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Health Sciences Summer School at University College Dublin

Ireland Dublin Bridge At Sunset 554057239
What's Included

Ideal for health students seeking a global perspective, the Health Sciences Summer School at UCD provides a challenging international education experience in central Dublin. Students on this program will benefit greatly by developing their knowledge of comparative health systems and their skills in research, in addition to benefiting from the rich culture of Dublin and the opportunity to integrate into Irish life.

What's Included?

Highlights

Pre Departure Services

Advising

@api Online System

Orientation Materials and Resources

Access to International Phone Plans

Social Networking

Scholarships

On Site Services

Airport Reception

On-Site Orientation

Excursions 

Tuition

Medical and Life Insurance

Resident Directors

Welcome and Farewell Group Meals

Volunteer Opportunities

Housing

Social and Cultural Activities

Re-Entry Services

Re-Entry Materials and Support

Post-Program Evaluation

Transcript

Alumni Network and API Ambassador Program
View all opportunities and amenities

Application Requirements

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Open to juniors and seniors
  • Completed API application
  • University Approval Form
  • One letter of recommendation
  • Official transcript
  • Entry requirement: valid passport
Dates & Fees
Session Program Dates Program Cost Application Deadline Payment Deadline
Summer 1 and 2 Combined Jun 12, 2021 - Jul 10, 2021 $8,800 Feb 15, 2021 Mar 1, 2021
Summer 1 Jun, 2022 - Jun, 2022 $5,190 Feb 15, 2022 Mar 1, 2022

**There is an additional 2 weeks of ongoing assessment following each block of classes, wherein students will be completing assignments, taking exams and virtually presenting with their peers. Therefore, it’s essential that students be available to finish any remaining coursework remotely during this time. In total, the 2-week program involves a total of 4 weeks of ongoing assessment and the 4-week program involves 6 weeks of ongoing assessment.

Excursions

API students participate excursions designed to help familiarize them with the culture and surrounding areas of their host city and country. The following is a listing of potential excursions for API Dublin summer programs. API may need to modify the excursions offered in a given term due to travel restrictions or health and safety concerns.

  • Bray to Greystones Coastal Hike

    The beautiful coastal walk to Greystones, begins from the pretty seaside town of Bray. Students will navigate one of the most picturesque coastal hikes to the quaint village of Greystones, visiting yummy eateries to suit all tastes!

  • Malahide Castle & Malahide beach tour

    Malahide Castle, is set in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, and it was both a fortress and a private home for 800 years and is an eclectic mix of architectural style

    After a tour of the lavishly ornate castle, you will get to explore the famous botanical gardens, take a magical walk around the fairy trail, pop into the butterfly house, old Abbey ruins, and experience the award winning Avoca Cafe & Handweavers, famous for its baked goods, and amazing woolen designs. A trip to Malahide beach is also recommended, as it’s one of the east coast's prettiest beach walks.

  • Dublin Bay Hike (Summer 2021 - UCD)

    The beautiful Dublin bay hike brings you on a coastal walk to Greystones and one of Dublin's most recommended hikes, beginning from the pretty seaside town of Bray, taking about 2-3 hours, we navigate one of the most picturesque coastal hikes to the quaint village of Greystones, packed with yummy eateries to suit all tastes!

    We also include a fun program of Cultural events throughout the program.

    *UCD includes a Summer Social Program on Campus with exciting cultural events, Health sciences include an Irish Sporting experience and a day trip visit to a farm or one of Ireland's top tourist sites,Cliffs of Moher, Glendalough, Blarney Castle. UCD also hosts a welcome & farewell meal. Subject to change.

  • Dublin Bay Hike (Summer 2021 - UCD)

    The beautiful Dublin bay hike brings you on a coastal walk to Greystones and one of Dublin's most recommended hikes, beginning from the pretty seaside town of Bray, taking about 2-3 hours, we navigate one of the most picturesque coastal hikes to the quaint village of Greystones, packed with yummy eateries to suit all tastes!

    We also include a fun program of Cultural events throughout the program.

    *UCD includes a Summer Social Program on Campus with exciting cultural events, Health sciences include an Irish Sporting experience and a day trip visit to a farm or one of Ireland's top tourist sites,Cliffs of Moher, Glendalough, Blarney Castle. UCD also hosts a welcome & farewell meal. Subject to change.

Program Details

What You’ll Study

TOTAL CREDITS - 2.5 - 7.5 U.S. semester credits

Students who choose to study abroad in Dublin at the Health Sciences Summer School at University College Dublin (UCD) take courses in the field of healthcare, including Introduction to Health Systems, Critical Appraisal of Research for Healthcare, and Introduction to Statistics.

TRANSCRIPTS

API students receive their transcript from University College Dublin upon successful completion of their program.

  • Madden Nikki

    Nikki Madden

    Nikki Madden will be your Resident Director and a resource for you while you are in Ireland!

  • Staff Bio Pic Mogan

    Rachel Mogan

    Rachel Mogan will be your Program Manager and help prepare you to go abroad!

Courses

COURSE OFFERINGS

For weeks 1-2 (June 8-June 19) of the program, students can choose one or both of the two 5 ECTS classes on offer: An Introduction to Health Systems and/or Critical Appraisal of Research for Healthcare. For weeks 3-4 (June 20-July 2), students can stay on for an additional 5 ECTS of Critical Appraisal of Research for Healthcare or Introduction to Statistics.

There is an additional 2 week ongoing assessment period after the end of each block of classes wherein students will be taking exams and virtually presenting with their peers, so, the 2 week program is 4 weeks of ongoing assessment and the 4 week full program is 6 weeks of ongoing assessment.

Introduction to Health Systems

This module is aimed at enabling students understand the meaning and importance of health systems in delivering health for all. The module will introduce the students to the concept of health systems and health systems frameworks outlined by World Health Organization (Building Blocks) and World Bank (Control Knobs). It will focus on the implications of different frameworks to enable access to healthcare as a human right in the national and global context. The module will present comparative and multidisciplinary perspectives on health systems in developed and developing nations. It will enhance the understanding of how health systems approach is being applied to address major health challenges in a range of contexts. The module content will encourage students to think critically about different models of health systems reflecting on themes of equity and justice. In particular, students will be asked to consider how citizens are positioned with varying degrees of power to access healthcare and to participate in health policy and decision-making.

Recommended US semester credits: 2.5   Contact Hours: 5 ECTS

View Syllabus   

Critical Appraisal of Research for Healthcare

Providing healthcare which is grounded in research evidence is widely recognized as a key skill for all healthcare professionals and policy makers. In order to facilitate the movement of research evidence into healthcare policy and practice, it is necessary to build students’ capacity to engage with health research and foster their critical appraisal skills in relation to the evidence which underpins best practice and policy. Therefore, in completing this course, students will be introduced to different types of research evidence and they will examine the relationship between clinical questions, research designs and methods. Furthermore, the students will work in small groups with a mentor who has experience and knowledge of a critical component of the evidence based healthcare process for example: clinical audit, Lean methodology, clinical research centres, systematic review and clinical trials methodology. This mentor led group work component of the module will facilitate active student engagement with and reflection upon the complex processes and mechanisms by which evidence is translated into healthcare practice. The aim of this module is to equip students with the knowledge, skills and language to embark on life-long learning and appreciation of the relationship between research evidence and an evolving healthcare practice.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 5   Contact Hours: 10 ECTS

View Syllabus   

Introduction to Statistics

Statistics is an essential tool for health care research and health care professionals need to know and understand the basic principles and the language of statistics, in order to understand and interpret published research. Statistics enables researchers to summarize information in tabular and graphic form, describe populations in terms of their characteristics (or variables), test hypotheses, explore differences between groups and examine relationships and predict associations between variables. This module provides students with an introduction to basic statistical theory, including ideas of reliability and validity; levels and forms of measurement; statistical error; probability theory; statistical inference, effect sizes, probability-value and confidence intervals, and their application in empirical research. It also introduces some common descriptive and inferential statistical tests, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, t-test, ANOVA and Chi-square. Through lectures, practical workshops and self-directed learning, students should come to appreciate how statistics can inform our understanding of clinical interventions and their outcomes.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 2.5   Contact Hours: 5 ECTS

View Syllabus   

Introduction to Health Systems

This module is aimed at enabling students understand the meaning and importance of health systems in delivering health for all. The module will introduce the students to the concept of health systems and health systems frameworks outlined by World Health Organization (Building Blocks) and World Bank (Control Knobs). It will focus on the implications of different frameworks to enable access to healthcare as a human right in the national and global context. The module will present comparative and multidisciplinary perspectives on health systems in developed and developing nations. It will enhance the understanding of how health systems approach is being applied to address major health challenges in a range of contexts. The module content will encourage students to think critically about different models of health systems reflecting on themes of equity and justice. In particular, students will be asked to consider how citizens are positioned with varying degrees of power to access healthcare and to participate in health policy and decision-making.

Recommended US semester credits: 2.5   Contact Hours: 5 ECTS

View Syllabus   

Critical Appraisal of Research for Healthcare

Providing healthcare which is grounded in research evidence is widely recognized as a key skill for all healthcare professionals and policy makers. In order to facilitate the movement of research evidence into healthcare policy and practice, it is necessary to build students’ capacity to engage with health research and foster their critical appraisal skills in relation to the evidence which underpins best practice and policy. Therefore, in completing this course, students will be introduced to different types of research evidence and they will examine the relationship between clinical questions, research designs and methods. Furthermore, the students will work in small groups with a mentor who has experience and knowledge of a critical component of the evidence based healthcare process for example: clinical audit, Lean methodology, clinical research centres, systematic review and clinical trials methodology. This mentor led group work component of the module will facilitate active student engagement with and reflection upon the complex processes and mechanisms by which evidence is translated into healthcare practice. The aim of this module is to equip students with the knowledge, skills and language to embark on life-long learning and appreciation of the relationship between research evidence and an evolving healthcare practice.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 5   Contact Hours: 10 ECTS

View Syllabus   

Housing

Students will live on the lively UCD campus, along with UCD students from other summer schools. You will have access to all of the facilities that UCD has to offer, its student centre, gym, cinema and shops. You can also explore the woodland walks that surround the 320 acre campus and enjoy the leafy environs every day. You are also connected within twenty minutes to the city, and greater Dublin area, with the second largest bus hub in Ireland on your door step. Your UCD housing will be shared with fellow students in apartments comprising four individual bedrooms with two shared bathrooms. Communal kitchens and living spaces are shared in each apartment with access to kitchen utensils and cooking facilities. Bed linen is supplied and changed weekly. You also have access to Wi-Fi (campus wide).