OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DUAL INTEGRATED DEGREE PROGRAMME: BACHELOR OF MEDICINE, BACHELOR OF SURGERY AND MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GLOBAL HEALTH DELIVERY (MBBS/MGHD)
Background
The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), a Partners In Health initiative, is an accredited not-for-profit health sciences university registered in Rwanda with a mission to advance global health delivery by training a new generation of global health leaders.
In a view to advance the above mission, UGHE offers partial sponsorship to both Rwandan and non-Rwandan students to pursue a dual integrated Medical Degree Programme in Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MBBS/MGHD). The study duration for this single entry and single exit dual integrated Medical Degree Programme is six and half years. All partially sponsored students will have to commit to provide professional services in public/private health facilities in their respective home countries for a specified period. Malawi has been identified as one of the beneficiary countries, with a quota of five (5) scholarships per year.
In light of the above, UGHE has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health (MoH) for a collaboration in regard to partial sponsorship of Malawian students. Each successful applicant will be required to enter into a Retention Agreement (The Umusanzu Retention Agreement) under which UGHE shall partially sponsor him/her in MBBS/MGHD programme, and in return, he/she shall commit to provide professional services in a public/private health facility in their home country for a minimum period of five (5) years after the graduation.
What is the MBBS/MGHD Programme
- Six and half year dual/integrated medical degree programme;
- Focuses on integrated medical education, innovative pedagogy and global health solutions, social medicine, community based education and improvements in the delivery of care;
- Teaching methods include interactive lectures, flipped classroom, team based learning, case based collaborative learning, simulation based teaching and clinical setting teaching;
- Graduates will not just treat individual patients but strive to lead and improve health systems;
- If students meet all requirements for the complete integrated degree programme, they shall first be awarded a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Honours (MBBS), followed by a Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD);
- Students shall receive the MBBS degree before they enter their one-year mandatory internship. After completion of internship and licensed as general practitioners, they shall return to UGHE to complete the remaining Masters modules and receive the MGHD degree;
- The MBBS/MGHD is being offered as an integrated degree programme in compliance with the Rwandan National Qualifications Framework guidelines on integrated degrees; and
- All students will live at UGHE’s residential Butaro Campus. Facilities include: fully equipped modern
class rooms, science lab, simulation centre, digital and physical library, recreation facilities, dining hall, housing units, teaching hospital and more.
What the Partial Scholarship Covers
- UGHE will pay for Tuition, Housing at UGHE dormitories, food, local health insurance, all academic related costs including projects and field trips. All students will receive a laptop for the duration of their studies loaded with all necessary course software. Additionally, students will be provided with all academic content in the form of books, manuals, online tools and video and audio recordings throughout the programme. These materials are of no additional cost to the students. However, UGHE will not replace broken, worn or lost laptops.
- Students will need to pay for air tickets, transport within Rwanda and visa fees. Additionally, students will be required to bring their own personal items and toiletries (e.g school supplies, laundry detergent, sanitary items, hair salon and barbershop services, phone airtime etc).
NB: UGHE does not provide students with pocket money or living stipend. Students will therefore be required to possess their own money to use as a top up allowance.
Admission Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for the MBBS/MGHD programme:
- Must be a Malawian citizen;
- Must possess Secondary (A Level) or High School Certificate (Visit https://ughe.org/admissions-criteria)
- Candidates with academic records from international or non-Rwandan training institutions must seek an equivalency certificate from the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA).
- Exam scores equivalent to the Rwanda Examination system with an overall aggregate score of at least 60 out of 73
- Any A Level combination with Biology and Chemistry. For Example:
Physics-Chemistry-Biology (PCB)
Math-Chemistry-Biology (MCB)
Biology-Chemistry-Geography (BCG)
Chemistry-Biology-Agriculture (CBA)
Chemistry-Biology-Food and Human Nutrition (CBN)
NB: Scores in Biology and Chemistry should be A, B or C
- Candidates with at six credit passes including English Language and a combination of at least three Science subjects (Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Geography/Agriculture/Food and Human Nutrition) at Malawi School Certificate Examinations (MSCE) or International General School Certificate Examinations (IGSCE) may also
apply. - Must not be more than 45 years old;
- Must not already hold a Bachelors’ degree in any field except those with BSc in Clinical Medicine
- Must be willing to sign the Umusanzu Retention Agreement in line with UGHE sponsorship;
- Must be willing to complete the MBBS/MGHD programme in six and half years; and
- For candidates already employed or working, must submit a stamped letter of recommendation from the employer on the official letter head confirming the office’s support for the application and that the office will endorse the candidate’s Umusanzu Retention Agreement form and will also grant him/her a Paid/Unpaid Study Leave if the candidate emerged successful.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online. Submission of applications for the MBBS/MGHD programme is currently open and will close on 9th February, 2024.
Eligible candidates can therefore access the on-line application form from UGHE’s website: www.ughe.org
Each applicant is asked to submit his/her National Exams results or Equivalency certificate from the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA). In addition to demographic information, each applicant is required to submit his/her personal statement. After the Admissions Committee reviews all applications, selected candidates are invited to sit for an on-line entrance examination, and a subset of those candidates are invited for interviews.
Prior to the award of scholarships, UGHE will be required to submit to the Ministry of Health a provisional list of shortlisted applicants for verification if each applicant has satisfied local eligibility criteria as provided in the relevant training policy or terms and conditions of service including those stipulated by the individual employing organization. In order to facilitate the verification process, applicants must upload the following documents in support of their on-line application submission:
- An updated Curriculum Vitae;
- Stamped letter of recommendation from employer on the official letter head confirming the office’s support for the application and that the office will endorse the candidate’s Umusanzu Retention Agreement form and will also grant him/her a Paid/Unpaid Study Leave if the candidate emerged successful (for applicants already employed or working);
- Letter of Condition on Appointment (PSR19 Form) for those working in the Civil Service; and
- Copy of valid National ID.
Post expires at 11:59pm on Friday February 9th, 2024