17.2.2021

A smart decision for promising future

Studying Master of Public Health-track of Health Promotion in Nursing Science, UEF

Every year many applicants compete for joining master’s degree program in Public Health (MPH) at the University of Eastern Finland. This two-year program is entirely in English and has been one of the popular programs for applicants at our university.

Students on the MPH program take the core studies of public health, then they can choose to continue any of the following four tracks:

Epidemiology
Public Health Nutrition
Globe, Culture and Public Health
Health Promotion in Nursing Science

Application round for 2021-2023

299 applications were received, and the evaluation process has already started. Regardless of the pandemic of COVID19, we have had the online application round from the first of December 2020 until 20 January 2021. Surprisingly, this year, the number of applicants increased by 19%.

But what could be the reason for such a growth in the number of applicants? A reduction in the amount of tuition fee from 12,000 to 10,000 Euros per year might be one of the reasons for having more applicants this year in our program. Besides, Coronavirus disease has moved everything to the online platform, from working to shopping, communicating, and even studying. Likewise, online studying is more convenient and effective than ever thanks to technological development. The pandemic situation of COVID19 has forced our teaching to be in the hybrid model (online and on-campus). Hence, since the beginning of the pandemic, MPH courses have been offered online. This might provide a unique opportunity for some people trying distant learning and using their time for studying online during the pandemic. Not to mention, the high-quality education system of Finland is another reason to attract applicants from around the world to study in this Scandinavian country.

Health Promotion in Nursing Science

The Department of Nursing Science, in close collaboration with the Department of Public health, is offering diverse courses for the track of Health Promotion in Nursing Science. Not only students on the Health Promotion track can take these courses, but also all other degree students including MPH and exchange students with health background are welcome to take part in our courses. From the basic to advanced level, our courses address the health promotion topic concerning the nursing perspective. Each year, MPH students with different educational backgrounds (nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, medicine) choose the Health Promotion track.

Courses on the track of Health Promotion in Nursing Science

After completing the first semester, MPH students will choose the track they want to be specialized in. All specific courses on the track of Health Promotion will be offered during the second and third semesters. In the final semester, students will have only a few more compulsory courses from core studies and their master’s thesis.

Like other tracks, the Health Promotion in Nursing Science track has 20 credits which consist of the following courses:

Patient safety (3 ECTS)
Values and Knowledge basis of Nursing Science (3 ECTS)
Health Impact Assessment (5 ECTS)
Community-Based Health Promotion (5 ECTS)
Evaluation of Nursing Knowledge in Nursing Science (4 ECTS)

In addition to all track-specific courses, we offer other courses for all MPH and Exchnage students in English langue including:

Intercultural competence and professionalism (5 ECTS)
Ethics in intercultural interaction (5 ECTS)
Health Promotion and Management (5 ECTS)
Maternity and Child Health (3 ECTS)

Master’s thesis in the track of Health Promotion

Research in the Department of Nursing Science is related to health promotion practices and their impact on community care, patient care, and nursing outcomes. We are active in research on the environment and health promotion, clinical nursing, health education, effectiveness, quality of nursing education, and care.

Our students in the track of Health Promotion in Nursing Science have plenty of options to complete their master’s thesis in different areas and using various research methodologies under the supervision of our expert researchers. Here is the master’s thesis title of former students in our track:

Filipino internationally educated nurses’ challenges in the Finnish social and healthcare services: a qualitative descriptive analysis

Empowering patient education in type 2 diabetes management: a systematic literature review

Associations of dietary patterns and food groups with cardiorespiratory fitness among 8-11-year old children in Kuopio, Finland: The Physical Activity and Nutrition In Children (PANIC) study

After graduation

Pursuing doctoral studies, working as a researcher in health-related projects, or becoming a teacher are some of the future possibilities for our graduates.

Warmly welcome to study in the Master of Public Health program at the University of Eastern Finland

MALIHEH NEKOUEI, University Teacher