About the Master studies

The reform of the health system (in accordance with the educational standards in Europe) required the organisation of the undergraduate academic studies in Health Care and Radiological Technology, as well as the continuation of education through the second and third study cycle.

The justification for these academic studies in health sciences is the societal need for staff educated in this field. Based on the gained knowledge and skills, graduates are able to perform jobs in the fields of health care and radiological technology in health, educational and research institutions. 

The justification of the studies can be found in the following:

• student education at the Faculty in accordance with the Bologna process, 
• education of own staff for the implementation of the teaching and research process at the Faculty, the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• training of staff with masters in health sciences for future holders of the development of health science projects in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• valorisation and development of scientific research at the Faculty and involving students in research,
• efficient and rational higher education of professional and scientific staff in health sciences. 

With this programme, we also aim to educate professionals who are adapted to new concepts in health sciences, especially in the fields of health and radiological technology which follow the professional developments in the EU. At this level, students influence the Study Programme to some extent, through the selection of elective courses. The list of subjects is also prone to changes in terms of introduction of new content, in order to further adapt to the changes in the field of health care and radiological technology and to the labour market needs. 

Technological advances, the increasing complexity of health services, structural changes in health care delivery and the increasing number of health care users are driving the demand for more innovative, cost-effective approaches to health care around the world. The advances in health care and the prolongation of life expectancy have increased the expectations of the public and the number of patients with comorbidities. This has led to the expansion of the scope of practice of nurses and radiology technologists in order to meet these needs. 

All EU member states have nurses who work in certain specialised areas of practice such as cancer patients care, preoperative care, diabetes and other chronic diseases, and many have nurses who work at an advanced level. 

In addition, the technological progress in the field of diagnostics and treatment involves work with highly sophisticated equipment, which requires highly educated staff in the field of radiological technology. The forthcoming reform of the health care system certainly predicts the accreditation and certification of health care institutions, categorisation of hospitals, categorisation of clinics/departments, change of health standards etc. which will require significantly different profiles of nurses and radiological technologists.

Rapid changes in society and in the health system require new educated professionals, who fully understand the processes, and who have the knowledge and skills enabling them to make changes and actively participate in the development of health institutions, as well as independent and sovereign participation at various levels of education.

The second cycle of the Master of Health Studies Study Programme also enables further education of nurses and radiology technologists and provides other opportunities in the participation and profiling of new nursing and radiology staff, which is very significant for these professions. 

In this way, it is possible to include the masters in health care and radiological technology into the vertical education, i.e., the possibility of enrolling in the third study cycle (doctoral studies). It should be noted that the educational process requires the holders of subjects and exercises to be nurses and radiological technologists with a masters or doctoral studies in health care/nursing and radiological technology.

• Objectives of the study programme in health sciences

The main objective of the academic master study programme in health sciences is the transfer of the latest scientific and professional knowledge and skills in health science, necessary for work in multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral and organisational teams.

The educational goal is also to train students for teamwork, process planning, projects, decision-making, skills and management, along with procedure assessment, as well as additional specialist skills and knowledge in selected fields. In addition, students in the second study cycle in health studies are trained for teaching and new educational methods, as well as for continuing studies in the third study cycle, i.e., doctoral studies.

 

Study programme model

The Master of Health Studies Study Programme is performed according to the 4 + 1 + 3 model. The elementary formal academic parameters of the second study cycle of the Master of Health Studies Study Programme are:

• The study lasts for 1 year (2 semesters), e.g. 60 ECTS credits.
• The scope of the 60 ECTS programme (1500 hours) consists of theoretical training (lectures, classroom exercises, seminars) and independent student work. 
• One credit (1 ECTS) represents 25 hours.
• The basic study programme unit is the course (mandatory or elective), and each course comprises an exam. 
• The overall number of courses on the study programme with the Master thesis is 10, consisting of 8 mandatory courses (80%), 1 elective course and the Master thesis (20%).
• Out of the 8 mandatory courses, 4 (50%) belong to a module which is closely related to the narrow professional orientation of the student. 
• The student workload for each semester does not exceed 30 ECTS credits, and annually it does not exceed 60 ECTS credits. 
• The student workload is expressed through weekly teaching hours (up to 25 hours) in accordance with the specifics of the study programme, as prescribed in the Law on Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska. 
• Students have the opportunity to enrol in full-time studies and co-financing studies.

After completing the Master of Health Studies Study Programme, the students earn 60 ECTS and are eligible to enrol in the third study cycle.

 

Academic, scientific or professional title

Upon completing the second study cycle of the Master of Health Studies Study Programme, students attain the academic title: 

Master of Health Care – 300 ECTS credits – following the completed Health Care course

Master of Radiological Technology – 300 ECTS credits – following the completed Radiological Technology course

 

Conditions of enrolment in the study programme

The conditions of enrolment are defined by the Law on Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska and the Statute of the University and the Study Rules for the second study cycle of the Health Care Study Programme at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka.

The following candidates may enrol in the academic Master of Health Studies Study Programme, with the specialisation in Health Care at the Faculty of Medicine in Banja Luka:

• candidates who have completed the first academic study cycle in Health Care at the Medical Faculty of the University of Banja Luka and have earned 240 ECTS credits;
• candidates who come from other higher education institutions, have completed the first academic study cycle in Health Care, have earned 240 ECTS credits and whose curriculum is harmonised with the curriculum of the Faculty;
• foreign citizens who have a nostrified diploma of a four-year study of Health Care and 240 ECTS credits and whose curriculum is harmonised with the curriculum of the Faculty;
• candidates who achieved an average grade of 8.00 or more during their first academic study cycle.

The following candidates may enrol in the academic Master of Health Studies Study Programme, with the specialisation in Radiological Technology at the Faculty of Medicine in Banja Luka:

• candidates who have completed the first academic study cycle in Radiological Technology at the Medical Faculty of the University of Banja Luka and have earned 240 ECTS credits;
• candidates who come from other higher education institutions, have completed the first academic study cycle in Radiological Technology, have earned 240 ECTS credits and whose curriculum is harmonised with the curriculum of the Faculty;
• foreign citizens who have a nostrified diploma of a four-year study of Radiological Technology and 240 ECTS credits and whose curriculum is harmonised with the curriculum of the Faculty;
• candidates who achieved an average grade of 8.00 or more during their first academic study cycle.

Evidence of completion of the first study cycle, diplomas and diploma supplements obtained abroad must be nostrified by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska.

Certificates and diplomas obtained in the Republic of Serbia are not subject to the nostrification procedure, in accordance with the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Documents in Education and Regulation of Status Issues of Pupils and Students (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska”, 79/05).

Students are enroled on a competitive basis in accordance with the results from previous education and the criteria established by the Call for applications for the admission of students, after which a unique ranking list is formed.

The University Senate determines the number of candidates for enrolment in the Study programme, based on the proposal from the Faculty Council. The Government of the Republic of Srpska decides the number of candidates for enrolment in the second study cycle at the Faculty of Medicine. 

The Call for applications for the admission of students for enrolment in the second study cycle at the Faculty of Medicine is announced by the University at the proposal of the Faculty Council. The Call for applications is published in the media and on the University’s website.