Learnings from the Learners: Assessing the Students’ Feedback on Master of Public Health and Related Courses of an Indian University

Background: Introduction: Public health, previously regarded as part of the medical field, has developed into an interdisciplinary discipline, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds. Aims: With this background, this study aimed to gather students’ feedback on the MPH and related courses at a Public Health School in South India. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving a complete enumeration of students from three different programmes at the school, using a survey questionnaire, was carried out in June 2025. The questionnaire consisted of eight sections, covering topics ranging from admission to curriculum, pedagogy, and career development. Results: A total of 67 postgraduate students participated, with 77.6% from MPH, 19.4% from MSc Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and 3% from MSc Health Data Science. Students from an Allied Health sciences background comprised the largest group, followed by those from medical and other backgrounds at the undergraduate level. 53.7% of students obtained information about the school via internet sources. Likewise, 73.1% expressed satisfaction with the faculty, 79.1% reported that, besides didactic lectures, alternative teaching methods were employed, 65% felt that selecting an appropriate organisation for internship is their responsibility, which also aids in securing suitable placement opportunities. Additionally, 82% took assignments seriously, and half (52.2%) of the students reported improvements in communication skills. Around half (50.7%) of the students lacked proposal writing skills and analytical skills using statistical software packages despite rigorous training, and a more practical exposure to the students could not be provided owing to a tightly packed curriculum. Conclusion: Although this study focused on feedback for the postgraduate programme offered by a single institution, similar findings are likely applicable to other schools across the country and globally.