Switzerland · Master's
University of Bern
MSc Public Health
University of Bern
Course Overview
The University of Bern runs Switzerland's joint MSc in Public Health (in cooperation with the Universities of Basel and Zurich) — a two-year, English-taught programme based at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM). Bern's ISPM is a WHO Collaborating Centre for global health surveillance and works closely with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in Basel — a major hub for tropical disease research, with deep South Asian connections including malaria and dengue programmes relevant to Sri Lanka.
The curriculum covers epidemiology, biostatistics, health systems and policy, infectious disease control, environmental health, and global health. Sri Lankan applicants with MBBS, BSc Nursing, BSc Public Health, BSc Biomedical Sciences, or strong policy backgrounds (Ministry of Health, NGOs) fit well. Tuition is CHF 750/semester (~CHF 1,500/year) — affordable by Swiss standards. The Master's thesis often connects to WHO or Swiss TPH projects, which can include fieldwork in Sri Lanka.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Pharmacy, or related field — Sri Lankan SLQF Level 6 with GPA equivalent to first-class.
- check_circle 1–2 years of clinical or public-health work experience is highly preferred for international applicants — voluntary work at MoH, NGOs, hospitals counts.
- check_circle Statement of purpose, CV, and 2 academic/professional references.
- check_circle Interview with admissions panel for shortlisted Sri Lankan applicants.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge C1 Advanced or higher.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught entirely in English at a recognised institution (Sri Lankan MBBS programmes qualify).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CHF) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | CHF 1,500 | Rs. 555,000 |
| Accommodation in Bern (per year) | CHF 10,800 | Rs. 3,996,000 |
| Living Expenses & Food (per year) | CHF 9,000 | Rs. 3,330,000 |
| Health Insurance & Mandatory Fees | CHF 1,800 | Rs. 666,000 |
| Estimated Annual Investment | CHF 23,100 | Rs. 8,547,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Bern Public Health graduates feed into Switzerland's global-health ecosystem — WHO Geneva, GAVI Vaccine Alliance, Global Fund, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Geneva, Swiss TPH Basel, and pharmaceutical public-affairs roles at Novartis, Roche, and Lonza. Switzerland's 6-month post-graduation permit and work-permit conversion under non-EU quotas applies. Sri Lankan returnees take senior public-health roles at the Ministry of Health, WHO Sri Lanka country office, UNICEF, World Bank Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Medical Research Institute, and Sri Lankan NGOs (Sarvodaya, Family Planning Association).
Related Programs
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.