The Population-Based Medicine program is conducted entirely in English. You will need to have knowledge of the English language at the B2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and prove this when applying for a study place (

20 study places are available each year and will be awarded according to the applicant’s qualifications and experiences. The program starts in the summer semester and the application deadline is January 15. To be admitted to the

Population health sciences is the study of the conditions that shape distributions of health within and across populations, and of the mechanisms through which these conditions manifest in the health of individuals. Population health takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach and includes health outcomes as well as patterns of health determinants. Population-based medicine can be defined as population health science with a focus on medical conditions and patient populations, and refers to all aspects of community medical care, from primary prevention to tertiary care. Population-based medicine often works with big datasets and epidemiological and statistical methods to identify patterns in the diseases and health of large populations. Population-based medicine can be considered as the basic science of public health, much as biomedical research is the basic science of clinical medicine.

The Master’s Program Population-Based Medicine in Tübingen prepares students to respond to both challenges and opportunities to improve health within and across populations. Its goal is to train future population health experts with outstanding methodological knowledge and interdisciplinary expertise to address the full range of factors influencing health and disease. This includes the designing, implementation and evaluation of intervention programs for health problems (e.g., lifestyle modification strategies and stress management), the development of prevention strategies at the population level (e.g., for diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer), explaining the epidemiology of common diseases in the local, national, and global context, as well as the development of policy recommendations, health education and outreach at community and population level (e.g., digital health technologies).

The Master's program in Population-Based Medicine is a consecutive, research-oriented program, which leads to a Master of Science (M. Sc.) degree. The program is offered by the Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences. The number of students is limited to 20; therefore, seminars and small group work are possible in all modules. The program is characterized by the following crucial features:

1. Interdisciplinary & interprofessional. We follow a comprehensive approach including behavioral, biological, social and mental factors of health and illness. You will study, learn and work in interprofessional groups.
2. Research-oriented. We strongly focus on empirical and synthesis methods in population health research. Based on a combination of a rigorous research-oriented education and its application to real-world problems, students will be well equipped for a career in science, research, economy, policy, or industry.
3. Mentorship. You will receive support and advice throughout the program by your individual mentor with whom you will be paired at the beginning of the program. They will guide your personal and professional development throughout your studies and provide support for the successful completion of the program and the practicum in the third semester in particular.
4. Practicum. In the third semester students will complete a 14-week full-time practicum in a private or public organization (e.g., local planning and government offices, hospitals, NGOs) in Germany or abroad.  In this practicum students will apply their theoretical knowledge from the classroom to a real-world setting of their choice.