Public Health is one of the noblest and most essential career fields in the world as it tackles significant individual and social issues that contribute to health-related behaviors that determine the path diseases take in terms of likelihood of occurrence and spread in the community. Through the results of public health studies, the healthcare sector can devise strategies or create drugs to keep diseases under control.
Career opportunities for public health professionals are pretty extensive, ranging from regional, national, to international. They can also be in public agencies, governmental positions, private companies, or international organizations.
Since Public Health encompasses health issues on a global scale, prospective students should pursue a program that guarantees academic training on an international level. Many universities in certain countries offer competitive programs to the most promising students. The best part is that some of them provide the programs for free, such as some of the free public health schools we will discuss below.
Is Public Health Hard to Study?
Public health is a multidisciplinary field that requires command of both hard and soft science. While it might seem hard at first glance, it is not a particularly hard degree to undertake. It is, however, a discipline that requires passion on the part of those who want to pursue it. Studying public health is mainly about working closely with the community, and the latter may differ depending on your interests and career goals. For example, those who want to pursue public health in education work very closely with communities within schools and other educational institutions. At the moment, there are no available courses for Public Health on our website, but don’t let that discourage you from browsing the available courses on our Open Courses Page, where you can find a few courses that may interest you.
Free Public Health Schools
1. University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen (KU) is one of the most prestigious universities in Denmark, offering a wide range of degree programs for free for EU/EEA students. Meanwhile, international students may apply for various scholarships and loans available at the university to subsidize the tuition fees or living costs. Either way, students can be sure to get a high quality of education from the university.
KU is a free public health school, with its Bachelor of Public Health Science that explores the various aspects of public health, including natural sciences, social sciences, ethics, and more. The three-year program is predominantly taught in the Danish language, with some parts conducted in English. However, texts may also come in Norwegian and Swedish, so interested applicants may be required to show proficiency or take supplementary classes for learning these languages.
Upon earning the Bachelor’s degree, graduates may pursue higher education through the Master of Public Health Science program also available at the University of Copenhagen. The program lasts two years and requires students to complete a thesis in the fourth semester.
2. University of Oslo
The University of Oslo is one of Norway’s best higher education institutions. It offers a wide range of degree programs taught in the Norwegian language, while some are in English. Nevertheless, all of them guarantee high quality. For instance, it takes its Public Health courses above the rest by offering a Master’s program in International Community Health which introduces an international classroom and an interactive learning environment.
The program also involves fieldwork in Norway or other countries for a more immersive learning experience. It also has a multidisciplinary approach, allowing students to explore various courses relevant to public health, such as Preventive Medicine & Epidemiology, Medical Ethics, and more. Through these, students may share experiences and knowledge about health issues in their respective communities while learning from others and maximizing their knowledge and skills in the field.
The university offers its programs for free for domestic and international students. However, international students must show proof of financial capacity to sustain their living costs in Norway through proper documentation. The current amount required by the Immigration Department in Norway is NOK126,357 per school year.
3. Stockholm University
Sweden is internationally recognized for being home to some of the best medical and healthcare universities in the world. One of which is Stockholm University, which is a free public health school and ranks among the top 200 universities worldwide and hosts a student population of almost 32,000. Students from Switzerland and EU/EEA member countries can benefit from free tuition at Stockholm University.
The university offers a three-year Bachelor’s program for Public Health Sciences taught in the Swedish language, amounting to 180 ECTS credits. The program provides students with knowledge about the historical and social aspects of health behaviors as well as the healthcare policy development and practices nationally and internationally.
Upon completing the undergraduate degree, students may pursue an English-taught Master’s degree in Public Health Sciences and choose between Societal and Individual perspectives in the third semester. Graduates are then equipped with the skills and experience necessary to get a job in regional or national health agencies. They may also qualify for a position at healthcare companies or international public health organizations.
4. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich has a long history of religious and political influences. Its history spans over five centuries and has helped shape it into the outstanding academic institution that it is today. Some of the remarkable achievements of the university include producing many renowned graduates who went on to become Nobel Laureates, government officials, or industry leaders.
LMU has a Master of Science in Public Health program, predominantly taught in the German language. However, interested applicants are still required to show proof of English language proficiency during the application process. The program takes four semesters to complete and credits 120 ECTS points to graduates.
Students in the program can focus on Biometrics and Epidemiology and explore several other applications of public health. Upon graduation, they will have excellent qualifications to enter the labor market or pursue postgraduate education at other prestigious universities in Germany or Europe.
5. University of Iceland
The University of Iceland, another free public health institution, is the oldest and largest academic institution in Iceland that offers a wide range of degree programs. It does not charge tuition fees to both domestic and international students. However, students have to pay a non-refundable registration fee worth ISK75,000 every year once admitted.
Interested students may apply for a Master of Philosophy or a Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences available at the University of Iceland. The Master’s program is worth 120 ECTS credits, while the postgraduate degree grants 180 ECTS credits.
Both programs are available in English. However, international students still need to possess good Icelandic language skills as some courses may be conducted using the language. Nevertheless, the programs try to cater to students of all nationalities and encourage an international exchange program sometime during the period of studies.
We hope this article on free public health schools was informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
