Module manager: Francis Poitier
Email: F.Poitier@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Oct to 30 Jun View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Same as programme
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module is the culmination of the MSc in International Health programme. The module takes an experiential learning approach, allowing students to build and reflect on the learning from previous modules. Students gain independent experience of designing and conducting a small project in international health. Students can choose to do their fieldwork in a low- or middle-income country, allowing for further cross-cultural learning. The module is also designed to strengthen a student's personal development skills including planning, time and project management, independent working and initiative. Each student is assigned a project supervisor who provides support and guidance on the project throughout the module. The international health topic will be of the student's own choosing, with guidance from the student's project supervisor and the module leader. The choice of countries that students can go to for their project is dependent on travel advice from the United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the University of Leeds, even if this may be their country of origin. All projects must obtain both ethical and safety approvals.
This module aims develop independent research and practical skills in a topic relevant to international health.
Learning activities cover the broad areas of project design and are designed to strengthen the skills and competencies required for an independent researcher and/or practitioner working in international health. These skills and competencies include, among others, designing an independent, ethical and safe project, communicating research in a coherent and proficient way, working collaboratively with different groups, and managing an independent project.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. develop a feasible and ethical research protocol to investigate a topic relevant to international health
2. collect and analyse data on a topic relevant to international health in an ethical and safe way
3. critically evaluate findings in relation to current literature, including developing recommendations for improving health practice and policy
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Technical:
1. Conducting an original and independent project on a topic of importance to international health
2. Developing evidence-based recommendations to improve policy and practice
Work Ready
3. Teamworking, collaboration and problem-solving related to the conducting and management of an independent project
Sustainability:
4. Searching for and using information to develop and inform ideas, discussion and conclusions
Enterprise
5. Managing uncertainty, ambiguity and risk in a constantly changing international health context
Academic
6. Effectively communicating research in written and oral formats using academic English
Digital
7. Utilise technology, digital tools, including research software for oral and written communication
Each student is assigned a project supervisor who provides support and guidance on the project throughout the module. The international health topic will be of the student's own choosing, with guidance from the student's project supervisor and the module leader.
The following are illustrative topics / concepts to be covered during the module:
1. Introduction to research projects in international health
2. Identifying, justifying and developing a research topic relevant to international health
3. Working with collaborators and communities
4. Developing methods to answer research questions
5. Developing analysis and interpretation plans based on a research protocol
6. Ethical thinking, ethics, and your research
7. Health and safety in research
8. Case studies in advanced research methods
9. Interpreting research data
10. Writing research reports and dissemination plans
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 6 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Practical | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Independent online learning hours | 150 | ||
| Private study hours | 263 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 37 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 450 | ||
As this is the final module of the programme, students are expected to use what they have learned from other modules on the programme, including the research methods modules.
Feedback is provided on proposed topics and protocols by the module leader and/or project supervisors.
Students develop a feasible work plan that is monitored through attendance at and minutes of supervision meetings. Supervision meetings are opportunities for students to receive individual feedback at the various stages of the independent project, including in the planning and execution stages. Students also receive individual feedback upon application to the ethics committee. It is expected that students attend supervision meetings and submit formative draft work as required.
In class activities provide opportunities for other oral and written feedback on the quality and rigour of research as well as on communicating research in academic English in written and oral formats.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Protocol - 2,500 words - PASS/FAIL - Must be passed to progress | 0 |
| Coursework | Ethics and risk assessment - Length as required - PASS/FAIL - Must be passed to progress | 0 |
| Coursework | Written Project Report - 5,000 words | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The assessments are outlined such that each component must be passed in order to progress to the other component. This is due to the nature of research and the competencies required. For example: - the protocol assignment is a demonstration of planning a feasible project - the ethics and risk assessment processes demonstrates that the planned project is ethical and aligns with the University of Leeds expectations of good research. This is a requirement of work being conducted at the University. - the report is designed such that students can demonstrate good written communication and dissemination of research findings and interpretations While all components of the module must be passed: - module marks will not be capped for second attempts of the protocol, ethics and risk assessment assignments. At these stages, students will benefit from the feedback provided from examiners and their supervisors ahead of the weighted assessments. - module marks will be capped at 50 for successful second attempts of the weighted components of the module (i.e., written research report). Formative assessments: Students benefit from a range of formative work that prepare them for weighted components of the module. In class, students engage in group activities that allow for peer input, peer review and mutual learning. Lecturers provide verbal feedback as required during class to support students in their research project development. Students benefit from supervision meetings that are specific about their research project and progress. These meetings are directed by students to support their learning, project development and assessment preparation. Supervisors also provide comments on drafted work to support student progress. Question and answer sessions specific to each component of the module is conducted in advance of submission date to prepare students for submission.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 17/03/2025
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