MSc Global Health (Emergency Medical Response)

The overall aims of postgraduate dissertations are to:

· Provide students with an opportunity to plan, manage and conduct a programme of research on a topic related to their programme of studies;

· Further students’ knowledge of a relevant body of literature, and develop powers of critical reasoning;

· Allow students to seek new research findings which add to the existing body of knowledge on a particular subject area (noting the majority of dissertations do not involve primary data collection but review or reinterpretation of materials already available);

· Develop fully students’ knowledge of, and competence in, an appropriate range of research methods, including the development of a focal question or hypothesis, an appreciation of the research methodology and analytical techniques to be utilised, the undertaking of a specific research study, the synthesis and evaluation of findings, and a clear statement of conclusions and recommendations;

· Develop students’ writing, presentation and bibliographic skills;

· Develop students’ experience of developing and managing a specific programme of work through to final submission.

In addition and complementary to those above, the aims of the dissertation are to:

· Enable students to demonstrate their understanding of different theoretical perspectives and to assess critically the relevance of their application to a relevant problem;

· Develop students’ ability to apply critically different analytical techniques and methods that are relevant to their dissertation topic; and

· Provide the opportunity to demonstrate the capacity for independent, self- managed learning

Who gets sick, what disease afflicts them, what treatments are available and what outcome they will have are determined by an interaction of social, political and economic forces. In the past modules, you have learnt about Social determinants of health and the fundamentals of good health systems. This module takes the learning from the previous modules by bringing the ‘community’ - defined both in the broadest and the narrowest sense - at the core of the analysis of health. Why are there regional disparities in certain diseases despite global campaigns to handle them? How are these global campaigns received locally? Why do some of them fail in certain regions? These are some of the questions that this course will answer. Academically, this module will draw from literatures in sociology of health and illness, medical sociology/anthropology and social psychiatry. 

This is a distance learning module and is therefore tailored to the needs of those working in remote locations.

Emergency Humanitarian Assistance is a complex and fascinating area, constantly evolving and challenged in different ways with each location and crisis. With a multitude of factors impacting upon the size, scale and form of the response, we will explore the core elements of a response and consider how to manage some of the challenges.

Drawing on contributions from experts in the field, both academic and practitioner, this unit will delve into the operational practicalities of providing humanitarian assistance, and consider some of the political, cultural, economic, social and ethical challenges which exist and need to be navigated.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “A good health system delivers quality services to all people, when and where they need them. The exact configuration of services varies from country to country, but in all cases requires a robust financing mechanism; a well-trained and adequately paid workforce; reliable information on which to base decisions and policies; well maintained facilities and logistics to deliver quality medicines and technologies” (WHO).  

Post conflict and developing states have difficulty in providing many of these needed services.  This module will define and explore aspects of an optimal health system and specific challenges expressed within developing and post conflict scenarios. It will also provide scope as to how these challenges have been met through the intervention of international government and non-government entities.

This course offers an introduction to the theory and practice of research methods, and how they can be applied to global health research. The course therefore aims to provide students with an understanding of the underlying principles of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and their use in global health. It further aims to give students a background on the theoretical paradigms that underpin and influence research approaches, as well as an understanding of the various issues that may arise during field research when carrying out research into global health. In addition, the course also provides students with the knowledge and tools to present both primary and secondary research in effective ways. Finally, the module concludes by discussing the role of ethics when conducting research into global health. The module therefore enables students to gain knowledge and theoretical understanding of a wide range of research approaches, as well as enabling students to apply their research knowledge and skills to research situations.  

The Applied Research Methods in Practice module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and practical techniques involved in conducting applied research following on from the more theoretical Research Paradigms and Processes module in year 1. The course will cover various research methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative, and tools in detail used in social sciences and applied fields. Students will learn how to manage research projects, from choose the right tool for their research questions, collect and analyse data, and draw meaningful conclusions to obtaining funding. The course will also enhance skills in writing up research, understanding the process peer-review process of journal publication and improving peer review abilities. The course will emphasize the application of research methods to real-world problems and the ethical considerations associated with research. By the end of the course students will understand the principles and concepts of applied research methods, and demonstrate proficiency in different data collection techniques, including surveys, statistical sampling, interviews, observations, and archival research, as appropriate for their dissertation needs and research interests.

Public health as an approach has an affirmative obligation to protect and promote the health of people and reduce the social disparities and inequities within populations. This module explores the principles of ethics and human rights in relation to public health policies, programmes and practice, and humanitarian interventions, through a focus on issues such as conflict and displacement, reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AIDS and food insecurity. The 8 individual sessions and associated discussions provide students the opportunity to re-think the ethical and moral foundations of their every-day public health practice.