Public health has been defined as “the science and art of disease prevention and promoting health through informed choice and organized efforts by the society, organizations, public and private enterprises, communities and individuals.” This definition of public health is acknowledged by global organisations and experts.
The COVID-19 pandemic can be described as the century’s biggest public health concern globally. The world took notice of the key importance of public health amid the pandemic. Hence, the subject has assumed significance in the post-COVID world with an increasing demand for skilled public health professionals.
The AIPH University Bhubaneswar, eastern India’s first & only public health university operating from the EAST campus at Phulnakhra near smart city Bhubaneswar, is committed to building future public health professionals with a global outlook. The university offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, PhD and Post Doc programs in the sector.
AIPH University Bhubaneswar provides a world-class learning environment, highly experienced faculty, well-equipped laboratory, international exposure and placement assistance. The University offers admissions to career-oriented domains like Public Health, Allied Health Sciences, Biological Sciences and Health Management for academic sessions 2022-23.
The university promotes the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) of the Ministry of Education, Govt of India. In addition to having an intense focus on research, industry exposure and skill development, NEP also allows multiple entries and exit options helping the students to choose their career paths.
Dr Pinaki Panigrahi, a renowned public health expert and Prof at Georgetown University USA and President, Board of Governors, AIPH University, Bhubaneswar, says, “As a physician, we deal with the health of one person at a time or maybe a few. But public health is about dealing with the health of a population or the society at large.”
So public health education, research and practices have earned renewed global recognition in today’s time.
Public Health Courses at AIPH University
Public Health education at the AIPH University not only focuses on enhancing the students’ technical and scientific competencies but also aims at developing their core competencies, leadership and management skills (e.g., resilience, communication, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, teamwork, management of resources and supply chains etc).
To meet the demands of the coming decades to support policy making and provide evidence-based solutions, AIPH University offers various programs in Public Health including Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA & PhD.
Bachelor of Public Health (BPH)
The 3 years course is for students who must have passed class (10+2) Board examination from a recognised board of education. They must have studied a combination of Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects in Class (10+2).
Students who hold a 3-year or 2-year diploma in Allied Health Sciences after Class 10th/SSLC are also eligible to pursue BPH course.
Integrated Master in Public Health (IMPH)
The IMPH course has a duration of 5 years (3+2). Students who have passed 10+2 must have a combination of (PCMB/PCB) with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST category students).
Master of Public Health (MPH) is a programme designed specifically to provide the necessary knowledge and skills in the subject. The programme prepares students for a sustainable and fulfilling career in various domains of Public Health like the Department of Health, National Health Mission, international developmental partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes and Universities.
A student shall be eligible to apply for admission in MPH course if he/she has completed 3 years bachelor’s degree in Life Science or any health-related or equivalent discipline from a recognized institution/university. Graduates with Medical/Para-medical degrees or graduates with work experience in the field of Public Health are given preference.
Students appearing in the final qualifying examination of their graduation courses may also apply. They are required to submit their qualifying degree certificate at the time of final admission. While filling up the online application form, the students appearing in the final qualifying examination may give the marks/ CGPA of the last Semester for which the result has been published.
The selection of the eligible candidates for admission in MPH programme is based on career marks and performance in the entrance examination.
The PhD program in Public Health aims at imparting knowledge and skills essential to make a difference in society by addressing general public health issues, identifying potential problems, and finding innovative ways to solve them. Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be equipped with the training and advanced education essentials required to pursue a professional career in the multi-disciplinary field of Public Health.
As per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, the course work is mandatory for all students admitted in the PhD programme. Completion of the training sessions in laboratory safety, handling and disposal of bio-hazardous waste are prerequisites for all students conducting wet-lab research.
The minimum academic qualification required for admission to the programme is a Master’s degree with at least 55% marks in aggregate or, its equivalent grade ‘B’ in the UGC 7-point scale in the concerned subject or, in an allied subject from a recognized educational institution. Relaxation of 5% is given to candidates belonging to SC, ST & OBC categories as per UGC norms.
Advanced BSL-3 Lab
The ultra-modern Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory has been a unique asset of the AIPH University Bhubaneswar. The facility helps students and researchers conduct advanced experiments in virology, epidemiology, biological sciences and other fields.
This apart, the university is having well-equipped laboratories with a number of advanced equipment to support its research endeavours. The students also get practical exposure through hospital partners and community-based research in different field areas.
