Master of Public Health (MPH): Admission 2025, Eligibility, Fees, Colleges, Syllabus, Careers & More

MPH (Master of Public Health) is a 2-year postgraduate degree for tomorrow’s public health leaders who want to combine epidemiological expertise with health policy management in disease surveillance, biostatistics, health systems management, and community health programs. This course makes you a pro in clinical and population health, with analytical rigor, research chops, and policy expertise. It is perfect if you want to work in government health agencies, be a health program manager, consult for international organizations, work for NGOs, or pursue a career as an epidemiologist or biostatistician.

For MPH, the aspirant must have graduated in medical, allied health, or life sciences with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognised university. Admission is largely by entrance exam, such as CUET-PG or JIPMER PG, or merit-based by the institutes.

The average course fee for a Master of Public Health in India is INR 5,000 to 5,00,000 (depending on the university and infrastructure). And because it’s still an emerging course, they provide it as a part-time course in few institutes. The best colleges providing this course are JIPMER Puducherry, AIIMS Rishikesh, NIMHANS Bangalore, PHFI-IIPH Delhi, and many more.

MPH alumni can encounter positions like epidemiologist, biostatistician, health policy analyst, public health manager, environmental wellness specialist, or health program coordinator anywhere between INR 3 LPA and INR 21 LPA, with upper packages for those joining top international organizations/government bodies.

Master of Public Health Key Highlights

Here are some of the basic key highlights for MPH:

What is a Master of Public Health?

Master of Public Health is a broad postgraduate degree in India that combines epidemiological expertise with health policy management, like disease surveillance, biostatistics, health systems research, and community health programming. It’s perfect for students looking to gain expertise at the intersection of clinical medicine and population health, develop strong analytical skills, or influence India’s public health transformation journey.

This course usually includes the core public health subjects, fieldwork, internships, and practical community health center sessions. You will also not just learn epidemiology and biostatistics but also gain experience in health policy analysis, program evaluation, and public health research.

Why Study Master of Public Health?

With MPH, you develop a distinctive combination of clinical insight and population health expertise for diverse professional opportunities in India’s booming public health landscape. A few reasons to go for MPH are given below:

• You receive thorough training in both traditional medical knowledge and contemporary public health practices that sets you apart from single-discipline graduates.
• It gives an excellent launchpad to anyone aiming to get involved in epidemiology, health policy analysis, disease surveillance, or international health bodies.
• You’ll also develop the critical thinking, research methodology, and health leadership skills valued by government agencies and NGOs.
• Perfect for the MD-types—you qualify for epidemiologist, biostatistician, health policy analyst, and public health consultant positions.
• Opens doors to WHO, UNICEF, and government health ministries, research institutes, and international health organizations.
• It simply makes you smarter about disease patterns, health systems, and program management—skills that are in high demand in our health-obsessed economy.

Who Should Study for a Master of Public Health?

MPH is ideal for candidates who want to combine their clinical background with population health expertise and specialize in sectors like epidemiology, health policy, disease surveillance, or international health. This program suits:

• Students who are targeting the public health, epidemiology, health policy analysis, international health, or health systems management industries.
• Students seeking to enter disease surveillance, biostatistics, health program evaluation, or environmental health on government and international stages.
• For those looking to hone your research, analytical, and policy skills for positions at government health organizations, NGOs, or international bodies.
• Clinicians in any specialty interested in moving into public health leadership and population health management
• Candidates who wanted to work at WHO, UNICEF, or a health ministry or start their own health-focused NGO.
• Research-oriented, analytically minded students with fantastic problem-solving and leadership skills.

Master of Public HealthEntrance Exams 2025

Most Indian universities and colleges provide admission to MPH via entrance test, merit, or a combination of both. Here’s a list of some MPH entrance exams:

Master of Public Health Eligibility Criteria

Below are the detailed eligibility criteria for admission to MPH course. Candidates must fulfill all the conditions mentioned below:

• The applicant must have completed graduation in medical sciences (MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS), allied health sciences (Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy), or life sciences from a recognized university.
• A minimum aggregate of 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) is required in the qualifying exam. For SC/ST candidates, there is typically a 5% relaxation.
• Admission is usually based on entrance test scores, merit in graduation, or a combination of both, followed by counseling.
• Medical and allied health graduates may have preference, though life science graduates are also eligible.
• Final-year graduation students can also apply, provided they submit proof of completion before admission.

Master of Public Health Colleges in India

Here are some of the most reputed colleges and universities offering MPH in India:

Master of Public Health Admission Process

Every college has more or less the same procedure for MPH admission. In case you want to check it out, the JIPMER (Puducherry) admission process is outlined here stepwise:

Step 1: Register for the JIPMER Common Entrance Exam (JIPMER PG/CEE) during the official registration window, typically from February to March. Select "MPH" as your preferred program during this process.

Step 2: Create an account on the official JIPMER admission portal using your valid email ID and mobile number.

Step 3: Log in to the portal and fill out the application form with your personal details, academic qualifications, and entrance exam information. Verify all entries carefully.

Step 4: Upload scanned copies of all required documents (such as academic certificates, identity proof, etc.) as per the instructions.

Step 5: Pay the non-refundable application and entrance exam fee online via debit/credit card, UPI, or net banking according to the given guidelines.

Step 6: Appear for the JIPMER PG entrance exam at the allotted examination center on the scheduled date.

Step 7: Following the announcement of results, attend the document verification and counseling session at JIPMER if shortlisted. Bring original documents for verification.

Step 8: Complete the admission formalities by submitting the requisite fees and verifying all documentation.

Step 9: Attend the orientation session, register for your first-semester courses, and obtain your student ID and academic schedule.

Documents Required:

• Graduation mark sheets and degree certificate
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and certificates
• Category/EWS/domicile certificates (if applicable)
• Transfer/Leaving certificate
• Character certificate
• Entrance exam scorecard
• Passport-size photographs
• Valid government photo ID
• Medical registration certificate (if applicable)
• Any other documents as specified by the institute

Master of Public Health Syllabus

Master of Public Health is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in epidemiology, biostatistics, and health policy combined with practical public health skills. The syllabus varies across institutions, but here's the syllabus of JIPMER for your reference:

Master of Public Health Career Opportunities in India

Master of Public Health opens doors to diverse career opportunities across government health agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and research institutions in India. Here's a look at common career paths:

Master of Public Health FAQs