Credit-bearing standalone short courses

Four credit-bearing postgraduate short courses offered by the Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems.

Foundations of Nutritional Epidemiology

 

 

Making Science Relevant to Policy and Decision-making

A practical guide to implementing policy-led science for decision-making. Discover the profound impact on economics, society and the environment when science is used to support decisions.

20 credits

Course leader: Dr Katherine Adam

January start 

Good decision-making follows from knowing what is to be achieved and using science to evaluate the best way to reaching those aims. Translating policy aims into scientific questions is a particularly distinctive feature of this course. Taking a ‘science should follow policy’ approach, students will explore the benefits, and potential drawbacks, of applying this to the public, private and charitable sectors.

For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.

 

One Health Risk Communication and Preparedness

An examination of risk communication at different stages of a One Health emergency cycle from preparedness to response.

10 credits

Course leader: Dr Smaragda Tsairidou

This course explores risk communication, governance and emergency animal health crisis response with a focus on diseases of major veterinary and human public health concern. Students will gain skills in strategy design, strategy implementation and outbreak preparedness which takes a focus on engagement with communities and the science-policy-industry interface.

For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.

 

Understanding Planetary Health and Data

An introduction to the concepts and themes that lead to a better understanding of planetary health and data.

10 credits

Course leader: Dr Rowan Jackson

February start

The concept of planetary health – defined as the health of human civilisation and the natural systems on which it depends – is an exciting, and emerging, field of research and study. This course introduces students to the concepts of planetary health and invites them to assess and debate key topics through handling of relevant data sets from UN, WHO and World Bank repositories. 

Students will apply conceptual thinking to contemporary global challenges through case studies on climate change, food and nutrition security and conflict as well as be introduced to tools and methods of gathering data to make evidence-based decisions.

For full details of this course, including learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study page.

An examination of the causes and prevention of diet-related health problems at the population level.

10 credits

Course leader: Dr Sarah Frank

February start

Diet and nutrition are key contributing factors for disease's short- and long-term development. Students will explore the connections between diet, nutrition and health and learn how the measurement of diet, epidemiologic methods, data and statistics can lead to a deeper understanding of the prevention of disease. Students will also gain an understanding of how findings from nutritional epidemiology are relevant to health and social care.


A practical guide to implementing policy-led science for decision-making. Discover the profound impact on economics, society and the environment when science is used to support decisions.

20 credits

Course leader: Dr Katherine Adam

January start 

Good decision-making follows from knowing what is to be achieved and using science to evaluate the best way to reaching those aims. Translating policy aims into scientific questions is a particularly distinctive feature of this course. Taking a ‘science should follow policy’ approach, students will explore the benefits, and potential drawbacks, of applying this to the public, private and charitable sectors.


An examination of risk communication at different stages of a One Health emergency cycle from preparedness to response.

10 credits

Course leader: Dr Smaragda Tsairidou

This course explores risk communication, governance and emergency animal health crisis response with a focus on diseases of major veterinary and human public health concern. Students will gain skills in strategy design, strategy implementation and outbreak preparedness which takes a focus on engagement with communities and the science-policy-industry interface.


An introduction to the concepts and themes that lead to a better understanding of planetary health and data.

10 credits

Course leader: Dr Rowan Jackson

February start

The concept of planetary health – defined as the health of human civilisation and the natural systems on which it depends – is an exciting, and emerging, field of research and study. This course introduces students to the concepts of planetary health and invites them to assess and debate key topics through handling of relevant data sets from UN, WHO and World Bank repositories. 

Students will apply conceptual thinking to contemporary global challenges through case studies on climate change, food and nutrition security and conflict as well as be introduced to tools and methods of gathering data to make evidence-based decisions.


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 but you have relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether you meet the threshold for consideration please send your CV to globalagriculture@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.


Course fees for academic session 2023/24 are:

10 credits - £1065

20 credits - £2125


For more information or help to complete your application


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