Global Health is an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide (J.P. Koplan, Towards a common definition of Global Health, 2009).

The bachelor minor Global Health allows you to view health related issues from a holistic perspective in which the social, environmental, economic and political situation of individuals and communities are considered as influencers on health. The minor will help you to understand international trends in disease and illness and will allow you to apply these in real life projects. This experience will contribute to skills which will support you internationally and at home in your future career challenges created by our globalizing world.

This minor will help you:

• to work in a diverse society

• to collaborate in inter professional teams

• to practice your profession in a diverse context

• to become aware and to take into account the effects of a globalizing world.

Global Health Theory - 15 ECTS: Consists of the modules: Global Health Theory and Community Approaches and is offered in Block 1 & 3

• The Minor programme is offered by the Faculty of Health of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). The program goals are developed in conjunction with the Universities of Oslo.  

​This programme enables you to develop important competences, which will assist you in future challenges of our globalising world. The competence profile are classified as Global Health Expert, Communicator, Collaborator, Health Advocate, Scholar and Professional.
You will learn:

•To view health related issues from a holistic perspective, in which the social, environmental, economic and political situation of an individual, a community, or society as a whole influence the availability and access to health.

•To integrate important lifestyle, genetic, demographic, political, environmental, social, economic, and psychological determinants of health of a population as a whole into professional activities to reduce health inequities.

•To integrate knowledge of international health status, global morbidity trends and mortality of chronic diseases of social significance, the impact of migration, trade, and environmental factors on health into professional activities to achieve equity in health.

​All students studying for a bachelor (Bsc) in Nursing (Verpleegkunde, Faculty Gezondheid), Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy or Exercise Therapy can subscribe for Bachelor Minor Global Health programme with sufficient ECT's conform OER.  Students who study any other health or wellbeing related Bachelor programme, or programs related to global healths such as agriculture, economics and international relations, can take part in the Global Health Minor with the permission of their own department.  

Students should have a basic level of English but will be supported in their English throughout the minor. International students should be nominated by their school. 

Students must meet the minimum requirement for study points and have received permission from their own school to attend the minor program.

Skolnik, R. (2015). Global Health 101. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Lectures and tutorials: 120 hours

Coaching / Consultancy: 10 hours

Self-Study Time  

Designated working time in the community

Exams: 8 hours

Fulltime Minor

Global Health Theory : (10 weeks, 15 ECTS) is offered in Block 1 and Block 3. 

Global Health Theory consists of a theoretical course "Introduction to Global Health" where students learn foundations of global health and important global health work fields. From there students will take part in the Module Community Approaches, a Problem-Based Learning Module, based on cases from experts in field of global health and in collaboration with community partners in Amsterdam. 

The theory portion of the course is evaluated with a theory exam and a take-home assignment. The community approaches module is evaluated with a group assignment and an individual reflection. Re-takes are possible based on the exam schedule of the minor. 

Please Note: If you are interested in doing both Theory and Fieldwork you need to subscribe to: Minor Global Health Theory & Fieldwork - 30 ECTS

International Student Exchange students can choose to follow a 12  week programme:

•12 weeks: the first part of the programme consist of an introduction week, Global Health Theory, Community Approaches and an exam week (15 ECTS).

Students can participate in re-takes according to the exam schedule of the minor

If a student fails to successfully complete the minor in the period in which she took the minor it is possible to finalize the minor in a following period in which the minor is given.

If a minor is no longer offered or in case the minor is rewritten, the degree programme will offer students a further two opportunities to finalize this minor in the following year.

Questions about de minor? 
Contact Annemieke van Heerwaarden,  a.m.t.van.heerwaarden@hva.nl or Colette van het Schip, c.van.het.schip@hva.nl

Questions about the Kies Op Maat procedure?
Contact Niermela Chote-sobha, n.chote-sobha@hva.nl

Applications will be processed in the order of receipt of signed learning agreements.