Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings - PgCert

Do you want to make a difference to the health of people in low-resource settings? Are you passionate about social justice or looking for a qualification that will enable you to work at a senior level in health policy and practice in the UK or abroad, particularly in low and middle income settings? Our flexible and highly respected range of global health courses could be the perfect stepping stone for your career.

This PgCert in Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings course is for health and humanitarian workers seeking to consolidate and extend learning in this area. You will develop skills and understanding that are attractive to organisations working in some of the most vulnerable and at-risk communities in the world.

The course focuses on the current challenges and policy debates in local/national/global responses in meeting the health needs of populations affected by or recovering from instability and conflict. It is delivered full time over 15 weeks.

Why QMU?

Unique academic institution: The Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) at QMU offers a range of postgraduate courses aimed specifically at those who wish to work in health policy and practice, particularly in low and middle income settings.
Make a difference to your career and to others' lives: Our courses put a strong focus on the social aspects of health and on health systems strengthening from a community-based perspective. They will equip you to assist in improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world, whether that be overseas or locally in Scotland. You will develop a strong understanding of current global health and development issues and will equip yourself with the tools you need to forge positive change locally, nationally or internationally.
Access to expertise and industry connections: You will learn from experienced figures in the field and make connections that could last your whole working life. At IGHD we work directly with ministries of health, international and national organisations and local communities to develop real solutions to health and development problems. We have links with various bodies, including the following: Health Systems Global / Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network / Scottish International Development Alliance / Development Studies Association / Scottish Government Scottish Refugee Council.
Join us on our compassion mission: Our work at IGHD addresses the health and wellbeing of those in greatest need, whether that be vulnerable populations in Scotland or those living in low or middle income countries.  
Wide ranging teaching and research expertise: Our teaching and research expertise spans multiple aspects of global health and development. These range from health financing, support to fragile and conflict-affected settings  to refugee integration and child protection.

Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (PgCert): More information and what you will achieve

On this course, you will examine the concepts of vulnerability and resilience of individuals, households and their interaction with health systems in conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as strategies for strengthening the health system in fragile states. Re-establishing human resource systems provision and psychosocial interventions in a range of crisis settings is also part of this coherent course.

When you have completed this course, you will be able to critically analyse and respond effectively and appropriately to complex policy and practice issues in diverse range of settings affected by conflict or emerging from conflict, as well as to integrate diverse perspectives on the impact of conflict to formulate effective and appropriate programmatic response to identified needs.

How will I be taught?

Structure and exit awards

You can opt to study for the PgCert (60 credits) or you can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. For the PgCert, in addition to the compulsory modules, a variety of modules can be studied, including our Forced Displacement and Integration Module. Contact IGHD for more information.

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching is delivered face-to-face and online (asynchronous) and comprised of a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, discussion board, simulation exercises and projects. Assessment is continuous and incorporates assignments, action plans, projects and presentations.

Teaching hours and attendance

Your exact attendance requirements at QMU will depend on the module you are studying. In addition, for each module students spend approximately 10-12 hours of each week on preparatory class work independently and with colleagues, including readings and exercises available on dedicated web-based learning platforms.

Class sizes

We expect approximately 15-20 students to enroll for this course each year.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

Modules

Health Systems in Fragile Setting (online) (15 credits)
Psychosocial Interventions for Displaced Populations (15 credits)
Independent Study (focusing on a topic relevant to health in fragile and conflict-affected settings).
plus one more 15-credit module from the list of modules available at IGHD, which are subject to student demand.

NB The modules listed are correct at time of publication (October 2023) but are subject to change. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students.

Career opportunities

Our courses have been helping people to successfully advance their careers in global health for many years. Former IGHD students work in a variety of settings where a social development understanding informs approaches to health.

Examples of positions filled by IGHD graduates include:

Health Advisor for Save the Children UK
Senior Co-ordinator for International Operations with Partners in Health
Policy Development Officer in the Scottish NGO sector
Public Health Policy Workers for First Nation’s communities in Canada
Humanitarian worker with Islamic Relief

Others have taken internships with organisations such as the WHO on graduation, while others have progressed to doctoral studies.

As a graduate of the PgCert Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings, you will have the skills and understanding that are attractive to organisations working in some of the most vulnerable and at-risk communities in the world.

Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (PgCert): Entry requirements and application information

Entry requirements

A UK honours degree or equivalent from a relevant subject area (arts, humanities, health or social sciences). Students without an honours degree may be considered if they have other relevant qualifications and/or appropriate work experience.

International: Where your honours degree has not been studied in English, you will be required to take an IELTS test receiving an overall score of 6.0 and no individual component score below 5.5.

NB This course is only open to applicants who do not require a student visa to study in the UK.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.

Application deadline

End of December 2024

Terms and Conditions

The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2024/25 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).