MASTER'S IN
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

The Master’s in International Health is a 35-credit-hour graduate degree that combines academic study, international service-learning, specialized electives, and a scholarly capstone project. Learners complete coursework that strengthens professional expertise while gaining practical experience and conducting scholarly work relevant to healthcare improvement and global health practice.

At the completion of the INMED Master’s Degree in International Health learners will be able to:

• Apply epidemiological principles 
• Manage the leading diseases of poverty
• Understand maternal-newborn health principles
• Utilize healthcare skills useful in low-resource settings
• Analyze community-wide health to mitigate death/disability
• Demonstrate culturally informed healthcare
• Understand disaster mitigation and response principles 
• Participate in team-led healthcare interventions
• Explain healthcare knowledge to appropriate audiences
• Evaluate research methodologies, data interpretation, and/or quality improvement

The Master’s in International Health is a 35-credit-hour graduate degree that is typically completed in two years. Learners who complete one course at a time may finish the program in approximately 18 months. All program components, with the exception of international service-learning, may be completed online.

Download the Syllabus for INMED Master’s Degree in International Health.
View International Service-Learning Course Syllabus.

The Master’s in International Health consists of five integrated educational components:

Graduate Certificate in International Health (10 Credits)

Learners begin by completing the Graduate Certificate in International Health, which provides foundational preparation in global health, public health, cross-cultural healthcare, and healthcare service in diverse communities.

Epidemiology (6 Credits)

Learners complete Epidemiology to strengthen skills in disease surveillance, population health, and evidence-based decision-making.

Electives (9 Credits)

Learners customize their education through elective courses and concentrations aligned with professional interests and career goals.

International Service-Learning (5 Credits)

Learners participate in a supervised international service-learning experience that provides opportunities to apply knowledge and skills in real-world healthcare settings.

Scholarly Project (5 Credits)

The degree culminates in a scholarly project that demonstrates mastery of course concepts and contributes to professional practice, healthcare improvement, or scholarly inquiry.

INMED is committed to quality, affordable education. Consistent with this value, many INMED faculty volunteer their service. Participants in the INMED Master’s Degree in International Health are ultimately responsible for all associated expenses. The following fees are those that are paid directly to INMED for participation in the program. 

Cost Per Credit Hour

Tuition per credit hour: $350. No additional fees are added.

Cost Elements

• Master’s degree in International Health Application Fee: $100. All payments made to INMED must be in US dollars.
• Epidemiology Course – 6 Credit Hours: $2,100.
• Graduate Certificate Course in International Health – 10 Credit Hours: $3,500.
• Elective Courses – 9 Credit Hours: $3,150.
• International Service-Learning – 5 Credit Hours: $1,750.
  • This tuition also covers the uniquely challenging logistics of arranging an international service-learning experience in low-resource communities.
  • International Travel and Evacuation Insurance Policy: $4 per day (must be paid prior to departure).
  • International Medical Liability Insurance for Medical Practitioners: $17.98 per day (must be paid prior to departure).
  • Other expenses associated with the International Service-Learning experience are the responsibility of the learner. These normally include airfare, passport, visa, vaccinations, and housing and meals at the international site.
• Tuition for the Scholarly Project – 5 Credit Hours: $1,750.
  • Included is faculty supervision and defense of the scholarly project before a jury of INMED faculty.

Cost Comparisons

For cost comparisons, the following was compiled by BMJ (British Medical Journal) Global Health in 2020 for average tuition for global health master’s degrees:

• USA: US$67,461 for domestic, US$68,724 for international students in USA
• UK: US$14,104 for domestic, US$25,468 for international students in UK.
• Nordic countries (i.e., Sweden and Norway), US$0 for domestic students, US$34,354 for international students in Nordic countries.
• Africa Rwanda: US$54,000.
• Asia: US$17,500.

*Svadzian A, Vasquez NA, Aimbola S, et al. Global health degrees: at what cost? BMJ Global Health 2020. https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/8/e003310

Credit for Prior Study at INMED

For students who have completed an INMED course within 4 years prior to MIH application, credit for previous coursework will be applied. Payment of the difference in tuition is required. This accounts for the difference between the non-master’s rate paid and the current master’s tuition rate.

Application for the INMED Master’s Degree in International Health (MIH) is open to those who have completed a baccalaureate degree. The MIH is especially useful for healthcare professionals and healthcare profession students, including physicians, dentists, physician assistants, pharmacists, resident physicians, nurses, including advanced practice nurses, dietitians, healthcare administrators, midwives, physical & occupational therapists, public health specialists, and students of all these professions.

Admission Qualifications:

• Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Curricula Vitae
• Letter of Recommendation from a faculty or supervisor
• Ability to read and write fluently in English. Students who self-identify as non-native English speakers will be required to submit, to INMED, either a TOEFL iBT® or MyBest® minimum score of 80 or an IELTS Band Score of 6.5 or higher. Admission will not be granted until after the test results are received or an interview scheduled with the English Language Assessor.
• Submission of any professional certifications already granted
• Official academic transcripts
• Applicants in a healthcare field which requires a license to practice must submit an active license

Additionally, be prepared at the time of application to supply the following:

• A personal headshot photograph
• $100 application fee

Letter of Recommendation Details:

INMED requires a letter of recommendation from a professional colleague or from a faculty who has experience with the applicant. The letter of recommendation should include:

• Description of relationship with the applicant
• Reasons why the applicant should be considered for an INMED Master’s Degree in International Health
• Estimation the applicant’s ability to take advantage of vigorous academic learning
• Any reservations about the applicant’s ability to adapt and perform well in the context of an international service-learning experience

All prospective learners are advised to read through the Master’s Degree FAQ page in its entirety prior to submitting an application. For questions, please email: [email protected].

The Scholarly Project is the capstone of the Master’s Degree in International Health. Learners will select, design, and develop a scholarly project relevant to their career interests. An INMED faculty will be assigned to assist with each step of the process, guiding the learner through project completion within four months after registering. Scholarly projects may include any one of the following three types:

• Literature review
• Quality improvement plan
• Original scientific research

Example MIH Scholarly Projects

Literature Review

• Polypill: Can Mass-Prevention without Precision Promote Cardiovascular Health? by James Beckerman
• Social Factors Contributing to Childhood Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa by Elizabeth Rodriguez
• Teaching Ultrasound in Resource-Limited Settings by Burton Adrian

• Impact of Global Health Outreach Experiences on Medical Student Empathy and Burnout by Mark Wardle
• Evaluating Maternal Near-Miss Incidence and Care Quality in Bihar, India- a Cross-Sectional Study by Rubel Frank Manivannan

Note: Successful completion of the Epidemiology course is required prior to participation in the Scholarly Project

Evaluation

Successful completion of the MIH Degree requires:

• Earn ≥80% in all course work.
• Earn an accumulative grade of ≥80% in the program.
• Earn a “Passing” grade for the skills lab, simulations, and service-learning rotation.
• Earn a “Passing” grade in the scholarly project.

Certification

Participants who complete the course of study and achieve the competency objectives will be granted the non-accredited Master’s Degree in International Health. Graduates are entitled to include with their name and signature the initials MIH.

Verification

Verification of the educational experience will be provided to any learner’s affiliated institution. 

Graduates of the Master’s in International Health are prepared for leadership, education, research, clinical practice, and healthcare improvement roles in a variety of settings, including:

• International organizations and multilateral agencies (such as United Nations & World Health Organization)
• National public health and government agencies (like the Center for Disease Control & Prevention)
• Global charitable foundations and nonprofit organizations (like Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
• Faith-based healthcare and humanitarian organizations (like Samaritan’s Purse)
• Universities, research institutions, and academic centers (such as Baylor University and Pasteur Institute)
• Healthcare systems, industry, and development organizations (like the Africa Development Bank)
• Disaster relief, refugee care, and humanitarian response programs (like UNHCR)

The MIH equips graduates with the knowledge, experience, and perspective needed to address complex healthcare challenges and improve health outcomes in diverse communities around the world.

The Institute for International Medicine has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.). Candidacy for Accreditation is a status of affiliation with the Commission which indicates that the institution has achieved initial recognition and is progressing toward accreditation.

Candidacy is not accreditation nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

Inquiries regarding the status of an institution affiliated with the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the college or university. Individuals may also contact:

New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514 (781) 425 7785
E-Mail: [email protected]

Accreditations/Certifications

Institute for International Medicine is accredited by the Kentucky Medical Association to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians. CME credit for the INMED Master’s Degree in International Health is attained through satisfactory completion of CME-accredited courses. Please refer to the particular courses for specific CME accreditation information. Note: CME is not required for students or resident physicians.

The Institute for International Medicine is certified by the State of Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

Institute for International Medicine programs and courses are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for International Health Education (ACIHE), functioning in accordance with the ACIHE Accreditation Standards for International Healthcare Education.

Enrollment in INMED courses constitutes agreement with all applicable academic and administrative policies.

Refund Policy

Refund requests are subject to INMED’s published refund schedule and policies.

Attendance

Learners are expected to actively participate in all required learning activities and virtual classroom sessions.

Punctuality

Assignments and assessments should be completed by established deadlines. Late submissions may affect successful course completion.

Academic Standing

INMED reserves the right to dismiss learners who fail to meet academic, professional, or behavioral expectations.

Technology Requirements

Learners are responsible for maintaining reliable internet access and the technology necessary to participate fully in online learning activities.

Additional policies are available through the Student Policies section.