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MSc in Public Health
(Conventional / Open & Distance Learning Mode)
Do you have a burning desire to contribute to your community by uplifting the quality of health and solve the myriad health problems faced by the population?
IMU’s MSc in Public Health programme enables students to build their standing and profile in academia, industry and in NGOs and is suitable for healthcare practitioners across diverse backgrounds including:
1) Medical doctors
2) Nurses
3) Health Officers
4) Environmental Health Officers
5) Health Service Managers
6) Hospital administrators
7) Nutritionists
8) Health Education Officers
9) Environmental and Health Engineers
10) Pharmacists
The programme emphasizes research and face-to-face engagement with our experienced faculty. By way of seminars, workshops, discussions and presentations, the teaching methodology contributes immensely to students’ personal development in terms of confidence, know-how and positive attitude.
KEY FACTS
Degree
Commencement
Total Duration
Part-time: 2-6 years
Mode of Delivery
Tuition Fees
A bursary of RM8,000 is available for international students joining the 2021 intake.
Download Brochure
ABOUT ODL
What is ODL?
Open and distance learning provides working professionals an alternative to conventional programmes at universities, giving them the opportunity to earn a university degree without interrupting their career. As Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and health sciences university with 27 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education, IMU offers a few postgraduate programmes via this learning mode with students having the opportunity to benefit from all the teaching and support that the University has to offer.
Benefits of ODL
Designed especially for students with employment, family or other commitments, this mode of learning provides flexibility and convenience for the student to schedule their studies around these obligations and around their lifestyle – allowing a student to plan and pace their own learning at a time and learning environment that is most suitable for the student. It also saves students from spending time travelling to the university, the costs of travelling to the university and the costs of staying near the university.
Teaching Methods
Teaching methods include a series of lectures (Powerpoint lectures, video lectures and i-lectures) supplemented by online discussions, forums and quizzes. For each subject taken, students will be part of a student online community. Students will also be assigned a mentor who will be available to answer any questions and provide feedback on their progress.
Students will be assessed fully online via the in-course assessment assignments and end of module assessment assignment so they don’t need to be at the University to sit your exams. They will the receive their grades and feedback online.
In order to do this, students will be required to have a desktop/laptop, internet connection, a headset and webcam to participate in online tutorials and other group activities, access to standard office software – such as Microsoft Word and Excel, plus any standard browser, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox and Skype for certain online sessions.
Your Commitment
Time will be an ODL student’s most important commitment – understanding, working through and reflecting on all teaching materials. A 44-credit programme, the MSc in Public Health requires 1760 total students learning hours in 1.5 years. The hours spent per week on their studies for the duration of the programme depends on module taken.
Support from University
ODL students are fully registered student of the University with all of the support and services available to them, the same as the on-campus students. Technical support will also be provided if students have difficulty in accessing the e-learning platform.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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A. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
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B. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
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Applicants are required to have obtained:
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For Malaysian Students Not applicable |
For International Students
The following categories of students are exempted from the above requirements:
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APPLICATION & REGISTRATION FEES
| Malaysian Student (RM) | International Student (RM) | |
| Application Fees | 150 | 500 |
| Registration Fee | 1,100 | 3,400 |
| Refundable Caution Deposit | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Student Association Fee per Semester | 40 | 40 |
| Tuition Fees (Conventional Mode) | 44,000 | 55,000 |
| Tuition Fees (ODL Mode) | 37,000 | 37,000 |
- All IMU alumni who are self-funding their postgraduate studies and meet the eligibility criteria will be eligible for a 15% bursary.
- A bursary of RM8,000 is available for international students joining the 2021 intake.
- Application fee is payable upon submission of application.
- Registration fee and refundable caution deposit is payable upon acceptance of the offer letter issued by the IMU Admissions Office.
- Students must adhere to the “Policy on Payment of Fees“.
- For information on Student Visa Application fee, please check the “Visas & Immigration“
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The IMU-MSc in Public Health programme has 44 credits in total which is delivered in conventional and ODL modes. Both modes have full-time and part-time where full-time programme consists of 2 semesters and part-time consists of 4 semesters. Each semester comprises 22 weeks of active learning. Together with other taught modules, students will be preparing a research project proposal in semester 1 and carrying it out in semester 2 followed by dissertation write up. Students who choose part-time study are allowed to take a minimum of 3 modules per semester. Teaching and learning methods vary in line with the objectives of the course and include didactic lectures, guided and independent group exercises, practicals, seminars, workshops and problem-based self-directed learning. Field visits with hands-on experience in observing the public health challenges that are currently faced by the community are an integral part of the course. E-learning approaches are used extensively and include web-based courses, online simulation and virtual mentoring. The programme is taught in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur City Council, non-governmental organisations and other public health-related institutions.
OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) provides working professionals the flexibility and an opportunity to obtain a MSc in Public Health degree at their own convenience. It allows students to plan and pace their own learning while benefiting from all the teachings and supports that the University has to offer. The programme consists of 80% online teaching and learning sessions and 20% of on campus requirement. The teaching methods include a series of online lectures supplemented by online discussions, forums and assessments. Students will also be assigned a mentor who will be available to answer any questions and provide feedback on their progress. Time will be the ODL student’s most important commitment for this 44 credits master programme.
CONVENTIONAL AND ODL (FULL-TIME: 1 YEAR)
| Semester 1 (Mar-Aug) |
Quarter 1 (13 Weeks) |
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| Quarter 2 (13 Weeks) |
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| Semester 2 (Sep-Feb) |
Quarter 3 (13 Weeks) |
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| Quarter 4 (13 Weeks) |
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The curriculum is reviewed periodically and is subject to change.
CONVENTIONAL AND ODL (PART-TIME: 2 YEARS)
| Semester 1 (Mar-Aug) |
Quarter 1 (13 Weeks) |
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| Quarter 2 (13 Weeks) |
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| Semester 2 (Sep-Feb) |
Quarter 3 (13 Weeks) |
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| Quarter 4 (13 Weeks) |
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| Semester 3 (Mar-Aug) |
Quarter 1 (13 Weeks) |
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| Quarter 2 (13 Weeks) |
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| Semester 4 (Sep-Feb) |
Quarter 3 (13 Weeks) |
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| Quarter 4 (13 Weeks) |
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The curriculum is reviewed periodically and is subject to change.
The programme is taught in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur City Council, non-governmental organisations and other public health-related institutions. Teaching and learning methods vary in line with the objectives of the course and include didactic lectures, guided and independent group exercises, practicals, seminars, workshops and problem-based self-directed learning. Field visits with hands-on experience in observing the public health challenges that are currently faced by the community are an integral part of the course. E-learning approaches are used extensively and include web-based courses, online simulation and virtual mentoring.
For Open Distance Learning (ODL)
| Lectures/tutorials/seminars | Online |
| Assessments | Online |
| Field visits | On campus for the visits or off campus if students can arrange on their own and manage to plan the field visit to meet the learning outcomes of the modules. |
| Elective attachment | Off campus (Students have the option of completing this at their workplace or any relevant institution/departments/organisation away from IMU) |
| Field visits | On campus for the visits or off campus if students can arrange on their own and manage to plan the field visit to meet the learning outcomes of the modules. |
| Dissertation | Off campus (Students have the option to conduct this). |
| Practical (SPSS training) | On campus (2 days) |
| Dissertation VIVA exam | On campus or off campus. Student may opt to have the viva exam through online video conferencing. |
OUR TEAM
Faculty Members
Associate Professor Dr Tan Kok Leong
Professor Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Bin Sulaiman
Datuk Dr. Lokman Hakim S is a Professor of Public Health at the School of Medicine, Director of the Institute of Research, Development and Innovation and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at the International Medical University (IMU), Kuala Lumpur. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia and was the Past President of the College of Public Health Medicine of the Academy. He is also a Fellow of Academy of Medicine of Singapore and Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia. He was formerly the Deputy Director General of Health (Public Health), MOH Malaysia. He is a current member of the WHO Advisory Group for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness for the period of 2017-2020.
Professor Dato Maimunah Binti A Hamid
She is among the pioneers in development of Health Systems Research and Quality Assurance Programmes for MOH. She has served in many national and international boards of directors and advisory groups, and provided consultancy and technical advice to the WHO.
She attained her M.B.,B.Ch from Cairo University and Master of Public Health from University Malaya. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia and a Fellow of Public Health Specialist.
Professor Dr To’ Puan Dr Safurah Binti Ja’afar
Professor To’ Puan Dr Safurah Jaafar is the Associate Professor of Community Medicine in International Medical University, Malaysia. She currently holds the position as Head of Division Family and Population Health and also Programme Director of the MBA in Healthcare Management in IMU. Prior to joining IMU, she was the Director, Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia from 2007 to 2017. During her tenure, she was instrumental in reforming the PHC delivery in Malaysia, safeguarding equitable distribution of care in achieving universal health coverage. This was achieved through the various policies introduced and implemented in primary care and the life-course approach in family health. She was also responsible to ensure seamless integration of programs related to the primary with secondary and tertiary care as well as involving the public and private sector. During her earlier tenure as Deputy Director Primary Health Care from 1995 to 2007, she was involved directly in introducing and implementing programs that involves with population coverage, primary health care, provider payment, information technology, quality and health financing area. Safurah was involved immensely in the global healthcare scene, as advisor to WHO in area of primary care health system and policies and Malaysian representative in various conferences organized by United Nations and UNICEF in relation to her area of expertise.
Professor Dr Adlina Binti Suleiman
Prof Dr Adlina Suleiman is a gazetted Public Health Physician and is a Fellow at both Academy of Medicine Malaysia and Academy of Professors Malaysia. She was a pioneer staff in the setting up of three Medical Faculties (MARA University of Technology, MAHSA University and National Defence University Malaysia as well as two Medical Centres, UMSC and Mawar Medical Centre Shah Alam.
Her last post was as Deputy Dean of Academic and Research at National Defence University of Malaysia. She has over 27 years experience as a lecturer in community medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, health management, ethics, adolescent health, health promotion and professional/personal development.
She has successfully supervised 6 masters students and 3 PhD students and has published articles in local/ international journals on various public health issues.. She is an active volunteer in ‘Gabungan NGO Bantuan Bencana (BBNGO)’ and has experience in post disaster medical relief in Acheh, Balakot, Manik Urai, Seberang Perai and Kuantan.
Associate Professor Dr Aqil Mohammad Daher
Dr Aqil is a medical doctor holding master and PhD in public health. He served in Malaysian academic insitutes for more than 13 years. He has accumulated experience in biostatiticas and research methodlogy which was translated into more than 47 indexed publications. His main resarch interest is questionnaire validation ;quality of life research; meta-analysis and curriculm development and assessment .
Associate Professor Dr Ranjit De Alwis
Dr Ranjit De Alwis received his medical degree from the University of Ceylon. After serving the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka as a medical officer he proceeded to do his postgraduate studies obtaining a MSc in Occupational Medicine from the University of London, Diploma in Industrial Health from the Royal College of Physicans, England and a MD from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine in Sri Lanka.
He was the Head of the Occupational Hygiene division in Sri Lanka before joining the IMU. He has also served the International Labour Organisation as a Consultant in Occupational Safety and Health. He has a wide experience in handling safety and health issues in a wide range of industries, and has been member of many national and international advisory committees.
Some of the roles Dr Ranjit has held in IMU were as Safety & Health Officer in IMU, Semester Coordinator and Module Coordinator for several programmes including Community Health module for Chiropractic, and Faculty Advisor to Students. He is presently the Co-Chair of Occupational Safety and Health Committee and was awarded IMU Achievement Award for Core Values. Dr Ranjit has contributed much to IMU’s projects including being Chair of Medical Sciences curriculum working group and others.
Associate Professor Dr Hally Sreerama Reddy Chandrashekhar Thummala
Dr. Chandrashekhar T Sreeramareddy received his MBBS (1999), from Bangalore Medical College and MD (2003) degree in community medicine from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal India. He has over 13 years of teaching experience for undergraduate and postgraduate students. At first he worked as Tutor in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, from 2000-03, later as assistant Professor Community Medicine in Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal from 2003-2009. He worked as associate professor in Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Malaysia from 2009-2010, University Tunku Abdul Rahman and currently in International Medical University, Malaysia. Dr. Chandrashekhar has vast experience in research and published 50 research papers on various public health issues. His current research interests are Epidemiology and Control strategies of Tuberculosis, Epidemiology of tobacco use and tobacco control.
Dr Supathiratheavy Rasiah
Dr Leela V Sabapathy
Dr Leela V Sabapathy is a Public Health Physician with 32 years of experience in the Public Health sector working in the clinical sector for 12 years before branching out to Public Health and Health Management. She has worked as Deputy Hospital Director as well as HOD Public Health in the Ministry of Health and also in various State and Regional Public Hospitals like Sarawak General Hospital, HTAR Klang, HSA Johor Bharu, Telehealth Division Min. of Health Msia, and HKL. She also has considerable experience as a MSQH ( Malaysian Society for Quality in Health) Hospital Accreditation Surveyor having surveyed more than 15 public and private hospitals.
Dr Siew Wei Fern
Dr Siew is a Senior Lecturer in the Community Medicine Department of International Medical University (IMU), Malaysia. A Registered Nurse by profession, she has a vast knowledge base and experience in the field of coronary & intensive care nursing, industrial occupational, safety and health management and nursing/medical education. She has contributed considerably to the clinical teaching and supervision of medical and nursing students, the newly registered nurses, and training of member of staff of multi-national corporations in occupational, safety and health programmes. Dr Siew is also the Basic Life Support Instructor for IMU and is involved in evidence-based practice research.
Dr Lwin Mie Aye
Dr Lwin is the Lecturer and Program Director of Master of Sicnece in Public Health Program. She has been working in higher education and research since year 2006. She started her career in University of Medicine, Magway, Myanmar, as a Assistant Lecturer. After that, she joined National University of Singapore working as a Reasarch Assistant for Quality Assurance Projects for Cardiology Department in National University Hospital. She pursued her Master Degree in Public Health in 2013 at IMU after which she joined Melaka Manipal Medical College as a Lecturer. Her strong experience in teaching and supervision of both undergraduate and postgraduate students has been benefiting a lot in training of Healthcare Professionals.
Dr Sumaira Hussain
Dr Sumaira Hussain received her Masters of Public Health Degree with Distinction from University of Newcastle, Australia. She is also an IMU alumni and graduated with MBBS degree in 2011. She was a research assistant in Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Newcastle Australia before embarking on her journey to Pakistan to combat public health issues in a developing nation. She has worked in hospital management and policy in the largest private hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. After which she worked in an NGO implementing the national tuberculosis program in all provinces of Pakistan. Her passion for research and academia has only strengthened during this time and she has published numerous research articles in various public health domains.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
On completion the student should possess an understanding of the science and art of Public Health including concepts of health and disease, and the factors that influence them. This acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitude will enable the student to practise their knowledge in a wide range of service and academic settings.
The programme will enable the student to understand the principle and practice of Public Health through the application of:
- Knowledge and understanding of the main disciplines of Public Health, including statistics, epidemiology, health system management and health economics, health protection, medical sociology, communicable disease control, policy development and occupational and environmental health.
- Important skills related to public health, including the use of information technology, research methods, analysis and interpretation of data and information critical appraisal and reasoning, strategic management, creative problem solving, multidisciplinary team working and effective written and oral communication.
- Development of a holistic attitude in solving health problems in the community and cultivating intellectual curiosity and life-long learning in meeting the challenges of public health in the 21st century.
Entry requirement can be viewed HERE.
Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]
Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]
- The programme is taught in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur City Council, Non Governmental Organisations and other public health related institutions.
- Teaching and learning methods vary in line with the objectives of the course but they include a range of methods including didactic lectures, guided and independent group exercises, practicals, seminars, workshops and problem-based self directed learning.
- Field visits with hands-on experience in observing the public health challenges that are currently faced by the community are an integral part of the course.
- E-learning approaches are used extensively and includes web-based e-learning courses, online simulation and virtual mentoring.
Assessment is through class tests, practicals, reports essays, problem-based learning, projects, dissertation and written examination.
The teaching faculty reflect a multidisciplinary background and are drawn from the Division of Community Medicine, Division of Population Health, Division of Human Biology and Postgraduate Studies The teaching faculty have many years of academic and service experience and a large number of them have also served in the World Health Organisation in various capacities. In addition, honorary lecturers are invited from the Ministry of Health and the public and private health service organisations.
- The full time 1½ year format, where students interact with our faculty,
- A flexible part time format of 3 years.
- A diverse body of experienced public health specialists, clinicians, educators and policy makers.
- Dissertation to guide students to conduct research in the field of their choice.
READ STORIES OF THE PROGRAMME
MSc in Public Health – IMU News
IMU Presents ODL MScPH programme 14 Nov 2020Learn more about the MSc in Public Health in online and on-campus modes.
Activate Self-Development with an Online Education in Public Health 1 Oct 2020Learn more about the MSc in Public Health in online and on-campus modes.
My Experience as an ODL Student in MSc in Public Health at IMU 27 May 2020Dr Anuradha Nadarajah shares her experience as an ODL student at IMU
ENQUIRIES? CONTACT US
APPLY NOW
Interested in applying for one of our programmes?
You will need to prepare the following documents for your application:
- Verified copies of your academic qualifications
- Evidence of English language proficiency
- A copy of your MyKad or the identification page of your passport
These supporting documents needs to be attached electronically to your application. Please note that all of our programmes require payment of a non-refundable application fee after the application has been submitted. Application will only be processed once the payment for application fee has been made.
We wish you all the best with your application, and hope we will be welcoming you into one of our programmes soon!
WHY STUDY PUBLIC HEALTH AT IMU
An Established Private Healthcare University
Renowned and Highly Experience Faculty
Recognised by JPA
Unique Curriculum
Research Partnerships
“The IMU MSc in Public Health prepares one to face both old and new challenges – from infectious and chronic diseases to health risks posed by the modern society’s lifestyle – through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge, common sense and team work to solve important health problems.”
DR LWIN MIE AYE
Lecturer and Program Director
M.B;B.S (UM1,Ygn), MSc PH (IMU)
