Students must complete a dissertation. The dissertation research work takes place following completion of all core and elective modules and all case studies. However, proposal development must begin in the first year with the identification of a research topic, identification of a dissertation supervisor, and the development of a 2 page proposal followed by a full proposal, along with the research methods and proposal writing module. Because the MPH is aimed primarily at practitioners in the field of health systems and public health, the dissertation should demonstrate that the student can identify and investigate health and health system problems in a comprehensive manner, and that he/she can begin to formulate appropriate interventions.

Students will select a project or topic in consultation with their academic supervisor.

The dissertation can take one of three formats:

  1. Research project: Students will be able to decide whether to focus more intensely on the quantitative or qualitative methodology rather than the intervention, and this constitutes a research project.
  2. Intervention: Students can identify a problem, formulate a workable solution, implement an intervention of some sort, and evaluate the changes that result from it. In this case, the emphasis is more on action than on methods, and this constitutes an intervention project.
  3. Policy report: Students focus on the provision of scientifically well-founded advice to policy makers to help decide on an appropriate course of action. This dissertation focuses on identification of the problem, a review of the evidence, synthesis and recommendations. It may or may not include primary or secondary data collection.

For purposes of the MPH each of the three is valid.

All MPH students are required to submit a two paged proposal and then a full proposal prior to conducting their research study for their dissertation. Securing funding from a third party for a research project to be undertaken for the dissertation is not reason for by-passing requirements of the MPH program.

Detailed guidelines for dissertations will be available to students.