMU.
MPH students will have a personal study plan counselling with programme coordinator once a year, in the autumn semester. Students get information on courses from course coordinators and teachers throughout their studies. Master's thesis work begins in the end of the first year and that is instructed by thesis supervisors.
How to apply?
You should hold at least a Bachelor 's or equivalent degree in an applicable field to be eligible to apply.
Applicant should hold the university-level bachelor’s degree (or higher) in:
Public Health Science, Global Health, Food and Nutrition, Health Promotion, Medicine (MD or equivalent), Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Sciences, Nursing Science (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), Health Economics, Health Policy and Management, Health Informatics, Sociology or Psychology.
A previous Bachelor's degree corresponding to at least 3 years of full time academic studies (equivalent of 180 ECTS credit units in the Finnish university system) from an institution for higher education is required from all Master's degree programme applicants. The degree must be awarded by an internationally recognized university. You can apply if you are due to complete your Bachelor's degree by July 2026.
Language requirements
Applicants must either (1) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), or (2) reach the minimum required language test results to be considered eligible to the University of Eastern Finland. No exceptions will be made and no waivers regarding the language proficiency requirements are given.
(1) Applicants who hold one of the following do not have to take an English language test
1. a) Passed English exam in Matriculation Examination in Finland
1. b) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed their secondary education in English language in EU/EEA -countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland. The applicants from EU/ETA -countries and Switzerland must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this.
1. c) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in EU/EEA -countries, or in one of the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South-Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The applicants from these countries must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this.
1. d) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, the United Kingdom or the United States. The applicants prove their language skills with a university degree.
The degree/programme must be taught and assessed in English (at least 50 % of the degree must be completed in English). If you verify your language skills with your education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.
Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.
Applicant can only indicate the language skills with an incomplete degree if he/she is applying for the studies with the same degree.
(2) All other applicants have to take one of the following language tests
- TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, min. 22 in writing (UEF’s TOEFEL code is 9779)
- IELTS (academic) overall score 6.5, min. 6.0 in writing
- PTE (academic), overall score 62, min 54 in writing
- C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with min. 162 in writing
- C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with min. 162 in writing
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI-test: level 5 in all different subtests (reading comprehension, writing, speaking comprehension and speaking). It is possible to combine different examinations.
Kindly note that the University of Eastern Finland also accepts the following tests:
- IELTS Academic online and UKVI tests, IELTS One Skill Retake test results.
- PTE Academic online and UKVI tests
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests, MyBest Scores
No other degrees or statements of language proficiency will be accepted.
TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued, i.e. the language test needs to be in effect during the application period, from 7 January 2024 onwards.
The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser.
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae (CV) stating how your previous education and experience supports the Master's studies. You must use the MPH programme´s template for CV.
Research experience and publications
In this document, you will describe your involvement and role in research projects. You must use programmes`s template for this document.
The 2026 application period is open from 7 January 2026 to 21 January 2026. The application is completed and submitted online. The online application is only open during the application period. The application process begins by entering your basic information at the Studyinfo portal. Application documents must be submitted by the given deadline.
UEF verifies the applicants' language skills according to the programme specific requirements and processes their educational certificates. This includes verifying the authenticity of the educational documents as well as credential evaluation. Applicants will receive an email notification after the documents have been processed by UEF.
To learn more about the application process and the required documents, please visit Studyinfo. Please also note possible country-specific document requirements.
Application checklist
The application should consist of the following:
- Official scanned copies of degree and graduation certificates in their original language
- Official translations of degree and graduation certificates
- Official certified transcript of records in their original language
- Official translations of transcript of records
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Curriculum vitae
- Research experience and publications
All documents must be original. All translations must be officially certified and accompanied by copies of the original documents. Incomplete applications will not be processed, nor will applications received by email or fax. Applications will not be considered unless the documents requested are received in English or Finnish. The official English language test report must be valid during the application period.
In addition to the standard document requirements, there are specific requirements in place for educational documents from certain countries. Please check if there are any country-specific requirements for the country where your degree was awarded and then follow the instructions. The country-specific requirements must be followed first and foremost, before any regular requirements for attesting documents.
The best 30 applicants are accepted to the program and the rest of the applicants are rejected. The programme may accept more applicants by discretion to fulfill the available study places in the programme. Applicants are not placed on the waiting list.
Results for studies starting in September 2026 will be published on 29 May 2026 at the latest. When the selection decision has been made, the results will be posted immediately to applicants by e-mail.
Admitted students shall inform whether they accept their study place by latest on 9 July 2026 at 3 pm (EEST) electronically via Studyinfo portal or by submitting the confirmation form to [email protected].
According to one-study-place-per-term-provision, a student may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term. This rule applies to all higher education.
The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students is 10,000 EUR. There are no tuition fees for students who are citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland. Applicants subject to tuition fees can apply for tuition waivers and scholarships during the university application process by completing the relevant section on the application form.
Early Bird Discount: A one-time deduction of €500 for the autumn 2026 semester is available to students who accept their study place and pay the tuition fee via Flywire within three weeks of the result publication (by June 10, 2026).
The number of scholarships offered by UEF is limited, and most are awarded based on merit (best scores in the application process). There are three types of scholarships available:
- UEF Scholarship
A 100% tuition waiver, one per programme. Tuition waiver is granted to Master's students for two academic years (= 4 semesters).
- Tuition Waiver
50% of the tuition fee, for limited number of applicants. Tuition waiver is granted to Master's students for two academic years (= 4 semesters)
- Finnish Language Scholarship
Applied for during studies at UEF.
Students granted a tuition waiver or scholarship must sign and return a student agreement. More information available on Tuition fees, waivers and scholarships website.
Other mandatory fee: Membership of the Student Union. Further information is available on the website of the Student Union.
- EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
- EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
- Switzerland (non EU/EEA).
Application period 2026
Our application period is open from 7 January 2026 to 21 January 2026. The application is completed and submitted online.
Apply via Studyinfo
Studyinfo is the official national admissions portal with all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.
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