University of Malaya-Kyoto University Public Health Master’s Double Degree Program

Background

This program started in 2015 after the signing ceremony of the ‘Program Agreement for Public Health Master’s Double Degree Program’ between Kyoto University School of Public Health (KUSPH), Japan and University of Malaya (UM), Faculty of Medicine, Malaysia. The ceremony was held on the 13th March 2014 at Yamauchi Hall, Shirankaikan, KUSPH. The Program Agreement was signed by Professor Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud and Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui as representatives from the UM.

The aim of the program is to develop human resources with the knowledge and skills to advance the research and development of effective measures to address issues that have regional and global implications, such as global warming, large-scale disasters and public health in Asia. Through this programme, students can earn a master’s degree in two different but related fields from University of Malaya and Kyoto University (KU) by means of summer school, or overseas study programs with credit transfer.

Description of Degrees

University of Malaya and Kyoto University each offers the following master’s degrees:

Master’s degrees conferred by University of Malaya:

• Master of Medical Science (by research), Faculty of Medicine

Master’s degree conferred by Kyoto University:

• Master of Public Health (MPH),  School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine

Duration of Programme and Overseas Study

• The duration of the program shall be two (2) years or more for students from both UM and KU.
• Students shall participate in a summer school or special classes at the partner university during the program.
• Students shall study at the partner university at least for one (1) academic year (two regular semesters).

Curriculum for Students of Kyoto University

The Double Master’s Degree program will last for two (2) years or more, including a minimum period of one year (two regular semesters) at University of Malaya. Students of Kyoto University must be enrolled in a master’s program in the School of Public Health of Kyoto University. To obtain a master’s degree from Kyoto University, they are required to meet the degree requirements of the School of Public Health in which they are enrolled. The specific components of the curriculum are as follows:

• Academic courses taught at Kyoto University providing at least 30 KU credits.
• Academic courses taught at University of Malaya which will be accepted as ten (10) credits at maximum toward the completion of the master’s degree at Kyoto University.
• A master’s thesis (equivalent to 4 KU credits) which is written in English and submitted according to Kyoto University’s regulations.
• A final thesis evaluation (presentation and discussion) which is conducted according to Kyoto University’s regulations.

To obtain a master’s degree from University of Malaya, students from Kyoto University are required to meet the following general conditions:

• The student must be enrolled in a master’s program in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine or Faculty of Medicine at University of Malaya.
• The student must complete a Research Methodology course conducted by the Faculty of Medicine.
• Students registered in the Master of Medical Science (by research) programme must submit a master’s dissertation (according to UM regulations) to University of Malaya that is different from the thesis submitted to Kyoto University, and must pass the viva voce examination as set by University of Malaya.

Curriculum for Students of University of Malaya

The Double Master’s Degree program will last for two (2) years or more, including a minimum period of one (1) year (two regular semesters) at Kyoto University. Students of University of Malaya must be enrolled in a master’s program in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine or Faculty of Medicine at University of Malaya.

To obtain a master’s degree at University of Malaya, students are required to meet the degree requirements of the faculty in which they are enrolled. The specific components of the curriculum are as follows:

• Master in Medical Science (by research) – A master dissertation submitted according to the regulation of University of Malaya. It is different from the thesis submitted to Kyoto University, and must pass the viva voce examination as set by University of Malaya.
• The student must complete a Research Methodology course conducted by the Faculty of Medicine.

To obtain a master’s degree from Kyoto University, students from University of Malaya are required to meet the following general conditions:

• The student must be enrolled in a master’s program (2-year course) in the School of Public Health at Kyoto University.
• The student must complete at least 30 KU credits of course work at Kyoto University.
• Academic courses taught at University of Malaya which will be accepted as ten (10) KU credits at maximum toward the completion of the master’s degree at Kyoto University.
• The student must submit a master’s thesis (equivalent to 4 KU credits) to Kyoto University that is different from the thesis submitted to University of Malaya, and must pass the final oral examination as set by Kyoto University.

Application

Application periods will be announced by the Department of Social Preventive Medicine via SPM website (http://spm.um.edu.my/). For further enquiries about the program please contact:

1. Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui, Deputy Dean Postgraduate, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (Email: maznahd@ummc.edu.my)
2. Professor Dr Sanjay Rampal, Head of Department, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (Email: srampal@ummc.edu.my)
3. Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid, Medical Lecturer, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (Email: daliana@ummc.edu.my)

Our Alumni

Since 2016, University of Malaya has four Public Health Master’s Double Degree Program alumni:

AYAKO KOHNO (2014-2016)

Nationality: Japanese
Task Research (KU): Factors Influencing Japanese Retirees’ Trust in Physicians in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
Research Project (UM): The Healthcare Experience of Japanese Retirees in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
Supervisor: Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui and Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid
Post-program: PhD candidate, Kyoto University. Research title: Factors Associated with Child Marriage and its Health Implications among Women in Malaysia – A Mixed Methods Study (A research partnership between UM and KU)

NANTHINI THEVI BHOOPATHY (2015-2018)

Nationality: Malaysian
Research Project (UM): Survival Trends of Asian Women with Premenopausal Breast Cancer: Impact of Early Detection and Improved Treatment
Supervisor: Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui and Professor Dr Nur Aishah Mohd Taib
Task Research (KU): The Impact of Chemotherapy on Survival in Women with Very Early Estrogen Negative Breast Cancer
Post-program:

• Researcher at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine until 2018. Project area: Needs of Cancer Patients
• Freelance statistics consultant (2019 till now)

SIAMALA SINNADURAI (2015-2018)

Nationality: Malaysian
Research Project (UM): Breast conserving therapy versus mastectomy in an Asian settings
Supervisor: Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui and Associate Professor Dr Nirmala Bhoopathy
Task Research (KU): Common Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer among Japanese Women – Findings from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study-Cancer Causes and Control
Post-program: PhD candidate, Department of Population Medicine and Civilization Diseases Prevention Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. Research title: Is Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) A Predictive Biomarker of Atherosclerosis in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients?

NURUL SYAFIKA AMIR HAMZAH (2016-2019)

Nationality: Malaysian
Research Project (UM): The Mental Health Status and Its Associated Factors among First-Year Students in a Public University, Malaysia
Supervisor: Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid and Dr Abqariyah Yahya
Task Research (KU): Psychological Stress among Southeast Asian International Students in Japan : A Qualitative Study
Post-program: Research Assistant for UMRG project, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya. Project Title: Risk and Protective Factors of Mental Health Problems among Malaysian Youth

Prepared by Dr Nik Dahliana Nik Farid