Throughout history, Greece has always been a center of history, literature, and the arts. It has also gained a strong foothold in the sciences, from Hippocrates setting the foundations of medicine to the advancements in Greece’s universities to date. As a model of civilization, many look to Greek education, especially in disciplines relating to public life, as one worth emulating.
Combining the strengths of Greece in both medicine and society, immerse yourself in an authentic Greek education on public health through these universities:
Is a Bachelor of Public Health Marketable?
Public health unlike other medical degrees like nursing does not have many jobs. However, the recent pandemic has reiterated the importance of public health officials. From dealing with vaccination programs to championing clean air and water, public health is an important field that truly caters to the greater good of humankind. To have a thriving career in public health, consider studying for a Masters’s degree, as a bachelor’s degree is for entry-level jobs. You can explore the open courses listed on our page, as we do not have public health courses at the moment.
Top Universities for Public Health in Greece
1. University of Crete
The University of Crete is an excellent public health school in Greece that offers two postgraduate courses in the realm of Public Health – the Public Health and Primary Health Care specialization and the Health Services specialization. Both courses are offered for three semesters, with the goal of training high-caliber talent among those pursuing careers in the health institutions of the country, from private hospital executives to public agency administrators. They will be equipped with research and teaching skills aligned with those in the field of medical sciences, while also balancing the management skills necessary for their roles.
2. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Public Health Program Link
- Degrees offered: Master’s in Applied Nutrition and Health Promotion – Nutrition and Public Health track
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is a leading university for public health in Greece that offers an Applied Nutrition and Health Promotion Master’s course from its School of Health Sciences. This Master’s course has two tracks, but the more relevant of the two is the Nutrition and Public Health route. This course is only available for 20 students per year, perfect for those pursuing jobs in research and education, epidemiological or health organizations in a community, regional or national scope, and health care services that support a community’s quality of life.
The course is divided into two parts across three semesters – the first semester is composed of foundational lectures such as Research Methodology and Applied Biostatistics. The second semester goes deeper into the course track, through public health specialized courses such as Health Education and Epidemiology of Nutrition. The course culminates in a thesis for the third semester. The university takes pride in its world-renowned faculty and modern modes of learning, flexible study schedule, and an option to do distance learning for up to 50% each semester, if necessary.
3. Harokopio University
Harokopio University is one of the best institutions for public health in Greece that opts to focus its public health thrust on eating right, through its Master’s program in Nutrition and Health. The course takes on two sub-themes in health – how nutrition plays a key role in upholding public health, and how nutrition trickles down to the foods we purchase and eat as consumers.
The English program aims to develop more international talent in the fields of nutritional sciences, while also providing students the know-how in managing nutritional interventions among communities. The balance between data and recommendation makes graduates assets in the fields of public policy and private institutions to roll out initiatives for improved diet and nutrition.
The course is approximately 1.5-2.5 years long, but can also be flexed into a part-time program which is 2.5-3.5 years long. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, with a preference for students with existing degree expertise in the aspect of nutrition, whether locally or abroad. Courses include Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Community Prevention Programs, Food Processing and Food Quality, and Toxicology and Nutrition.
4. University of Thessaly
The University of Thessaly’s Faculty of Medicine is one of the most comprehensive schools for public health in Greece. As one of the newest and biggest Schools in the university, the School endeavors to educate and provide undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees on health and development while furthering scientific knowledge through research, speech, and arts. What sets this university apart is its affiliation with an in-house teaching hospital. The University Hospital of Larissa serves as an on-ground learning environment for students of the Faculty of Medicine, to cultivate international studies and programs and put them to practice.
The two related courses on public health have been operational in the university since the year 2004. First is the Primary Health Care course, for graduates looking into careers in healthcare institutions. In this course, students will study health and care models across communities and populations, design optimal health programs, and analyze the cost and benefits of various health recommendations.
The second track is Applied Public Health and Environmental Hygiene with a specialization in Food and Water Quality Assessment and Public Health, a good fit for students looking into community welfare, NGO work, and health as a means for socio-economic development. In this course, students gain both a medical and economic lens towards health, studying not only the growth of populations and prevention of disease but also the impact of basic community health on societies.
Both courses are good for four semesters, and candidates undergo a rigorous screening process to be accepted.
5. University of Patras
The University of Patras is a recognized university for public health in Greece that offers a Master’s course in Public Health, aiming to impart the different societal problems in the health community, as well as the latest advancements in the discipline to prevent or treat them. The course lends well to two routes of specializations towards the Environment, and Preventive and Social Medicine. The Environment route delves into the environmental effects on public health, while Preventive and Social Medicine talks of disease prevention and treatment in a large-scale manner.
Graduates can expect training that deepens their existing knowledge on public health, fitted into various contexts for easier adaptability in public or private organizations. The course is divided into three terms, the first of which discusses fundamental health and research concepts. The second term delves deeper into the desired specialization, with those in the Environment route studying topics like Microbiology, Food hygiene, and Environmental Chemistry, while those in Preventive and Social Medicine tracks will take on Health Promotion, Health Systems Organization, and Health Policies, among others. The course ends with a dissertation required for graduation.
We hope that this article on Best Universities for Public Health in Greece was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Programs in Europe for International Students to learn more!
