Health Science – Prevention and Health Promotion

The Master’s program in “Health Science – Prevention and Health Promotion” deals in greater depth with the bio-psycho-social approach to health. Of central significance here is the WHO’s definition of health: “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The degree program therefore focuses on the areas of health promotion and of prevention.

This specialization results from the current stage of development in which the health service finds itself: demographic change along with rising longevity, an increase in diseases of civilization, and mental abnormalities are causing the demands placed on health care specialists to change.

The significance of the health of every individual will continue to increase in a society where people tend to live longer, as will the significance of strategic interventions. This requires strategic development to reinforce individual resources, healthy diets, and specific physical activities that are suited to a given age group. In the process, a multidisciplinary approach must give due consideration to issues of gender and diversity, which must in turn be incorporated into communications skills and aired in society. In this way, groups such as those within companies can also be reached, as well as individuals. Therefore, this Master’s program does not only deal in theoretical terms with strategies from the sciences of nutrition, physical exercise, and psychology, but also enables students to deal with people facing various risk factors, or with groups of patients with very different diseases, in the context of interdisciplinary research projects.

For a comprehensive description of the program, please refer to the degree program documentation:

• Degree program documentation for the Master’s program in Health Science – Prevention and Health Promotion (PDF, German)

Graduates will be able to transmit scientific expertise to specific target groups and thus contribute to a healthy society. Their interdisciplinary knowledge enables them to combine health promotion and prevention strategies for individuals and groups. The holistic approach allows a transfer of specialist knowledge in health, nutrition, and psychology to socially relevant issues. Graduates will be able to choose, develop and foster customized strategies to increase resilience of the chosen target groups with respect to concepts of participation and diversity. They have the knowledge to develop, organize and implement best-practice concepts for health promotion involving social, cultural, and behavior-based factors.

Additionally, their advanced knowledge in field and laboratory research permits them to develop, implement and evaluate study designs independently. They are experts in assessing costs, values, and efficiency of international health programs, and evaluating feasibility studies. They are able to judge health concepts and programs with regard to international quality standards. Their expert knowledge and experience permits development of evidence-based principles for enhanced health strategies in consideration of guidelines of good (clinical) practice and ethical aspects. This approach can be adapted to different settings (e.g. kindergarten, companies), populations, and age groups. Moreover, graduates are qualified to implement latest research results in the frame of translational research due to quality standards.

• Leadership and/or advisory function in clinics, hospitals, prevention and rehabilitation centers or care homes 
• Leadership and/or advisory function in occupational health promotion or in health promotion of children (kindergarten, schools, etc.) 
• Advisory function for pension, health or care insurances, associations or clubs 
• Research in scientific institutions (e.g. universities, research institutes) 
• Research in companies with medical focus
• Advisory function in ministries (e.g. Committee on Health), authorities (e.g. Federal Center for Health Education, Robert-Koch-Institute) and foundations (e.g. Hanns-Seidel-Foundation e.V.) 
• Public planning, design and evaluation of health on communal, federal state, national and international levels 
• Coordination function in other institutions, e.g. adult education centers  

The course of studies consists of five central units:

1.    Health Science Research
2.    Research Methods
3.    Applied Research Health and Disease
4.    Complementary Subjects
5.    Master’s Thesis

Every unit offers tuition in specialist and methodological skills from different health sectors for access to prevention and health promotion by the combination of different disciplines in a holistic approach. Every unit combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications for different target groups.

The first unit runs over two semesters and fosters a concept of health promotion that exceeds disease prevention by strengthening personal resources, as well as behavioral and environmental factors. Additionally, students can customize their studies in order to focus on zwo specialist area: “Physical Activity”, “Nutrition”, “Psychology” or “Health Economics”. These electives provide the students with methodological knowledge in natural science and sociological prevention research, and lead to practical applications in a scientific context in the following semester.

The second unit focuses on research methods. “Study Design; Ethics” provides a closer look at research and ethical guidelines from different scientific experts. The students may choose to enroll in “Advanced Statistics”, “Qualitative Research Methods” or “Scientific Data Processing”.

The third unit offers different electives. Besides transfer of knowledge and methodological testing, the students are given guidance in going through all the steps of their research projects in project teams. Two of the following fields of research may be chosen:

• Cardiovascular/Metabolic Disorders
• Mental Health and Well-Being
• Cancer
• Neurological Health
• Economic Evaluations of Health Care Programmes
• Evaluation Methods in Public Health and Health Care
• Behavioral Science, Behavior Change and Health
• Diversity, Inequality and Health

The fourth unit offers customized studies in “Complementary Subjects”. These subjects prepare students for different professional settings. This unit allows specialization in one professional context or the option of interdisciplinary courses.
The course of studies concludes after the 4th semester with the Master’s thesis (fifth unit). The Master’s thesis carries 30 credits, and should be started after all modules from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd semesters have been successfully passed. Maximum processing time is 6 months.

In Detail:

• Overview Study program

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient English language skills if you wish to apply for this program. Evidence of your language proficiency has to be submitted before the end of the application deadline. Learn more about recognized certificates and other ways to prove your English language skills.

This evidence of your language proficiency confirms that you comply with the minimum language requirements for admission to the program. Depending on the program and your individual background, it may be necessary for you to keep working on your language skills during your studies. Be sure to take a look at the services of our Language Center.  

Language of instruction:

The language of instruction for this program is English.

• Contact BAföG confirmations
  • Dr. phil. Christine Hoffmann

• Information on exams
• Contact Examination Board
• Information on studying abroad
• Information on internships

The tuition fees for international students from third countries for this degree program are 4,000 euros per semester.

Many international students can have their fees waived or receive scholarships to finance them. You can find all information on waivers and scholarships here.

Please note: The semester fee as a contribution to the student union must be paid additionally. It varies depending on where you are studying. You can find all information on the semester fee here.

Minimum requirements to apply for a Master’s program at TUM are a recognized undergraduate degree (e.g. a Bachelor’s) and the successful completion of the aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment allows the TUM school to which you are applying the opportunity to evaluate your individual talents and motivation for study.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents.

If you receive an offer of admission, you will additionally have to submit individual documents as notarized hardcopies by post to be enrolled.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a Bachelor’s) obtained outside of the EU / EEA must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist.

In detail:

• Applying for a Master’s program: Application, admission requirements and more  
• Important information about your application from the TUM school

• Abstract
• List of Best Credits
• Degree Certificate and Diploma or Subject and Grade Transcript of Studies to Date
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Transcript of Records
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a bachelor’s) was obtained outside the EU/EEA (from winter semester 2025/26: outside Germany)

• A completed Bachelor's degree is not required at the time of application. A certain number of credits must be submitted based on the transcript of grades:
  • at least 140 credits for a 6-semester Bachelor's programs
  • at least 164 credits for 7-semester Bachelor’s programs
  • at least 187 credits for 8-semester Bachelor’s programs
• We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents. 

• Most Current Photo (as for ID)
• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Degree Certificate and Diploma (certified copy)
• Digital notification of your health insurance status from a German public health insurance provider (requested by applicant)
• Certification of Internship / Work Experience / Vocational Training
• Transcript of Records (certified copy)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin. After accepting an offer of admission in TUMonline, you will receive a list of documents you must submit to TUM in hardcopy for enrollment.

Application period for winter semester: 01.01. – 31.05.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents. Please be aware that we can only process your application if you upload all required documents within the application period.

We will review your application as soon as it is complete. Please check your TUMonline account regularly, to see if we have any queries to your documents or if you have to amend one or more documents.

After receiving admission, you will see in TUMonline which documents you have to submit for enrollment, and in which form. Please note that you always have to send the signed application for enrollment and all notarized hardcopies by post.

We recommend that you submit the documents for enrollment as soon as possible after receiving admission. If individual documents are not available by then, you can submit them up to 5 weeks after the start of the lecture period. You will, however, only be enrolled once we have received all documents.

You can check the status of your application at any time in your TUMonline account.

The selection is made through an aptitude assessment procedure. The aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure following the official application for a degree program. In this procedure, the school determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its Master’s program.

First, your grades from your Bachelor’s degree are evaluated according to a point system. Furthermore, a performance survey is conducted for all applicants in the form of a written test. The score from stage 1 is derived from the performance in the Bachelor’s program as well as the results of the test. Depending on the score, applicants are either admitted immediately, rejected, or invited to an admission interview (stage 2).

In stage 2, specialized knowledge is tested orally. The result of the selection interview as well as the achievements from the Bachelor’s studies are evaluated. Depending on the score, applicants are either admitted or rejected.

• Aptitude Assessment for Master
• Description of the Aptitude Assessment (appendix 2, German) (PDF 237 KB)