Master's degree programme in Global Health, Crisis and Disaster Management, Master of Health Care

About this programme

Are you a health or social care professional who wants to work on the most pressing global health and disaster challenges of our time? This master’s degree builds your expertise in global health, applied epidemiology and disaster preparedness — grounded in the WHO–ASPHER framework, the Triple Nexus approach and Planetary Health. Degree title: Master of Health Care / Master of Social Services Extent: 90 ECTS, 1.5–2.5 years Implementation: Blended learning, Tikkurila Campus (Vantaa) Language: English Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in health care (nursing, public health, physiotherapy, rehabilitation) or social services + 2 years of relevant work experience after the prior degree. What will you learn? Programme-specific core studies (25 ECTS): Global Health Promotion and Safeguarding Health (5 ECTS) Global Health Governance, Regulations and Policies (5 ECTS) Applied Epidemiology (5 ECTS) Disaster Preparedness, Response and Mitigation (10 ECTS) Joint core studies (5 ECTS) build your capability in data-informed decision-making. You shape your own complementary studies (20 ECTS), choosing from Laurea’s health and social care master offerings or other Finnish universities (CampusOnline). Your master’s thesis (30 ECTS) is an applied research and development project, typically in your own workplace or with a partner organisation. How are studies organised? The programme is delivered as blended learning: monthly face-to-face days at Tikkurila Campus (typically 2–3 contact days per month) combined with online study. Studies follow Laurea’s Learning by Developing (LbD) model — they connect to evidence-based development in your own workplace. You learn in an international, multidisciplinary group of health and social care professionals, and recognition of prior learning is possible. Career paths Your expertise applies in roles such as: Global health expert in public agencies, international organisations (WHO, ECDC, UN agencies) or NGOs Disaster preparedness and response coordinator Infection prevention and control (IPC) lead Applied epidemiologist Health policy or governance advisor Crisis management manager in health and social care organisations Researcher, evaluator or consultant in development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding This is a master’s degree from a university of applied sciences and gives the same eligibility for public-sector and professional positions as a university master’s degree. Please see Offered study programmes below for more information about applying to this degree programme.