Faculty of Health Sciences

The programmes are grouped according to their home faculty. UCT supports interdisciplinary study. Students may apply for whichever programme that interests them, regardless of their academic background, provided they meet the minimum entry requirements for the programme. Therefore students are encouraged to search through this list of programmes and other faculties' programmes.

For example the Master of Philosophy in Development Policy and Practice [CM033DPP01] is listed under Commerce (its home faculty) but only requires that a student holds an honours degree to enrol for it. Many such opportunities exist in different faculties and students are encouraged to look for them.

Similarly students are encouraged to select courses from different faculties. There are many courses listed on this website that allow students from different academic backgrounds to enrol for them. Students are encouraged to select such courses to enrich their learning experience.

Master of Public Health [MM012]

A part-time coursework Master of Public Health has been offered in the Faculty of Health Sciences since 1999. It is offered as a multidisciplinary Public Health degree and is based on existing strengths at UCT, resulting in an emphasis on Epidemiology, Health Economics and Health research. However, social science based courses are offered as well.

“I chose my field of study because of personal concerns about health inequalities and poor development in most sub-Saharan countries… I feel that the skills acquired during coursework and research/thesis write up puts me in a good position to work with governments, non-governmental organisations, private sector and research institutions to influence health policy in developing countries.”

Qualification name: MMed of Public Health
Delivery Mode and Duration: A candidate shall be registered for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of four years.

General Entry requirements

FMH1.1 General, Epidemiology, Health Systems, Clinical Research or Community Eye Health stream

• holds an approved degree in medicine or a health profession other than medicine with at least a four-year degree from this University or another university recognised by the Senate for the purpose; holds an approved honours or equivalent four-year degree from this University or another university recognised by the Senate for the purpose; and has attained at least a C-grade pass in higher-grade Senior Certificate Mathematics or an equivalent recognised by the Senate for the purpose; and is proficient in written and spoken English.

• In addition, a candidate will be required to submit evidence of previous academic performance, work history, and research output or involvement in research, and a 500 word typed essay setting out his/her reasons for doing the course and the ways in which he/she envisages (or hopes) the programme will improve his/her work skills and/or effectiveness at work.

FMH1.2 Health Economics stream

• holds an approved degree in economics, health sciences or social sciences from this University or another university recognised by the Senate as equivalent; holds an honours or equivalent four-year degree from this University or another university recognised by the Senate for the purpose; has attained at least a C-grade pass in higher-grade matriculation mathematics or an equivalent recognised by the Senate for the purpose; and is proficient in written and spoken English.

• In addition, a candidate will be required to submit evidence of previous academic performance, work history, and research output or involvement in research, and a 500 word typed essay setting out (i) his/her reasons for doing the course and (ii) the ways in which he/she envisages (or hopes) the programme will improve his/her work skills and/or effectiveness at work.

Convener: Prof L Myer, BA Brown MA MBChB Cape Town MPhil PhD Columbia (also Epidemiology specialisation)

Assistant Conveners:

• Prof C Cook, MBChB MPH Cape Town FCS(Ophth) SA FRCOphth (Community Eye Health specialisation)
• Prof L Gilson, BA(Hons) Oxford MA East Anglia PhD London (Health Systems specialisation)
• Dr J E Ataguba, BSc (Econ) Nigeria MPH (HealthEcon) PhD (Econ) Cape Town (Health Economics specialisation)
• A/Prof C Colvin, BA Virginia Tech MA PhD Virginia MPH Cape Town (General and Social & Behavioural Science specialisations)

Prescribed curriculum