Educational activities at Julius Global Health are aligned to the research themes circulatory health, maternal & child health, infectious diseases, environmental health & exposome sciences, and global health research ethics. Most of our educational activities are aimed at postgraduates, with a strong emphasis on health sciences, in particular epidemiology and clinical epidemiology.
Julius Global Health offers Global Health courses to Bachelor and Master level students at University College Utrecht, the University Medical Center Utrecht, and through the Graduate School of Life Sciences at Utrecht University. Within the Graduate School of Life Sciences, this includes the Master and PhD Epidemiology program. In addition, Julius Global conducts courses with international partners around the globe. International capacity-building activities are developed based on best practices. One such program is Health-I, funded by the European Union, to improve clinical epidemiology teaching and research in Indonesia. Another program is the Wellcome-Trust funded Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics Training, which aims to increase biostatistics research capacity in Africa.
An overview of our educational activities can be found here.
UCU Global Health 200 Course
In collaboration with University College Utrecht (UCU), Julius Global Health offers the course ‘Global Health’ to UCU students. The course employs the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global agenda for 2015 – 2030 agreed on by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. Together with experts from a wide range of disciplines, SDG3 (on health and well-being for all) is discussed, as well as the interactions between SDG3 and the other SDGs (such as poverty, sustainable cities and climate action). Students are encouraged to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to tackle global health challenges, by practicing intercultural collaboration and skills throughout the course.
Course code: UCINTGLO21
Course coordinator: Dr. Judith van de Kamp
Contact details: J.vandeKamp-6@umcutrecht.nl
UCU Global Health 300 Course (Global Health Practice: Applying Research and Innovation)
‘Global Health Practice: Applying Research and Innovation’ is also offered by the Julius Global Health team at University College Utrecht (UCU). In this course, students are introduced to various concepts crucial to achieving global health impact. Through a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) approach, teams of students are introduced to stakeholders who are researchers in various – often international – global health intervention studies, in collaboration with the UMC Utrecht. The students work together throughout the course period, using the Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) framework to move from a formulated ‘team Challenge’ to an interdisciplinary ‘Solution’. Along the way, students are introduced to and enabled to strengthen their interdisciplinary and intercultural competencies, and professional social skills, apply positionality in the context of power and use an ‘equity’ lens to engage in research outcomes as well as the process. For more course information, please click here.
Course code: UCINTGLO31
Course coordinator: Dr. Judith van de Kamp
Contact details: J.vandeKamp-6@umcutrecht.nl
UCU Public Health 300 Course (From Theory to Practice)
In collaboration with University College Utrecht (UCU), Julius Global Health offers the course “Public Health” to UCU students from different studies. The course gives students an in-depth understanding of the different aspects and importance of public health. It brings together teachers and students from different disciplines to discuss the needs of the community and the roles of different disciplines, public and private organizations, communities, and individuals to develop a healthy society. This implies the inclusion of all activities that promote health, prevent, mitigate, and treat disease, and take action on the social and ecological determinants of health, often requiring public policy change and community action.
We take students into the field and let them discuss what their roles from different disciplines, backgrounds, and perspectives are and how to work interdisciplinary and integrate public health in their scope of work.
Course code: UCINTLAS34
Course coordinator: J.L.Browne@umcutrecht.nl
Contact details: j.l.browne@umcutrecht.nl; C.A.Llamas@umcutrecht.nl
Global Health and Tropical Medicine Course
Julius Global Health organises an evening course which takes place every second Wednesday of the month, from 19:00-21:00. Each lecture discusses a different topic related to global health and tropical medicine.
The course is aimed mainly at medical students, but also students and staff from other faculties, or others interested in global health and tropical medicine are welcome. Participants who attend nine evenings and write an essay reflecting on at least one of the lectures receive a certificate for the course.
Find out more information about the course on the UU website or the Global Health Facebook page.
Course code: GNME00118
Course coordinator: Dr. Marianne van der Sande
Contact details: GHcourse1@umcutrecht.nl or international.office@umcutrecht.nl
Global Health 2
Global Health 2 is an online course that runs for six evenings from April-June. The course is intended for (pre)final year medical students who have completed the Global Health & Tropical Medicine course and wish to gain a deeper understanding of global health. The course covers topics closely linked to current societal developments, such as global health from a historical perspective (linked to the current decolonization debates), environmental health, the global workforce for health, and global health ‘at home’: inclusive healthcare in The Netherlands. With its 30-student limit, Global Health 2 is designed to be small-scale and encourage lots of student interaction and discussion.
Find out more information about the course on the UU website or click here.
Course code: GNME00218
Course coordinator: Dr. Judith van de Kamp
Contact details: J.vandeKamp-6@umcutrecht.nl
Global and Planetary Health
A collaboration between the Institute for Risk Assessment (IRAS) and Julius Global Health at UMC Utrecht recently resulted in the first instalment of the new course Global Health, Environmental Health and Climate Change. The course was developed as an elective course for second year medical Bachelor students, and is open for students from other UU faculties as well.
This interdisciplinary course covers epidemiological, public health, environmental health, human rights, gender, and humanities’ perspectives on global health and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Curious? The syllabus of the course is available here, and includes a wide variety of assessment and activity styles that promote development not only in a medical capacity but allow for a broadening of students’ world view. Discussions at large and small scales encourage students to learn from each other and from experts in the fields of study.
Course code: GNBA221019
Course coordinator: Dr. George Downward and Dr. Joyce Browne
Contact details: g.s.downward@uu.nl and j.l.browne@umcutrecht.nl
Planetary Health and Climate-Resilient Health Systems
In this course, students from across the EWUU Alliance partner network, UU/UMCU, TU/e and WUR will work together to develop solutions to real-world problems with external stakeholders. Through a combination of online modules, in-class workshops and interactive seminars, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the complexities and possible trade-offs necessary to build health systems supportive of both human and environmental health and respond effectively to climate change.
Course code: GEDU10022
Contact person: Julia Addison
Contact details: J.Addison@umcutrecht.nl
Global Health (part of the Master in Medical Humanities)
The Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and the growing inequalities in the world clearly indicate that people and regions are strongly connected, more than ever. To critically look at and unravel the complexities of the contemporary health domain, in this course we look at health at population level, both in international and national context. We do this through a health equity lens, with a focus on equal opportunities for health for all. In this analysis, we make use of the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We explore how these goals relate to SDG3 (Good health and well-being), and what steps need to be taken to reach these goals. On a national level, we zoom in on mental health in The Netherlands. How can we better understand the mental health crisis? Students will discuss this, and write about it for various groups of audiences. For more information, please click here.
Contact person: Dr. Judith van de Kamp
Contact details: j.vandekamp-6@umcutrecht.nl
Julius Global Health contributes to the MSc Epidemiology Programme and the Life Sciences and Society Profile of the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Utrecht University.
Fundamentals of Global Health
Offered as part of the MSc Epidemiology Programme, the ‘Fundamentals of Global Health’ course aims to introduce the principles and scope of global health and health-related development strategies. Further topics addressed include health equity, ethics, global health governance, policy, finance, diplomacy and advocacy, as well as the role of social determinants, globalization and various global health challenges such as climate change and planetary health. Through the use of case studies from around the world, students will be able to explore how global health issues can be investigated and how research findings can subsequently be translated into policy and practice.
‘Fundamentals of Global Health’ is intended for postgraduate students with an interest in global health, specifically in the fields of medicine, biomedical sciences, life sciences, social sciences or developmental studies. The course is also aimed at health professionals working in or with low- or middle-income countries, biomedical and social science researchers, health personnel in government and non-government institutions, members of international agencies and consultants and was offered previously as a short course through the Summer School Utrecht.
Course code: BMB514818
Course coordinator: Dr. Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
Contact details: k.klipstein-grobusch@umcutrecht.nl
Challenges in Global Health: Non-communicable diseases
Which global health challenges do low-, middle- and high-income countries face? What is the importance of chronic non-communicable diseases globally, and what are the underlying causes and risk factors for illness? How do communicable and non-communicable diseases intersect? Which policy initiatives for effective prevention and control of disease are being implemented? What are the consequences of global health threats or challenges such as globalisation, migration or environmental change?
These are topics covered by the course ‘Challenges in Global Health’ that aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of current challenges in global health, with a particular focus on chronic-non communicable diseases. The course contributes to the MSc Epidemiology programme at and is open to recent postgraduate students with an interest in global health, specifically in the fields of medicine, biomedical sciences, life sciences, social sciences or developmental studies. The course is also aimed at health professionals working in or with low- or middle-income countries, biomedical and social science researchers, health personnel in government and non-government institutions, members of international agencies and consultants and is offered as a short course through the Summer School Utrecht.
Course code: BMB508818
Course coordinator: Dr. Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
Contact details: k.klipstein-grobusch@umcutrecht.nl
Global and Environmental Health in the Life Sciences
The environment we live in is inextricably part of our day-to-day existence and perturbations in that environment can have disastrous consequences on our livelihoods and health. Ongoing environmental crises including climate change and air pollution have inequitable impacts globally – disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income communities. Therefore, to understand health and lifestyle impacts globally and specifically of these populations an appreciation of both environmental and global health is required.
Global and Environmental Health in the Life Sciences aims to introduce the principles of global health and their relationship to environmental health. Participants will learn key concepts in both disciplines which will be underscored by real-world case studies and practical exercises. The key objective of the course is to provide an introduction to fundamental concepts of global and environmental health and to facilitate engagement and reflection on current global and environmental health developments.
This course is offered as a module of the Utrecht University GSLS Life Sciences and Society Profile.
Course code: BMB669221
Course coordinator: Dr. George Downward / Dr. Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
Contact details: g.s.downward@umcutrecht.nl and k.klipstein-grobusch@umcutrecht.nl
In collaboration with the Summer School Utrecht, various 1-week summer school courses related to various global health topics are offered during the Summer:
Planetary health focuses on the health and well-being of humans, plants, animals and the environment – which are inextricably linked. This solutions-oriented social movement and transdisciplinary field envisions a future where people act as part of the ecosystem. In short, caring for ourselves, each other and the natural environment. Please find below the current course offers regarding Planetary Health education:
Global and Planetary Health
For more detailed information about this course please check out the ‘UMC Utrecht Global and Planetary Health Courses’ tile.
Course code: GNBA221019
Course coordinator: Dr. George Downward and Dr. Joyce Browne
Contact details: g.s.downward@uu.nl and j.l.browne@umcutrecht.nl
Planetary Health and Climate-Resilient Health Systems
For more detailed information about this course please check out the ‘UMC Utrecht Global and Planetary Health Courses’ tile.
Course code: GEDU10022
Contact person: Julia Addison
Contact details: J.Addison@umcutrecht.nl
Global and Environmental Health in the Life Sciences
For more detailed information about this course please check out the ‘UU Graduate School of Life Sciences Global Health Courses’ tile.
Course code: BMB669221
Course coordinator: Dr. George Downward / Dr. Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
Contact details: g.s.downward@umcutrecht.nl and k.klipstein-grobusch@umcutrecht.nl
Planetary Health Impulse Team
The Planetary Health Impulse Team (Nov 2022 – Dec 2023) accelerates the integration of planetary health in the Faculty of Medicine at the UMC Utrecht. In short: education that contributes to a healthy, sustainable and just society. This aim stems from the UMCU faculty-wide vision ‘Sustainability in (bio)medical education’: every graduate student within the Faculty of Medicine must acquire basic knowledge and skills about and for sustainability.. This vision also emphasizes the experience of education in a sustainable and healthy way (well-being) and place (environment).
Would you like to know more about the Planetary Health Impulse Team? Please contact Jopke Janmaat (J.Janmaat-4@umcutrecht.nl) Florijn Dekkers (J.F.Dekkers-6@umcutrecht.nl;
Formerly: Arte Groenewegen (A.D.Groenewegen-14@umcutrecht.nl)
Internship opportunities at Julius Global Health
Julius Global Health offers internships and global health projects on topics related to maternal health (in Ghana, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Suriname), child health (in Indonesia, South Africa and Kenya), cardiovascular disease (South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia and Indonesia), HIV and the link with chronic disease (in South Africa and Indonesia), and environmental health (Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya). It is also possible to have Julius Global Health supervision for an independently organised project.
Internships including a field-work component have a minimum duration of 18 weeks, and can be offered subject to Covid-19 rules and regulations. For projects based in the Netherlands, the minimum duration is 12 weeks.
How to apply
At Julius Global Health we accept open applications for internship positions throughout the year. If you’d like to apply for an internship position, please send the following (in English) to juliusglobalhealth@umcutrecht.nl:
Once we have received your completed application, a member of our project office will share your internship request with the Julius Global Health team and add your information to our database. If a suitable opportunity arises, we will contact you as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Project Office Coordinator at juliusglobalhealth@umcutrecht.nl
We look forward to receiving your application!
Educational activities of Julius Global Health are closely linked to the research themes and have extended in the past years. Educational activities encompasses courses and studies in the field of Global Health with the aim to build capacity in international health sciences:
For our educational activities we partner with Elevate Health, an online portal for international health professionals to enhance knowledge in medical sciences and thereby contribute to the improvement of health worldwide. It offers courses in medical and veterinary sciences (with a focus on global health) on behalf of renowned partner institutes. The courses may be taken online or through ‘blended learning’ (a mix to face-to-face sessions plus distance learning).
Global Health also offers the possibility to enter a PhD program in Epidemiology with a focus on global health themes. For more information, please click here.
In addition, we offer PhD students an opportunity to take part in the Global Health Writing Retreat. This includes various workshops to improve students’ academic writing and communication skills and meet other global health PhD candidates and early career researchers. For more information, please click here.