Public health is a field of study focused on protecting and improving the health of populations, preventing disease, and supporting longer and healthier lives. With the public health challenges of the 21st century, it has become an increasingly important field to study. If you are interested in this field, you may be wondering where to study public health.
India is one of the countries where you can pursue public health programs. In addition to having well-established universities and institutes, many programs incorporate fieldwork, internships, practicums, or research projects into their curriculum. As a result, students can gain both classroom knowledge and practical experience in public health. In this article, we will look at some of the best universities for public health in India.
Top Schools Offering Public Health Programs in India
1. Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar
The Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) was established in 2008 as a joint initiative of the Government of Gujarat and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). It was recognized as a state university under the IIPH Act, 2015, and is recognized by IIPHG as India’s first public health university. In addition to public health, IIPHG offers full-time programs such as the Master of Hospital Administration, Master of Public Health in Public Health Nutrition, Master of Public Health in Health Economics and Technology Assessment, Ph.D., and Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Management.
For public health students, IIPHG offers master’s and Ph.D. programs. The Master of Public Health is a two-year, full-time, on-campus program that has been offered since 2015. The curriculum covers areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, research methodology, advanced analytics, communicable and non-communicable diseases, public health nutrition, health management, health economics, financing, insurance, policy and law, national health programs, and environmental and occupational health.
The MPH program combines classroom-based learning with fieldwork, internships, and dissertation components. Instead of relying only on lectures, the program emphasizes real-world public health settings and practical applications. IIPHG also reports that its graduates have gone on to work with organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, government departments, NGOs, foundations, academic institutions, hospitals, and other public health employers.
The Ph.D. program is offered in Public Health and Hospital Administration. According to the 2026-27 Ph.D. admission notification, the full-time Ph.D. has a minimum duration of three years, including coursework, and a maximum duration of six years; the part-time Ph.D. has a minimum duration of four years and a maximum duration of eight years. Eligible applicants are notified for an entrance test, while candidates with fellowships or qualifications such as UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET, or similar national-level tests may be exempted from the entrance test and called directly for an interview.
2. UNIPUNE – Savitribai Phule Pune University
Located in Pune, Savitribai Phule Pune University, or UNIPUNE, was established in 1949 under the Poona University Act. The university currently houses 46 academic departments and has hundreds of affiliated colleges and recognized research institutes. Its current rankings should be read by edition: in the 2025 NIRF rankings, it placed 56th among Indian universities, while in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, it ranked 207th in Asia.
The School of Health Sciences at UNIPUNE offers a Master of Public Health. The program is a two-year, full-time course divided into four semesters, and students need 100 credits to earn the master’s degree. Admission is through the university’s entrance process. The program is open to applicants with relevant undergraduate backgrounds in biological, clinical, and social sciences, including life sciences, nursing, pharmacology, nutrition, anthropology, sociology, psychology, law, medicine, and pharmacy. The official admissions page lists an intake of 10 seats plus 2 international-student seats for the MPH.
The university also offers Ph.D. admission through the Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET). Applicants should check the current university admissions notices for the latest schedule and eligibility requirements before applying.
3. Amrita University
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, commonly referred to as Amrita University, is a private, multidisciplinary university that traces its beginnings to 1994, when the School of Engineering opened at Ettimadai near Coimbatore. Today, Amrita reports 11 campuses, 20 constituent schools, more than 300 programs, and over 31,000 students. In the NIRF 2025 rankings, Amrita ranked 8th among Indian universities and 17th overall.
The Master of Public Health is offered at the Kochi campus through the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. It is a two-year, full-time program with 80 credits and an intake of 25 seats. The program is designed to build knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes for public health practice and research.
The curriculum includes six core suites worth 60 credits, along with internships and a dissertation. The official course outline includes epidemiology, biostatistics, gender, nutrition and population sciences, environmental and occupational health, social and behavioral sciences, health care and health system management, public health and research ethics, health economics, and health policy. The program also includes practicums and a capstone-style field experience.
To qualify, applicants should have an eligible background such as MBBS, BDS, B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, allied health sciences, biomedical engineering, Pharm.D., social sciences, or AYUSH, with at least 50% marks in aggregate. International students should have a reasonable TOEFL and GRE score and must follow Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s international admission norms.
4. Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University is another top institution for public health in India that was established in 1969. It is a research-oriented university named after India’s first prime minister. In the NIRF 2025 rankings, JNU ranked 2nd among universities and 9th overall in India.
Through its Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, the university offers the Master of Public Health program. Current eligibility includes either a four-year bachelor’s-level degree in clinical sciences or allied professional fields, such as MBBS, AYUSH, BDS, BPT, BOT, B.Sc. Nursing, BVSc, or similar qualifications, with at least 55% marks; or a master’s-level degree in social sciences, humanities, management, sciences, technology, or allied fields with at least 50% marks.
The program follows a four-semester structure. Its courses cover topics such as the organization of health services, national health programs, epidemiology, nutrition, maternal and child health, communicable diseases, research methods, health systems research, community health nursing, and relevant social science concepts and methodologies. The fourth semester includes Field Work Report Writing.
The university also offers Ph.D. admissions through its current doctoral admissions process. Applicants should check JNU’s latest Ph.D. prospectus and admission notices because selection routes and eligibility requirements may change by academic year.
5. Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Tata Institute of Social Sciences is known as a leading institution for social sciences and public health education in India. It was established in 1936 as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, renamed Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 1944, and granted deemed university status in 1964. The institute is based in Mumbai and also offers programs and research degrees through campuses such as Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati.
The Master of Public Health in Social Epidemiology is offered through the School of Health Systems Studies. The MPH-SE degree is awarded after students successfully complete the four semesters of the program. The program includes taught courses, three specially designed internships, and an extensive research project. This structure helps students connect classroom training in public health and social epidemiology with field-based and research-oriented learning.
TISS also offers a full-time Ph.D. program in Public Health through the School of Health Systems Studies. Applicants should check the current TISS admissions page for the latest eligibility rules, selection process, and application schedule before applying.
We hope this article on the best universities for public health in India was helpful. If you are interested, check the Available Programs for International Students.
