The students' perspective

The new BSc in international health at Leeds was created as a direct result of pressure from students and members of MedSIN (Medical Students International Network). We felt that conventional intercalated bachelors degrees didn't cover the issues that were of interest and importance to us. We were also convinced that many other students would be interested in such a course.

We first met with Rhys Williams, the then professor of public health and epidemiology, with our idea and crucially he was interested and wanted to know more. Had he not been, our plans for a new BSc would have ended there.

Williams asked us to produce a formal written proposal, which we later presented at a meeting of experts in international health from the university. Our proposal stated why we wanted to study health in developing countries and why we wanted to understand the diseases that poor people are susceptible