Uganda Global Health Community Engagement Field School
An experiential learning opportunity in Southwestern Uganda.
The Cumming School of Medicine has for many years worked together with our University partners from around the globe on initiatives to promote Global Health promotion and equity. The field school opportunities offer University of Calgary students experiential learning about Global Health promotion, capacity building, and equity through a mix of classroom and field/research work in a Low and Middle Income Country (LMIC) setting. These international experiences usually run over the summer months. Students are required to complete a final written project relating the social determinants of health as they relate to their experience in the LMIC.
All field experiences are done in close collaboration with our partners and their communities. UCalgary students work together with our partners’ staff, students and local health authorities to engage with community members in project and program planning. Examples of some of the project activities during field schools:
- Projects for health promotion learning with either the urban or rural health facilities to engage community and increase public awareness of health issues
- Projects for building research educational capacity in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics.
- Projects working with secondary schools on Adolescents and Young Adult Health.
Key information
Student experience
A video featuring Barbara Naggayi (faculty lead at Mbarara University of Science and Technology), discussing the field school collaboration with UCalgary and the relationships formed between UCalgary and MUST students through their work together.
Have questions?
For program & academic information, please contact Dr. Guido van Marle at vanmarle@ucalgary.ca
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca
Other useful links:
- Global Health Community Engagement 2023 Field School Report and 2024 Field School Report
- Articles & interviews with past students: 2023 Field School, 2019 Field School
- Travel Advice for Uganda
- Lonely Planet Guide to Uganda
Recording of virtual info session
Program details
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses offered
Students on this program are required to enroll in one course:
MDSC 425 - Global Health Field Course (3 units)
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Prerequisites
The prerequisite for registration in this course by consent of the instructor.
Travel can be unpredictable! GSP travel itineraries are tentative and subject to change, including while in field.
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Pre-departure
Date TBD, Calgary: Mandatory pre-departure orientation, facilitated by UCalgary Global Learning
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In-field
May 29: Meet at Calgary airport, travel day
May 30: Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda
May 31: Travel to Mbarara, Uganda
June 1 - 23: Classroom learning, activities, community engagement, and optional excursions
June 24/25: Final presentations
June 26: Community celebration and community exit
June 27: Travel to Entebee, Uganda
June 28: Flight home to Calgary, travel day
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Costs
The estimated cost of the Uganda Health Sciences Field School is $9725. This includes flights, field trips, local transportation, accommodations and meals. Students partaking in the Uganda Field School will receive $1,725 scholarship making the net estimated program costs $8,000.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the Uganda Field School Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you? Since you are studying UCalgary courses and paying UCalgary tuition, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are otherwise eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund and the Global Learning Award. Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Accommodations are located on-campus at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). These are shared bungalows: students will have shared bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen facilities.
The accommodations are segregated by gender. We encourage students to contact us should you have any questions/concerns about living in gender-segregated housing.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing (must be over 18 years old). Students must be in the Cumming School of Medicine BHSc or BCR program. Applications are encouraged from all BCR students, and students of all BHSc majors (Bioinformatics, Health and Society, and Biomedical Sciences). This is not a Health and Society Major-specific learning experience. Note: students graduating in Spring 2026 will need to consult with their BHSc/BCR program coordinators regarding their eligibility status.
Applications from other faculties will be accepted on a case by case basis.
Applications will be considered after your online application and supplementary documents have been received in full.
Please read the sections below for information about what your application will include. The application is completed online. Because the online application will time out after 1 hour, we recommend writing out your answers to the application questions in a Word document and preparing any of the supplementary documents you may need in advance.
Once you are ready, click here to access the application system.
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Application questions
The online application includes some general questions about your student standing, followed by short-answer written response fields. The questions are:
- Why are you interested in the Global Health Uganda Field School 2026?
- How could this Global Health Field School contribute to your learning, career, and/or personal goals?
- This Field School will involve shared, independent and close living accommodations with limited comforts and connectivity. What past experience(s) has/have best prepared you for this living environment? What challenges do you anticipate?
- This Field School will involve group work in a cross cultural setting in a low resource environment. What past experience(s) has/have best prepared you for this learning environment? What challenges do you anticipate?
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Unofficial Transcript
Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
You will be asked to upload your transcript as a PDF in the online application.
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Interview
After your complete application has been received and screened, you may be contacted to schedule a short secondary interview. Please watch your UCalgary email and ensure you respond promptly if you receive an interview request.
Program-Specific FAQs:
Q: Is it safe to travel in Uganda?
A: The Cumming School of Medicine has a long track record of taking undergraduate students for fieldwork in East Africa and the country of Uganda. Because this program is in close collaboration with university partners at MUST, and all housing & transportation is arranged through these partners, students can be reassured they will have a very safe experience. Students will always travel in groups and have reliable guides at every step (such as MUST professors and host agencies) to assist with the cultural adjustment. Of course, there are unique concerns students may have about travelling in Uganda. For example, the local attitudes are anti-homosexuality, and it is advised not to engage in public displays of affection or express advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Clothing/presentation is also viewed with different cultural norms. These are things that we will discuss at length in our pre-departure sessions and ensure students are well-informed before travelling.
Please note that military-style "camo" fabric is illegal for civilians to wear in Uganda, and there are strong cultural taboos against visible tattoos & heavy piercings. To respect the dress code of the host university and cultural norms of the region, students will be required to have all tattoos fully concealed during the field school and while in the town of Mbarara. Students may have their tattoos uncovered while in the shared housing complex with other UCalgary members. You may contact Chris Enns (Global Health Office) if you have any questions or concerns.
Q: What accessibility accommodations can be made?
A: In line with the UCalgary student accommodation policy, the Global Health Office and Global Learning Team will work with students to provide reasonable accommodations to address discrimination on any protected ground for this learning program. Students can arrange a time to confidentially request accommodation needs (dietary, physical, travel, religious etc.) with Dr. Guido Van Marle. Accommodation requests are asked to be made as soon as possible after being accepted to this program.
Finally, please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
I think that I can say on behalf of the group that we have grown in many ways — some expected, and some unexpected. This opportunity has imparted to us invaluable skills on how to work cross-culturally, facilitate and moderate group discussions, and challenge the notion that solutions for complex challenges need to come from ‘experts’ rather than from the people actively facing these challenges.
Katie Cooke (BHSc)
2023 Program Participant
Photos from past Uganda Global Health field schools
The advisor for this program is: Tara Jorgensen
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.