School of Public Health, BRAC University

Master in Public Health (MPH) Programme

Designed to be innovative, embracing international standards, utilizing state-of-the-art methods and techniques of teaching, learning, and providing opportunities for hands-on field experience, the School offers a unique Master in Public Health (MPH) programme with students and faculty recruited from Bangladesh and abroad. Past students have come from 15 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas.

It is a one-year full-time residential programme with 51 credits.

Calendar:
The MPH programme runs full time from 9am -5 pm everyday for 12 consecutive months. Usually it starts in early February and runs through the end of January in the following year.

Collaboration:
Faculty is drawn from other departments of BRAC University, BRAC, ICDDR, B, Schools of Public Health from USA (Columbia, Johns Hopkins, George Washington, Harvard and University of Maryland), the Netherlands (University of Amsterdam), Sweden (Karolinska Institute), the United Kingdom (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Germany (University of Heidelberg), Japan (Nagasaki University) and India (Sree Chitra Tinural Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Kerala) in addition to JPGSPH's own faculty.

Special features:
Multi-disciplinary in design, the programme is anchored in a number of core courses essential for developing fundamental competencies in public health embracing the disciplines of medical anthropology, epidemiology, bio-statistics, qualitative and quantitative research methods, health systems management, health economics and health care financing , and environmental health. It is further strengthened by courses in specific areas of public health practice including control of infectious diseases, public health nutrition, aging and health, health communication, reproductive health, and monitoring and evaluation. The core courses - six months in duration - are held in a residential setting outside the capital city of Dhaka providing students with a rich, challenging and exciting field-work experience in rural Bangladesh.

Comparative advantage of the BRAC School

Location in a developing country providing a social laboratory for public health teaching and learning.
Placement in a development organization (BRAC) with a track record of accomplishment in promoting social goals of poverty alleviation, which bridges the artificial divide between health and development.
Partnership with other internationally recognized schools of Public health in both developed and developing countries that enables access to the rich academic resources of the collaborating institutions as well as exposure to the global health agenda.
Emphasis on community-based experiential learning with the first six months conducted in a rural setting.

International Advisory Board

An International Advisory Board oversees the James P Grant School of Public Health The members are:

Dr. Jon Rohde, Chair (MSH, USA)
Dr. James M. Sherry, Co Chair (George Washington University, USA)
Mr. F. H. Abed, Chairperson and Founder of BRAC
Dr. Richard Cash (School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA)
Dr Alejandro Cravioto (Executive Director, ICDDR,B)
Prof. Patrick Vaughan (Professor Emeritus, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,UK)
Prof. AMR Chowdhury (Rockefeller Foundation, Bangkok Thailand)

Admission

The MPH programme is designed for individuals who wish to build or further their career in public health or allied areas.

The James P Grant School of Public Health was established to respond to the critical problems faced by the health sector in the developing world. Hence in addition to Bangladeshi students, the School accepts students from Asia, Africa and Latin America. Priority is given to candidates from countries where BRAC has ongoing (e.g. Afghanistan, East Africa) development programmes. However, in recognition of the realities of global inter-relatedness, the School is keen to have a diverse composition of its students representing different nationalities (including a few from the industrialized world), academic background and a favourable gender balance to expand the scope and range of experience.

Eligibility
Candidates fulfilling the following criteria are eligible to apply:

Graduates (M.B.B.S or M.D) from a recognized medical school or a Bachelor and/or Masters degree from a recognized university in nursing, nutrition, statistics, social and behavioral sciences or in other health related disciplines with outstanding academic records and some experience in health related work. Admission is need-blind and highly competitive
Basic Arithmetic & English skills are required
Proof of proficiency in spoken and written English: For students whose mother tongue is not English, a TOEFL score of 250 or more on computer-based test (CBT)/100 or more on internet based test (IBT), or IELTS of at least 6.5 is required [submit score sheet]
Relevant work or academic experience
Computer literacy: Proficiency in using Microsoft Office is essential .Skills in using other statistical software will be an advantage

Women and candidates with field-level working experience in health in low-income countries will be given preference.

Finances

For the MPH Programme the tuition fee is US $ 12,000. In addition, there is a living cost of US $ 6,000 that covers accommodation in field and Dhaka campuses, food, local transportation, course materials and supplies. Developing country candidates could be offered full/partial tuition waiver (up to US $ 12,000) based on merit and financial need. They will, however, be responsible for their living cost (US $ 6,000), airfare to and from Dhaka and associated expenses, such as visa fee. Candidates are strongly encouraged to seek funding from their own intuitions or donor agencies. However, for developing countries who are funded by organizations, UN agencies and other founders they do not secure a tuition waiver.

For Bangladeshi Students
Bangladeshi students are only required to pay the living cost (US $ 6000 equivalent to BDT 400,000). However once admitted, deserving candidates may apply and receive a waiver of up to 50 % of their living expense (up to BDT 200,000).

Application

A complete application comprises:
1. Completed application form (may download from the website, or collect from student desk or SPH Office)
2. Detailed CV describing work, research and educational background
3. A statement of career interest in public health (250 - 300 words)
4. Copy of certified academic transcript and certificates of all the degrees (scanned copies are accepted for electronic submission)
5. Name and address of two referees
6. Proof of proficiency in English language
7. Statement on whether funds have been secured or support is required
8. 2 Passport and 2 stamp (2.5cmx 3cm) size photo (scanned copies are accepted for electronic submission)

No application can be considered until all these above mentioned items are received.

Download Application form

National students are advised to post applications to both these addresses:

Sabina Faiz Rashid
Associate Professor & MPH Coordinator
James P Grant School of Public Health
BRAC University
66 ,Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Mr. Mrityunjoy Das
Academic and Administrative Officer
James P Grant School of Public Health
BRAC University
66 ,Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.

International students are advised to post applications electronically to both these addresses:

sabina@bracu.ac.bd

mrityunjoy@bracu.ac.bd

Examination procedure

For International Students

Short listed candidates will be called for an interview in their home country by the designated personnel and, if successful, contacted by the school to follow-up on the admission process.

For National students

A written exam is taken; students qualifying the test are short listed. Short listed candidates will be contacted to be interviewed, first in a group interview and, if qualified, they will be called for individual Interviews.

Successful candidates will be informed by 1 November 2009.

Living Arrangement

The 12 month course is divided into two semesters. To facilitate experiential learning, the first semester is residential in the rural setting of BRAC Training and Resource Centre (TARC) in Savar, approximately an hour drive from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Students are exposed to surrounding villages and health facilities where field exercises illustrate public health in practice. The second semester is also residential in the urban setting of Dhaka City at Niketon where students are exposed to internationally renowned resources and facilities of ICDDR,B where research in diverse areas of health and development are routinely carried out.

1st Semester at Savar Campus

Students will be provided with a single room with air cooler and shared bathroom
Meals will be provided in the MPH dining facility at a set time
The campus has a 24 hour computer lab with internet facility
It is a secured campus where students can enjoy indoor and outdoor games
During the weekends, that is on Thursday at 6 P.M. the School bus leaves Savar campus for BRAC Center Dhaka and will return to Savar on Saturday at 6 P.M. from BRAC Centre, Dhaka

2nd Semester at Niketon, Dhaka

Students will be provided shared rooms in a dormitory in Dhaka city
Transportation for classes at ICDDR,B is arranged by the School
Niketon also has a Computer lab with internet facility

For further queries please contact:

Mr. Mrityunjoy Das
mrityunjoy@bracu.ac.bd
phone :88-02-8824051 Ext-4164

The MPH course (6th Batch) starts on February 07, 2010.

Admission