Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research and Epidemiology

Introduction

Designed with the working health practitioner in mind, the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research and Epidemiology (HREP), is an online programme which offers the learning flexibility and convenience that many health professionals need but which is often not offered by other graduate programmes. Upon completion, graduates will be awarded a fully accredited diploma. Students will also have the option to transfer credits before completion of the programme to other graduate programmes offered by the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR) such as the MSc in Epidemiology, once the matriculation requirements for UWI Mona have been met.

Who is this programme for?

The programme seeks to target persons who are working in health care delivery, administration, industry or non-governmental organisations.   These would include:

• Clinicians (including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, nutritionists/dieticians, physiotherapists, veterinary surgeons, etc.) and other health care providers  
• Allied health professionals
• Academics/researchers
• Administrators/policy makers engaged in all sectors of Health Care including government, non-governmental and private organisations.

Programme Structure

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research and Epidemiology is a twenty-one (21) credit programme which comprises the following courses:

• Fundamentals of Epidemiology     - 4 credits
• Fundamentals of Statistics for Health Research - 4 credits
• Research Ethics, Research Methods & Project Management   - 4 credits
• Appraising the Medical Literature and Preparing Scientific Manuscripts - 3 credits
• Data Management for Epidemiological Studies  -   3 credits
• Research Paper – 3 credits

With the exception of the Research Paper, all courses in this programme may also be pursued as stand-alone courses.

Duration  & Award of Programme

The programme will be offered over a minimum of fifteen (15) months and a maximum of three (3) years.  However, students have the option of pursuing individual courses as stand-alone course (one semester each) as specially admitted students but will be required to register for the programme, should they decide to pursue more than 3 of the stand-alone courses.

Delivery Mode

The programme will be delivered fully online using both synchronous and asynchronous technologies. All new graduate students are required to do the Graduate Introduction to Online Learning before starting the programme to fulfill the requirements for graduation. 

When will the programme start?

The flexibility of the programme allows for two intake periods. The first is in Semester 1 of each academic year, which starts in August, in which the courses being offered are:

• HREP5103 Research Ethics, Research Methods & Project Management
• HREP5104 Appraising the Medical Literature and Preparing Scientific Manuscripts

The second intake is in Semester 2 of each academic year, which starts in January, in which courses being offered are: 

• HREP5101 Fundamentals of Epidemiology
• HREP5102 Fundamentals of Statistics for Health Research

During the Summer teaching period, the course being offered is:

• HREP5105 Data Management for Epidemiological Studies. This course is only offered during this period. Depending on student need, the HREP5106 Research Paper course may be offered in any of the semesters.
   

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree (at least a Lower Second Class or its equivalent) from an approved tertiary institution in a relevant discipline.

How much will the programme cost?

Information on the tuition structure for UWI Open Campus graduate programmes can be viewed at the website below:

http://www.open.uwi.edu/admissions/undergraduate/financial-information

How to Apply

Applications for the programme will be accepted online.

Interested persons should complete an online application via http://apply.open.uwi.edu.  

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma must download two (2) Referee Report forms from the Document Library. These forms must be completed and submitted under confidential cover before the application can be considered. N.B. Specially admitted students are not required to submit referee report forms.

What Documents Should I Submit?

• A brief statement outlining your interest in the programme, Include any relevant work experience, as well as employer contact information.
• Two (2) referee reports – the forms are available from the Document Library.
  • Two (2) academic referees are preferred but one (1) academic referee and one (1) work referee may be accepted. These reports must be submitted under confidential cover by the referees directly to the UWI Open Campus at the address below.
• Signed copy of Confirmation Receipt.  Please note that this document will only be accessible after you have selected the "Application is Complete" button.
• Birth Certificate (not required from UWI graduates)
• Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
• Legal Affidavit or Deed Poll if your present name is different from that on the Birth Certificate
• Academic/Professional Certificates (e.g. Graduate Diploma, Undergraduate Degree, etc.) obtained from institutions other than The UWI
• Official transcripts (Not applicable to graduates of The UWI).  Please note that these must be sent directly from the granting institution to the UWI Open Campus at the address below
• Transcripts  and Referee Reports must be submitted to:

The Assistant Registrar

Recruitment, Admissions and Registration

Office of the Campus Registrar

The University of the West Indies

Open Campus

Located Adjacent to Central Stationery Stores on

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus

St. Augustine

Trinidad and Tobago

• All other supporting documents should be submitted through a UWI Open Campus Country Site Office.  NB: Applicants are required to take the originals and a copy.