Master of Public Health [MPH] – 2 Years - Epidemiology, health policy, programme management, biostatistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, community/global health & more. Open to graduates from health and several non-health disciplines – Admission through entrance exams, institute tests or merit-based selection
Course Highlights
| Colleges | Approx. Total Course Fee Range | Duration | Specialisation Areas | College Mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 Colleges | INR 5,440 – INR 5.72 Lakh | 2 Years / 4 Semesters | 15+ Areas | 113 Private + 36 Government |
Course Overview
- Duration: 2 years; 4 semesters
- Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in an accepted discipline; 50%–55% aggregate is common, but institute rules differ. Some accept any bachelor’s degree, while medical institutes may restrict eligibility to specific health qualifications.
- Entrance Exams: CUET PG for selected universities; JIPMER MPH Entrance; PGIMER MPH Entrance; AIIMS Rishikesh MPH Entrance, and institute screening tests where applicable.
- Selection: Entrance score/rank, merit list, institute test, interview/departmental assessment and counselling/document verification, depending on the institute.
- Approx. Total Cost: Government/centrally funded – about INR 5,440–INR 1.62 Lakh total academic fee. Private examples - about INR 1.40–INR 5.72 Lakh. Hostel, mess, fieldwork and refundable deposits may be extra.
- Admission Season: Commonly November–June for applications, December–July for tests and June–August for final admission; institute calendars vary widely.
Top Entrance Exams
- CUET PG: National / National Testing Agency (National-level – NTA)
For: Tata Institute of Social Sciences MPH programmes and other participating universities using CUET PG. Current MPH listings show multiple colleges accepting CUET PG.
Admission Route: CUET PG - score/result - separate university application/merit list - document verification/seat confirmation.
2026 Status: 2026 examination and result cycle completed. CUET PG was conducted in March 2026, and the result was declared; TISS issued multiple CUET-PG merit lists through July 2026. TISS has separately announced selection for its 2027–28 PG programmes through CAT 2026 scores, so the 2026 CUET-PG route should not automatically be assumed for the next TISS cycle.
- JIPMER MPH Entrance Examination: Institute / JIPMER (Institute-level – JIPMER Puducherry)
For: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry.
Admission Route: Entrance examination - category-wise merit list - counselling/student verification - provisional admission.
2026 Status: The Entrance exam was held on 15 July 2026; results were published on 25 July 2026, and the first MPH counselling notice was issued on 1 August 2026.
- PGIMER MPH Entrance Examination: Institute / PGIMER Chandigarh (Institute-level – PGIMER)
For: Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Admission Route: Application - MPH entrance examination - result/eligible candidate list - institutional admission and document verification.
2026 Status: July-session MPH entrance examination was scheduled for 31 May 2026; the eligible-candidate/admission result notice was published on 1 July 2026.
- AIIMS Rishikesh MPH Entrance Examination: Institute / AIIMS Rishikesh (Institute-level – AIIMS Rishikesh)
For: AIIMS Rishikesh MPH.
Admission Route: entrance examination - Stage-II departmental assessment/interview - final merit list - admission.
2026 Status: January 2026 cycle completed. The written examination was scheduled for 2 December 2025, departmental assessment for 8 December 2025 and results by 13 December 2025. The programme had 10 seats and was restricted to MBBS/BDS/AYUSH candidates for this cycle.
- IIPHG Screening Test: Institute / Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (Institute-level – IIPHG)
For: MPH and related postgraduate public-health programmes at IIPHG.
Admission Route: Application - online screening test (40%) - personal interview (50%) - academic record (10%) - final merit list.
2026 Status: Screening test was scheduled for 7 June 2026, results for 11 June, interviews for mid-June and programme commencement for 3 August 2026. No external PG entrance score was required.
Three Myths Busted
- Myth: MPH is only for MBBS doctors. Many programmes also accept Nursing, Dentistry, AYUSH, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Engineering, Science, Economics, Law, Management and other backgrounds; some institutes even accept any bachelor’s degree.
- Myth: NEET PG is the standard MPH entrance exam. Major 2026 routes include CUET PG and separate JIPMER, PGIMER, AIIMS Rishikesh and institute-level tests; there is no single common admission route for all MPH colleges.
- Myth: MPH is mainly hospital administration. MPH covers epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, nutrition, field epidemiology, maternal and child health, and other population health areas.
Ques. Is work experience compulsory for MPH?
Ans. Not everywhere. IIPHG states that work experience is not mandatory, although it can be an advantage. SCTIMST describes health-related work experience as desirable. Requirements therefore vary by institute.
Ques. Can MPH graduates work with WHO or international health organisations?
Ans. Yes, MPH is relevant to global health, surveillance, research and programme roles, but major international organisations often expect specialised skills and/or prior field experience. MPH alumni from Indian public-health programmes are documented in WHO roles, but such employment should not be treated as a guaranteed campus placement.
Ques. What foreign package can an MPH graduate expect?
Ans. There is no meaningful single “foreign package.” Pay changes sharply by country, occupation, local licensing/accreditation, work experience and work-authorisation status. Directly converting a US, UK or other overseas salary into INR can therefore give a misleading comparison with an Indian fresher package.
Ques. Can I pursue a PhD after MPH?
Ans. Yes. MPH is a relevant postgraduate qualification for doctoral work in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Systems, Health Policy, Biostatistics and related disciplines, subject to the university’s PhD eligibility and entrance requirements. Institutions such as SCTIMST and IIPHG have doctoral pathways in public-health fields.
Ques. Are most MPH programmes available online or on campus?
Ans. On-campus study dominates the current Indian listings: 149 of 150 listed MPH programmes are tagged on-campus, and major institutes commonly include fieldwork, internship, research or dissertation components.
Ques. Does an MPH college guarantee placement after graduation?
Ans. No. Institutes may provide placement cells, career mentoring, internships and recruiter connections, but these do not guarantee a job. For example, IIPHG describes its placement cell as facilitating career opportunities and professional preparation rather than promising an individual placement.
Types of Admission Routes in India
1. National-Level Entrance Examination
- CUET PG: Used by selected universities for MPH/related programmes in 2026, including TISS programmes routed through CUET PG. Candidates use the national score and then complete the concerned university’s admission/merit process.
2. Institute-Level Entrance/Test
- JIPMER MPH Entrance, PGIMER MPH Entrance and AIIMS Rishikesh MPH Entrance are institution-specific routes. IIPHG also conducts its own screening test, followed by an interview and an academic record assessment.
3. Merit-Based / Interview-Based Admission
- Some universities use bachelor’s-degree merit plus interview rather than a compulsory standalone MPH entrance test. Manipal’s 2026 MPH process required eligibility documents and a Personal Interview, with an alternative provision to submit a PGCUET 2026 scorecard.
4. Counselling-Based Admission
- Institutes such as JIPMER move shortlisted candidates from the entrance merit list to counselling, student verification and provisional admission. Universities using CUET PG may instead release programme-wise merit lists followed by document verification and fee payment.
Master of Public Health Admission Process
Eligibility
- Complete a recognised bachelor’s degree.
- Around 50%–55% aggregate is common among programmes that specify a percentage.
- Exact academic background varies by institute.
Eligible Background
- Commonly accepted: Medicine, Dentistry, AYUSH, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Allied Health, Life Sciences, Statistics and related fields.
- Selected universities also accept Engineering, Economics, Law, Management and other disciplines.
- Some programmes accept any recognised bachelor’s degree.
Entrance
- CUET PG – selected universities.
- JIPMER MPH Entrance.
- PGIMER MPH Entrance.
- AIIMS Rishikesh MPH Entrance.
- Institute screening tests such as IIPHG.
Result & Shortlisting
- Check entrance score/rank or institute merit list.
- Interview/departmental assessment may follow the written test.
- Example: AIIMS Rishikesh used a written test plus departmental assessment/interview.
Counselling / Application
- Complete the university-specific application even after qualifying a national exam where required.
- Attend counselling or accept the merit-list offer within the notified deadline.
- JIPMER uses counselling after the MPH merit list.
Document Verification
- Degree/provisional certificate.
- Bachelor’s marksheets.
- Identity proof.
- Category/EWS/PwD certificate where applicable.
- Professional registration/internship documents where specifically required by a medical institute.
Seat Confirmation
- Complete verification.
- Pay the admission/course fee within the deadline.
- Collect provisional/final admission confirmation.
Merit / Non-Common-Entrance Example
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education: merit-list process with Personal Interview; 2026 admissions are currently shown as closed.
- IIPHG: institute screening test + interview + academic performance; this is not unrestricted “direct admission".
Top MPH Colleges in India
| Top Colleges | Institution Type | Total Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| JIPMER Pondicherry | Government | INR 61.6 K |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | Government | INR 1.4 Lakh |
| CMC Vellore | Private | INR 1.41 Lakh |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | Government | INR 5.4 K |
| AIIMS Raipur | Government | INR 5.8 K |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | Government | INR 8.4 K |
| NIMHANS Bangalore | Government | INR 1.5 Lakh |
| SRMIST Chennai | Private | INR 4.6 Lakh |
| KIIT Bhubaneswar | Private | INR 4.67 Lakh |
| DMIHER Wardha | Private | INR 1.89 Lakh |
Ques. What are the popular MPH specialisations?
Ans. Common areas include Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Global Health, Public Health Nutrition, Health Policy, Occupational and Environmental Health, Maternal and Child Health, Social Epidemiology and Field Epidemiology. Availability differs by university.
Ques. What is the average starting salary after an MPH in India?
Ans. A practical early-career expectation is roughly INR 3 LPA–INR 6 LPA for many programme, research, analyst and community-health roles, while specialised epidemiology, biostatistics or consulting roles can move above this range. Salary depends strongly on role, skills, employer, location and prior work experience.
Ques. Which MPH skills can improve salary and job opportunities?
Ans. Epidemiology, biostatistics, statistical software, data interpretation, monitoring and evaluation, research methods, programme management, policy analysis and clear report writing are particularly useful. Current MPH curricula at major institutes explicitly train students in many of these areas.
Ques. MPH or MHA: which course should a student choose?
Ans. Choose MPH for population health, epidemiology, disease prevention, health policy, public-health programmes and research. Choose Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) when the main goal is hospital operations, administration, quality, finance and healthcare-facility management. Institutions such as IIPHG offer both as distinct programmes.
Ques. MPH or MSc Epidemiology: what is the difference?
Ans. MPH is broader and combines epidemiology with biostatistics, policy, health systems, programme management and field practice. MSc Epidemiology is generally more specialised toward epidemiological methods, disease measurement and research; students targeting broad health-programme careers usually gain more cross-disciplinary exposure through MPH.
Career Opportunities After MPH
| Career Option | Average Salary (Approx. Starting Years) |
|---|---|
| Epidemiologist | INR 4 LPA – INR 7 LPA |
| Public / Healthcare Analyst | INR 3 LPA – INR 5 LPA |
| Public Health Research Assistant / Associate | INR 3 LPA – INR 5 LPA |
| Biostatistician | INR 3.2 LPA – INR 6 LPA |
| Monitoring & Evaluation Officer | INR 3.5 LPA – INR 6.5 LPA |
| Public Health Consultant | INR 3 LPA – INR 6 LPA |
| Health Programme Officer / Coordinator | INR 3 LPA – INR 6 LPA |
| Health Policy / Programme Analyst | INR 4 LPA – INR 7 LPA |
| Community Health / Health Education Professional | INR 2.5 LPA – INR 5 LPA |
| Environmental / Occupational Health Officer | INR 3 LPA – INR 6 LPA |
Popular Specialisation
| Epidemiology & Biostatistics | Health Policy, Economics & Finance | Global Health |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational & Environmental Health | Public Health Nutrition | Maternal & Child Health |
| Social Epidemiology | Field Epidemiology | Community Medicine |
Top Recruiters
| Sector | Major Recruiters / Employers |
|---|---|
| Government & Public Health | National Health Systems Resource Centre, NITI Aayog, Indian Council of Medical Research, AIIMS |
| NGOs & Development Organisations | Jhpiego, Piramal Swasthya, Clinton Health Access Initiative, CARE |
| Hospitals & Healthcare | Zydus Hospitals, Christian Medical College Vellore, AMRI Hospitals |
| Research & Academic Organisations | ICMR-NIOH, ICMR-RMRCBB, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, B. J. Medical College |
| International / Global Health Careers | World Health Organisation and similar global-health agencies; usually role- and experience-dependent rather than guaranteed campus recruitment. |
Higher Education Options
| Course | Duration |
|---|---|
| PhD in Public Health | Generally 3–6 Years |
| PhD in Epidemiology / Biostatistics / Health Systems | Generally 3–6 Years |
| Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), where available | Approximately 3–5 Years |
| MSc / Advanced Study in Biostatistics, Health Data Science or Health Informatics | 1–2 Years |
| PG Diploma / Fellowship in Epidemiology, Health Economics, Health Policy or Public Health Management | 6 Months–2 Years |
| Short Professional Certification in Monitoring & Evaluation, Global Health or Research Methods | Few Weeks–1 Year |
Scholarships
- Merit-based scholarships: Tuition support/waiver varies by university and academic performance.
- Need-based financial aid: Available at selected institutions; percentage and amount vary.
- Central/State Government scholarships: Eligible SC, ST, OBC, EWS, minority and PwD students may apply under applicable schemes and institute rules.
- IIPHG institutional scholarships: Limited awards are available; approximately 25% of admitted students receive an institutional scholarship based on internal merit criteria. This is the share of students receiving an award, not a fixed 25% fee waiver.
- IIPHG P&G Health Scholarship: Merit-cum-need based support for eligible public-health postgraduate students; award amount varies.
- Emmes Scholarship Fund: Public-health education support available through participating Indian Institutes of Public Health; eligibility and award value vary.
- P. G. Tulpule Scholarship Fund: Public-health scholarship with emphasis on Public Health Nutrition and allied areas; award value varies.
- Manipal merit scholarships: MPH students can fall under applicable postgraduate merit/background-based scholarship schemes; scholarship value depends on the relevant scheme.
FAQ’s
Ques. What is Master of Public Health [MPH]?
Ans. MPH is a postgraduate professional programme focused on population health rather than individual clinical treatment. Major areas include epidemiology, biostatistics, health management, health policy, research, disease prevention and community-based public health practice.
Ques. What is the duration of MPH in India?
Ans. Most major full-time MPH programmes are 2 years. A four-semester structure is common; Manipal, for example, follows 2 years/4 semesters, while SCTIMST runs a 24-month programme.
Ques. Is MBBS compulsory for MPH admission?
Ans. No. Many universities accept Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Allied Health, Science, Engineering, Economics, Law and other backgrounds. However, institutes can impose narrower rules; AIIMS Rishikesh’s January 2026 MPH intake was limited to MBBS/BDS/AYUSH qualifications.
Ques. Can BA, BCom or other non-medical graduates apply for MPH?
Ans. Yes, at institutions with broad eligibility. Manipal’s 2026 criteria permit a recognised bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 55%, preferably with a Health Sciences background. Other institutes may specify particular subjects, so eligibility must be checked college-wise.
Ques. What minimum percentage is required for MPH?
Ans. There is no single national minimum. 50%–55% is a useful typical range: KIIT specifies 50% for its listed eligible qualifications, while Manipal specifies 55%. Some institutions use different academic or professional requirements.
Ques. Which entrance exams are important for MPH admission in 2026?
Ans. Important routes include CUET PG, JIPMER’s MPH entrance examination, PGIMER’s MPH entrance examination and AIIMS Rishikesh’s MPH entrance examination. IIPHG uses its own screening test plus interview instead of an external PG entrance score.
Ques. Is NEET PG required for MPH?
Ans. Generally, no. The major MPH admission routes verified for 2026 use CUET PG, institute-specific MPH entrance tests or institute selection rather than NEET PG. Individual university rules can still differ.
Ques. What CUET PG score is needed for MPH?
Ans. There is no universal MPH cutoff score. Required scores depend on the university, programme, category, seat intake and that year’s applicant pool. TISS issued several programme-wise CUET-PG merit lists in 2026 rather than one national MPH cutoff.
Ques. Will TISS continue using CUET PG for MPH in 2027–28?
Ans. Students should not assume the 2026 route will continue. TISS used CUET PG for relevant PG programmes in 2026, but on 17 August 2026 it announced selection for 2027–28 PG programmes through CAT 2026 scores.







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