Epidemiology plays an integral role in applying medical research to populations, interacting with almost every other specialism. Epidemiology studies the incidence, causes, consequences, and control of disease, as well as people, patients, and populations. It is a fundamental discipline for clinical medicine and public health. It may, together with basic science and clinical research, provide tools to learn about the etiology and consequences of diseases, the possibilities for prevention and treatment, and the risk profiles of individuals and populations. Using advanced methods such as statistical analyses, field research, and complex laboratory techniques, epidemiologists map various elements of disease and the ways they are related.
The objective of the epidemiology programme is to prepare candidates for a research position (e.g. a PhD project) in the area of clinical medicine or public health, or for example a more health policy oriented career. The programme comprises compulsory courses directed at study design, biostatistics, and data analysis. In addition, further specialization in specific areas of epidemiological research is needed. Extensive training in widely used statistical packages is also an important part of the curriculum. A large part of the programme is devoted to research.