SMEA15070U Summer Course in International Health

Volume 2026/2027
Education

Master of Science in Medicine - compulsory

Content

This course prepares medical students and health professionals to contribute to healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries and resource-constrained settings, including emergencies and humanitarian crisis.

The course provides a foundational understanding of the health challenges faced in these contexts and the implications for health systems. Topics include tropical medicine, health promotion, disease prevention, sexual and reproductive health, social and cultural dimensions of health, child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, water, sanitation and hygiene-related health issues, and health in emergency settings.

The course places particular emphasis on the biomedical and clinical aspects of diseases that contribute substantially to the burden of illnesses. Key conditions are discussed in detail, with focus on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. These include diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, malaria and other febrile illnesses, tuberculosis, filariasis, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, intestinal parasitic infections, diarrhoeal diseases, mental health disorders, sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, eye diseases, skin diseases. The course also introduces major child health and reproductive health programmes.

In addition, the course examines the socio-economic and cultural contexts that shape healthcare provision in resource-limited societies, as well as changing patterns of disease and epidemiological transition. Health challenges related to urbanization are explored, alongside the organization and delivery of healthcare in emergency and humanitarian settings.

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course the students are expected to know the following:

As medical expert, as collaborator, as scholar, as health advocate or as a professional

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of the disease conditions affecting the LCIMs.
  • Explain the global transition in disease burdens and its determinants.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of health provision in resource-constrained societies and its actors.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of health challenges during disasters and provision of health during such circumstances
  • Describe major health issues such as specific diseases as well as influences due to the socio-cultural context.
     

Skills

  • Assist in providing health services in resource-constrained societies
  • Analyse the dilemmas of priority setting in international health
  • Reflect upon the role of key global health stakeholders in shaping policies and programmes targeting international health challenges.
  • Provide or plan health services at hospitals and health centres in resource-constrained settings.
     

Competencies

  • Manage provision of basic health care in resource-constrained societies.
  • Engage in advocacy, communication, and networking
  • Evaluate practice in hospitals and health centres in and reflect on how to ensure to avoid harm and participate in developing best practices.

A course binder with articles and other course material is provided at the start of course. Upon acceptance a book package of 2-4 books on international health and tropical medicine will be recommended to the students.

Course certificate in Clinical Course in Internal Medicine
Course certificate in Clinical Course in Surgery

Applicants, who are not students of a Master of Science in Medicine, should have completed their education, which as a minimum should include a BSc in the respective subjects including mid-level training of a minimum of three years.
The course is taught by engaged lecturers representing a range of institutions such as University of Copenhagen, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, WHO, UNFPA, UNHCR, Red Cross and MSF. All teachers have practical experience within the field of international health. Most teaching is delivered as lectures, but teaching is also provided for smaller groups and as group work. Laboratory exercise in diagnoses of parasitic diseases.
The teaching will be held in English.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 75
  • Class Instruction
  • 14
  • Preparation
  • 43
  • Laboratory
  • 3
  • Total
  • 135
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Requirement to attend classes
Type of assessment details
Course cetificate is achieved on the basis of approved course participation.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal assessor
Criteria for exam assesment

To obtain the assessment passed and thereby course certificate the student must demonstrate the following abilities at a sufficient level:

As medical expert, as collaborator, as scholar, as health advocate or as a professional

Knowledge

  • Describe major health issues in LCIMs such as specific diseases as well as influences due to the socio-cultural context.
     

Skills

  • Provide or plan health services at hospitals and health centres in LCIMs.
     

Competencies

  • Evaluate practice in hospitals and health centres in LCIMs and reflect on how to ensure to avoid harm and participate in developing best practices.