Public Health Sciences Course Program

Public Health is defined by the WHO and others as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health” of people and their communities “through the organized efforts of society”. The public health approach recognizes that health outcomes are shaped by a complex interplay of social, economic, environmental, and political factors.

The Public Health Sciences course program is a structured training program for doctoral students at the University of Bern. The program focuses on strengthening research competence of PhD students in methodologies employed to generate scientific evidence for the public health field and is recommended to PhD students working on public health-related topics who want to get ready for a post-doc position in academia or an organization close to science. PHS course program is highly interdisciplinary, with scholars from several faculties contributing. Single course attendance is possible.

Basic information
Degree:

Attestation for the PHS Course Program completion

Scope:

Min 10 ECTS credits

Offer:

Training in Public Health Sciences; completed courses are listed in the supplement to the PhD diploma from the University of Bern

Duration:

1,5-3 years (some courses are offered every second year)

Language: English
Admission:

Enrolment in the course program or in single PHS courses at any time after admission to doctoral studies at the University of Bern. 

Entry:

Flexible, either for full PHS Course Program or for single courses

Costs:

Course fees are waived for PhD students at the University of Bern

Contact:

phs-info.ispm@unibe.ch

Click here for online registration

The PHS Course Program is an optional training program that complements the PhD curriculum defined by the Graduate Schools and focuses on strengthening research competence of PhD students in methodologies employed to generate scientific evidence for the public health field. PHS course program is not a Graduate School and does not award PhD diplomas.

The PHS course program aims to:

  1. Strengthen interdisciplinary public health-related research at the University by enhancing local, national, and international collaboration among researchers and professors in various fields related to public health.
  2. Increase national and international visibility and attractiveness of the University of Bern in public health-related research topics.
  3. Increase employability of PhDs in public health in the Swiss work environment, focusing on post-doctoral academic positions.

The content of the PHS course program is aligned with the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA) criteria. In accordance with higher education regulations, the program completion is based on attaining ECTS credits (25-30h work for 1 ECTS).

The PHS course program aims to contribute to interdisciplinary, foundational training in public health by focusing on methodological aspects and their application to the themes of Population Health and its Determinants, Health Promotion and Prevention, and Health Systems and Policy.

The educational objectives of the PHS course program are:

  1. To foster a comprehensive understanding of public health.
  2. To develop specific competencies focusing on methods and topical themes.
  3. To build an interdisciplinary and multilevel network between PhD candidates and senior scholars at the University of Bern across faculties and centers.

These objectives feed into competencies that are defined at the Module level. Module competencies are acquired by achieving the learning outcomes defined in the various courses.

To complete the course program, participants are required to complete two Modules:

  • Module 1: course «Introduction to Public Health Sciences» consisting of five session and an assessment(2 ECTS).
  • Module 2: in-depth courses with focus on methodological aspects of the public health research and their application in own projects (> 7 ECTS) and an assessment (1 ECTS).

In Module 1, participants get a comprehensive overview of the foundations of Public Health, definitions of key concepts, its different disciplines, its history and ethics, and an introduction to core public health research methods and themes. In Module 2, participants focus on the acquisition of specific skills across public health themes and specific for their research project.

The study plan is adapted to the needs and individual educational background of the students. Building on their learning experiences, the participants acquire knowledge and skills relevant to public health theories, concepts, and methods. Participants document their progress in a logbook by summarizing and critically reflecting on learning experience in PHS courses. The assessment of competence achievement (logbook and oral assessment) is based on educational objectives and allows students to demonstrate new skills and knowledge.

The minimum workload for the entire course program is approximately 300 hours , with Module 1 contributing about 50 hours. In addition to the minimum credits' requirements, participants may take additional courses at their discretion. The course program should be completed within three years, ideally starting soon after the beginning of the PhD. An extension for a further year is possible upon written request.  

PHS courses are taught in English, held face-to-face at or offered online.

Registration to PHS courses September - December 2025: www.zuw.me/phs-ispm

For PHS courses from January 2026 onwards: Registration to all PHS courses is possible through the online platform KSL www.ksl.unibe.ch. Registration fees are waived for PhD students of the University of Bern who commit to the whole course attendance.

These cancellation rules apply to PhD students of the University of Bern.

Processing fee of CHF 100 will be applied for:

  • Cancellations after 2 weeks before the first course day (late cancellations)
  • Participants with course attendance of less than 80% of the on-site course time
  • Absence on the first day of the course (considered as a late cancellation)

Course attendance cancellations and short absences must be reported at the latest 2 weeks before the first course day. Write an email to phs-admin.ispm@unibe.ch. The cancellation or approval of short absences has to be confirmed by the course coordination.

Students who want to enrol in the PHS course program must first register to Module 1 course «Introduction to Public Health Sciences» and contact the Program Manager (phs-info.ispm@unibe.ch).

List of courses offered in the framework of the Public Health Sciences course program
KSL Root  Number     Course Titel and Flyer     Semester* ECTS**
484082     Module 1: Introduction to Public Health Sciences     FS HS 2
484099     Qualitative Health Research – The Essentials     FS     2
492962     Getting started with R     FS     0.5
489608     Basic Biostatistics in R      FS     1
484083     Projects in R     FS 0.5
484093     Introduction to Epidemiology and Study Design (optional written exam)     FS 1.5 (3 with exam)
484094     Diagnostic Test Evaluation in R FS 0.5
486248 Health Policy  FS 1
486270 One Health FS 1
486266 Hot Topics in Health Care Research FS 1
486268 Cancer Epidemiology and Control  FS 1
484096 Linear and logistic regression modelling in R (optional written exam) HS 1.5 (3 with exam)
486261 Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis HS 1
486250 Prognostic Research: Concepts and Models HS 1
484095 Qualitative Health Research – Living Lab I: Data Analysis  HS 3
486249 Book Club 'Nutritional Epidemiology' HS 2
486258 Participatory Research Approaches HS 1
486259 How to Organize and Finance Health Systems  HS 1
486263 Legal Aspects of Public Health HS 1
486265 Concepts and General Introduction to Economic Evaluations of Health Interventions FS HS 1
512904 Journal Club Infectious Disease Dynamics FS HS 1
485606 Writing a Journal Article and Getting it Published FS HS 2

* Spring semester = FS; Autumn semester = HS

** For an accreditation of the ECTS, full attendance and active participation incl. completion of assignments and assessments are required.

Links to other recommended courses and programs:

If you have questions about the PHS course program, how to proceed with the registration or would like advice on planning your courses, you can contact us to make an appointment.

E-mail:
Program Manager: phs-info.ispm@unibe.ch
Course Administration: phs-admin.ispm@unibe.ch

www.medizin.unibe.ch/phs

University of Bern, ISPM, PHS Course Program, Mittelstrasse 43, 3000 Bern

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