The COVID-19 pandemic has drastic health and socioeconomic impacts on all realms of society. It has also shed light on the important role of epidemiologists in decision making and resource allocation in public health. Even before the pandemic, the growing ageing populations, longer life expectancies and increased number of populations with chronic diseases pose challenges to the country and burden the public health system.
To this end, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics had predicted that epidemiology will be the fastest-growing career in the next 10 years, driven by a high demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the ever-evolving field of medical science and the age of misinformation, the evidence-based, epidemiological approach is necessary to solve the medical mysteries and make critical public health decisions quickly.
The SPM department is now offering a new Master program for those who are aspiring to work in the field of epidemiology at the local, national and international levels. Postgraduate training in epidemiology will provide the opportunity to work in diverse settings including academia, government departments, international health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, non-governmental organizations, and contract research organizations.
The 1-year full-time Master of Epidemiology with a minimum of 42 credits will be offered in two concentrations to suit the needs of different disciplines, encompassing Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Epidemiology. It has been designed for applicants with a background in epidemiology, quantitative research or health.
Our Master of Epidemiology will provide a solid foundation in epidemiological, analytical, and critical appraisal skills for those who aim to develop their understanding of the epidemiological and biostatistical theories and methods that underpin clinical medical research, public health practice, and health care evaluation to investigate the causes of disease, and to evaluate interventions to prevent or control diseases.
Graduates are expected to:
- Understand the epidemiological and biostatistical theory and methods that underpin epidemiological practice and research with a solid foundation in epidemiology.
- Build competence in epidemiological, analytical, and critical appraisal, and develop core skills for research and practice in epidemiology.
- Understand and investigate the causes and spread of disease and develop the means for prevention or control.
Course content
Core Courses
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
| MQB7001 | Research Method | 3 |
| MQB7005 | Principles and Methods of Epidemiology | 3 |
| MQB7006 | Principles of Biostatistics | 3 |
| MQB7029 | Principles of Management in Health | 3 |
| Total | 12 (29%) |
Specialisation Courses
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
| MQH7003 | Study Design in Causal Research | 3 |
| MQH7004 | Concepts and Methods in Causal Inferences | 3 |
| MQH7005 | Statistical Methods for Health Data Analytics | 3 |
| MQH7006 | Clinical Epidemiology | 3 |
| MQH7007 | Epidemiology in Public Health Practice | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 (36%) |
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Students are required to select any courses in the list below to make up a total of 6 credits.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
| MQH7008 | Screening and Diagnostic Research | 2 |
| MQH7009 | Prognostic Research | 2 |
| MQH7010 | Clinical Trials | 2 |
| MQH7011 | Data Management | 2 |
| MQH7012 | Survival Analysis | 2 |
| MQH7013 | Field Attachment in Epidemiology | 6 |
| MQB7010 | Epidemiology of Diseases in Malaysia | 2 |
| MQB7012 | Producing Better Evidence | 2 |
| MQB7014 | Health Economics | 2 |
| MQB7027 | Qualitative Inquiry in Public Health | 2 |
| MQB7033 | Social Determinants of Health | 2 |
| MQB7040 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 2 |
| TOTAL | 6 (14%) |
Research Projects
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
| MQH7002 | Research Project | 9 |
| TOTAL | 9 (21%) | |
| OVERALL | 42 (100%) |
Languague Requirement
A non-Malaysian applicant whose degree is from a university or institution of higher learning where the medium of instruction for that degree is not in the English language shall be required to:
- Obtain a score of 600 for a paper-based total (PBT); a score of 250 for a computer-based total (CBT) or a score of 100 for an Internet-based total (IBT) for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or
- Obtain a band of 6 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic).
Entry Requirement
(1) The degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or Bachelor of Dental Surgery or an equivalent medical qualification; or
(2) A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or Allied Health or its equivalent with a CGPA of at least 3.00; or
(3) A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or Allied Health or its equivalent with a CGPA of 2.70 up to 2.99; and if at least one (1) of the following criteria is fulfilled;
a) A graduate from the University of Malaya; or
b) Having at least one (1) year of working experience in relates field; or
c) Having publications in related field; or
d) Is a recipient of a scholarship; or
e) Is a government servant; or
f) Passed the interview by the faculty; or
g) Passed the entrance assessment by the faculty
(4) A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or Allied Health or its equivalent with a CGPA of 2.50 up to 2.69; and if at least one (1) (for UM graduates) or two (2) (for non-UM graduates) of the following criteria is/are fulfilled;
a) Having at least one (1) year working experience in a related field; or
b) Having publications in related field; or
c) Is a recipient of a scholarship; or
d) Is a government servant; or
e) Passed the interview by the faculty; or
f) Passed the entrance assessment by the faculty
(5) A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or Allied Health or its equivalent with a CGPA of 2.00 up to 2.49; and if at least one (1) (for UM graduates) or two (2) (for not UM graduates) of the following criteria is/are fulfilled:
a) Having at least five (5) years working experience in a related field; or
b) Having at least one (1) publication in high impact journal within a related field; or
c) Is a recipient of a scholarship; or
d) Is a government servant; or
e) Passed the entrance assessment by the Faculty (mandatory for not UM graduates); or
f) Other qualifications approved by the Senate from time to time; and
g) Passed the entrance assessment recognized by the Faculty
This program has been accredited by MQA but not by other professional bodies.
Intake Schedule
September and March
How to Apply?
Those who are interested in applying for the course can browse for information for the application for postgraduate studies or log in to MAYA.
What are the Fees?
Fee Structure for Citizen: MYR41,300.00 (updated October 2025)
Fee Structure for Non-Citizen: MYR61,700.00 (updated October 2025)
Disclaimer on Programme Fees
The fees stated are based on the published schedule as of October 2025 and are subject to revision by the University from time to time. For the most accurate and up-to-date fee information, please refer to the official Universiti Malaya website at https://study.um.edu.my.
Note: Applicants are advised to verify the latest fee structure prior to application or enrolment to ensure appropriate financial planning.
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