8 Best Master’s in Public Health Programs in Russia

If you are thinking of pursuing a Master’s in Public Health, then you should consider studying in Russia. After all, the country is known for its strong science programs. With more than 751 universities, Russia offers over 650+ undergraduate and graduate programs.

But even with this volume, the country promises affordable yet quality education. This is greatly obvious in the Russian universities that dominate the world rankings. With that being said, you should take this priceless opportunity by considering any of these 8 Russian universities offering Master’s in Public Health degrees.

Cost of Studying MPH in Russia

Pursuing a master’s degree in Russia will cost you about $2,100 at the minimum. At some private institutions, you may need to pay $4,000 a year – which is still cheap compared to most foreign universities.

Just as affordable as the tuition fee is the cost of living. You only have to spend anywhere from $300 to $400 a month to live comfortably in Russia.

Requirements to Study Master’s in Public Health in Russia

Most Russian universities only require the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s program to be admitted. However, preference is given to applicants with backgrounds in public health, biology, and other sciences. In schools such as Sechenov University, an entrance exam may also be required.

In What Languages Do You Study in Russian MPH programs?

Most Russian MPH programs are taught both in Russian and English.

Universities in Russia with a Master’s in Public Health Program

1. Sechenov University

As the largest university in Russia with a Master’s in Public Health program, Sechenov University is a top choice when it comes to science education. It has a large concentration of international students (16%), with some of them pursuing Sechenov’s famed Master of Public Health program.

The English MPH program was launched in 2014. Ever since then, it has helped create professionals who excel in the field of public health research and management.

The 1st and 2nd semesters cover comprehensive courses in public health determinants, health promotion and education, epidemiology, scientific research, and process analysis, to name a few. The 3rd and 4th semesters, on the other hand, involve thesis-making and research integration.

2. Northern State Medical University

Located in Arkhangelsk, NSMU is the center for medical education in Northern Russia. It offers a variety of graduate degrees, including the Arkhangelsk International School of Public Health’s MPH program.

The degree, which is in line with the Bologna process, aims to develop professionals who can identify major health programs, as well as develop, implement, and evaluate applicable interventions.

Courses include biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, law and bioethics, health administration, health economics, and research methods, to name a few.

The 2-year program, which equates to 120 ECTS, takes a student about 16 hours a week of studies. Study methods involve in-class lectures, assignments, practice, and research.

NSMU accepts only 25 applicants every year.

3. Northwestern State Medical University

Northwestern State Medical University is one of the best schools in Russia with a Master’s in Public Health Program. Launched in 2014, NWSMU’s MPH program is about training students who wish to engage in public health-related scientific, industrial, and research activities. Whether you are an economist or a lawyer, you could specialize in public health with this degree.

Created under the Bologna process, NWSMU’s program is harmonized with that of the University of Chicago’s prominent public health degree.

With this 2-year program, students are taught to effectively carry out health assessments – and create interventions that may help improve the state of public health. The degree is not only recognized in Russia, as this could serve as an employment gateway in other European countries as well.

4. International University of Fundamental Studies

IUFS’s Master’s Degree in Public Health is offered in coordination with the Northwest Public Health Research Center. Through this program, students can brush up on their knowledge in public health and the related disciplines of epidemiology, biomedical statistics, health policy and administration, and occupational and environmental health.

The 4-semester degree includes core courses in public health basics, health economics, healthcare management and leadership, international health, ethics, clinical epidemiology, health technology assessment, medical sociology, and thesis-making.

At this university in Russia with a Master’s in Public Health program, students also get to choose electives in the fields of abuse prevention, immunization, occupational health, mental health, health promotion, community strategies, or environmental toxicology.

5. First Moscow State Medical University

FMSMU is one of the most reputable Russian universities with an MPH program. Based in Moscow, it is a renowned training and research center for medical professionals. It only offers 2 master’s programs, one of which is Public Health.

With this degree, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills of preventing disease. As such, MPH degree holders have the potential to prolong the lifespan of the general masses through research and policy implementation.

As with most universities, applicants are required to submit bachelor’s transcripts. This can be done online, which is favorable to many international students.

Compared to other universities, FMSMU accepts all marks for admission. Despite this seemingly lax admission procedure, the university has managed to produce several notable medical professionals, including Sergey Botkin (founder of Russian medical education) and Sergei Korsakoff (renowned 19th-century neuropsychiatrist), to name a few.

6. Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN)

RUDN’s postgraduate course in Public Health and Healthcare is for students who wish to develop and enhance strategies for the improvement of healthcare and medical services.

The 3-year program, which is geared towards academic and scientific professionals, features different educational methods. They include lectures, practical classes, and research work. Internship, on the other hand, is done in the Russian Department of Public Health, Healthcare, and Hygiene.

This degree provides career specializations in the fields of healthcare marketing, healthcare management, and health economics.

7. ITMO University

  • Language of Instruction: Russian or English

This innovative program centers on modern approaches that can be used in the field of computational medicine. Through this degree, students can work on models that may predict disease patheways, calculate institutional workload, and create tailor-made solutions for every patient.

Digital Health core courses include Information Technologies in Modern Healthcare, Predictive modeling in biomedicine, Visualization of Medical Data, Medical Information Systems, Analysis and Optimization of Business Processes in Healthcare, and Medical systems Safety, to name a few.

ITMO students can specialize in two fields. One is Mathematical modeling in problems of medicine and public health, which is best for those who aspire to be data scientists or biomedical/computational research programmers.

Another field is Decision Support Systems in Medicine and Healthcare, which focuses on the field of medical informatics. This track is recommended for statistical programmers and data solutions analysts.

8. HSE (Higher School of Economics) University

Based in Moscow, HSE University – also known as the National Research University Higher School of Economics – specializes in the said social science. But if you are an economist who wishes to delve into healthcare, then you should consider its unique master’s program.

This degree equips students with the knowledge and practical skills related to management and administration. Combining theory and applied science, it can help its graduates craft the best methods for healthcare problems.

The 2-year program covers courses in the following disciplines:

  • Business Planning Activities in Health Care Organization
  • Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Innovations
  • Medical Ethics and Deontology
  • Health Insurance
  • Health Administration and Economics
  • Primary Health Care and Health for All
  • Public and Private Health Care Legislation

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