MSc in Global Health

Do you want to help minimize the global impact of epidemic diseases or illnesses that spread after a natural disaster? Or are you driven to address the worldwide inequities in access to healthcare? Then Global Health could be just the program for you. It provides you with the theoretical foundation, methodology and tools you need to function effectively in this challenging field. You’ll also work on assignments with students from other countries, giving you a unique interdisciplinary, cross-cultural learning experience. After you’ve graduated, you can pursue a career as a health professional in an international setting. You could, for example, become a policymaker, a health advocate or a social entrepreneur.

Fast facts

• Focus on understanding the interacting global-local-biological-social-economic dimensions of disease
• Dynamic, comprehensive and innovative teaching agenda
• Contextualization of health
• Critical assessment of actors, actions, tools, and classifications
• Electives at highly regarded universities abroad
• 1-year full-time, taught in English
• Study load per week: 8-12 hours class, 2-4 hours group work, 18-20 hours independent study
• Starts in September

Why this program?

Rapid developments in the biomedical sciences and recent trends in globalization have led to an increased awareness of the numerous factors contributing to the complexity of disease etiology. The master’s in Global Health emphasizes the international dimensions of health and disease and the need to work together to tackle cross-border dimensions of health inequities in efforts to improve health around the world. This program has a unique focus on the complexities of global health and its relation to technological innovation and social, political and economic change. You'll develop a solid knowledge base and will learn the methodology and skills you’ll need to function effectively in this challenging interdisciplinary field.

Collaboration with international partners Successful global health initiatives require intensive cross-border cooperation. Not only will you develop intercultural communication skills within the international academic community in Maastricht, but you will also gain first-hand experience in international collaboration by working closely with researchers and students at our six partner universities:

• Thammasat University, Thailand
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India
• McMaster University, Canada
• Rosario University, Colombia
• Afhad University for Women, Sudan
• University College of South-East Norway, Norway

These universities provide a broad range of expertise in globalization and international health. You'll have the opportunity to interact with their expert researchers while conducting independent research and fieldwork. You'll also participate in various projects and exchanges, including:

• joint online courses and seminars
• shared virtual projects in intercontinental teams
• an annual two-week summit in a low-income country
• a 12-week elective at one of the partner universities (optional; the amount of available places will be determined each year with the respective partner universities.)

Master’s thesis and internship

During the second and third term of the program, you'll do an internship and complete a master’s thesis under the close supervision of the academic staff. You can do your thesis research abroad, arrange your own project or choose from a diverse range of topics. In the past, students have written theses on topics such as:

• examining the effects of a health intervention in a low-income region in South America
• using new health technologies to reach a remote community in Africa

Global Health Research at Maastricht University

Maastricht University conducts leading research projects in the field of globalization and international health. These projects are executed within various faculties and schools. The master's program in Global Health is a place where related research efforts converge and new joint research programs are established. You'll be able to interact with researchers from the following faculties, schools, and institutes:

• Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
• Maastricht School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI)
• Maastricht School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM)
• Maastricht Graduate School of Governance (MGSoG)
• The International Centre for Integrated Assessment and Sustainable Development (ICIS)
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)

International advisory board

In order to ensure their quality, the master’s programs in Global Health at Maastricht University, McMaster University (Canada), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (India), Thammasat University (Thailand), the University of South-Eastern Norway (Norway), Universidad del Rosario (Colombia) and Ahfad University for Women (Sudan) receive advice from a joint international advisory board. The Advisory Board Global Health was installed on the initiative of Maastricht University and McMaster University and consists of expert representatives from international businesses, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the professional field. In light of her special relationship with Canada (she was born in Ottawa) and her interest in healthcare issues, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands acts as Honorary Chair of the Advisory Board Global Health. The board convenes regularly either in Canada or in the Netherlands.

Our differences are our greatest strength At Maastricht University, learning takes place in the International Classroom, a place where our differences become our strengths. From day one, you will be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over the world. Your worldview will be enhanced by this interaction, bringing you closer to the program’s goal of teaching students not only facts and concepts but also international accessibility and understanding. Roughly 45% of the students in the Global Health program come from outside the Netherlands. They represent over 20 different nationalities, bringing a broad range of perspectives and experiences to the study of Global Health.

Small groups = big advantages As with many Maastricht University programs, the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences programs are taught using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In small tutorial groups of 10 to 12 students, you seek solutions to ‘problems’ taken from real-world situations. Instructors act as facilitators, giving help as it’s needed. This allows you to build independence and develop problem-solving skills that you’ll need in the field. This active, dynamic and collaborative learning method has one of the highest knowledge retention rates of any instructional method.

The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences started on 1 January 2007. The faculty was the result of a merger between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine.

Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine was the first faculty to be established at Maastricht University. The University was officially established on the 9th of January 1976, although the first medical students began their studies in September 1974. The Faculty of Medicine was the second in the world that applied the Problem-Based Learning method. The other faculties of Maastricht University , i.e. Arts and Culture, Economics and Business Administration, General Sciences, Health Sciences, Law, and Psychology adopted educational systems and research organisations akin to that of the Faculty of Medicine.

The Faculty developed into a community with a staff of around 1200 (academics, administrative and support staff), and approximately 1950 medical students. Since 1992 staff and students are based at the complex of buildings of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, and the University Hospital (Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht) which opened in 1991.

Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences offered a broad range of disciplines that made the faculty unique, not only in the Netherlands but also in Europe. The format allowed students to integrate their discipline and research work into all areas related to society, sickness and health. By way of research and specific (undergraduate and postgraduate) education, the Faculty of Health Sciences contributed to the quality improvement in healthcare.

At the moment the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences has some 2,500 students enrolled in its broad spectrum of educational programmes leading to a Bachelor's and/or Master's degree. Health Sciences examines the relationship between health, lifestyle, disease prevention, care and cure. The Health Sciences curriculum covers the entire field of health sciences: biological, behavioural and social health sciences. Three questions take centre stage throughout the course:

1) What is health? 2) Which factors influence health? 3) How can we influence these factors?

To ensure a good quality of health care not only doctors are needed, but nurses and paramedics are also important, too. But also the expertise of other professionals is essential: the health scientists.