European Public Health

How do we prevent a virus (e.g. Corona, SARS) from becoming an epidemic? How do we formulate a policy on patients receiving treatments abroad? The role of the EU is only going to grow in the coming years, also in the healthcare sector. This affects the way we approach the themes within public health and healthcare. National policy is only effective if it’s also coordinated with international authorities.

European Public Health (EPH) is about preventing disease and promoting healthy lifestyles for all Europeans with clear European policy - because diseases, pathogens and other factors that influence health aren’t stopped by borders.

This programme is the only programme of its kind in Europe. It is also very internationally oriented. From the first day, you’re part of an international study environment in which you work with students from all over the world (at least 20 different nationalities).

Is European Public Health for you?

European Public Health is a great fit for you if:

you're interested in national & international politics, governance & management, policy & strategy;
you wish to operate at the borders of health sciences, political science, public administration, economics, sociology, ethics and law;
you're inventive and socially involved;
you wish to collaborate with international students and professors and spend time abroad.

Public health and healthcare in a European context

During the bachelor's in European Public Health, you’ll study regional, national and international developments in public health and healthcare within the EU. You’ll learn about the various aspects of public health policy and the steps that are taken toward a "New Public Health" across Europe. The study is practice-oriented and involves topics such as:

• the organisation of healthcare in Europe: the form, function and location of national healthcare-related programmes and institutions within the EU and beyond;
• European public health objectives: health for all; equal healthcare for all; the European patient; good governance; free movement of goods, services and capital; cross-border healthcare; the Sustainable Development Goals and how they are relevant for European Public Health and Public Health in Europe;
• towards an effective European public health policy: how and where we need to intervene in order to achieve our goal.

International study experience

International collaboration, organisation and management in the areas of public health and healthcare are important for the future of Europe and her inhabitants. The programme is therefore internationally oriented. It is also the only programme of its kind in Europe. From the start, your education will resemble an international working environment, where you’ll come into contact with a diverse range of students and instructors from all over the world.

You’ll also be encouraged to go abroad yourself. For example, you can do your minor period abroad. You’ll also finish your bachelor’s degree with a practical research internship or assignment and a thesis, and this internship can be done abroad; the university arranges this for you with an organisation that has interests at the European or global level. Of course, it is also possible to spend these periods at UM or elsewhere in the Netherlands.

You direct your education, development and growth

As an EPH student, you're responsible for your education, your development and your personal growth. This is called Active and Self-Directed Learning (ASDL). ADSL is a practical method that encourages you to work critically, independently and autonomously.

You decide what needs to happen. This could be writing an essay, organising a symposium, conducting interviews or taking courses at other faculties - as long as it helps you on the way to becoming a professional.

ASDL employs a variety of educational methods, including:

• project-based tutorial groups
• lectures and seminars
• skills training
• role playing
• excursions
• presentations

Collaborating on real problems

Collaboration is as important as independence. You will often work in tutorial groups of 10-14 students, seeking practical solutions to real-world problems. Instructors act as facilitators, giving help when and where it is needed. You’ll work in many different areas and will take on various roles in your group. Together, you’ll work to find solutions to problems that healthcare professionals are facing today.

Example of an EPH challenge

The Public Health Service in Aachen (Germany) informs the Public Health Service in South Limburg of a case of open tuberculosis relating to a 39-year-old electrician from Lithuania. The electrician works for a highly-specialised electrical engineering company and has recently completed jobs at hospitals in Aachen, Maastricht and Liege.

Further investigation reveals that he frequently travels by train and bus to his work. Three days later, a second notification of a case of open tuberculosis is received, this time in a train commuter from Maastricht.

Within this challenge, you'll look at a number of questions to help you analyse the complexity of the spread of disease: 

• How does TB spread?
• What are the risk factors?
• What national and international measures can and should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease?

Excellence programmes

Honours programme
The faculty offers an Honours Programme for its most motivated and talented students. This prestigious programme allows chosen students to follow an in-depth track in their field of study. In the Honours Programme, you are actively involved in research projects surrounding current issues in the health sector and other life sciences. You also deal with historical and philosophical issues in the field of medicine. The programme is faculty-wide, which means you'll be working together with students from other programmes.

The programme starts during the bachelor’s second year and lasts for 18 months. It requires an overall investment of about 420 hours. Once you have successfully completed the Honours Programme, you’ll receive an Honours Certificate, in addition to your diploma.

MaRBLe excellence programme
Through the Maastricht Research Based Learning programme, MaRBLe for short, we offer talented third-year bachelor’s students the opportunity to conduct their own research project. You will be guided by experienced academic staff who will help you further develop your critical thinking and research skills. This will help prepare you for a career in scientific research or research positions in business.