Global Health Challenges

This three-week international course introduces participants to the most pressing global health issues of our time. It combines one week of e-learning with two weeks in Copenhagen, where participants critically examine both major achievements and ongoing challenges in health across different world contexts through lectures, case studies, workshops, group work, and excursions.

Themes include:

  • One Health
  • Global health governance
  • Epidemiological transitions
  • Environmental health and climate change
  • Access to medicines
  • Migration
  • Humanitarian crises
  • Innovation and technology
  • Communicable and non-communicable diseases
  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights
  • Global mental health

The program brings together international pre- and post-graduate students from diverse professional backgrounds, fostering a unique interdisciplinary environment that encourages debate, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. Also, abilities are strengthened to analyze global health challenges, interpret data, assess governance structures, and draft persuasive advocacy pieces such as Op-Eds.

By the end of the course, it is the aim that the participants are equipped to evaluate health-related policies, communicate priorities, and contribute to inter-disciplinary innovative solutions - preparing them to become future health leaders, thinkers, and change-makers in an interconnected world.

Online module

5 working days in total beginning 23 June 2026*
On-campus module 10.- 21. August 2026

Exam

(80% course participation)

 21. August 2026

*5 working days are needed to complete the online curriculum preceding the course in Copenhagen. It will be available online from 23 June 2026, starting with a 1-hour online introduction on the 23 June 2026. 

Credit points: 5 ECTS

 

You can apply, if you have completed your bachelor's degree or at least 3 years full time studies within a relevant academic field, for instance:

  • medicine
  • public health
  • nutrition
  • midwifery
  • political science
  • law
  • sociology
  • anthropology
  • biology
  • veterinarian sciences
  • health informatics

The course is aimed at master students, PhD students and postgraduate professionals with an interest in global health, who have completed a bachelor's degree (or equivalent).

Medical students can take this course as a 5 ECTS elective course.

Students must have an adequate level of English as all lessons, group discussions, etc. are carried out in English.

Selection process

After the application deadline the admissions committee will go through all the applications and select the course participants. Applicants are encouraged to put energy and care into the motivation-section of the online application, as this is the main selection criteria. You should include how this course might benefit you in your future work or studies, and list any former experience with global health or health issues, both nationally and internationally.

 

 

 

The course consists of 5-days of e-learning and two-weeks class-based learning.

The e-learning module will consist of short online lectures, literature, tasks and writing an essay (op-ed). The e-learning module requires 37 hours work, which can be spread out over a longer period of time. Online activity will be monitored, and an essay (op-ed) must be handed in prior to participating in the on-campus program.

Since completion of the online course and attendance during class-based learning are the requirements for passing the course, you must have no more than two days of absence due to illness during the on-campus module if you wish to pass the course and receive the course certificate.

The class-based program primarily takes place from 9.00 to around 16.00 every week day. It includes lectures, interactive class-based activities and a variety of excursions to locations around Copenhagen. One mandatory evening event will take place during the first on-campus week. Other social activities in the evening are optional.

Lecturers

Reflecting its global focus, this summer course is taught by an international group of renowned lecturers and practitioners from the University of Copenhagen as well as other universities, private companies, civil society organisations and the UN system.

For more details, please read the course description in UCPH's course database

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The application deadline is 9 April 23:59 (CEST). Regrettably, we do not accept late applications.

Upon submitting your application, you receive an e-mail receipt. Please keep this for future reference. Make sure to check your spam filter, if you do not receive the receipt.

You will receive the result of your application 3 - 4 weeks after the application deadline.

Choose the option that matches your applicant category:

  • International fee-paying students
    Application deadline: 9 April
    Apply here

  • Professionals/graduates from Denmark (self-paying participants)
    Application deadline: 9 April
    Apply here

  • Credit students from other Danish universities
    Application deadline: 9 April
    Apply here

  • PhD students from Danish universities
    Application deadline: 9 April
    Apply here

  • SUND degree students
    Application deadline: 9 April
    Apply here

Note: If you have problems with the application form, please try a different browser, and make sure your files are not too large or the file names does not contain special characters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are exempted from payment, if:

You are enrolled at a Danish university and the course is part of your master's programme. Danish students must provide a pre-approval of credit transfer from their home institution upon application.

You are a student at UCPH enrolled in one of the following programmes, you do not need to apply for pre-approval of credit transfer:

  • MSc in Health Science
  • MSc in Human Biology
  • MSc in Medicine (5th semester perspective: Global Health)
  • MSc in Medicine (elective for 5th semester perspectives: Research or Specialisation)
  • MSc in Public Health Science

You are an exchange student and attend the course as part of the autumn exchange semester (min. 3 months stay).

You are an exchange student nominated through Nordplus express or Nordlys.

Fee-paying participants

All other participants (students, working professionals, etc.) must pay tuition fee according to the information below.

EU/EEA citizens: 5,000 DKK
Non-EU/EEA citizens: 9,000 DKK

The fee covers participation in the course. It does not cover course materials, travel, accommodation and living expenses during the course.

Full payment of course fees must be transferred in May. Payment details will be forwarded upon acceptance.

International fee paying students - application deadline 9 April

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have questions about the course content, please write to Summercourse-GHC@sund.ku.dk

Course director: Nanna Maaløe

Course administration: Helga Bach-Mortensen

 

 

 

Accommodation: Please note that the summer courses are non-residential. Participants are responsible for finding and funding accommodation during their stay in Copenhagen.

You can use different online portals to search for accommodation, such as:

Copenhagen has an international airport, and the city centre can be reached within 30 minutes. If you want additional information read Arriving in Copenhagen.

Please study our websites for more information about Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the University of Copenhagen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Read more about:

  • deadlines
  • tuition fee & scholarships
  • visa
  • arrival and departure
  • certificates