Public Health Master's programme

The Master's programme in Public Health combines various scientific disciplines to prepare students for the complex challenges in the field of public health. In addition to the traditional topics of health promotion and prevention, the course is complemented by important perspectives from sociology, economics, psychology, business informatics and Protestant and Catholic theology. This interdisciplinary approach enables a comprehensive view of health issues and prepares students for a holistic approach to health problems at the individual, social and global level.

The integration of different disciplines makes the programme particularly multifaceted:

• Sociology: The focus of this subject is on the influence of social structures on health and disease. Students learn how social inequality, poverty or education affect the health status of population groups. Social determinants of health, which are important for the development of prevention and health promotion programmes, are also studied.
• Economics: The economic context of health issues is explored through the study of health economics and the allocation of resources in the health care system. Students consider issues of efficiency and equity in the distribution of health resources, the financing of health systems, and the impact of economic policies on public health.
• Psychology: The psychological aspects of health, such as individual behaviour, stress management and the promotion of mental health, play an important role. Students learn how psychological factors influence health behaviour and how psychological interventions can be used to promote health.
• Business Informatics: The application of modern information and communication technologies in healthcare is becoming increasingly important. Students learn how digital tools, health data and information technology can be used to optimise health services, monitor public health and support preventive measures.
• Protestant and Catholic Theology: The ethical and moral issues of health care and health policy are complemented by a theological perspective. Students consider the fundamental values of the Christian tradition, such as the principle of charity and human dignity, and discuss their relevance to health care and health equity. Ethical issues such as the treatment of vulnerable groups and society's responsibility for the health of the individual are also addressed.

The Master's degree program in Public Health in Bamberg offers you the opportunity to develop an independent academic profile in the field of Public Health and thus qualify for an academic career or various specific requirements in the non-university professional world.

To this end, you can draw on the courses offered by all four faculties of the university and thus study the subject in an interdisciplinary manner with a unique breadth. Sociology, economics, psychology, business informatics, Protestant theology and Catholic theology are all involved in the course.

At the beginning of the course, students learn the basics of health psychology, health sociology, health economics, digital health, ethics and the methods of epidemiology and empirical social research (modules A to E). Module groups A to E are compulsory for all students.

Depending on your personal interests, you can choose a specialization from elective module F:

• Social, Cultural and Health Sciences: This specialization offers an in-depth perspective on the social, cultural and institutional determinants of health and illness.
• Health Education: This specialization deals with the promotion of health literacy and the development of educational strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities.
• Statistics and Epidemiology: This specialization focuses on statistical and epidemiological methods to identify and understand health correlations.
• Digital Health (Business Informatics / Applied Informatics): The focus area is dedicated to, among other things, digital innovations in healthcare and their application to improve healthcare.

At least 18 ECTS credits must be earned for a specialization to be listed on the degree certificate; if desired, 12 ECTS credits from other specializations can be added. The program concludes with a Master's thesis.

>>> Profile and Structure (in German)   >>> Documents (in German)    >>> Qualification Goals (in German)

The course can be started in the summer and winter semester. An application for admission to the Master's program is required.

Admission to the Master's degree program in Public Health requires a university degree or an equivalent domestic or foreign degree in a related discipline. Accepted disciplines include social and economic sciences, statistics, psychology, business psychology, computer science, natural sciences, medicine and academic health professions. A comparable degree in the health sciences is also recognized. There is currently no grade point average required for the application.

Prospective students with foreign citizenship and certificates from abroad must apply to the Registrar's Office for a Master's program at the University of Bamberg. They will check whether you have the required university entrance qualification and the necessary knowledge of German.

>>> Academic Registrar's Office: Application process

Prospective students with a disability or chronic illness can submit special applications when applying for a restricted admission degree program to help compensate for disability-related disadvantages.

If you have any questions about this, the Contact Point for Studies and Disability will be happy to help!

>>> Information on disadvantage compensation (German only)

The Public Health degree programme at the University of Bamberg offers you a range of  advantages for a unique, successful and fast course of study.

In contrast to the courses offered at other locations, digital health plays an important role in the degree program and represents an important interface between modern technologies and healthcare. The integration of digital tools and solutions into public health education enables students to deal with innovative approaches to improving healthcare and prevention. An important aspect of digital health is the ability to collect and analyze data efficiently. Through the use of digital technologies such as mobile applications, telemedicine and wearables, health data can be collected in real time. Students learn how to use these data to develop public health strategies.

It is compulsory to study the basics of health psychology, health sociology, health economics, medical ethics, digital health and methods of empirical social research, which deal with the description and explanation of health-related phenomena. Interdisciplinarity is a top priority within the Public Health degree program: Thanks to the broad range of courses in human sciences, economics and social sciences as well as business informatics offered by the University of Bamberg, students can not only acquire a high level of professional competence, but also develop their individual academic profile in other disciplines.

The disciplines of sociology, psychology and business informatics involved in the Public Health degree program are among the leading locations in Germany. According to the Shanghai Ranking 2024, Bamberg Sociology is among the best; it even ranks among the top 100 worldwide. Bamberg Business Informatics was also rated among the best in many aspects in the CHE Ranking 2024/25. Bamberg's excellence is uniquely bundled in the Public Health degree program.

The study and examination regulations for the Public Health degree program allow students to tailor the content of their studies to their own interests and future career aspirations. Four different interdisciplinary modules can be chosen in the elective area.

Intensive personal supervision of the students by the professors and their assistants is always guaranteed. It is possible to become involved in academic research work during your studies - either as a student assistant or by writing seminar papers or theses, which can be linked to the main research areas of the chairs.

Thanks to its historic city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bamberg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. With around 80,000 inhabitants and around 11,000 students, Bamberg offers an ideal setting for successful studies with flair.

The attractive location on the edge of Franconian Switzerland also offers a wide range of opportunities for sports and leisure activities to balance out the intensive academic work during your studies. 

The general advantages of a smaller city - such as the relatively low cost of living - should not be neglected either.

>>> Living & Studying in Bamberg

Graduates of the Master's program in Public Health have broad career prospects thanks to their interdisciplinary education. They can work in various areas, such as health authorities and ministries, international organizations (e.g. WHO, UNICEF), research institutions and universities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, non-profit organizations and NGOs, consulting firms in the healthcare sector and digital health start-ups.

In addition, the theological perspective also offers the opportunity to work in church or religious institutions that deal with health issues, as well as in ethical consulting and in the development of health programs based on Christian values.

For a career in academia, the Master's degree course is usually followed by a doctorate in a subject area of public health. This can be undertaken at the University of Bamberg within the framework of the Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences (BAGSS).

Are you about to graduate? Take a look at the central offers for career planning and for alumni:

>>> Career Days at the University of Bamberg (in German)   >>> Offers for alumni (in German)