8 Best Master’s in Public Health Programs in Sweden

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Studying in Sweden is a great academic experience, especially in Public Health. The universities in Sweden focus on research and developing independent thinking. Moreover, Sweden has an excellent quality of life and great opportunities to ensure a positive student experience.

The best universities offering a Master’s in Public Health in Sweden are below.

Cost of Studying Master’s in Public Health in Sweden

European (EU/EEA and Switzerland) students do not have to pay tuition fees to study for a Master’s in Sweden. For non-EU citizens, costs for a Master’s in Health – for example, Public Health – will be around $40,000 in total (for example, a 360,000 SEK fee at the Karolinska Institutet added to 900 SEK application fee, for a 2-year program).

To this, you should consider adding the living costs which are relatively high in Swedish cities. However, a number of scholarships are available for international students who need to pay tuition fees.

Requirements to Study MPH

You will generally need to have obtained the Swedish equivalent of a B.A./B.Sc. degree of at least 180 credits to meet the entry requirements for a Master’s in Health in Sweden. There is also a requirement to attain English Level 6 on the Swedish educational scale if you are an international student looking to study in English.

There is no specific subject requirement for your Bachelor’s degree in most universities, though some will prefer a social science or even scientific background.

The application process can be very difficult for international students especially if they have no prior information. To help you get familiar with the process, we’ve compiled a guide on How to Study in Sweden for International Students. If you are interested, take a look at the article!

In What Languages Do You Study MPH in Sweden?

Depending on the university of your choice, some will offer the Master’s program in English as well as Swedish – for example, Lund University. Others only teach in Swedish, like Uppsala University. We have highlighted this below.

Top Universities in Sweden with Master’s in Public Health

1. Karolinska Institutet

Based in Solna, Karolinska Institutet is a specialized medical university not far from Stockholm. It has been around since the 19th century and is the highest-ranked university for a Master’s in Public Health in Sweden – it is actually considered the best medical university in Scandinavia.

The program of Master’s in Public Health is taught over two years and you can choose to specialize in Public Health Epidemiology or Health Promotion and Prevention. They require a Bachelor’s degree in health science, healthcare, or other relevant social sciences, from applicants, and the program is taught in English.

At Karolinska, you can also study for a Master’s in Global Health.

2. Lund University

Lund University is Sweden’s second-oldest university and has a great tradition of teaching medicine and public health sciences. They welcome students from 30 nationalities and place the student at the center of designing their own curriculum, encouraging independent study, and setting one’s own goals. In 2019, the Lund University Master’s in Public Health was the most applied to the Master’s program in Sweden.

The Master’s is taught in English. Its alumni have been tracked and work for top government institutions, NGOs, and the public health sector in research functions in prestigious institutes.

3. Uppsala University

Studying at Uppsala University is a privilege. This university was established in 1477 and is associated with 8 laureates of the Nobel Prize, as well as many members of royalty, public figures, and notable academics.

The Master’s program in Public Health at Uppsala is taught exclusively in Swedish. At graduation, alumni receive a Master’s in medicine.

4. Stockholm University

Offered by the Department of Public Health Sciences, this Master’s program at Stockholm University is a multidisciplinary program touching on individual health development as well as the distribution of health at the population level. There are two tracks available within the program for specialization: Societal perspectives on public health or Individual perspectives on public health. All courses are taught in English.

Once you have graduated from this program, you can expect to be qualified to work on policy measures at national, regional, and local levels, or to go on to further postgraduate studies.

To be admitted to Stockholm University’s public health program, your undergraduate degree must have also included an independent thesis.

5. University of Gothenburg

This Master’s program focuses on two options: health economics or health equality. The University of Gothenburg offers a fine critique of the advantages of public health policies that have made Sweden famous, such as its extended structures for improving public health and its universal healthcare. It also looks at health challenges in Sweden.

The University of Gothenburg is one of the largest in Scandinavia, with a great tradition and excellent facilities.

To qualify to study in this program, you will need a Bachelor’s degree in health science, social science, science, economics, arts, or engineering, as well as proven English proficiency (the program is taught in English). The full cost of the program is slightly less than in other universities ($31,000).

6. Royal Institute of Technology

The next university in Sweden with the Master’s in Public Health Program is the Royal Institute of Technology. This program at Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology focuses on the interaction between work systems, organizations, and work environments. The focus is on working life and how to make this healthy and sustainable. The Master’s program will equip you with skills to work in the public, municipal, and private sectors alike.

To enroll in this program, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree in technology, natural or medical sciences, including courses in mathematics or statistics.

The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm was founded in 1827 and is one of Europe’s top technical and engineering universities.

7. Umea University

This two-year Master’s degree has been offered since 1991, but it is extremely popular around the world and the university has made global recruitment a key part of its way of working.

You can complete this program in one or two years, with one year giving you the title of Master of Science (60 credits) – Field of study: Public Health. During the program, you will be offered a mix of individual study work, group work, seminars, and lectures.

There are specific types of Bachelor’s degrees required as pre-requisites for admission: Public Health, Health Care, Health Education, or a relevant field in social or behavioral science.

The language of the program is English and there is a great number of international students.

8. Linnaeus University

The final university in Sweden with MPH in Sweden is Linnaeus University. This Master’s program looks at health from a human and environmental perspective, aiming to prepare students for future commitment within health-related activities. The course covers different scientific perspectives on health and also of health in relation to climate change.

Linnaeus University also focuses on including organizations and institutions from outside the university in the program, allowing students to meet and work with them, in order to get more practical experience too. The result is that you will be well prepared for careers in public or private sector environments alike.

The university is located in Kalmar, a small historical city with its own castle, and where student life is a big part of the culture.

This Master’s program is available as a two-year full-time degree and is taught in English.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.