Institute for International Health and Development - IIHD

MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health

The MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Heath is a modular programme designed for professionals managing, or planning to manage, reproductive health programmes in low and middle income countries.

The MSc aims to enable participants to critically reflect on population and reproductive health issues as well as gain skills necessary for the management of programmes. The course examines key areas relating to policy, research and management as well as some of the important socio-cultural variables influencing sexual and reproductive health.

The course emphasises a participatory approach to the development of sexual and reproductive health programmes and takes as its foundation the International Conference on Population and Development's (ICPD) Programme of Action.

Programme Structure

This is a modular programme of study with the taught Postgraduate Certificate component extending over one 15-week semester and the taught Postgraduate Diploma component extending over two 15-week semesters. The Dissertation component extends over the summer period. Planning for the dissertation necessarily begins in Semester 2 and requires the completion of the core module, Research Design and Planning in Semester 2. For full-time participants, the programme will run over one calendar year, starting in September each year (although January entry is permitted for suitably qualified participants).

The programme is based on completion of between 4-8 modules, with a dissertation for those completing the MSc. A module is equivalent to a notional 150 learning hours (the anticipated average time for the participant to complete the module). Learning hours are the combination of teaching contact hours and self-directed study time.

IIHD Programme Structure

Semester 1

Induction (4 days)

Core Module: International Health & Social Policy - 15 credits/5 ECTS
Core Module: Health Related Research -15 credits/5 ECTS(6 weeks)
Core Module: Health Systems Development - 15 credits/5 ECTS(6 weeks)
Core Module: Select one from International Public Health / Social Development Policy & Practice / Health Economics - 15 credits/5 ECTS

Reading week (1 week) - usually around October

Semester 2

Induction (3 days)

Core Module: Research Design and Planning - 15 credits/5 ECTS (5 weeks)
Core Module: Gender, Health and Development - 15 credits/5 ECTS
Core Module: Sexual and Reproductive Health - 15 credits/5 ECTS

1 Elective Modules: Please see IIHD Programme Structure

Semester 3

Dissertation - 60 credits/20 ECTS (3.5 months)
Successful completion of the dissertation will, therefore, accumulate a further 60 credit points giving the total of 180 M points required for the award of the Masters Degree.