BSc Global Health (intercalated) / Course details

This one-year, intercalated BSc in Global Health is designed for medical students who want to prepare themselves to be a global doctor, by enhancing their knowledge about the inter-connectedness of health and its determinants.  This course analyses the impact of major social, economic, political, cultural and environmental factors on health challenges, such as the global epidemic in HIV / AIDS, chronic diseases, trauma in developing countries, tropical diseases and the emergence and rapid spread of infectious diseases.

The intended learning outcomes of the Intercalated BSc in Global Health are as follows. On completion of the programme, you should be able to show a critical understanding of:

• the key concepts, policies and debates that underpin a global health approach which can be applied to the analysis of health and health issues
• the impact of major worldwide social, economic, political, cultural and environmental factors that are producing new health controversies, challenges and opportunities
• contemporary issues at the forefront of health and well-being including health systems and health system design, and the work of the international community in global health
• multi-disciplinary, diverse and innovative research methodologies in the study of global health and the ability to evaluate research in health and disease
• the skills needed to conduct global health research and policy analysis, including evaluating theory and programmes in practice, planning and developing policy and research proposals 
• you should have developed personal skills that will enhance your professional practice, such as empathy, analysis, critical reflection and self-reflection, alongside an awareness and understanding of the lived experience of health, well-being and illness, including the range of complex social, cultural, political and economic factors that impact on health outcomes

This program is offered by the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) at The University of Manchester, which brings together the disciplines of medicine and humanities, as well the expertise of academics and practitioners. As an HCRI student, you will further benefit from the comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach in teaching and research, as well as individual tutorial and supervision from academics from a wide range of disciplines including Emergency Medicine, Political Science, International Relations, History, Medical Anthropology, Disaster Management and Global Health.

Samihah Moazam, intercalating from medical studies at The University of Manchester

I decided to intercalate during fourth year as I wanted to take the opportunity to study something different, take a break from medicine before my final year and also build up my CV for the future. I had started to become interested in global health after two related SSCs . Its not a topic that is given much attention in medical school but is something we will come across in all aspects of medicine. I inquired about the course at HCRI once it became available and it seemed to cover all areas that I was interested in learning more about.

I'm really enjoying the course. The modules are diverse and cover a wide range of topics from different view points. There's also opportunities to expand your knowledge in areas you're interested in through presentations and written assignments.

James Gill, intercalating from his medical studies at The University of Sheffield

I'm one of the external intercalating medical students (from Sheffield).  I had just finished my third year in medical training and I decided that now would be a good time to embrace a new challenge before finishing my medical degree. I applied to the Global Health BSc as I'm interested in learning about how long-term global health issues such HIV and TB are being tackled and also about how the social determinants affecting health, such as poverty, need to be addressed to create equitable universal healthcare.