Health Systems and Policy

The Master of Public Health in the field of Health Systems and Policy is a part-time programme.

Overview

Students are required to take a combination of MPH and field specific modules. The coursework in part 1 of the MPH/DPH include five course and introduction to Health Systems. The core courses are aimed to reflect core competencies that every MPH/DPH candidate should be equiped with; both as foundational content in preparation for their field of specialisation as well as for their general role as public health practitioners.

The field specific content includes a range of themes in health systems and policy including analysis of policy development and implementation, health care financing, health system approaches to planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS programmes and health systems evaluation and research. This field of study is coordinated by the Centre for Health Policy (CHP) which is a grant-funded research unit in the school.

Curriculum

Part I

COMH7100A   Orientation to Public Health                                                       
COMH7047A   Health Measurement I                                                               
COMH7221A   Health and Society                                                                   
COMH7222A   Approaches to Population Health                                              
COMH7223A   Designing Effective Public Health Programs                             
COMH7048A   Health Measurement II                                                              
COMH7212A    Introduction to Health Systems                                                 

Part II

COMH7017A   Health Care Financing                                                               
COMH7041A  Health Policy and Policy Analysis                                              
COMH7046A  Research Methods                                                                    
COMH7236A  Health Systems Organisation and Human Resources               
COMH7101A   Management in Health and Health Services                              
COMH7287A   Introduction to Health Economics                                               

Part III

The following prescribed course extends over not less than one academic year of full-time study or two academic years of part-time study:

COMH7175A   Research Report                                  

Entry Requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree of at least four years duration in dental science, medicine, surgery, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, Bachelor of Science Honours with a minimum of a 65% average.
  • A Bachelor of Arts or Sciences with Honours in psychology or sociology, social work or other field of relevance to public health with a minimum of a 65% average.

Your application must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Written motivation by the applicant detailing reason for applying for the degree and how the program fits with their overall career goals - Motivation
  • Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae including a description of relevant research and work experience
  • Two referee reports - Referee Report
  • Certified copies of prior qualification(s).
  • Original transcripts of qualifications
  • Foreign Qualifications:
    • Evaluation from SAQA for applicants who graduated from non- South African universities.
    • English competency certificate or evidence of prior undergraduate training in English.

Entry into the programme is not automatic. Application is subject to review by a selection panel. 

University Application Process

  • Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
  • Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.