This module introduces participants to relevant facilities and services of the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health and Heidelberg University. They learn about the basic concepts of self- and time-management, as well as group dynamics. Introductory lectures on the history and scope of international public health facilitate a common understanding of key concepts and perspectives. The module also includes an introduction to life in Germany and the city of Heidelberg.

This module introduces participants to the health systems approach which includes identification of the elements, structure, and essential services of health systems in low- and middle-income countries and the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in international health. Course participants learn about major endemic communicable and non-communicable diseases and how to appraise their impact on the health of populations. Current global initiatives for disease control are presented and strategies which promote cooperation at the international, national and local level are explored.

Health care services are essential for treating the sick and thus make a direct contribution to the health of individuals. However, the health status of a population is determined to a large extent by factors which lie outside the direct influence of health care such as gender, nutrition, culture, and environment. This module provides participants with an overview of social determinants and reflects on potential tools to address them. Special attention is given to medical anthropology, reproductive and infant health, the integrated management of childhood illnesses, and environmental health issues.

This module familiarises course participants with both qualitative and quantitative research methods. For the latter, participants are introduced to the basics of biostatistics and learn how to critically appraise epidemiological findings in literature. Participants learn how to write appropriate applied research proposals, to analyse determinants and/or risk factors of health and disease, and to assess the impact of a given intervention. Special emphasis is placed on how to use research findings for better planning and management of health interventions. More over, tutorials are offered to effectively use statistical software for data management and analysis (e.g. Stata). Based on the understanding of socio-cultural factors developed in Module 3, this module includes research methods such as interviews, focus groups and participant observation, used to study and explain views of individuals, groups and communities on health, illness and health care seeking behaviour. Participants practise how to design, analyse and present qualitative studies. Ethical issues in research are also discussed.

In this module, the relationship between health policy and the health status of a population is explored with the aim to enable participants to identify policies that discriminate against certain sectors of a population, to do a stakeholder analysis, and to propose modifications that improve access to disadvantaged population groups. Emphasis is placed on health economic principals and evaluation methods.

Health planning and management are central in getting improved health programmes to work. This final module covers the basics of organisational behaviour and communication in managing international health systems and organisations, methods to appraise organisational performance using the fundamentals of budgeting and financial analysis, as well as methods and tools of planning, assessment, monitoring and evaluation (project cycle management). It also explores opportunities and methodologies for quality improvement initiatives within a variety of health care settings, leading participants to be able to plan realisable and sustainable programmes aimed at the improvement of the health and health systems of low- and middle-income countries.

• Disease Control: Strategies and Policies

• Public Health Anthropology: Concepts and Tools

• Improving the Quality of Healthcare Services in Resource Poor Settings

• Global Challenges in Reproductive Health: Evidence and Tools for Programme Implementantion

• Consultancy Skills in International Health: Evaluation of Health Facilities, Programmes and Projects

• Proposal Writing as a Consultancy Skill

• Decision Making in Public Health: Evidence, Politics or Diplomacy?

• Financing Health Care - Concepts, Challenges and Practices

• Public Health and Disasters: Assessing and Responding to Health Care Needs in Natural Disasters and Complex Emergencies

• Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Public Health Issue

• Leadership and Change Management in International Health

• Health and Human Rights

• Quality Management in International Health

• Global Mental Health: Public Health Approaches

• Mixed Methods in International Health Research

• Health Systems Strengthening in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Students may decide to conduct field research as part of their master's thesis. On-site collection of primary data takes place in cooperation with a partner institution in the host country.

Thesis supervisors assist students in identifying suitable research site, but travel arrangements must be made by the students themselves. Unfortunately the Institute of Global Health cannot provide any financial assistance. Student must be able to finance their projects themselves.

Students may decide to conduct an analysis of already existing data with regards to their particular research question. In this case students will not only have to collect relevant data, but also justify and engage critically with potential biases of these data sets.

For their data analysis students should also decide which methods are appropriate to the type of data they are collecting and the aims of their research.

Students may decide to conduct a systematic literature review guided by their research objective. A good systematic literature review needs a clear line of argument. As such it is not a mere description of what others have publishes, but rather takes the form of a critical discussion.

In their systematic literature review students should show insight and awareness of different arguments, theories, and methodologies. It should be a synthesis and analysis of relevant publications and should be linked to the students' rationale at all times.