Uganda Global Health Community Engagement Field School

Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.

Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.

Travel can be unpredictable! GSP travel itineraries are tentative and subject to change, including while in field.

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 2025 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.

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 specifically. 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, with visible tattoos and heavy piercings frowned upon, and military-style "camo" fabric illegal for civilians to wear. These are things that we will discuss at length in our pre-departure sessions and ensure students are well-informed before travelling. 

This Global Health Learning opportunity requires students to have all their tattoos fully concealed during field school and while in the town of Mbarara. This is due to the host university dress codes and strong cultural taboos in the region. Students can have their tattoos uncovered while at their UCalgary shared housing. You may contact Chris Enns (Global Health Office) if you have any questions or concerns. 

In line with the University of Calgary 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 the field school program.   

Finally, please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.