Since 2020, the University of Fribourg has been a member of the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), a national network that brings together public health expertise from 14 Swiss universities and institutions: the universities of Basel, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Svizzera italiana, Zurich, EPFL and ETHZ , and the universities of applied sciences BFH, HES-SO, SUPSI and ZHAW.

SSPH+ is founded on the principle that public health is both a scientific and professional field shaped by a broad range of disciplines. In a country the size of Switzerland, no single institution can cover all areas relevant to public health. To address this, SSPH+ operates as a “virtual inter-university faculty,” bringing together over 250 professors in public health sciences across Switzerland. This collaborative structure strengthens the field and enables academic initiatives that would not be possible within a single university.

Since 2022, the coordination office of the SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus (IGC) has been based at the #PopHealthLab in Fribourg, following earlier phases at Swiss TPH Basel and ISPM Bern. The IGC currently supports more than 430 PhD students from 75 countries, supervised by faculty members across SSPH+ partner institutions. It helps doctoral researchers and MD students strengthen their academic skills, expand professional networks, and develop diverse career paths. The program also offers postdoctoral researchers opportunities to gain teaching experience and further develop their academic profiles. At the same time, it offers international students valuable insight into the Swiss public health research landscape.

The IGC offers a comprehensive course portfolio with 30 courses covering research methods and key public health topics. These courses are free for enrolled PhD and MD students and for SSPH+ postdocs (small registration fee), with additional opportunities available through agreements with partner institutions. The IGC Academic Board, composed of representatives from all partner universities, defines training recommendations, sets priorities, and ensures the quality and relevance of the program.

In addition to its academic offerings, the IGC organizes a variety of events to support professional development and networking. These include career speed dating sessions, field trips to international organizations in Geneva, and writing retreats, providing participants with valuable opportunities for exchange, career exploration, and focused academic work. Regular IGC student meetings and SSPH+ annual meetings foster exchange among students and supervisors across institutions.

Several members of the #PopHealthLab are affiliated with SSPH+ as faculty, and PhD, MD and postdoctoral researchers at the lab actively participate in the IGC.

Number of IGC students across the years