Public Health

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Master of Science in Public Health

KPT/JPT(R2/720/7/0077)09/2025 | A10261
KPT/JPT(R-DL/720/7/0811)09/2028 | MQA/SWA11356

Commencement

Mar & Sep (Conventional & ODL)

Degree/Duration

Master of Science in Public Health (IMU):
1 year (Full-time)
2 – 6 years (Part-time)

Master of Science in Public Health (IMU) + Master in Public Health (University of Arizona):
1 + 1 (Full-time)
Maximum 6 years (Part-time)

Optimise Healthcare Management and Safety

Unravel the intricate art and science of disease prevention, life extension, and health promotion. Our Public Health programme empowers graduates to emerge as influential contributors, dedicated to upholding community well-being by enhancing social conditions and fostering healthy behaviours and lifestyles. Through immersive, hands-on experiences within local public health departments, under the mentorship of seasoned specialists and experts, students gain invaluable practical insights and skills to effect positive change in public health initiatives.

What is ODL?

Open and distance learning provides working professionals an alternative to conventional programmes at universities, giving them the opportunity to earn a university degree without interrupting their career. As Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and health sciences university with 30 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education, IMU offers a few postgraduate programmes via this learning mode with students having the opportunity to benefit from all the teaching and support that the University has to offer.

Benefits of ODL

Designed especially for students with employment, family or other commitments, this mode of learning provides flexibility and convenience for the student to schedule their studies around these obligations and around their lifestyle – allowing a student to plan and pace their own learning at a time and learning environment that is most suitable for the student. It also saves students from spending time travelling to the university, the costs of travelling to the university and the costs of staying near the university.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods include a series of annotated lectures supplemented by videos. For each subject taken, students will be part of a student online community. Students will also be assigned a mentor who will be available to answer any questions and provide feedback on their progress.

Students will be assessed fully online via the in-course assessment assignments and end of module assessment assignment so they don’t need to be at the University to sit for your exams. They will the receive their grades and feedback online.

In order to do this, students will be required to have a desktop/laptop, internet connection, a headset and webcam to participate in online tutorials and other group activities, access to standard office software – such as Microsoft Word and Excel, plus any standard browser, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox and Skype for certain online sessions.

Your Commitment

Time will be an ODL student’s most important commitment – understanding, working through and reflecting on all teaching materials. The hours spent per week on their studies for the duration of the programme depends on module taken.

Support from University

ODL students are fully registered student of the University with all of the support and services available to them, the same as the on-campus students. Technical support will also be provided if students have difficulty in accessing the e-learning platform.

Why Study Public Health at IMU?

01

An Established Private Healthcare University

IMU is Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and healthcare university with over 30 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education. IMU achieved the SETARA-2018/19 Tier 6 status (Outstanding) under the Mature University category.

02

Renowned and Highly Experience Faculty

Students will be supervised by staff who are experts in their field with well-established reputations nationally and internationally. The academic community of IMU pursues and achieves excellence in a wide range of research activities. Many of them present their findings in international conferences to keep up to date with the latest development in specialised areas. They also publish their findings in international peer-reviewed journals.

03

Recognised By JPA

The IMU MSc in Public Health is recognised by the Malaysian Public Service Department (JPA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). With this recognition, healthcare professionals who are working in the public sector especially MOH who want to advance in their careers in a related field can choose to study the IMU MSc in Public Health programme. Our graduates of this Masters degree can also apply to work in the public sector.

04

Unique Curriculum

This programme has a research component in its curriculum in which the student is required to complete a research project. There will also be field visits to the Ministry of Health, the Local Council and Non-Governmental Organisations as part of the experiential learning component of the programme. E-learning approaches are also used extensively including web-based e-learning in the programme.

05

Research Partnerships

Students will benefit from the University’s research collaborations with various local and foreign institutions in areas such as cancer, bioactive molecules, nutrition and environmental health. Close links have also been established with local hospitals, especially Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar in clinical research.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

Applicants are required to have obtained:

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in the field or related fields with a minimum cGPA of 2.50 or equivalent, as accepted by the University’s Senate; or
  • A Bachelor’s Degree in the field or related fields or equivalent with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 and not meeting a CGPA of 2.50, can be accepted subject to rigorous internal assessment.

For students opting for University of Arizona Credit Recognition Pathway

  • Applicants to the MPH-UA programme must possess a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in their undergraduate degree when submitting their application for this pathway.

English Requirements

For Malaysian Students

Not applicable

For International Students

  • IELTS : Band score 5.0; or
  • TOEFL (iBT) : Overall score of 42; or
  • Cambridge English : Advanced (CAE) : Overall score of 154; or
  • Cambridge English : Proficiency (CPE) : Overall score of 154; or
  • Cambridge Linguaskill : Overall score of 160; or
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) : Overall score of 47;

The following categories of students are exempted from the above requirements:

  • International students from countries in which English is the first language.
  • International students who graduated from any Malaysian or other institutions where the curriculum is delivered in English.

Note: Please note that achieving the minimum Entry and English requirements as stated does not guarantee you admission into any of IMU’s programmes. Please refer to our Student Admissions Policy for more information.

Programme Structure

Core Modules
September to February Semester September to February Semester
MSPH117 Research Methodology (3 credits)* MSPH114 Family Health (3 credits)
MSPH113 Principles & Method in Epidemiology (3 credits) MSPH115 Health Services Management with Health Economics (3 credits)
MSPH116 Biostatics (3 credits) MSPH118 Health Promotion (2 credits)
MSPH120 Environmental Health (3 credits) MSPH119 Sociology of Health & Illness (2 credits)
MSPH121 Occupational Health (3 credits) MSPH123 Research Project (Part II) (7 credits)*
MSPH122 Research Project (Part I) (2 credits)*
Electives
MSPH127 Healthcare Operation Management (3 credits) MSPH124 Public Health Practice (2 credits)
MSPH125 Epidemiology of Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases (2 credits) MSPH126 Multivariate Regression Models (2 credits)
MSPH128 Community Health Service

*Delivered every semester. Full-time must take them in Semester 1. Part-time student can choose to take them in any semester. The curriculum is reviewed periodically and is subject to change.

The IMU-MSc in Public Health programme has a minimum of 40 graduating credits and is delivered in conventional + open and distance learning (ODL) modes. Both have full-time and part-time options. The curriculum comprises core and elective modules. Core modules are compulsary while electives can be chosen to fulfil the minimum credit requirements. Research I and II are compulsory core modules where students will be required to submit a project proposal and conduct it upon approval from IMU's ethical commitee. Module ends with project report examination and viva voce. This programme is taught in collaboration with various Public Health Departments under the Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur City Council, non-governmantal organisations and other public health-related institutions.

University of Arizona (UA) Credit Recognition Pathway
For students planning to take the University of Arizona Credit Recognition Pathway, a minimum of 40 credits from MSPH-IMU is pre-requisite to the subsequent 20 credits in the Master of Public Health programme at UA, which can be completed via ODL. There is also an option to undertake the internship at UA.

Fee Structure

Fee Malaysian Student (RM) International Student (RM)
Application Fee 150 500
Registration Fee 1,100 3,400
Refundable Caution Deposit 2,000 2,000
Student Association Fee per Semester 40 40
  • All IMU Alumni who are self-funding their postgraduate studies and meet the eligibility criteria will be eligible for a bursary of 15%
  • Application fee is payable upon submission of application
  • Registration fee and refundable caution deposit is payable upon acceptance of the offer letter issued by the IMU Admissions Office
  • Students must adhere to the Policy on Payment of Fees
  • For information on Student Visa Administration fee, please refer to Visa and Immigration on the IMU website, www.imu.edu.my
  • Fee payable per semester are subject to the number of credits registered
  • **Subject to annual increase
Study Mode Malaysian Student
Tuition Fees
International Student
Tuition Fees
Master of Science*    
Conventional RM1,150 per credit hour, RM1,300 per credit hour,
No. of Credit Hour: 31 hours RM35,650 total fee RM40,300 total fee
Research Paper RM1,150 per credit hour, RM1,300 per credit hour,
No. of Credit Hour: 9 hours RM10,350 total fee RM11,700 total fee
  RM46,000 total fee RM52,000 total fee
Master of Science*    
Open & Distance Learning (ODL) RM930 per credit hour, RM930 per credit hour,
No. of Credit Hour: 31 hours RM28,830 total fee RM28,830 total fee
Research Paper RM1,150 per credit hour, RM1,150 per credit hour,
No. of Credit Hour: 9 hours RM10,350 total fee RM10,350 total fee
  RM39,180 total fee RM39,180 total fee
University of Arizona Credit Recognition Pathway
Open & Distance Learning (ODL)

Additional tuition fee of approximately USD 10,000

  • *Students have the opportunity to take more credits than 40 credits required. Additional fees will be charged according to the number of additional credit hours.
  • All tuition and ancillary fees are subject to annual increases, currency exchange rates, and exclusive of levy and bridging fees (if any).
  • All students are required to pay Student Association Fees of RM40 per semester.
  • The fees quoted for partner universities are current estimates only.
  • All fees are accurate at time of print. For latest fees and information, please visit IMU website at www.imu.edu.my

Get All the Facts About Our Programme

Explore in-depth information on our programme, including intake dates, curriculum, partner universities, career pathways, and admissions requirements.

Hear from Our Students and Alumni

During my stay at IMU, I used every single opportunity to learn, discuss and also share experiences with my colleagues and the lecturers. The knowledge and experiences I gained in IMU has really helped me in my workplace. Presently an Environmentalist and also a Public health practitioner, IMU has really contributed for being what I am today and I will be forever proud for been an alumnus of this great institution.

Dauda Bukar Dauda

Alumnus

MSc PH programme in ODL mode is convenient and beneficial to upgrade my knowledge and academic status without creating much conflict between my work and postgraduate learning schedule as 80% of teaching and learning are done online with only 20% of campus requirement for field visits and practical sessions.

Dr Anuradha Nadarajah

Student

I think, initially it was a struggle as I did not have much work experience prior to doing my masters degree. But once I got my first job (which was within 3 months of finishing my MScPH), it got easier.

Hay Mar Win

Alumna

MScPH Degree from IMU is accepted and recognised globally. A key thing that gave me an edge in a very competitive and surplus work force in Nigeria, was the Internship at UNHCR Kuala Lumpur. It provided the experience I needed to launch my career in a sector that hardly employs inexperienced graduates.

Obinna Francis Onunkwor

Alumna

The skill and knowledge I learnt from MScPH programme helps me a lot in my current job.

Syeda Razelin Kashem

Alumna

Frequently Asked Questions

You will need to prepare the following documents for your application:
  • Verified copies of your academic qualifications
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
  • A copy of your MyKad or the identification page of your passport
These supporting documents needs to be attached electronically to your application. Please note that all of our programmes require payment of a non-refundable application fee after the application has been submitted. Application will only be processed once the payment for application fee has been made.   We wish you all the best with your application, and hope we will be welcoming you into one of our programmes soon!
The curriculum, assessment and faculty delivering the two modes are the same. The only difference is that conventional students are required to attend the physical classes whereas ODL students will learn at their own convenience using the materials uploaded on the portal over a specified duration.
Full-time is 1 year. Students must take all the modules delivered in each semester and complete them all in a year. Part-time is 2-6 years. Students can do a minimum of 1-2 modules in a Semester. The duration of the module for full-time and part-time is the same. However, part-time has flexibility in taking the number of modules (credits) in a semester.
No. Based on the existing immigration rules, international students who take the conventional mode can study in full-time mode only. However, international students taking ODL from overseas can do both full-time and part-time.
Live/synchronous lectures and learning activities are for the conventional mode.

Recorded videos lectures with additional learning materials and activities to do self-learning are for ODL mode.

A Word from the Programme Director

Welcome to the dynamic world of Public Health. Our programme is designed to equip people with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to address the most pressing health challenges facing communities today. Join us on a journey towards creating healthier populations and promoting well-being for all. Explore the possibilities and opportunities that await you in the field of Public Health.

Dr Hlaing Thaw Dar

Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, Public Health (MSc)

MBBS (UM1, Ygn), MPH (UM)

A Word from the Programme Director

Welcome to the dynamic world of Public Health. Our programme is designed to equip people with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to address the most pressing health challenges facing communities today. Join us on a journey towards creating healthier populations and promoting well-being for all. Explore the possibilities and opportunities that await you in the field of Public Health.

Dr Hlaing Thaw Dar

Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, Public Health (MSc)

MBBS (UM1, Ygn), MPH (UM)

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