The Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Jaipur, has successfully prepared the first batch of Master of Public Health (MPH) programme students and enrolled 25 students in its second batch till now.

“The intake of students for this programme involves a lengthy pre-recruitment transcript checked by the US authorities,” informs Anil Kumar, manager, IIHMR university, Jaipur.

He said that this full-time MPH course that started in 2012, in close co-operation with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), USA, was for the first time in the country that aimed students to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the public health programmes and services.

“The programme helps students to develop competencies in the core areas of public health such as biostatistics & Epidemiology, environmental health sciences, public health biology, health and functional management, policy and ethics etc,” says Kumar.

He explained that the course was designed for students from developing countries with special emphasis placed on practical training whereby students are required to conduct a significant practicum experience in population-based health prior to graduation.

“The degree provides opportunities with multiple specialisation within five core disciplines i.e. education, administration or management, community practice and research,” stresses Kumar adding that the institute sends students to USA for practical training.  It also provides an opportunity for students to work on public health practice projects that are of particular interest to them.

The  total tuition fee is USD 22,000 (to be remitted to JHU US$ 12,000 and IIHMR US $ 10,000 or INR equivalent) This includes the cost of all tuition expenses and course materials related to the programme IIHMR provides 'travel and lodging scholarships to all the students admitted in the programme for two-weeks course in the Baltimore campus, US.