Equal access to sexual and reproductive health care contributes to positive economic, health and educational outcomes for children and their parents, while shaping future economic development and environmental sustainability.
This programme will provide you with a global perspective on the state of people’s sexual and reproductive health, and will enhance your ability to implement evidence-based strategies that will serve to improve the quality of health care.
Two recurring themes in the programme are the promotion of gender equality and the implementation of strategies for evidence-based practice. With knowledge and skills in these areas, you will be equipped to help improve public health in middle and low-income countries.
As a student in this programme, you will be part of an interactive and international learning environment headed by our faculty team, the members of which have extensive experience working with international collaborators such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Advocate Gender Equality for a Sustainable Future
You should apply to this programme if you have a desire to combine your passion for sustainable development with a curiosity for research, the aim of which is to promote equal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. We consider applicants with a broad range of academic backgrounds in health and social sciences.
All courses are taught in English. The programme comprises 60 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and begins at the start of the autumn semester in late August.
Note: 1.5 credits = one week of full-time study.
Semester 1 (Autumn) - Early September to mid-January
In the first semester, you will gain an overview of the field of sexual and reproductive health from a global perspective and, in parallel, deepen your knowledge in related research methodology and implementation of evidence within the field.
You will take these courses:
- Global Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (15 credits)
- Research Methods in Global Sexual Reproductive Health (7.5 credits)
- Implementing Strategies for Quality Improvements in Health Care Settings (7.5 credits)
Semester 2 (Spring) - Late January to Mid-June
In the second semester, you will have time to focus on and deepen your knowledge about health systems research and leadership and management. This will include in-dept studies, analysis and interpretation, report writing and presentations. In parallel, you will focus on your master thesis work. The thesis work will conclude with the defence of your thesis at an examination seminar.
- Healthcare System Research in Low-Resource Settings (7.5 credits)
- Leadership and Management within Healthcare Systems (7.5 credits)
- Thesis: Global Sexual and Reproductive Health (15 credits)
You will have the opportunity to develop your ability to understand, interpret and critically evaluate scientific literature by way of assignments and the writing of your final thesis. You will be assessed based on your assignments and your participation in seminars and presentations.
Degree Awarded
Upon completion of this programme, you will receive a Master of Science in Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health (60 credits). You can use this degree to apply for PhD studies in Sweden.
Career Opportunities
The knowledge and experiences that you will gain from your fellow students, along with the opportunity to learn from the international research projects that our faculty are working with, will provide you with a sound basis to proceed into the workforce, finding the ideal job within your chosen field.
Upon successful graduation, you will be well prepared for a wide range of employment opportunities and a variety of advanced positions within home ministries, international NGOs and educational institutions. You can also apply for advertised PhD positions at Dalarna University, or other Swedish or international universities.
Examples of positions are health programme manager; humanitarian coordinator; civil society programme manager; research and advocacy officer; and donor agency health advisor.
You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits.
Using your degree overseas
The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and has been used by previous students to attain employment or pursue further studies outside of Sweden.
You can also apply to receive an Erasmus+ grant for an internship, even up to 12 months after completing your studies. This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country other than Sweden.
Stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating
You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits. International students are encouraged to stay in Dalarna and Sweden and look for a job after graduating from the Master's Programme in Global Sexual Reproductive Health.
You can study the program completely web-based, or at campus, or blended. The program also features guest lecturers and seminars headed by representatives from regional and international partner organisations.
Dalarna University attracts students from the world over, making for an international environment and a diverse classroom. The fact it is a small university will make it easy for you to develop close professional relationships with both your fellow students and teachers alike. Your classmates usually have backgrounds as medical professionals or in the social sciences. The 25-35 students who study the GSRH programme share a passion to support more equitible outcomes globally.
The university campus is located in the historic town of Falun, home to the outstanding outdoor and indoor recreational centre at Lugnet, which is located in close walking distance to campus. As most of our faculty in the Sexual and Reproductive Health subject are actively working in international projects, lectures will be live streamed and recorded, enabling participation in the programme if you are unable to study in Falun.
This programme comprises lectures, seminars, group discussions, presentations, study trips and written assignments. You will normally have four to eight hours of classes each week, and 20 to 30 hours of self-study that includes the writing of assignments and group projects. Note these hours are simply a guideline and will vary from student to student.
The faculty for the Master's Programme in Global Sexual and Reproductive Health have extensive experience in education and research within this field of study. Your instructors will be:
- Kerstin Erlandsson
- Ulrika Byrskog
- Christina Pedersen
- Catrin Borneskog Sinclair
- Elin Ternström
- Maya Vergara Guerra
Guest lectures and additional faculty will be incorporated into your classes.
Selection Criteria
The programme has two selection groups. A number of spaces will be allotted to students who are required to pay tuition fees and a number of spaces will be allotted to students who are exempt from tuition fees.
Specific Entry Requirements
- A Bachelor degree comprising of at least 180 credits (ECTS equivalent) majoring in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Economics or an equivalent degree -- or you are currently completing the final year of your studies leading to such a degree.
- Proof of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS result of 6.5 overall with no part of the test below 5.5
Documents to submit when applying:
- Proof of a completed bachelor’s degree, equal to a Swedish bachelor's degree in one of the approved subject areas. It is also possible to apply if you are currently completing the final year of studies leading to such a degree.
Tip: Be sure to read the information specific to the country where you previously studied to know how to submit the appropriate documents. - Proof of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS result of 6.5 overall with no part of the test below 5.5
In some cases your previous studies may fulfill the English proficiency requirement.
Tip: Please check the University Admissions information on English Language Proficiency to see if you are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS test result.
Tuition Fees
168,000 SEK (total)*
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Tuition fees are paid in two installments of 84,000 SEK, and the first payment should be made as soon as possible after you have received your invoice and no later than the deadline on the invoice. This allows for reasonable processing time for a residence permit application.
Visit our Tuition Fee website for more information about paying tuition fees and what is included in the fee.
If you have any questions about tuition fee payments, please e-mail tuitionfees@du.se.
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available for successful applicants to the Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme who are not EU/EEA citizens.
For more information about scholarships, please visit our webpage about International Student Scholarships or contact us using the contact form on this webpage.
