Master of Science in Environmental Health (Msc Eh)

Overview

The Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Health is a professionally postgraduate programme tailor designed to equip students with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to address current and emerging environmental health challenges in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Environmental health is the assessment and management of environmental influences (e.g., chemical, physical, biological, social, and psychosocial factors) on human health. It takes a preventive approach to tackling disease and ill health. Environmental Health is a diverse profession covering aspects of physical and social science producing a graduate with a holistic understanding of preventive health, community development and environmental protection. The programme, guided by the five pillars of environmental health (food safety, occupational health and safety, community health, built environment, and pollution control as agreed by the Africa Academy for Environmental Health), which responds to all these key environmental health priorities. As such, the programme remains relevant to environmental health training in Malawi, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and indeed at global level. The programme follows a modular block release mode of delivery ideal for professionals wishing to specialize in the field of environmental health while remaining in their work places active in the workforce.

Aim of the Programme

The MSc in Environmental Health aims to produce highly skilled graduates capable of addressing environmental health challenges across various sectors. Aligned with the Ministry of Health’s goal of creating a healthy Malawi free from environmental risks, the programme focuses on national priorities such as food safety, disease prevention, water and sanitation, and occupational health. The five pillars of environmental health from the Africa Academy for Environmental Health, the programme provides relevant postgraduate training to strengthen not only Malawi’s environmental health workforce and beyond but also support sustainable health development through research and professional practice.

Programme Structure

Year 1: (Semester 1 & 2)

• Ten (10) core modules each carrying 12 credit points (total 120 credits)
• Each module is delivered over four weeks:
  • 1 week of face-to-face intensive learning
  • 3 weeks of independent learning, assessments, and workplace/industry engagement
• Students must pass all ten modules to proceed to Year 2
• Modules include:
  • • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    • Environmental Pollution Control
    • Food Safety and Hygiene
    • Occupational Health and Safety
    • Environmental Health Nutrition
    • Global Health
    • Health and Behaviour Change Communication
    • Health Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
    • Geographic Information Systems

Year 2 (Semester 3 & 4)

• Students undertake research in a relevant Environmental Health area
• Activities include:
  • Developing and submitting a research proposal
  • Ethics approval from relevant boards
  • Participating in compulsory research seminars
  • Completing a dissertation (120 credit points)

Programme Duration and Extension

Duration

• • Full-time: 2 years (4 semesters)
  • Part-time: 3 years

Extension

• • Students may apply for an extension of up to 12 months with payment of half the programme fee, subject to approval by the postgraduate committee.

Programme Exit Options

• • Postgraduate Diploma: Awarded to students who complete 120 credits from coursework but do not proceed to dissertation.
  • Master’s Degree: Awarded upon successful completion of 240 credits (120 coursework + 120 dissertation).

Application Information

Who Can Apply?

• Professionals from fields such as:
  • Environmental health
  • Public health
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Environmental sciences
  • Other related disciplines

Minimum Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• • Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health, Public Health, or a related field from a recognized higher education institution.
  • Have an average grade of at least 50%, based on final year grades.
  • For applicants assessed using GPA, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required.
  • Applicants who previously exited the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma (for reasons other than academic withdrawal) are eligible to re-join the second year to complete their dissertation, provided this is within three years of exiting the programme.

Required Documents

• • Proof of payment of the application fee (A non-refundable application fee of MK20,000.00 for Malawian applicants and US$60.00 for international applicants)
  • Completed PG programmes application form [insert link].
  • Certified copy of academic transcript/ academic record.
  • Certified copies of relevant certificates.
  • Reference letters from two (2) traceable referees (at least one academic).
  • Recent curriculum vitae.

How to Apply

• • Applicants should submit their applications via email to: applicationspostgraduate@mubas.ac.mw 
  • Important Notes:
    • Postgraduate candidates can apply at any time during the academic year.
    • The closing date for receiving applications for the September intake is 30 May the same year whereas closing date for receiving applications for the March intake is 30 November the previous year

Fees Structure

Successful applicants shall be required to pay the Malawi Kwacha equivalent of US$3,250.00 per year for domicile and SADC students and US$3,750.00 per year for other international students to cater for tuition, research project supervision and dissertation examination.

DAAD Scholarship 

TheMalawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), through its School of Science and Technology, floats call for applications for theMaster of Science in Environmental Health programme under the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarships. The scholarship offers limited scholarship opportunities for both national and international applicants. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the scholarship supports postgraduate education primarily for university staff and public sector professionals.

Key Details:

• • Applicants must apply separately to both MUBAS and the DAAD portal
  • DAAD application deadlines are usually in November
  • Virtual info sessions are often held in October and November
  • For latest calls and details, visit:
    • MUBAS website: www.mubas.ac.mw
    • DAAD portal: https://portal.daad.de
    • DAAD Kenya Webinars: https://www.daadkenya.org  

Scholarship Admission Requirements

• • A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health, Public Health, or related field
  • Above-average academic performance (Credit, Distinction or GPA ≥ 2.5)
  • Degree obtained within the last 6 years
  • Female and underprivileged applicants are encouraged to apply

MPhil/PhD in Environmental Health

Admission criteria

Candidates seeking admission to the first year of the PhD in Environmental Health must hold a Master’s degree in Environmental Health or a related field. Those applying for MPhil should have a Bachelor of Science Degree or any related field with experience in conducting independent research. Additional admission requirements are outlined in the GPRH or the advertisement for postgraduate programs at MUBAS.

Programme structure

The PhD is awarded to scholars who have conducted supervised, original research that is deemed to have made a significant contribution to the field of environmental health. This program is fully research-based. All students are enrolled in the PhD program from the first year and are assigned both a primary and secondary supervisor, with the division of responsibilities outlined in the Postgraduate Handbook. In the first year, students may audit certain modules, including Research Methodology at the Master’s level, to earn 60 credits for academic enrichment, which can assist in proposal development and the research process. The thesis itself contributes 360 credits toward the PhD in Environmental Health. The key stages of the research project are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Research Project Stages

 Preparation for the Dissertation

Students are required to take Research Methodology in their first year to prepare for their research work. The concepts learned in this course lead to the development of a research proposal, which must be defended before data collection begins. For detailed guidelines on dissertation preparation, please refer to the Postgraduate Handbook.

Programme exits

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded a PhD in Environmental Health. To earn the degree, a candidate must accumulate a total of 360 credits. If a candidate is unable to satisfactorily complete the PhD requirements for any reason, they may be awarded an MPhil in Environmental Health, provided they meet the conditions for that award.

Master of Science in Environmental Health

Admission criteria

The following shall be eligible for admission into the Master of Science in Environmental programme:

The Master of Science in Environmental Health programme shall admit holders of a bachelor’s degree from any recognized institution of higher learning in Environmental Health, Public Health or in any other related field with a minimum average grade of 50%. The minimum average shall be computed based on final year grades. For applicants with grade point average (GPA) grades, the requirement shall be a holder of a bachelor’s degree from any recognized institution of higher learning in Environmental Health, Public Health or any other related field with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on 5.0 GPA scale and 2.25 on a 4.0 GPA scale.

Programme Structure

The programme is modular with each module being of 12-credit point value. Each credit represents 10 hours of student learning, endeavour and assessment. All modules are examinable and a student should pass all modules. Each student must complete ten compulsory modules, and must obtain at least a total of 120 credit points to fulfil the coursework requirements for the programme.The student must also attend compulsory research methods seminars to be organised by the department.

Preparation for the Dissertation

During the second semester of the first year, one of the modules is Research Methods in which students are required to undertake concept and proposal development. The concept culminates into a research proposal which is supposed to be defended before data collection and analysis. There are a number of workshops covering different areas such as research ethics, clarification of research methods, statistics, problem identification, concept writing and proposal development.

Programme exits

Postgraduate diploma

A student who has been credited with at least 120 credits at Postgraduate Level, and who cannot progress further on the programme, will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Health.

Master’s Degree

A student, who has been credited with at least 240 credits at Postgraduate Level comprising 120 credits from coursework and 120 credits from dissertation, will be awarded a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Health

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health

Programme Structure

Normal Entry

A candidate with MSCE, ‘O’ Level or equivalent may join the programme at the beginning year 1. The candidate must have at leasr six credits including English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

Mature Entry

1. A candidate with MSCE, ‘O’ Level or equivalent, field work experience and a relevant qualification from a recognized institution, may join the programme at the beginning of year 2 (Semester 1).

2. A candidate with MSCE, ‘O’ Level or equivalent, field work experience and a diploma in Public Health obtained from MUBAS or similar qualification from recognized institution, may join the programme at the beginning of year 3 (Semester 1).

 

Figure 1: Triple-Entry and Triple-Exit Structure of BSc Environmental Health

Selection Criteria

Selection of applicants will be based upon consideration of an individual’s academic qualification, and, in case of mature entry candidates, work experience. Entry to the programme will be open to applicants who conform to the following criteria:

Normal Entry Candidate:

1. Six MSCE/O-Level credits including English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
2. Successful completion of MUBAS extended program

Mature Entry Candidate:

1. Diploma in Environmental Health from Malawi College of Health Sciences, or Diploma in Public Health from University of Malawi
2. MSCE/O-Level with at least credit passes in English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry or General Science.
3. At least 2 years relevant work experience

Programme Exits

Intermediate Award: Certificate in Environmental Health

A student who has accumulated at least 240 credits, and who cannot progress further on the programme, will be awarded an Intermediate Award: Certificate in Environmental Health (Figure 1).

Intermediate Award: Diploma in Environmental Health

A student who has accumulated at least 360 credits, and who cannot progress further on the programme, will be awarded an Intermediate Award: Diploma in Environmental Health (Figure 1).

Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Health

A student, who has accumulated at least 480 credits will be awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Health (Figure 1).

Programme Delivery

The programme will be delivered through the normal face to face MUBAS semester system.