Abroad for an MPH

[angelrinoa]

Hi everyone! I am starting the application process soon for my MPH, to start next fall 2011. I am very interested in going abroad for an MPH, but there seems to be a paucity of information regarding public health schools not in the United States. I am interested in epidemiology particularly, and I know about the program at the London School of

Comments

[rabbitica]

What is your motivation in doing your MPH abroad? Do you just want to live abroad sooner and not wait for the end of your MPH program, or are you hoping that it will give you more job opportunities to work abroad? If so, do you want to work anywhere outside the U.S., or in specific regions (like the developing world, or in Asia, or whatever)?

[angelrinoa]

I am hoping that it will give me more job opportunities to work abroad. I am perfectly fine waiting until the end of my MPH program to move abroad. Particularly, I'm looking to work in Asia, Southeast Asia or Europe, and I'm curious as to how likely it is to find a job that will allow me to spend a few years in each. Thanks!

[peanutbuddy]

You could look into public health schools in the States that have international health departments or tracts, some of them require you complete an internship or something abroad. I know that the University of Michigan has an epi MPH program with an international focus, and I think Boston University does as well.

[erikalindsay]

I have two friends who got the same CDC fellowship (one last year, one this year) to Tanzania who graduated with me from our MPH program. I have had many other friends go abroad for work. (I am personally focused on domestic issues, though.) We went to a school in the US.

[meteoricpath]

It is true that the contacts you make in grad school will be based on where you do the program and what your supervisors/department's interests are. because you are not nailing down a specific area you want to be involved in, be sure to go into a program with an international focus if you want to work abroad, no matter where in the world you end up going for your degree.
University College London has an MSc (it's not an MPH in the UK) in Epi and Public Health that partners with LSHTM as well - I know several people in that program as I am in the PhD program housed downstairs, and the people I know are all are satisfied. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology/
That said, IMO, if you want to study overseas you should have a good reason to do so because it honestly costs a lot to do it and scholarships for international students coming from the 'west' are rare. You might be better off in a really good US program where you are more likely to get funding.