EDUCATION. Among this year’s round of international applicants, the University of Gothenburg’s master’s program in Global Health was the most popular field of study. 757 presumptive international students applied to the program, doubling last year’s numbers. The master’s program in Public Health Science with Health Economics also had twice as many applicants.
The master’s program in Global Health is being offered through a collaboration between four different faculties, with Salgrenska Academy serving as the host faculty. Compared to other Global Health master’s programs, the University of Gothenburg takes a broader, more holistic approach. The program does not merely cover biomedical studies; it also emphasizes the interplay between the medical aspects of global health and its social, economic, and political dimensions.
“We also have a clear focus on our philosophy that theoretical knowledge must be translated into practical skills. This is accomplished with the aid of workshops, student-driven education, and varied exam formats, such as project reports, poster presentations, and policy analyses. All this is clearly outlined on the program’s website, and perhaps that’s the reason why so many people have concluded that this is the program for them,” says Director of Studies Gunilla Priebe, who is very pleased with the number of applicants:
“There are many more applicants than we can possibly accept. We have just 10 spots set aside for international applicants, because we reserve the remaining 10 for the national application round.
Health at the Community Level
The first graduating class of Global Health master’s students are currently completing their third module, and so far they are satisfied with the program.
“Many of our students have witnessed or experienced the consequences of poor healthcare systems, and have seen first-hand the health problems that are linked to poverty. They are determined to deal with health issues both in their home countries and around the world. For example, a student may be interested in improving healthcare programs to control the spread of contagious diseases, or in convincing politicians to work harder in their efforts to promote public health,” says Monica Hunsberger, the program director for the Global Health master’s program.
When the program begins this autumn, courses will focus increasingly on specific case studies, and approach these cases from the perspectives of various disciplines.
“This will make it easier for students to gain a holistic understanding of a health issue, and will also clarify the various aspects which must be addressed when formulating interventions. Working in-depth on specific cases also makes it easier to plan the course progression, so that students’ practical and scientific skills can be built upon successively over the course of the program,” explains Gunilla Priebe.
Because the students have such different educational and professional backgrounds, it is a challenge to provide an appropriate level of education to all students.
“This fall, we will begin holding advanced seminars on subjects such as biostatistics and evidence valuation, in order to challenge those students that have a more comprehensive theoretical background knowledge, or practical experience from their professional lives. We’ll also be adding more learning activities that focus on training and improving one’s practical skills,” says Monica Hunsberger.
Popular Master’s Programs
Even Sahlgrenska Academy’s other public health science master’s program, Public Health Science with Health Economics, fielded many international applicants – 606 people applied, also twice as many as the year before.
“It’s becoming increasingly evident that we’re living in a globalized world, and that we must take preventative action and work on a local level in order to build a sustainable communities. I think that’s one explanation for why our program receives so many applications. Another reason might be that we’ve updated the information on our web pages, and more clearly described what makes our program different. Maybe that made more students feel confident that they were making the right choice, and reassured them that we’ve really put a lot of thought into the program?” muses Gunilla Priebe.
You can read more about the master’s program in Global Health here: http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/education/master_programmes/global-health
You can read more about the master’s program in Public Health Science with Health Economics here: http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/education/master_programmes/global-health
