• An interest in issues surrounding healthcare policies
• An interest in statistical methods
• A willingness to contribute to academic papers in interdisciplinary teams

You must provide proof of a Bachelor of Science in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or health sciences with a grade of at least 3.0 or a degree from a higher education institution that, thematically, does not differ significantly.

You must provide proof of the necessary English language proficiency. This can be demonstrated via the completion of a five-year long schooling with a grade of at least “sufficient” or 5 points. Alternatively, you may provide proof of proficiency at the B2 level via one of the following:

• a university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB) from an English-speaking institution, or
• a university degree in an English-language degree program, or
• a First Certificate in English (University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations) or higher level (Advanced (CAE) or Proficiency (CPE)), or
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with a minimum score of 5.5, or
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), 213 (computer-based test, CBT), 79 (internet-based test, IBT), 550 (paper-based test, PBT), or
• TELC (The European Language Certificates) B2.

The test may not have been taken more than three years prior to the application deadline.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

During the selection interview, which generally takes 15 to 20 minutes, it will be determined whether you possess the necessary motivation for the degree program. You will be asked about why you are interested in this specific program and what profession you envision for yourself. Additional factors will be taken into account during the interview, such as your communication skills and reaction to open-ended questions and problems. Furthermore, the interview should clear up potential misconceptions about the requirements of the program of study.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations of the master’s program.

Good to know: Students can also complete the Epidemiology master’s degree program (M.Sc.) while holding a job. Information on studying part-time can be found on the website of the Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology, and Informatics (IMBEI).

Program structure

You will first attend the following three basic modules:

• Introduction to Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Skills
• Epidemiological Study Designs and Statistical Methods
• Planning, Conducting, and Analyzing Epidemiological Studies

Subsequently (starting in the 2nd semester), you will choose six of the following areas to specialize in:

• Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
• The Public Health Service: Aims, Tasks, Challenges
• Genetic Epidemiology
• Social Epidemiology
• Radiation Epidemiology
• Health Care Research
• Advanced Epidemiological Principles and Concepts
• Diagnostic and Prognostic Studies
• Therapy Studies and Evidence-Based Medicine
• Pharmacoepidemiology and Analysis of Secondary Data
• Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
• Registry-based Research (focus on cancer registries)

During the third semester, you may also individually select courses amounting to 15 credit points from other cooperating departments, which will be recognized as supplementary courses.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Internships

As part of your studies, you are required to complete an internship.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

A variety of potential employers and professional fields await you:

• Epidemiological institutes at university faculties of medicine or health science
• Research institutes and societies (German Cancer Research Center, German Diabetes Center, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Max Rubner Institute)
• State cancer registries and other registries
• Federal Ministry of Health and related state ministries, authorities (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, Robert Koch Institute, Federal Office for Radiation Protection) and other ministries
• Public health offices
• Medical advisory service of the statutory health insurance providers (Medizinischer Dienst der Krankenkassen), medical associations, health insurance providers
• Pharmaceutical industry,
• Professional associations,
• International organizations (e.g. WHO or European Union).

As an epidemiologist, you are well prepared to enter the job market. It is predicted that experts in this field will be in even greater demand in the future than they currently are now.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.