Master in Public Health (MPH)Master in Public Health (MPH)
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Master in Public Health (MPH)

Gulf Medical UniversityCollege of MedicineMaster in Public Health (MPH)
College of Medicine
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Master in Public Health (MPH)
Duration

2 Years

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Master in Public Health (MPH) program offered by the College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University received the initial accreditation from Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Education, UAE in November, 2025.

MPH program is now being offered in collaboration with the University of Arizona which is ranked among the top 1% of the universities worldwide by QS World Rankings 2018. This is the only program of its kind in UAE with an internationally recognized curriculum. MPH program is designed for working professionals with a flexible learning schedule.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
  • Apply quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
  • Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice
  • Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
  • Analyze the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels
  • Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
  • Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
  • Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
  • Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
  • Apply methods to evaluate public health programs
  • Analyze multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
  • Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
  • Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
  • Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
  • Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making
  • Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
  • Apply appropriate communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
  • Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
  • Explain the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
  • Perform effectively in interprofessional teams
  • Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

Who will benefit from the program? 

  • Health professionals and professionals from general stream looking to enhance their careers in public health
  • Graduates from health professions (Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy) and other education programs (Management, Engineering) who are keen to develop their research skills and pursue a public health career
  • Researchers and public health practitioners who are passionate about ideas, collaboration, and solutions to today’s global health challenges
Master in Public Health (MPH)

Dr. Anusha Sreejith

Program Director – Master in Public Health (MPH)
Assistant Professor of Demography

Intro

Dr. Anusha Sreejith holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Demography from the University of Kerala, India, and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK. She has extensive academic and research experience, including over ten years of teaching Biostatistics, Research Methodology, Epidemiology, and Demography along with supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

Contact Information's

anusha@gmu.ac.ae

Dear Prospective MPH Students,

I am pleased to welcome you to the Master in Public Health (MPH) program at Gulf Medical University. Our program received its initial accreditation in 2009 from the UAE’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and successfully renewed its accreditation in November 2025. We are proud to offer this program in collaboration with the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, and since 2018, our students have had the opportunity to earn an additional MPH degree. The program is designed to be completed over four semesters.

As public health professionals, we are faced with a wide range of challenges from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes. The COVID-19 pandemic has now shown us the important role that public health professionals play in middle- and high-income countries.

Our MPH program provides an excellent opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required for leadership and managerial roles in public health, while also preparing graduates for academic and research careers. The curriculum offers a comprehensive understanding of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, along with training in key areas such as nutrition, environmental health, and the social, biological, and economic determinants of health at individual and community levels.

Our faculty are experienced, dedicated, and actively engaged in research at both local and international levels. We foster a supportive and interactive learning environment through small group discussions, problem-solving sessions, and collaborative learning. I am also proud to share that several of our faculty serve as Adjunct Faculty with the University of Arizona, strengthening our global academic partnerships.

Graduates of the MPH program can pursue diverse career pathways, including roles as Epidemiologists, Medical and Health Services Manager, or Health Educator. Other options include becoming a Director of Program and Services, Population Health Research scientist, or Environmental Health Analyst. The possibilities are endless. It’s up to you!

I hope the information provided on our website will assist you as you begin your application process. You are welcome to reach out to directly or contact the Admissions Department, if you have any questions. We hope that you will begin your journey with a career in public health.

We look forward to welcoming you to the MPH program and supporting you in building a meaningful career in public health.

  • Demonstrate specialized knowledge and competencies in the areas basic to public health (social and behavioural sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health science, and public health management) to practice essential public health services.
  • Integrate the advances of research and evidence-based practices, and contribute to scientific knowledge through independent and collaborative research projects and publications.
  • Develop professional skills required to analyze the regional needs, programs and policies in public health services, education and research, and to contribute in policy making and program planning.
  • Collaborate with appropriate community professionals and organizations to provide, enhance or support service activities to meet the health needs of the different sections of the community

Program Structure

  • Duration of the program: 2-years (4-semesters)
  • Total Credits: 44
  • Program learning outcomes are aligned to Level 9 in the NQF Standards (National Qualification Framework)
  • Aligned with the Council of Education in Public Health (CEPH) outcomes.
  • The core curriculum is covered in the first three semesters (34 credits).
  • In the fourth semester, the students have Practicum (4 credits) and an independent thesis (6 credits).

The student will be recommended for the award of Master in Public Health upon:

  • Completion of 44 credits
  • Obtaining a minimum CGPA of 3.0
  • Obtaining a minimum pass mark of 80% (Grade B) for each course
  • Submitting and defending a thesis to the satisfaction of the thesis evaluation committee with a minimum pass mark of 80%

Study Plan

Course CodeCourses TitleCreditsCreditsSemester
1Epidemiology and DemographyMPH 60131
2Public Health Program ManagementMPH 6023
3Social and Behavioral HealthMPH 6033
4BiostatisticsMPH 6043
5Research Methods and EthicsMPH 60932
6Health Promotion PracticesMPH 6073
7HealthServicesMPH 6124
8Epidemiology of Communicable and Non-Communicable DiseasesMPH 61133
9Public health SeminarMPH 6141
10Protocol DevelopmentMPH 6061
11Environment and Occupational healthMPH 6204
12

Elective

Evidence based Public HealthMPH 6193
Global HealthMPH 6163
Public Health NutritionMPH 6153
13PracticumMPH 60844
14ThesisMPH 6136
 Total 44 

Course Description

Semester – 1

MPH 601: Epidemiology and Demography

The course provides the concepts, perspectives of epidemiology.  It provides highly   specialized   knowledge   in   the   field   of   epidemiology, emphasizing methods for assessing factors associated with the distribution and etiology of health and disease. Skills include methods for identifying and evaluating sources of health information, calculation of key epidemiologic measures, epidemiological investigation techniques, and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of different study designs.

MPH 602: Public Health Program Management

This course translates the key concepts, principles and methods in public health policy development, assessment, evaluation, economics, management and quality into practice.  It provides opportunity to link the political, economic, professional, social and legislative issues together, and develop leadership skills in public health management in the context of a multidisciplinary approach in a multicultural context.

MPH 603: Social and Behavioral Health

This course will equip the student with both the theoretical and empirical foundations of medical sociology, social and cultural determinants of health, social problems and its impact on the health of populations, importance of a balanced state of mind in health promotion and disease prevention, use of behavioral sciences to understand and intervene upon current public health problems; imparts the skills required in the application of behavioral science to current public health problems.

MPH 604: Biostatistics

This course will equip the student with advanced knowledge in the application of descriptive and   inferential   statistics   in   public   health   context.   The   focus   will   be   on   numerical computation and interpretation of outcome from a given data set. This course will help students to develop advanced skills in analyzing and interpreting data from Health, Allied Health, Public Health settings through classroom demonstrations and ‘hands on’ experience with MS Excel for data management and statistical analysis software such as Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for analysis. This course will give focus to communicating complex statistical information effectively.

Semester – 2

MPH 605: Environmental Health

This course provides an overview of environmental health, the variety and extent of environmental issues affecting human health, effects of exposure to biological and chemical agents, radiation, noise, excessive heat and cold, air pollution, water pollution, effects of global warming, and relevant environmental regulations and risk assessment strategies.

MPH 606: Introduction to research

This course is structured to provide fundamental skills to protocol development. The students will have a hands-on experience in developing research question; writing research hypothesis, research objectives, selecting the appropriate study design, choosing study subjects, measurement methods and planning for data management and analysis. At the end of this course the student will submit a research protocol.

MPH 607: Health Promotion Practice

This course is designed to help students learn how to apply the theoretical frameworks of health promotion toward step-by-step practical approaches for engaging with individuals, families, groups and communities.  As a practice planning course, students will explore health promotion strategies among different sections of the community for various health behaviors. They will be addressed bearing in mind the political, social, and economic influences and examining the future of health promotion in the context of health disparities by gender, ethnicity, and rural and urban, socio-economic classes.  The course seeks to enable the students to integrate and apply the theoretical knowledge from all the courses in the program, in planning health promotion in the public health contexts.

MPH 610: Occupational Health

This course focuses on occupational health hazards.  Industrial exposures, which may produce work-related disorders and diseases, are explored including their management in the primary setting, referral service and rehabilitation.  It covers industrial hygiene and control of occupational health and safety hazards, which includes administrative, training and engineering measures; safety, prevention, ergonomics; and systematic approaches to the evaluation and management of work-related injury and illness. It covers occupational health policies, the legal aspects and welfare management.

Semester –3

MPH 611: Epidemiology of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

This course provides an overview and understanding of the fundamentals and trends of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Emphasis will be placed on the diseases that are a public health problem in the region, that produce an adverse impact on morbidity, disability or mortality, that could be specifically targeted for control, elimination or eradication, that have an epidemic potential and new or re-emerging infectious diseases. The course will provide a basic overview of the infectious disease process, including disease agents, transmission routes, immunity and public health significance. The course focuses on principles of infectious disease epidemiology, financial, medical, and social effects, principles of prevention at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The course also provides an up-to-date epidemiological perspective on important chronic non-communicable diseases; concepts include distribution, determinants, diagnosis; prognosis and quality of care measures, screening, treatment modalities and surveillance measures.  The course will also review current and proposed prevention and control measures and related issues in non-communicable diseases.

MPH 609: Research Methods and Ethics

The course focuses on principles of qualitative and quantitative research, developing a research question; choosing study subjects, measurement methods, study designs; planning for data management and analysis; and principles of writing and analyzing a research paper. The course also focuses on basic ethical and legal principles pertaining to research, and also presents issues in the ethical conduct of research, including data management, research fraud, academic misconduct, confidentiality and conflict of interest. The course covers international, national and institutional guidelines regarding research in human beings, animals and vulnerable populations.

MPH 612: Health Services

This course will include the health services provided in the UAE and compare it with the services provided in other countries. The student will know the functioning and practice at the primary health center, referral levels and health care provided to the various groups such as Maternal and Child health, School health services, rural health services, and geriatric health services. This course also examines the definition of quality in healthcare from the perspective of providers, health planners, and consumers.  It focuses on evaluating health care using routine data, evaluating health care technologies, evaluating health care processes and health care outcomes.

MPH 614: Public health Seminar

This course is intended to prepare and present a variety of public health practice topics by the students. Students will take the seminar after they complete the other courses related to Public Health practice. Topics such as Evidence based public health practice, public health and health care systems, policy in public health, leadership etc. will be covered in this course.

Semester –4

MPH 608: Integrated Practicum (Field placement)

This Course encompass the knowledge, techniques and skills acquired during the previous semesters in epidemiology, biostatistics, Social and behavioral sciences, Environmental health, Health services, Health promotion, Public health management, Occupational Health, Research and ethics, demography into real life practice in a public health setup. This Course will enable the student to gain hands on practical experience under the direct supervision and guidance of a qualified preceptor in public health in order to apply the acquired knowledge into practice. This course focuses on the synthesis and application of the core and interdisciplinary cross-cutting areas of public health in solving problems identified which will facilitate smooth transition from being a student of public health to becoming a public health professional.

MPH 613: Thesis

A requirement of the Master in Public Health degree is the satisfactory completion of an independent research project. The project will serve as a culminating experience to demonstrate application of the knowledge acquired in the graduate program. Thesis will be based on original research in the field of Public Health; study will be within the resources and the time available to the student and should conform to accepted scientific and ethical standards. All research projects must be human-based and involve data analysis. The data may consist of existing data sets or data collected by the student specifically for the research project. The completed project will be presented orally on an allotted day to demonstrate understanding of the topic and ability to defend the study design and interpretation of results.

Admission Requirement Gulf Medical University (GMU) applicants

  • The applicant shall be a Graduate of Science/Health or Biological Sciences from an accredited school in the UAE outside the UAE with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its established equivalent.
  • A CGPA less than 3.0 may be admitted conditionally provided that the student registers 9 credits hours in the first semester of his/her studies and obtains a “B” average or above as stated under general admissions requirements.
  • Applicants are exempt from submitting an English language proficiency test if they provide official evidence that their previous degree was completed in an English-medium institution where the language of instruction was English.

For Additional degree from University of Arizona

  • The applicant shall be a Graduate of Science/Health or Biological Sciences from an accredited school in the UAE or a IMED-listed medical school outside the UAE with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scaleor its established equivalent.
  • The Applicant must have proficiency in spoken and written English. The applicant can fulfil the English proficiency requirement via the TOEFL, IELTS, or UA CESL Endorsement Exam, minimum requirements are listed below. TOEFL and IELTS test scores must be dated within two years of the year of enrolment.
  • TOEFL: Score of 90 on the iBT (web-based) test or higher
  • IELTS: Overall score of 7 is required, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual band or module
  • The University of Arizona CESL Endorsement Exam: score of B2 (i.e. very independent) level of proficiency for graduate-level study at UA is required, according to the CEFR Global Scale (Common European Framework of Reference).
  • Graduate with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 to 2.9 on a 4.0 scale or its established equivalent shall be conditionally admitted to the first semester as follows:
    • is allowed take a maximum of nine credit hours of courses studied for the graduate program during the period of conditional admission and
    • must achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its established equivalent, in these nine credits of courses studied for the graduate program to progress to second semester or be subject to dismissal.
  • Graduate with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 to 2.4 on a 4.0 scale or its established equivalent shall be admitted to the first semester as follows:
    • is required to successfully complete a maximum of nine graduate-level credit hours as remedial preparation for the graduate program. These remedial courses are not for credit within the degree program
    • must achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its established equivalent, in these nine credits of remedial courses in order to be admitted to the graduate program or be subject to dismissal.

Required Documents

  • Attested copy of the baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of credit/s earned from an accredited institution of higher education previously attended, with documentation of one course in college-level introductory biology, human biology, or general biology – grade of C or higher AND one course in college algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus – grade of C or higher (Grade C is equivalent to grade 2.0 on 4.0 scale.)
  • Equivalency Certificate of the baccalaureate degree from the Ministry of Education, UAE
  • An official letter or certificate issued by the awarding institution confirming that the applicant’s previous degree was completed with English as the medium of instruction (in lieu of an English language proficiency test).
  • Passport copy and Emirates ID Card (For UAE Nationals Family Book and Ethbara)
  • 5 Passport-size Photographs
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume or CV
  • Copy of WES grading evaluation score sheet
  • Mission and Value Statement

Admission Requirement for University of Arizona (UA) applicants

General Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria for University of Arizona (UA) applicants

  • The applicant shall be a Graduate of Science / Health or Biological Sciences in an accredited school in the UAE or an IMED-listed medical school outside the UAE with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its established equivalent.
  • The Applicant must have proficiency in spoken and written English. The applicant can fulfil the English proficiency requirement via the TOEFL, IELTS, or UA CESL Endorsement Exam, minimum requirements are listed below. TOEFL and IELTS test scores must be dated within two years of the year of enrolment.
    • TOEFL: Score of 90 on the iBT (web-based) test or higher.
    • IELTS: Overall score of 7 is required, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual band or module.
    • The University of Arizona CESL Endorsement Exam: score of B2 (i.e. very independent) level of proficiency for graduate-level study at UA is required, according to the CEFR Global Scale (Common European Framework of Reference).

For Conditional admission for University of Arizona

  • A student with a recognized baccalaureate degree with a cumulative grade point average ranging between 2.5 to 2.9 on a 4.0 scale, or its established equivalent, and who meets the English language competency requirements for general admission may be admitted conditionally to a Master’s program.

Such a student must meet the following requirements during the period of conditional admission or be subject to dismissal:

  • may take a maximum of nine credit hours in the first semester of study;
  • must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale, or its established equivalent, in the first nine credit hours of credit-bearing courses studied for the Master’s program

Apply Now: [link]

The graduates can pursue further careers as:

  • Medical and Health Services Manager
  • Health Educator
  • Community Health Worker
  • Public Health Management Analyst
  • Director of Programs and Services
  • Health Communication Specialist
  • Research Scientist
  • Environmental Health Intelligence Analyst
  • Epidemiologist
  • Occupational Safety Officer
Dr. Danavanthi S. Bangera (Director, Thumbay Dental Hospital)

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. (Anthony J. D’Angelo)

Being a graduate from Government Dental College, Mumbai and Masters in Public Health from Gulf Medical University, I am presently working as a Medical Director and Dental Surgeon in Thumbay Dental Hospital, Thumbay Medicity, Ajman.

Enrolling myself in Masters in Public Health Program, College of Graduate studies in Gulf Medical University in 2013, it takes me immense pleasure to tell that I had one of the most amazing experiences as being a part of MPH batch 2013. I truly appreciate the efforts of the faculty members inculcating the knowledge in an interesting way. The faculty members are competent, helpful, flexible and approachable. I admire the excellent planning of our academic syllabus, which allowed me for active involvement in the classes.

The theme and content of the course and attitude of the faculty has really provided me a widened horizon towards the significance of public health in present day society. MPH program allow students to explore in depth areas relevant to their personal career goals. Moreover, the concentrations enable students in the interdisciplinary MPH program to establish a link with one or more of the school’s academic departments.

The program prepares students to become leading public health professionals capable of addressing current global health problems through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge. Being in field of Oral Healthcare Services, I now look up to the oral problems in a broader frame. I believe that my approach towards my patients will be far more reaching.

I would also take this opportunity to thank Sir, Founder President, Dr. Thumbay Moideen and my colleagues for their invaluable support and tremendous help.

The healthcare industry can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. In my opinion, the design of healthcare is similar to that of the human body in that each component functions in concert with the others to support and complete the whole.

Because it encompasses the fundamental fields of our health systems and imparts knowledge on how to solve a wide range of problems, public health is an essential component of healthcare. I think this is the main reason why public health is now increasingly significant in healthcare, from preventive measures like establishing preventive medicine to examining health inequities.

I have been at the Gulf Medical University for the past two years, starting as an MPH student; understanding how individuals develop public health policy and how the policy is implemented for regular people were some of the reasons I decided to take up this program. I entered the program hoping to gain a grasp of how the process of formulating policy functions. Overall, I thought the program contents were highly engaging and inspiring.

I could see how some of the aspects of my work dealt with public health issues, but I didn’t seem to be conscious of them at the time. That, in my opinion, is undoubtedly one of the significant shifts in my perspective on public health going forward. I have observed the interconnectedness of all the disciplines throughout the modules in both the development of the knowledge foundation and the actual creation of public health policy.

Excellent grades and test results are the cornerstones of any graduate school application, but public health experience is also essential for the best chances of acceptance into your desired MPH program. You can emphasize your experiences’ importance and connect them with your passions and professional goals in the personal statement.

The MPH program equipped me with incomparable opportunities to engage in health research and understand the health and social disparities faced by vulnerable communities both in UAE and internationally, provided me with the necessary skills and valuable knowledge in several fields of study.

It also gave me opportunities for research and career development. The most rewarding and important part of the program is the practicum, which provides students the opportunity to meet and work with public health professionals.

The rich knowledge of a diverse cohort of students added to the positive learning experience. The MPH program with its experienced faculty provides the ingredients to succeed in many different health’s related careers.

It was a great time I spent in Gulf medical University studying Master of Public Health. It has very wonderful faculty, they are very cooperative and the campus environment is positive.

The MPH degree provided me with the necessary skills and valuable knowledge in several fields of study. It also gave me opportunities for research and career development. The most rewarding and important part of the program is the practicum, which provides students the opportunity to meet and work with Public Health Professionals.

Thank you to the Public Health program faculty for the enriching education.