The Master of Public Health (MPH) aims to equip graduates to quantify and prioritize health needs at a population level; design, implement and evaluate public health programmes – in line with evidence and appropriate policies; demonstrate leadership in transforming health services and systems, and to conduct public health-related research.

The MPH is designed for a range of health professionals who are either working on the frontline in health facilities or in programmes related to the delivery of health services; occupying a strategic or management position within the health system – at district, regional /provincial or national level; or be a member of an academic research institution.

The career path you choose after completing an MPH will vary widely based on your specific circumstances and career goals. The MPH will provide you with opportunities to enhance your understanding of public health and strengthen your ability to design, implement and evaluate public health interventions within your local context. Because the field of public health is so broad our MPH programme offers a number of areas of specialisation that you can pursue, and the career you embark on after your MPH is up to you and your personal goals and preferences.

The MPH is comprised of six compulsory modules, two elective modules and a mini-thesis. For details of these eight modules please see the SOPH website and School’s Programme Handbook: http://www.uwcsoph.co.za/index.php/academic-programmes

Here is an overview of the composition of the curriculum and the credits:

You will be assessed continuously throughout the MPH: through assignments, your participation in online discussion forums, and through a mini-thesis.

The programme is offered online using UWC’s Learning Management System called iKamva. You will be required to have an accessible and reliable internet connection to be able to participate in the programme. This is required as all the modules, the associated readings and materials, the discussions with other students, and your communication with the lecturers and the School will be online.

You will be able to complete the entire course remotely using iKamva (the University’s online platform) to access your materials and other activities and assessments. However, there are also optional, in-person teaching blocks which occur in February/March (Summer School) and June/July (Winter School) at the School of Public Health in Cape Town, South Africa. During these blocks you will get to meet your course convenors and guest presenters, interact with other participants and benefit from the face/face teaching and group work discussions and activities.

While we strongly encourage participants to attend Summer and Winter School, we do understand that this is not an option for everyone and we are increasingly taking steps, where possible, to provide online access to some of these classes or presentations.

There are two opportunities for in-person teaching and interactions during each year (Summer School in February/March and Winter School in June/July).  But as we indicated previously, you do not have to travel to South Africa – as everything is online!

Students have two options:

The full-time option means that you:

• complete the six core modules in year 1 (three modules per semester);
• complete the two elective modules in the first half (or first semester) of year 2, and in the second half ( semester) of year 2 develop and get approval of your mini-thesis research proposal and begin with data collection; and
• submit your final mini thesis research project for examination in mid-March, mid-May or mid-November in year

The part-time option means you:

• complete four of the core modules in year 1 (two modules per semester);
• complete the remaining two core modules, along with the two electives in year 2 (two modules per semester);
• begin to work on your mini-thesis research proposal in the second semester of year 2 and begin your data collection once this has been approved; and
• submit your mini thesis by mid-November of year

The MPH programme has been designed to be completed while participants are still working and so it is not necessary to resign from your job. We also generally encourage students to pursue the part-time option, over 3 years as the accelerated option will be extremely demanding on your time if you are working fulltime.

You can pursue a more intensive course load (what we call the full-time option) and complete your course work within 18 months. You could use the remainder of the second year to develop and submit your mini thesis proposal and begin data collection. You could then aim to submit your mini thesis by March in the third year. This means that you will complete the programme in just over 2 years.  Completing the programme within 2 years is quite difficult and most students take 3 years.

The MPH consists of 180 credits. This means that in order to achieve all of the learning outcomes associated with the programme, participants are expected to spend approximately 1800 notional learning hours on all course related work (including reading, going through course materials, preparing assignments and participating in online discussions. This is broken down into 8 x 15 credit module (150 notional learning hours each) and a 60 credit mini-thesis (600 notional learning hours).

What this translates to in reality is that you can expect to spend the equivalent of 1.25 days/week on your studies.

Here are some important guidelines to help you understand how much time you really will need each week during you studies:

If you take four modules per year (i.e. part-time study) you will need about 10 – 12 hours per week (ie. the equivalent of 1.25 work days/week).

Taking more than four modules in one year is almost the equivalent of full time study.  If you travel regularly, or if you will carry heavy work or family responsibilities it may be preferable to take fewer modules.

For South African and African citizens the cost per module for most modules will be approximately R3 400 for the 2021 academic year. The exact price of the modules will only be available in December 2020.  Students will also be required to pay an annual registration fee of approximately R1 500. The cost for the mini thesis will be in the region of R7 000. International fees are available on request from the SOPH admin office. Please contact the SOPH admin office if you require further information about the programme fees.  Email: soph-comm@uwc.ac.za.

South African citizens will be required to pay an initial fee of approximately R5 000 (before they will be allowed to register in mid-January 2021). The remainder of their fees for the year will be billed to them by UWC.

African and international citizens will need to pay their fees for the entire year as well as the registration fee upfront before they will be allowed to register in mid January 2021.

*Please note these are approximate costs for the year 2021 and they will likely increase in subsequent years.

No, the School of Public Health unfortunately does not have funding available. Please contact the UWC Financial Aid Office for information on bursaries (the contact details of which you will find in the SOPH Programme Handbook which is available on the SOPH website).

There are two opportunities for in-person teaching and interactions during each year (Summer School in February/March and Winter School in June/July).  But as we indicated previously, you do not have to travel to South Africa – as everything is online!

Applications open in late May 2020 and close on 30 September 2020.

The academic year starts in February and ends in December.

Candidates must have:

• An Honours Degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, or its equivalent at NQF Level 8 in any relevant discipline in the health and social development sector, or a related sect
• Three years’ work experience in health, social development or related sectors.
• Those who do not have credit for a tertiary level course in disease pathogenesis, disease measurement or disease control must take the module, Introducing Public Health: its Basis and Scope from the PG Diploma in Public Health, and complete a task before or during their first semester in Year 1 of their studies.

A minimum of 3 years is the requirement.

If you do not have a four year Honors Degree you would not be eligible to apply for the MPH.  However, you may want to instead apply for our Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) programme.

UWC has a strong tradition of supporting the practice of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The principles and procedures for the assessment and recognition of prior learning at UWC are governed by the RPL Policy of 2001 (as amended in March 2019).  If you would like to find out more about how to make an RPL application to the MPH programme, please contact Please contact Ms Janine Kader at Email: soph-comm@uwc.ac.za.

Those who have non-South African qualifications need to apply to the South African qualifications authority (SAQA) for clearance and have to submit this clearance with all other relevant documents. Please do so as soon as you start your application process as the SAQA clearance takes quite a long time to process.

Yes

Please visit the SAQA website for details on the application process:

http://www.saqa.org.za/show.php?id=5741

Please contact Ms Janine Kader at Email: soph-comm@uwc.ac.za.

An MPH by full thesis involves the completion of a research project and the submission of a thesis based on this research. A student select a topic of interest to them and that is within the areas specified by SOPH. Students must also be able to identify an appropriate supervisor who will have the expertise to advise and guide the student through the research process. There is no course work involved in this degree. The full thesis is expected to be between 20 000 – 45 000 words in length

Those who have a specific area of interest and would like to gain practical experience conducting a research project are likely to benefit from the Masters by full thesis. This mode allows you to develop your research skills and to gain in-depth knowledge on a specific area of interest.

Students must select a topic and design and complete a research project that is situated within the scope of topics and approaches covered in the areas of specialization of the School, namely:

• Strengthening primary health care and district health systems
• Health systems analysis and innovation (human resources, health systems, health promotion, health policy, multi-sectoral action)
• Health programmes and interventions (HIV/AIDS/TB, Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, including Men’s health, Public Health Nutrition and Food Security, Non communicable diseases)
• Social determinants of health and social systems
• Pharmaceutical Public Health
• Health Information Systems/Health Informatics.

With the approval of their supervisor, students may choose to attend one of the SOPH MPH coursework modules for non-degree purposes for their own personal development. With permission from SOPH and, students may apply the content and approach of other disciplines to their thesis project, provided these are deemed of direct relevance to Public Health.

Your thesis will be assessed by a panel which will consist of two specialists who have not been involved in the supervision process of your thesis research.  One of the two examiners will be an external academic who is not attached to the University. In order to pass, a candidate must obtain a mark of at least 50% for the thesis.

There is no coursework associated with this degree so you are not required to attend any classes. If considered relevant to their thesis topic, and with the approval of their Supervisor, students could choose to attend Summer and/or Winter School short course sessions in Cape Town held in February/March and June/July respectively.

It is not necessary for you to travel to South Africa, however you might, with the approval of your supervisor, choose to attend some of the Summer or Winter School short courses which are relevant to your area of research.

Students must be registered for at least one academic year. You may take a maximum of three years to complete your thesis. Students must apply to the UWC Senate in order to enrol for a fourth year, provided they have shown sufficient progress and have been granted permission by SOPH to do so.

The MPH by full thesis consists of 180 credits. This means that participants are expected to spend approximately 1 800 notional learning hours on all project related work (including reading, preparing your proposal, data collection and writing up the full thesis etc.).  This is equivalent to 225 days (calculated at 8 hours/day).

For the 2021 academic year the full thesis cost will be approximately R40 000 for South African and African citizens. This fee will need to be paid in the first year. After this, students will only need to pay the registration fee for each year that they register.

International fees are available on request from the SOPH admin office. Please contact the office at Email: soph-comm@uwc.ac.za.

No, the School of Public Health unfortunately does not have funding available. Please contact the UWC Financial Aid Office for information on bursaries (the contact details of which you will find in the SOPH Programme Handbook).

Applications open in late May 2020 and close on 30 September 2020.

The academic year starts in February and ends December.

Candidates must have:

• An Honours degree, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health or equivalent at NQF Level 8 in any relevant discipline OR have completed (within the preceding 5 years) a Master’s level coursework programme covering the competencies of the core modules of the UWC MPH deg
• A minimum of five years in the health or welfare sector with relevant experience in implementing policy or planning and managing health or welfare services, including a minimum of three years of significant research or monitoring and evaluation experienc
• A tertiary level course in disease pathogenesis, disease measurement or disease control, if the candidates do not have the credit then they have to take the module Introducing Public Health: its Basis and Scope from the PG Diploma in Public Health, and pass an assessment before or during their first semest
• Candidates will also need to have developed a 3-5 page proposal to accompany their application which details the research they are interested in undertaking.

5 years

Those who have non-South African qualifications need to apply to the South African qualifications authority (SAQA) for clearance and have to submit this with all your relevant documents. Please do so as soon as you start your application process as the SAQA clearance takes quite a long time to process.

Yes

Please visit the SAQA website for details on the application process

http://www.saqa.org.za/show.php?id=5741

Please contact Ms Janine Kader at Email: soph-comm@uwc.ac.za.