Thinking globally

The University of Edinburgh runs a part-time distance learning programme leading to a Masters degree in International Animal Health.

The online programme is designed to allow students around the world – many of whom are working vets – to continue to work while developing their skills. It offers students in developing countries access to the world-leading expertise of Edinburgh’s Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (CTVM). The first cohort graduating under the programme were awarded their degrees last autumn.

Nearly 60 of the 80 students currently enrolled in the programme are supported by Commonwealth scholarships, which fund Commonwealth citizens studying with uK universities. The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission has also provided funding for university of Edinburgh vets to run a summer school at Makerere university in Kampala, uganda.

Dennis Muhanguzi, an MSc graduate and teaching assistant at Makerere university, says, ‘I wanted to do this course because it was online, so it wouldn’t stop me working. Studying international animal health is important for my professional development.’ According to the programme’s director, Dr Mark Eisler, the International Animal Health MSc continues the CTVM’s 30-year tradition of delivering world-leading postgraduate education in tropical veterinary medicine to students from the parts of the world where it is needed most.

The university of Edinburgh is currently recruiting students for the october 2010 intake.

Further details can be obtained at www.internationalanimalhealth.ed.ac.uk or by emailing mark.eisler@ed.ac.uk