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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Global Health

BSMS > Postgraduate > Global Health

Global Health

Key facts

MSc, PGDip, PGCert
Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years
Location: University of Sussex Falmer campus, University of Brighton Falmer campus
Course Leader: Dr Mei L Trueba >
 
This course is validated by the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex.

Key areas of study

  • Determinants of health and ill-health in a globalised world
  • Global burden of disease and injury
  • Global health management
  • Global health policy and practice
  • Research methods in global health
  • Access to medicines
  • Health, poverty and development
  • Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
  • Global occupational health

Course overview

The health and wellbeing of people differs widely across the globe. Life expectancy varies from 45 years in some countries to double that figure in others, and similar inequalities exist within countries.
Economies, environments, societies and cultures are increasingly heterogeneous, but also interconnected and interdependent. Thus, many complex factors and processes simultaneously operating from the local to the global spheres affect the health of individuals, populations and nations. As these factors change, so do the challenges and opportunities for improving health locally and globally.
The global health programme at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Global Health Research develops students’ understanding of the complex determinants of health and their potential solutions in order to help them contribute to the improvement of health and the achievement of health equity and social justice worldwide. With this purpose, this programme offers an inter-multi and cross-disciplinary approach to health and ill-health.
The course brings together experts from the health sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, development studies, anthropology, business, economics and political sciences amongst others in order to deliver a stimulating and vibrant programme, covering topics such as poverty, inequality, cultural understandings of health and healing, emerging infectious diseases, global burden of diseases, climate change, health policy and governance, access to medicines, and the relationship between health inequality, globalisation and global governance.

What our students say

"Completing the MSc in Global Health made my career change possible. I had been particularly interested in global health for a long time, and I’d always known I wanted to work in the development or humanitarian sectors, but I didn’t really know where to start. My masters at BSMS made it possible for me to shift my career in that direction and start working on what I really enjoy."
Marta Fernandez-Arias, MSc 2012
International student Marta Fernandez-Arias worked as a pharmacist before starting her MSc in Global Health at BSMS. After graduating in 2012, she worked with the American Refuge Committee (ARC) in South Sudan and is now currently working as a Health Delegate for Spanish Red Cross.
 
Postgraduate student Smruti Varothayasingham talks about her MSc in Global Health.  
 
Leah Salm
"As an international student, receiving the Global Health Scholarship has given me the financial flexibility to take advantage of the many learning opportunities outside of regular course work including seminars at the renowned Institute of Development Studies, Centre for Global Health Policy and Global Health Conferences at universities throughout the country. In doing so, I have learned from and interacted with leading academics and professionals in the field. Apart from excellent networking and career advancement opportunities these interactions have offered, the additional global health perspectives have informed and transformed my dissertation to include multiple disciplines.
"The MSc in Global Health Programme at BSMS has been an incredible experience. The staff encourage discussion, facilitate learning, and are always willing to help outside of lectures. Moreover, each lecturer has unique and diverse real-life experiences which enrich and amplify the material we are learning. I can honestly say I have learned so much more than I ever expected and now understand how to critically evaluate health from multiple perspectives. The programme has supported and prepared me for a career in global health and I believe this exceptional experience cannot be replicated at any other institution."
Renee Donner from the US, BSc in Anthropology, MSc Global Health 2016-17
 
Renee Donner
"Being awarded the Wellcome Trust’s Global Health Scholarship has allowed me to transition to beautiful Brighton and excel in the Global Health MSc. Located at BSMS, this programme has so far been an extraordinary collaboration of teaching and resources across a wide range of disciplines. We are learning of the multiple ways of approaching the global health discourse, including medical, anthropological and developmental perspectives to name just a few. Therefore each class gives a new point of view for consideration, making for a very stimulating class environment."  
Leah Salm from the Republic of Ireland, BSc in International Development and Food Policy, MSc Global Health 2016-17,  My First Two Months as a Masters Student - FindAMasters Scholarship Winner 2016

Interdisciplinary learning 

The BSMS MSc in Global Health gathers students from a wide range of backgrounds.
In addition, the course brings together experts from disciplines within and beyond the health sciences to deliver a vibrant programme that will appeal widely, covering topics such as poverty, development, inequalities and health; cultural understandings of health and healing; emerging infectious diseases; the global burden of disease; global occupational health; climate change; access to medicines; global health ethics; and the relationship between disease, globalisation and global governance.
workers on the road

Dissertation (Research Project)

Our MSc in Global Health has a strong research component. After a compulsory Research Methods module, the dissertation or research project allows students to develop an area of expertise through in-depth focus on a topic of their particular interest. Students can gain first-hand research experience with one of our overseas partner institutions. 
With the support of a research supervisor, students are expected to learn and work independently, access and critique information from a variety of sources, and competently design and report a research project. Students will be also required to obtain the necessary ethics approvals when needed.

Course structure

PGCert

Global Health Principles (GHP)
PLUS two of the following modules:
  • Global Burden and Management of Disease
  • Research Methods & Critical Appraisal
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Access to Medicines

PGDip 

  • Global Health Principles (GHP)
  • Global Burden and Management of Disease
  • Research Methods & Critical Appraisal 
PLUS two of the following modules: 
  • Global Politics of Disease
  • Cultural Understandings of Health and Healing
  • Health and Development
  • Anthropology of Fertility, Reproduction & Health 
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Access to Medicines
  • Sexuality and Development: Intimacies, Health and Rights in Global Perspective

MSc 

As PGDip 
PLUS 
Dissertation (Research Project) 

Career opportunities

Graduates of this programme will have the skills to work as global health practitioners, policy makers, consultants or researchers within international health and development agencies.
Our graduates will have a sound understanding of the global burden of disease, the complex determinants of health and ill-health in a globalised world and of the potential management strategies at different levels.
Previous graduates have gone into a range of careers, including working for national and international NGOs and Public Health England (PHE). Others are working in national and international-level research organisations and universities, and some have continued for further postgraduate training at PhD level.
Two of our graduates recently got in touch to let us know what they are up to now that they've completed their Global Health MSc:
  • Marta Fernandez Arias works for Spanish Red Cross as a Health Delegate.
  • Hannah Franklin works for Marie Stopes International as a Regional Programme Manager.

Entry requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree or equivalent in any Global Health-related subject (eg anthropology, development studies, sports, nursing, political sciences, psychology, pharmacy, etc) or the successful completion of at least three years’ basic medical science at a UK medical school (having gained at least 360 credits).
English Language (IELTS):  A minimum score of 7, with no less than 6.5 in each section
podo patient receives treatment

Global health scholarship

BSMS offers a number of scholarships for students admitted to full-time Masters degree in Global Health at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Global Health Research.
The scholarships are funded by BSMS, and confirm the emergence of the Global Health department as a national and international leader in global health research, practice and PG study. The BSMS Global Health scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic and/or professional merit and financial need. The scholarship provides one £5,000 award or two £2,500 awards towards tuition fees.
UK, EU and International (Non UK/EU) students are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Application procedure

You must first apply for admission to the MSc in Global Health course via our online application process (see 'apply here' section). You will need your applicant number to complete the BSMS Global Health Scholarship application form.
The completed application form should be submitted as a single Word document saved as a PDF and sent via email to Dr Mei Trueba (m.trueba@bsms.ac.uk) by 10am on 16 June 2017 (UK time). The subject of your email should read BSMS Global Health Scholarship.
Successful candidate(s) will be notified by the end of June 2017.
Unfortunately we are not able to provide feedback regarding unsuccessful applications..

Apply here

Applications are made through the University of Brighton online portal.