Public Health (MPH) Abroad: Costs, Countries, and How to Apply

Where you can study it

Every country below has verified programmes listed on Global Admissions. Figures are the cheapest-to-median sourced tuition per country, not a currency conversion — tap through to the sample programmes below for individual, linkable listings.

Figures are the fee as recorded on Global Admissions from each programme's own listing — basis (per year, per semester, or per credit) can vary by programme; verify the exact figure directly on the university's own page before budgeting.

Sample programmes

A cheapest-first sample of individual, sourced programmes — each one links to its own page on Global Admissions.

Fees as recorded from each programme's own listing; verify on the university's page before budgeting.

The famous names

These names come up constantly in public-health-abroad research — here's what each one is actually known for, so you can weigh the reputation against your own eligibility route and budget.

Check accreditation directly: a title alone doesn't guarantee it

In the US specifically, a "public health" degree title doesn't automatically mean it's accredited. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) maintains a directory of accredited schools of public health, accredited public health programmes, and standalone baccalaureate programmes, along with their accreditation terms and current status — CEPH's own guidance is to check the directory rather than assume from a programme's name.

Outside the US, formal accreditation directories are less standardised, but the same instinct applies: check what a specific school's public health qualification is recognised for in the country you actually plan to work in, rather than assuming international name recognition settles the question.

How admission actually works

Public health programmes tend to be more flexible on your prior degree subject than many applicants assume. LSHTM's MSc Public Health accepts a relevant 2:1 degree, a UK-GMC-recognised medical degree, an overseas equivalent recognised by UK ENIC or the GMC, or a professional qualification LSHTM judges equivalent — and separately says any undergraduate subject at 2:1 standard can be acceptable if you can demonstrate commitment to public health, with relevant paid or voluntary work (including internships) given preference.

If your grades fall short of the standard threshold, that's not automatically the end of it either: LSHTM says applicants with a 2:2 may be considered with sufficient relevant professional experience, typically at least two years in a field allied to public health. What's non-negotiable is maths evidence — LSHTM requires proof of post-16 mathematics ability, accepted in several forms including an A-level or equivalent, an undergraduate quantitative-methods, epidemiology, or statistics module, research-methods statistics, or an online biostatistics short course.

What you're actually paying for

The US and UK together carry more than half of Global Admissions' public health inventory: 636 of the 1,059 listed programmes. Australia is a distinct third, at 123. Costs vary a lot even within one country: LSHTM, for instance, lists GBP31,450 for EU/Overseas full-time study on its MSc Public Health for 2026/27, an illustrative figure for one specific programme rather than a global benchmark.

The country table below shows the fuller range, including sourced tuition well below LSHTM's figure in several countries — check it before assuming a single well-known school's fee represents the field.

Before you shortlist a programme

A few checks specific to public health admissions abroad — worth running through before you assume you don't qualify, or that a familiar name is automatically accredited.

1. 1

   In the US, check the CEPH accreditation directory directly

   CEPH lists accredited schools of public health, accredited programmes, and standalone baccalaureate programmes, along with their accreditation terms and status. Don't assume a "public health" title guarantees accreditation — check the directory.

   source
2. 2

   Don't assume you need a science or health-related first degree

   LSHTM, for example, says any undergraduate subject at 2:1 standard can be acceptable for its MSc Public Health if you can demonstrate commitment to the field, with relevant paid or voluntary work, including internships, given preference. Requirements vary by school, but a non-health first degree isn't automatically disqualifying.

   source
3. 3

   If your grades fall short of the standard threshold, check whether experience substitutes

   LSHTM says applicants with a 2:2 may still be considered with sufficient relevant professional experience — typically at least two years in a field allied to public health. Ask the specific school directly rather than ruling yourself out.

   source
4. 4

   Gather your maths evidence early — it's usually non-negotiable

   LSHTM requires evidence of post-16 maths ability, accepted in several forms: an A-level or higher school certificate, an undergraduate quantitative-methods, epidemiology, or statistics module, research-methods statistics, or an online biostatistics short course. Check which form your background already satisfies.

   source
5. 5

   If you're applying to the UK, budget for the Student visa finance requirement

   GOV.UK requires proof of your first year's course fees plus maintenance funds — £1,529 a month if studying in London, £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to nine months. This is on top of tuition, not included in it.

   source

Funded routes worth checking

These are the routes this guide can actually back with a source — none name public health specifically, so you still need an eligible programme and a competitive application on top of qualifying.

Each route name links to its official source. Verify the current call and eligibility before applying — cycles and seat counts change annually.

Frequently asked questions