Degree project in global health, 30 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

After completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe how a research project is developed from problem.
• identification to development of study design and implementation of data collection.
• Describe and use methods for how collected data are handled regarding validity and reliability.
• Analyse data material with correct methods.
• Document in writing the research process, including interpretation of data and implications for global health.
• Orally present and discuss the research findings.

A research project shall be developed, implemented and analysed. The degree project can, however, also be based on secondary data from registers, e.g. demographic health surveys (DHS) and then the project has already been developed and implemented. Finally a thesis shall be written and examined.

The research for the degree project can be carried out in a low-, middle- or high income country where a  collaboration is or can be established. The students have the possibility to seek funding through Minor Field Studies (MFS). All students will not have this possibility due to the limitations of the MFS guidelines. Only students with a Swedish citizenship or permanent residence in Sweden can apply for MFS.

Students will carry out a research project and submit it as a thesis addressing a relevant subject in the arena in question. Issues shall be formulated as problems and clearly demarcated. Choice of method(s) shall be reported and justified, and also be appropriate with appropriate design, sample and sampling frame. Limitations of any method selected shall be discussed. Results and data shall be clearly and accurately reported and correctly analysed. Problems of interpretation are considered, with regard to the correctness of methods, conceptual frameworks and samples. Judgements concerning results, interpretations and conclusions should be supported by data.

In general, the dissertation shall meet requirements of: a) scientific content; b) research methodology; and c) academic format and linguistic presentation. The student will make an oral presentation of her/his thesis in an open seminar with an examiner.

Supervision in all phases of the project - problem formulation, design, implementation, analysis and writing. In addition joint seminars will be held to highlight aspects of the research process.

Written and oral presentation.

The grade is based on an overall assessment of the final written thesis including the oral presentation.

Compulsory participation
The proposal seminars, half-time control seminars and final examination seminars are compulsory. The examiner assesses if, and in that case how absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for respective part will not be registered in LADOK. Absence from a compulsory part may result in the student having to wait to compensate until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations.  If the student has not passed the exam after four participations he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.
The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not be counted as an examination.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee for Higher Education.

The course language is English.