Public Health is a study field that focuses on prolonging and aiding life, ensuring the survival of humanity. With the recent events in the 21st century, it has never been more in-demand and crucial to study this field. As such, you might find yourself wondering where to study Public Health.

India is among the countries you can go to study this program. Besides the top universities in the country, the programs heavily rely on field studies and practicum in providing instruction. For that, you’ll surely have both classroom knowledge and on-field experience in Public Health when you graduate. In this article, we will be looking at the best universities for public health in India!

Top Universities for Public Health in India

1. Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar

It was in 2015 when the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) established the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar. Although there are five institutions built by the PHFI, the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar is a top school for public health in India and is the only one with university status, making it the first university exclusive for public health education. Its campus sits on a 50-acre land in Gandhinagar. Besides Public Health, it also offers academic programs in Hospital Administration and Public Health Management.

As for Public Health, the institute offers masters and Ph.D. degree programs. For the master’s program, students need two years to complete the full-time program. Some of the courses students study in this program are Epidemiology, Health Policy and Health Systems, and Public Health Laws. It also features engaging hands-on experiences, a comprehensive curriculum, and more than 95% of graduating students getting placements.

On the other hand, the Ph.D. degree program accepts students as Full-Time Research Scholars at the university. Their work requires at least three years of completion but only up to seven years. Applicants are to take an entrance test as part of the admission process, although some students may be exempted on the basis of previous education. Moreover, students are expected either to finance their studies, apply for assistantships, or receive full sponsorships.

2. UNIPUNE – Savitribai Phule Pune University

Located in Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University or UNIPUNE was established in 1949 through the Pune University Act. Since then, the university has acquired 43 departments, providing undergraduate and graduate courses in science, management, law, among others. It has also become one of the respected universities in the country, ranking within the top 10 based on Times Higher Education, and among the top 100 in Asia based on QS Rankings.

The School of Health Sciences at UNIPUNE delivers a world-class program for public health in India and offers a Master’s degree in Public Health. It’s a two-year, full-time program aimed to prepare students in Public Health Management careers, as well as research and intervention. The program is open to applicants with previous education in related fields, such as Life Sciences, Medicine, or Sociology. However, applicants still need to compete for limited slots as the university only accepts only two international students in the program.

Meanwhile, the university offers a Ph.D. program for Public Health. Applicants are required to take the Ph.D. Entrance Test. After completing the program, Ph.D. graduates can join international agencies, like the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

3. Amrita University

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, commonly referred to as Amrita University, is a recognized university for public health in India that was founded in 1994 at Coimbatore, India. It is a private university with six campuses across different locations in the country. It’s also one of the top five universities in the country according to the government-affiliated National Institutional Ranking Framework. Since its foundation, with Engineering being the first academic school it opened, the university has expanded to include over 200 academic programs, including Public Health.

The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center offers the Masters in Public Health program. It’s a two-year full-time program that adopts international standards in providing knowledge, attitudes, and skills in public health research and practice. Students are required to take six core studies, which include Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Public Health Biology, and Healthcare, Health System Management, and Health Economics. The program also requires students to complete a practicum for the first three semesters, and a capstone project for the last semester.

To qualify, students are expected to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s in a related field, such as Nursing, Pharmacy Science, or Allied Health Science. International students applying for the program should also meet the English language requirements, which is a reasonable TOEFL score.

4. Jawaharlal Nehru University

Jawaharlal Nehru University is another top institution for public health in India that was established in 1969. It is a research university that was named after the country’s first prime minister. Since its foundation, the university has focused on changing the vision of higher education in the country, with sciences being its focus field. It has also become one of the top three universities in the country, based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework.

Through its Center for Social Medicine and Community Health, the university offers the Masters in Public Health program. International students interested to apply must have at least a Master’s of Science or MBBS degree in Nursing. It’s also required for them to have at least one year of experience in community health.

The program takes four semesters, or two years, to complete. The first three semesters consist of coursework. Meanwhile, field studies in the district health systems take up the fourth semester and the inter-semester breaks. After the master’s program, students can apply for the Ph.D. provided that they have sufficient publications and research experience.

5. Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Tata Institute of Social Science is known for being a leading university for public health in India that was founded in 1936 in its former name, Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work. It achieved university status in 1964, already under its present name. Located in Mumbai, India, the university sits at a 21-acre main campus, with several other campuses in Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati. These campuses also house various schools, including the School of Health Systems Studies, where the Master’s for Public Health is offered.

The master’s program is a two-year, full-time degree, although students may complete it up to five years. Besides the taught courses, students are expected to undergo three internships and complete a research project. As for the Ph.D. program, students have to meet the eligibility requirements before qualifying for the Research Aptitude Test. Some of these qualifications are an educational background of at least a master’s degree, related work experience, and a research proposal.

 

We hope that this article on Best Universities for Public Health in India was helpful. Check also the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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