Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings - PgCert
Do you want to make a difference to the health of people in low-resource settings? Are you passionate about social justice or looking for a qualification that will enable you to work at a senior level in health policy and practice in the UK or abroad, particularly in low- and middle- income settings? This PgCert in Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings could be the perfect stepping stone for your career.
This course is for health and humanitarian workers seeking to consolidate and extend learning in this area. You will develop skills and understanding that are attractive to organisations working in some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.
The course focuses on the current challenges and policy debates in local/national/global responses in meeting the health needs of populations affected by or recovering from instability and conflict. It is delivered full time over 15 weeks.
Please note that this course is going through a routine review process over the next year and that any changes to course content arising will be reflected on this web page.
Why QMU?
- Unique academic institution: The Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) at QMU offers a range of postgraduate courses aimed specifically at those who wish to work in health policy and practice, particularly in low-income and middle-income settings.
- Make a difference to your career and to others' lives: Our courses put a strong focus on the social aspects of health and on health systems strengthening from a community-based perspective. They will equip you to assist in improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world, whether that be overseas or locally in Scotland. You will develop a strong understanding of current global health and development issues and will equip yourself with the tools you need to forge positive change locally, nationally or internationally.
- Access to expertise and industry connections: You will learn from experienced figures in the field and make connections that could last your whole working life. At IGHD we work directly with ministries of health, international and national organisations and local communities to develop real solutions to health and development problems. We have links with various bodies, including the following:
- At QMU we hosted the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility (RUHF) and we are part of the UK FCDO-funded project .
- Join us on our compassion mission: Our work at IGHD addresses the health and wellbeing of those in greatest need, whether that be vulnerable populations in Scotland or those living in low-income or middle-income countries.  
- Wide ranging teaching and research expertise: Our teaching and research expertise spans multiple aspects of global health and development. These range from health financing, support to fragile and conflict-affected settings to refugee integration and child protection. 
Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (PgCert): More information and what you will achieve
On this course, you will examine the concepts of vulnerability and resilience of individuals, households and their interaction with health systems in conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as strategies for strengthening the health system in fragile states. Re-establishing human resource systems provision and psychosocial interventions in a range of crisis settings also form part of this coherent course.
When you have completed this course, you will be able to critically analyse and respond effectively and appropriately to complex policy and practice issues in diverse range of settings affected by conflict or emerging from conflict, as well as to integrate diverse perspectives on the impact of conflict to formulate effective and appropriate programmatic response to identified needs.
How will I be taught?
Structure and exit awards
You can opt to study for the PgCert (60 credits) or you can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. For the PgCert, in addition to the compulsory modules, a variety of modules can be studied, including our Forced Displacement and Integration Module. Contact IGHD for more information.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching is delivered face-to-face and online (asynchronous) and comprised of a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, discussion board, simulation exercises and projects. Assessment is continuous and incorporates assignments, action plans, projects and presentations.
Teaching hours and attendance
Your exact attendance requirements at QMU will depend on the module you are studying. In addition, for each module students spend approximately 10-12 hours of each week on preparatory class work independently and with colleagues, including readings and exercises available on dedicated web-based learning platforms.
Class sizes
We expect approximately 15-20 students to enrol for this course each year.
Teaching staff
You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.
Modules
You will study the following modules:
- Health Systems in Fragile Settings (Delivered online) (15 credits): This module provides participants with an overview of the current challenges and policy debates in local, national and global responses aimed to strengthening health systems, designing appropriate health system interventions and meeting the health needs of populations affected by or recovering from instability and conflict. Through presentation of theory and frameworks as well as the critical analysis of practical approaches and case studies, the module covers the key ongoing debates about interventions delivered through the health system in fragile settings and explores the policy and aid options available. ÌýÌý
- Psychosocial Interventions for Displaced Populations (Delivered on-campus) (15 credits): This module establishes critical competences for the advocacy, conceptualisation, appraisal, planning, implementation and evaluation of psychosocial programmes for war-affected populations, displaced persons and refugees.
- Independent Study (focusing on a topic relevant to health in fragile and conflict-affected settings).Ìý
- Plus one more 15-credit module from the list of modules available at IGHD, which are subject to student demand.Ìý
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The modules listed for this course are correct at time of posting (October 2024) but may be subject to substantial change pending revalidation. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students. Please check back here for updates.
Career opportunities
Our courses have been helping people to successfully advance their careers in global health for many years. Former IGHD students work in a variety of settings where a social development understanding informs approaches to health.
Examples of positions filled by IGHD graduates include:
- Health Advisor for Save the Children UK
- Senior Co-ordinator for International Operations with Partners in Health
- Policy Development Officer in the Scottish NGO sector
- Public Health Policy Workers for First Nation communities in Canada
- Humanitarian worker with Islamic Relief
Others have taken internships with organisations such as the WHO on graduation, while others have progressed to doctoral studies.
As a graduate of the PgCert Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings, you will have the skills and understanding that are attractive to organisations working in some of the most vulnerable and at-risk communities in the world.
Health Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (PgCert): Entry requirements and application information
Entry requirements
A UK honours degree or equivalent from a relevant subject area (arts, humanities, health or social sciences). Students without an honours degree may be considered if they have other relevant qualifications and/or appropriate work experience.Ìý
International students: Where your honours degree has not been studied in English, you will be required to take an IELTS test receiving an overall score of 6.0 and no individual component score below 5.5.Ìý
NB This course is only open to applicants who do not require a student visa to study in the UK.Ìý
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Applying for this course
For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.
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Application deadline
December 2025
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Terms and Conditions
The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2025/26 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).
More information and QMU contacts
Contact Admissions or contact IGHD for more information.
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