Our teaching

»The joint master’s programme in Health Services Research forms a perfect link between empirical research of the social science discipline and insights into the German health care system, medical basics and scientific work. The programme teaches important theoretical and methodological skills and promotes them through self-directed work. I recommend the programme to all those who want to work scientifically and see their future in research.«

Thilo Dietz
(Research associate in psycho-oncological care research – Clinic I for Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne).

»Through the Master’s programme in Health Services Research, I was able to expand my methodological skills and better understand the German health care system. I now work at the Charité in Berlin in practice development projects and try to promote communication between science and practice. For this task, I can directly apply the knowledge I gained during my studies«

Christine Ackermann
(Former student assistant at the Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science)

Master’s programme in Health Services Research

Since the winter semester 2015/2016, there is a new Master’s programme in Health Services Research, a joint programme of the Faculty of Human Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne.

Health Services Research is a multidisciplinary field of science that deals with the theoretical and empirical foundations of health care for individuals and the population in health and social services. This interdisciplinary field of research focuses on describing health and health care in its framework conditions and assessing the effectiveness of care structures and processes under everyday conditions. Furthermore, Health Services Research contributes to the development of scientifically founded care concepts.

General information on the joint Master’s degree programme

For more information on study and career goals, content-related focal points, the current module handbook or the application procedure, please visit the website of the Faculty of Human Sciences.

Application forms and detailed information about the application procedure can be found here.

Medical sociology

At the IMVR, teaching in medical sociology is an integral part of the model degree programme in medicine and the Master’s degree programmes in health economics and health services research. Students not only receive intensive training and learn to apply empirical survey methods but also learn to understand health and illness in their (psycho)social dimensions, preconditions, normalisations and consequences in an interpretative manner.

In accordance with the current subject catalogue for medical sociology (IMPP), medical sociological topics are dealt with on the macro, meso and micro levels within the corresponding lectures. The topics include the following:

  • Health and Illness Overview: Frames of Reference
  • Health Behaviours: Social Psychological and Sociological Models
  • Methodological Foundations of Empirical Social Research
  • Population Structure, Social Stratification and Social Change
  • Life Course and Socialization
  • Doctor–Patient Relationship
  • Foundations and Challenges of Communication, Work and Health (incl. Psychosocial Stress)
  • Prevention, Health Promotion and Health Education
  • Cross-Cutting Tasks in the Health System
  • Health Policy Strategies

The IMVR is represented by courses in Medical Sociology (first semester), the lecture on Prevention and Health Promotion (sixth semester), and the elective block Organizational Development in Hospitals in the Model Course of Studies in Medicine.

Questions regarding Medical Sociology courses may be directed to imvr-medsoz@uk-koeln.de.

General information about the Model Study Programme in Medicine can be found on the website of the Faculty of Medicine.

Scientific student projects

The scientific projects offer students of human medicine the opportunity to learn and apply methods of scientific work in a concrete thematic context. The processing time of a scientific project is approximately 6 weeks in total (including preparation, practical implementation and writing of the project report).

Further information and documents on the scientific projects can be found in ILIAS.

The IMVR regularly announces topics for the scientific projects. Please contact the respective supervisor first. For general questions, please contact Dr Susan Lee.

We are engaged in several degree programs. We are proud to host one of the first master’s programs in Health Services Research in Germany, initiated by Professor Pfaff.

The master’s program is a joint program of the Faculty of Human Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne. In addition, the IMVR is involved in the master’s program in Rehabilitation Sciences at the Faculty of Human Sciences and in teacher education programs.

Another focus in teaching is Medical Sociology in the model course of study in medicine at the Faculty of Medicine.

Please note: all degree programs are offered in German only.