Internationalisation in the School of Health Sciences

Staff activities

In addition to a wealth of research collaborations, staff in the Division were recently involved in an Erasmus-funded staff exchange with Hadassah Academic College in Israel.

Student opportunities

Speech and Language Therapy students have the opportunity to take part in student exchanges and clinical experiences in different parts of the world. Current opportunities include:

• A one-week exchange with Hong Kong Polytechnic University for final year Masters students.
• A 12 day placement in partnership with Curtin University, Perth for third year BSc students, with the opportunity to undertake clinical assessments within the Aborigine community.
• A 10 month (1 academic year) clinical internship in Bridgetown, Barbados for BSc and MSc graduates, allowing them to complete their NQT competencies.
• A 3-month placement in Phnom Penh through the City-Cambodia Speech and Language Project, available to MSc graduates following the completion of their course.
• A summer placement at the Kyaninga Child Development Centre in Western Uganda for MSc and BSc graduates working alongside local physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• Final year BSc students can participate in an ERASMUS exchange between City and Universidad Autonoma Barcelona (subject to availability).

Students can apply for these opportunities directly through the Division of Language and Communication Science or through City, University of London’s volunteering team.

Find out more from students who’ve already benefitted from these experiences; Helena volunteered in Cambodia, Alex in Uganda, and Dimitri in Barbados.

Find out more about Language and Communication Science.

Staff activities

Staff in the division of Optometry and Visual Science have strong teaching and research links and partnerships with Centres of Excellence, including:

• University of Florence, Italy.
• Calle Arcos de Jalón, Madrid, Spain.
• Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Tongji Hospital.
• University of Melbourne.
• University of Toronto.
• University of Ottawa.
• LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
• Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
• The OCULUS consortium involving institutions in Europe, Israel and India.
• The European Glaucoma Research Training Programme (EGRIT) which recently held a workshop for early stage researchers from Netherlands, Germany, France, UK and Finland.
• Universities and Hospitals in Ghana, Tanzania and Botswana

Student opportunities

• Undergraduate students currently have the opportunity for a funded visit to LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India for 2 weeks to undertake clinical observations.
• Optometry PhD students currently undertake research in collaboration with institutions abroad including in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Finland.

Students can apply for these opportunities directly through the Division of Optometry and Visual Science.

Staff activities

Radiography staff (both diagnostic and radiotherapy) working at City can avail of mobility grants available to undertake a short exchange placement in a European university

Both staff and students benefit from incoming and outgoing visits, for example a recent visit from Indiana University, School of Medicine.

Student opportunities

The broad scientific and clinical content of our programmes instil the attributes of reflective practice; lifelong learning; critical thinking and problem solving that prepare students to work nationally and internationally. Current radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging students at City can apply to undertake elective placements during years 2 and 3 of their studies. The division currently has active links with Malta, but students can be supported to undertake an elective placement in a country of their choice (excluding America).

UK BSc (Hons) in Radiography qualifications are recognised worldwide. However, enquiries need to be made in advance of applying for international Radiography positions as each country has specific requirements and regulatory bodies that need to be satisfied.

Students can apply for these opportunities directly through the Division of Midwifery and Radiography.

Staff activities

The Midwifery division builds on strong international relations via the research conducted at the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (MCHR) and the Midwifery Unit Network (MUNet), a community of practice focused on supporting the implementation and improvement of birth centres in Europe.

Current projects include:

• The creation of a Confederation of Birth Centre Networks existing in different countries.
• Improving midwifery-led care in low and middle income countries
• Midwifery Unit Network - first European Conference, Barcelona
• Collaboration with several European partners following the first European Midwifery Unit Standards (launched at City, University of London in 2018), to translate the standards in other country settings
• Collaboration with several universities across Europe and further afield to empower midwifery undergraduate and postgraduate training and enhance women’s maternity care globally. Our lecturers are regularly invited as visiting lecturers to locations such as Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Turkey, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Japan.

Student opportunities

International placements are encouraged as they offer a unique opportunity to experience how services are organised, and how the midwives’ role and women’s right to autonomy can vary in different countries. For example, BSc students have the option to travel for an elective placement as part of the Anthropology of Childbirth Module to observe midwifery in different cultural settings.

In August-September 2019 we have offered a new exciting opportunity for an Erasmus exchange placement with the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. The exchange offers our students the opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills in areas such as practical perineal suturing skills, upright birthing positions, manual protection of the perineum, neonatal resuscitation.

Students can apply for these opportunities directly through the Division of Midwifery and Radiography.

Summer School

We offer an innovative Summer School in Philosophy, Evidence and Skills for Optimum Birth, designed for international midwives and obstetricians as well as other maternity care providers.

The Summer School involves 5 days of workshops, seminars and visits to local services, including a birth centre.

Find out more about Midwifery.

Staff activities

Staff in the Division have been involved in numerous research collaborations with colleagues in other countries such as Australia, Sweden, Greece, Canada and Mozambique, among others.

Student opportunities

Current opportunities include:

• Postgraduate students are offered the opportunity to visit Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) each year for a week to observe and engage in clinical education as part of a student exchange.
• Postgraduate students have the opportunity to study at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden as part of a student exchange programme.
• Second year BSc students can opt to spend their elective placement outside of the UK to experience nursing practice overseas.

Students can apply for these opportunities directly through the Nursing Division.

Staff activities

Staff from the division have been involved in developing global healthcare, alongside research collaborations, for example by delivering executive leadership training for senior nurses at the National Guard Health Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Some ongoing collaborations include:

• Murdoch University and the Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation.
• The Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University.
• The Togolese Ministries of Health and Education and Togolese nursing and midwifery schools.
• University of California, Los Angeles.
• A teaching exchange with SRH Hochschule, Berlin.
• University of Turku and University of Helsinki

Student opportunities

International traineeships and Summer Schools usually take place during the summer break across various disciplines and subject areas

Students can apply for these opportunities directly through the Division of Health Services Research and Management.

Find out more about Health Services Research and Management