Understanding Planetary Health & Data: An Introduction to the Concepts and Themes

In this 5 week short course students will be invited to develop skills in planetary health, data analysis and online group work. As a student on this course, you will discuss and assess key topics through handling relevant large data sets from UN, WHO and World Bank repositories. You will be introduced to tools and methods of data gathering, analysis and visualisation to support evidence-based decision-making in this field.

The concept of ‘planetary health’, defined as the health of human civilisation and the state of the natural systems on which it depends, is an exciting emergent field of research and study. Data interpretation, synthesis, analysis and translation is central to how Planetary Health is evidenced and understood. This course invites students to consider the data implications of key concepts of Planetary Health e.g. planetary boundaries, pandemics, climate change, food and nutrition security.

This online course will have broad appeal to both humanities and science graduates interested to pursue careers across public health, human, animal and environmental health, and global governance.

This is an introductory Masters-level course (SCQF Level 11). It provides foundational skills and an overview of the subject – no prior knowledge is needed. Masters-level courses are relatively intensive and require independent learning, critical thinking, analysis and reflection.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in any subject. We may also consider your application if your background does not meet this criteria and you have relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether you meet these criteria please send your CV to upskilling@ed.ac.uk

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

Entry requirements by country

English Language Requirements

You must be comfortable studying and learning in English if it is not your first language.

1. Understand the key conceptual aspects of planetary health thinking.
2. Evaluate and assess data-sets relevant to planetary health.
3. Develop ability to work independently and jointly under fixed deadlines and to develop their ability to present the outcome of independent research in a clear written and oral form.

This is a 5-week course, comprising a total of 100 hours study. The course content will be delivered as live and pre-recorded lectures. Students will engage with the content through live discussions, tutorial activities, a group presentation and written assessments. Tutorial activities include the Planetary Health board game and data-to-narrative exercises. Assessment is 100% coursework.

Course fees for 23/24 are £1,065 but funded places are available for people employed or unemployed in Scotland (residency requirements apply).

Funding

Through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Upskilling Fund, a limited number of fully-funded places are available on Data Upskilling Short Courses at The University of Edinburgh.

Eligibility

Funded places are available to those who meet SFC fee waiver criteria:

“Courses/provision is open to all Scottish-domiciled/’home fee’ students, which is consistent with SFC’s policy for core funded student places. Students from the rest of the UK (rUK) are not normally considered eligible for SFC funding. If however a university is working with a Scottish/UK employer which has a physical presence or operating in Scotland, rUK employees of that employer would be eligible.”

If you are from outside Scotland, you need to have settled status in the UK and meet other residency criteria:

•  be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before course start date, and
• have ‘settled status’ in the UK (as set out in the Immigration Act 1971) at the course start date, and
• be ordinarily resident in Scotland at the course start date.

You can find out more about residency criteria on the SAAS website  or in this summary.

Funding eligibility will be assessed at the point of each application for each course; you may be asked to provide further information if you do not meet the general residence conditions. You can check your likely fee status here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/tuition-fees/fee-status/work-out Please email us at upskilling@ed.ac.uk if you would like to discuss your funding eligibility before applying.

Please note that full-time students (including full-time PhD students) are not eligible for funding. ​​​​

You will receive a certificate of completion after the final assessment date if you have submitted your coursework.

You may also be able to use credits achieved on this course towards other University of Edinburgh postgraduate programmes, subject to the approval of the relevant Programme Director.

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