Call For Applications For: BSc In Palliative Care MSc In Epidemiology MSc In Global Health Implementation

By | July 17, 2017

The College of Medicine (CoM) was established in 1991 as a constituent college of the University of Malawi with a mission “to be an academic center of excellence in the training of doctors and other health professionals in clinical service and medical research, responsive to the health needs of Malawi and its neighbours within the Southern African region”. The School of Public Health & Family Medicine is proud to introduce three new academic programs which will be starting in 2017. These programs will be in addition to the highly successful Master of Public Health that has graduated over 300 people since it started. The School, which has the highest number of professors and PhD-qualified teaching staff with the highest health research output in the country, strives to create academic excellence through innovation in teaching and research. One innovation this year is the introduction of the delivery of a number of postgraduate master degree programs (MPH and MSc Epidemiology) in its Lilongwe campus on Out-of-Working Hours basis. This means that face-to-face teaching will be done during the week ‘after hours’ between 5:00 and 8:30pm and during weekends 8:00 to 5:00pm. This will allow learners who are also working during the day be able to attend the program.

 

Through these academic training programs, CoM expects to develop and mentor clinicians, public health practitioners and scientists who will become leaders and game-changes in their areas of speciality and transform the health sector in Malawi and globally.  In pursuit of its mission, the CoM is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to undergo training the following academic programs;

A. Bachelor of Science in Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care? Palliative care is specialized health care for people with life-limiting or serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with symptoms’ relief and relieving stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for the patient and the family. Palliative care is best provided within a multidisciplinary team, which works together to provide an extra layer of care and support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age, at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. In our setting, palliative care is largely being provided for cancer patients, HIV and then a host of other diseases e.g. chronic renal failure.

Who should apply? Students who are interested in acquiring skills in palliative care, design and management of local palliative care service whether in hospital or community setting, palliative care advocacy, critical thinking and academic writing skills in undertaking of simple evaluation, audit or research studies. Students would usually work in private or government health facilities, in research and academic institutions (universities) and NGOs..

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Course content: This is a 3-year bachelor of science program with modules in basic medical sciences (physiology, microbiology, pharmacology & therapeutics), psychosocial, spiritual & cultural issues, clinical management, communication, pain management, ethics, death and bereavement, palliative care policy & advocacy, mentoring and coaching. Students will also be required to complete a research project. Students may alternatively exit the program after completing 2 years with a Diploma in Palliative Care.

Mode of delivery: The program will be delivered over 6 semesters ‘during normal working hours’ (weekdays 8:00am to 5:00pm). The first semester will largely be classroom-based sessions and later semesters will be through largely clinical placements in palliative care centers of excellence such as Tiyanjane at QECH, Mulanje Mission.

Program fees: MK 1,350,000 per year for Malawians, USD 3,000 for SADC and USD 3,500 for non-SADC applicants. Please note that fees are reviewed each academic year There are a few scholarships that will be offered on merit.

Admission Requirements:

  1. A diploma in in Nursing or Clinical Medicine.
  2. Working experience of at least two years in the clinical or nursing area (those already working in Palliative care would have an added advantage).
  3. Registered with the relevant regulatory body (e.g. Medical Council of Malawi 
or the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi)

B. Master of Science in Epidemiology

What is Epidemiology? The science concerned with the study of the factors determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of disease, injury, and other health-related events and their causes in a defined human population for the purpose of establishing programs to prevent and control their development and spread. It is the cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare.

 

Who should apply? Students who are interested in acquiring advanced epidemiology and biostatistics competencies to enable them to conduct epidemiological research studies, collect, manipulate and interpret health data. Students would usually continue to have a career in research (research institutions, pharmaceutical companies), academics (colleges, universities), government (disease control programs), health-oriented NGO’s and international agencies (e.g. CDC, World Health Organization).

 

Course content: This is a 2-year master of science degree program, which consists of core modules in basic and advanced epidemiology and biostatistics, disease control, research ethics, data management and integrity. Students are allowed to choose elective modules from a wide variety of disease and health programs specific modules (e.g. TB, malaria, HIV, nutrition, bioethics). Lastly students are required to complete a research dissertation. Students may alternatively graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology if they complete all coursework but do not submit a dissertation

 

Mode of delivery: The program will be delivered through a block-release system where students will be required to attend modules (face-to-face learning) once every 4 to 6 weeks at the Blantyre or Lilongwe CoM campuses. Students on application will be given the opportunity to choose to attend the Blantyre ‘during normal working hours’ program (weekdays 8:00am to 5:00pm) or Lilongwe ‘after working hours’ program (weekdays 5:00 to 8:30pm and weekends 8:00am to 5:00pm).

 

Program fees: MK 2,550,000 per year for Malawians; USD 4,000 per year for SADC applicants; USD 4,500 per year for non-SADC applicants. Please note that fees are reviewed each academic year.

 

Admission Requirements:

  1. A Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualifications) in a relevant science subject (e.g. medicine, nursing, biology, physics, mathematics, statistics, social sciences, psychology, environmental health) from any recognised university
  2. At least two years of work experience in a relevant field is desirable

 

C.   Master of Science in Global Health Implementation

What is Global Health Implementation? Global health is an area of study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving population health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Global health emphasizes on transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration.

 

Who should apply? The program is particularly designed for individuals from a wide range of disciplines and professions such as health practitioners, policy makers, health systems planners, programme managers and researchers. The programme adopts a multidisciplinary approach that integrates health and social science perspectives to analyse, design, implement and evaluate health programmes and policies within a global context.

 

Course content: This is a 2-year master of science degree program, which consists of core modules in Global Health, Principles, Policies and Practices; Economics and Financing; Global Environmental Health and Climate justice; Implementation Science; Program Design implementation and Evaluation; Ethics and Human Rights; Leadership, Ethics, Governance and Systems (LEGS) for Global Health Implementation; Global Economic Governance and Health Diplomacy; Comparative Health Systems. Students are allowed to choose elective modules from a selected disease and health programs specific modules. Lastly students are required to complete a research dissertation. Students may alternatively graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology if they complete all coursework but do not submit a dissertation

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Mode of delivery: The program will be delivered through a block-release system where students will be required to attend modules (face-to-face learning) once every 4 to 6 weeks at the Blantyre campus. The program will be delivered on weekdays and during normal working hours.

 

Program fees: MK 2,550,000 per year for Malawians; USD 4,000 per year for SADC applicants; USD 4,500 per year for non-SADC applicants. Please note that fees are reviewed each academic year.

 

Admission Requirements:

  1. A Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualifications approved by the University) in a relevant science subject (e.g. medicine, nursing, biology, physics, mathematics, statistics, social sciences, psychology, environmental health) from any recognised university.

 

Applications for BSc Palliative Care program should include:

  1. A completed undergraduate application form. The forms are available at medcol.mw. or CoM Central Registry
  2. Sealed academic transcripts
  3. Authenticated copies of academic certificates
  4. Authenticated copies of professional registration certificates where applicable

 

A non-refundable application fee of MK8000.00 for Malawians and $300.00 for non-Malawians.

 

Payment should be made to:

 

College of Medicine (COM POOL)

National Bank of Malawi,

Chichiri Branch (NBMAMWMW003),

Account Number 697017.

 

Applications for all postgraduate programs should include:

  1. A completed postgraduate application form. The forms are available at http://pgd.medcol.mw/downloads/ or CoM Central Registry
  2. Sealed academic transcripts
  3. Authenticated copies of academic certificates
  4. Authenticated copies of professional registration certificates where applicable
  5. Letter of release from employers (if employed and planning to attend ‘during normal working hours’ program)
  6. Proof of funding (e.g. sponsorship agreement letter). Where applicants intend to sponsor themselves, copies of appropriate financial records must be submitted e.g. bank reference.
  7. Reference letters (one academic and one professional)

 

A non-refundable application fee of MK8000.00 for Malawians and $300.00 for non-Malawians.

 

Payment should be made to:

 

 

COM POSTGRADUATE POOL

NATIONAL BANK OF MALAWI

CHICHIRI BRANCH

ACCOUNT NUMBER : 698881

CURRENT ACCOUNT

 

Application forms that do not meet the requirements stated above will not be processed.

 

Completed application should be sent for consideration for academic year beginning September 2017 by 31st July 20178 to:

 

The Registrar

College of Medicine

Private Bag 360

Chichiri

Blantyre 3, Malawi

Attention: Assistant Registrar (Academic)

 

Tel: + 265 (0) 1 874 107, Fax +265 (0) 1 874 700

 

E-mail: admissions@medcol.mw

Copy: postgraduateadmin@medcol.mw