This Master’s programme is unique in Flanders. It will give you knowledge, skills and competences to design and conduct epidemiological research addressing questions on etiology, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment or prognosis of disease (illness), or on the enhancement or maintenance of health. You will be immersed in scientific research and you will immediately learn to translate it into practice and policy to improve the health of people and populations.

The Master's programme in Epidemiology is carried and supported via a VLIR-UOS scholarship programme by the Global Health Institute, one of the University's interdisciplinary research centers focussing on improving peoples health globally, building capacity for global health research, and engage in the implementation of evidence-based interventions for health problems affecting low- and middle-income countries.

Why study Epidemiology in Antwerp?

• Focus on epidemiological methods. You will learn how to design studies, measure occurrence and association and assess bias. You will also acquire competencies in statistics.
• Link with public health. You will learn to identify and propose solutions to health problems in society by conducting epidemiological research.
• Translate research into policy and practice. You will also gain insight into converting research results into practice and how this can influence policy.
• International classrooms. You will join a group of students from all over the world with different backgrounds. This diversity will broaden your view.
• Green campus and the city within reach. Your classes are held on Campus Drie Eiken. You will receive lectures in large, modern auditoriums and practice your skills in well-equipped practical rooms.

About the Master of Epidemiology:

This Master’s programme is unique in Flanders. It will give you knowledge, skills and competences to design and conduct epidemiological research addressing questions on etiology, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment or prognosis of disease (illness), or on the enhancement or maintenance of health. You will be immersed in scientific research and you will immediately learn to translate it into practice and policy to improve the health of people and populations.

The Master's programme is carried and supported via a VLIR-UOS scholarship programme by the Global Health Institute, one of the University's interdisciplinary research centers focussing on improving peoples health globally, building capacity for global health research, and engage in the implementation of evidence-based interventions for health problems affecting low- and middle-income countries.

What to expect?

• 120 ECTS-credits (2 years full-time or 4 years part-time) 
• Taught in English
• Organised by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences​
• Courses take place on Campus Drie Eiken​

Mix of theory and practice:

During the first year of the Master's programme, the focus is on deepening your knowledge in the field of epidemiology, statistics and research methods. You will also become acquainted with the practice by attending seminars and workplace visits. 

In the second year you will focus mainly on your own research for your Master's thesis. You will get to know the different fields of epidemiology, like infectious disease epidemiology, clinical epidemiology and environmental epidemiology. You will expand your methodological knowledge in the course Advanced Methods in Epidemiology and learn how to convert theory into practice in the course Public Health, Policy and Practice.

Strong in qualitative research: Qualitative research can be used to place or explain the results of quantitative studies in context or to generate hypotheses that can then be tested by quantitative epidemiological studies.

Full-time or part-time:

This programme counts 120 credits; this corresponds to 2 years of full-time study. There is a part-time programme of 30 credits per year for working students. That way you can complete the Master's programme in 4 years. ​Attention: if you are here with a student visa, you are required by law to take a minimum of 54 credits per academic year!

An international experience:

This Master's programme welcomes students from all over the world. All classes are taught in English and international epidemiologists are invited on a regular basis to give seminars. This programme is an international experience right from the start. 

You will have the opportunity to gain and improve your epidemiological skills by doing part of your Master's thesis abroad. Our professors have a large international network, but you can also suggest a professional epidemiological institution or public health organisation abroad yourself.