EDUCATION. The Master’s Programme in Public Health Science has been included in the top 10 list of the most sought-after international master’s programmes in Sweden. This is revealed by new statistics from the Swedish Council for Higher Education.
The number of applicants for international admissions has increased by 26 per cent, compared to the previous year. In the latest international admissions, there were 1,161 applicants to the programme. The programme is now ranked tenth in Sweden.
“This is wonderful. Not everyone who applied in the international round is eligible for acceptance, but the statistics speak for themselves. Compared to many other international master’s programmes, we have a high number of applicants”, says Solveig Lövestad, programme coordinator.
Large increase in first-choice applicants
According to Lövestad, it is particularly gratifying that the number of first-choice applicants has increased. For the autumn of 2023, the programme has 293 first-choice applicants in the international round, an increase of 44 per cent over the previous year.
This means that the programme has more first-choice applicants in international admissions this year than it had in both national and international admissions combined last year.
There are probably several reasons for the increase. The programme works continuously to improve the quality of education and to establish contacts with other universities. Recently programme coordinators travelled to two universities in Sri Lanka and India to expand collaboration in areas such as student exchanges, internships, and degree projects.
Improved marketing
The programme has also focused on improving its marketing. With the help of Nina Raun, a communications officer at the Institute of Medicine, the programme has redesigned all its information in the course and programme catalogue.
The aim has been to create more accessible information that clearly explains why the instruction provides the right skills for students who want to work towards better and more equitable public health.
“We have also produced more information on things that we know students want, such as what they can do after their studies, what opportunities exist for internships, and where previous students have done internships,” says Solveig Lövestad.
The programme is now planning several long-term efforts to improve its marketing, including recruiting student ambassadors and producing new videos.
Education in Lund most popular
The Master’s Programme in Public Health Science at Lund University had the highest number of applicants in the latest international admissions.
Among the 10 master’s programmes in Sweden with the most applications, four relate to global health and public health, indicating a strong interest in the field. Universities and university colleges in Sweden offer more than 800 master’s programmes.
BY: KARIN ALLANDER
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