University Master's in Quantitative Research Methods in Epidemiology

This is the only postgraduate programme in quantitative methods in epidemiological research offered in Spain. Epidemiology (and its quantitative methods) is the basic science of public health. The strategic importance of this area of research has been backed up by the recent creation of CIBERESP, an “Epidemiology and Public Health” CIBER (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red) biomedical research network by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Carlos III Health Institute). Some of the research groups whose members are involved in this postgraduate programme participate in the network. In addition, the teachers of this Master’s programme organize the CIBER research programme in the epidemiology of chronic illnesses and some of its most ambitious research projects, such as the ENRICA project or the Multicase-Cancer Control in Spain (Multicaso-Control de Cáncer en España) project.

There are also public health research organisms (for example, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III ) that offer science posts on a periodical basis whose main requirement is that candidates have been trained in epidemiological research methods. In the same way, epidemiology is the basic tool for clinical research. For this reason, in the current development of units and institutes of health research, in hospitals and within the framework of primary healthcare, positions are being offered to experts in epidemiological research techniques. Lastly, the medical departments of the pharmaceutical industry and the so-called Clinical Research Organizations are in need of permanent staff who are fully trained in epidemiology and biostatistics.

This Master’s aims to educate the suitable human resources to work in epidemiological research, whether this is in public health, clinics or in health services. To strengthen the training programme, an agreement has been reached with the most important institutions in epidemiological and public health research in Spain. This alliance, which has been formalized in an agreement, guarantees a common structure for the different Master’s programmes that are offered at the institutions: Universidad de Alicante, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Universidad de Jaén, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, y Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública (Andalusian School of Public Health). Students of the Master’s course in quantitative methods in epidemiological research can complete up to 5 ECTS credits at any of the institutions mentioned above.

Coordinator
Dr. Fernando Rodríguez Artalejo