Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control
The Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control is a two-year postgraduate programme designed to provide intensive service-based and on-the-job training in applied epidemiology and public health laboratory practice. The programme is targeted at medical doctors, veterinarians, laboratory scientists, and public health professionals, and leads to the award of an M.Phil degree in Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control.
The programme combines didactic classroom instruction with structured field placement activities, allowing students to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for effective public health practice.
Programme Objective
The primary objective of the programme is to strengthen national public health capacity by developing a cadre of highly skilled health professionals with advanced competencies in applied epidemiology and laboratory management. Graduates are trained to support and enhance national disease surveillance systems through a multidisciplinary, team-based approach.
Public Health Impact
As part of efforts to strengthen the national surveillance system, the programme supports the establishment of zonal and regional surveillance units staffed by a mix of highly skilled professionals, including medical, laboratory, veterinary, and public health experts trained in applied epidemiology and disease control.
Graduates of the programme are strategically positioned at the national, zonal, and regional levels to contribute to disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and evidence-based public health decision-making across the country.
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSC) IN CLINICAL TRIALS
What is the programme about?
The MSc Clinical Trials programme is offered by the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health. The programme is designed to train and develop the human resource capacity needed to address the growing shortage of research expertise in biomedical research, including the development and testing of diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, herbal medicines, and other medical interventions that inform disease management and health improvement in Ghana and the sub-region.
The introduction of the MSc Clinical Trials programme was premised on the recognition that Master of Public Health (MPH) training alone is often insufficient to adequately prepare professionals for the rigorous demands of the design, development, and evaluation of medical products and interventions. This programme therefore builds on public health training by providing specialized and in-depth knowledge in clinical trials.
The programme equips students with advanced competencies in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of clinical trials, with particular emphasis on trials that directly inform clinical practice and public health decision-making. Teaching and learning are strongly oriented towards the conduct of research that produces the highest quality evidence.
The programme is delivered by globally acclaimed faculty with extensive theoretical knowledge and practical experience, reflecting both public-sector and private industry perspectives.
How Relevant is the MSc Clinical Trials Programme Today?
The key lessons from the Ebola, Avian flu, COVID-19 crises among many include the fact that, even the so-called developing countries need to develop capacity to be self-sustaining in vaccine development relevant to their local disease profiles.
In Ghana, national efforts are being intensified to promote public–private collaboration in vaccine development. At the same time, pharmaceuticals, herbal products, and alternative medical interventions are increasingly being subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny, driven by growing public awareness of patients’ rights, treatment outcomes, and evidence-based care.
The MSc Clinical Trials programme is therefore highly relevant, positioning graduates to play critical roles in clinical research, regulatory science, product development, and evidence-based healthcare at national and regional levels.
Duration: 2 years
Regular