Master of Medicine in Psychiatry
The Perspective:
Mental Health problems are extremely prevalent, accounting for 23% to 30% of all health
care attendances in Sub-Saharan Africa. By the year 2020, depression is set to be the
leading cause of disease burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the magnitude of mental
health problems in Uganda, the Psychiatrist to patient ration is 1:2,000,000 and this is
totally and unacceptably inadequate for active delivery of psychiatric services to all
Ugandans. There is thus a high demand for Psychiatrists not only to provide the muchneeded clinical psychiatric services but also to conduct research, teach other health care
providers as well as provide leadership in the field of mental health at primary health care
level and above.
Program Objective:
The purpose of the Postgraduate training program in Psychiatry is to produce the needed
human resource required to provide specialised mental health service to all Ugandans;
provide leadership in the planning, organisation, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of mental health services to all communities in Uganda; to provide therapeutic
services to persons who suffer from emotional, behavioural, psychological and social
disorders; and conduct research in mental health problems for the purpose of developing
appropriate mental health services based on objective evidence.
The M.Med Psychiatry Graduate:
The goal of postgraduate training in Psychiatry at Makerere University is to produce a
competent psychiatrist who will:
-
Provide clinical psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care to those who will present
with both common, as well as, the more unfamiliar psychiatric disorders in Uganda.
Conduct and or supervise research in neuropsychiatry and mental health problems.
Assume leadership role in the field of mental health.
Build capacity in mental health care.
Provide consultation services in mental health to other health institutions in the
country.
Admission Requirements:
The criteria for admission onto the Psychiatry Postgraduate program are the following:
i)
ii)
A basic Medical degree (MBChB degree or its equivalent).
One full year of internship.
iii)
At least one year in the field after post-internship registration.
To be eligible for admission to a Master’s Programme, a candidate must be a holder
of at least a second-class degree or its equivalent awarded by Makerere University
or any other recognised institution.
An applicant who is a holder of a third class degree or its equivalent may be
admitted only after such applicant has provided evidence of academic maturity in
the desired field of study as shall be judged by the Board of the School of Graduate
Studies and Research of Makerere University.
Application Procedure:
All applicants for postgraduate diplomas and higher degrees have to satisfy the
requirements of the relevant courses and University regulations. Application forms may be
obtained from the School of Postgraduate studies after payment of an application fee at the
Stanbic Bank, Makerere University Branch. Applicants should contact the Director, School
of Graduate Studies for application forms.
Unless otherwise stated, all applications are made in March and April of each academic
year. The closing date for receiving applications is normally 30th April of the year in which
admission is sought.
All completed application forms must be accompanied by relevant copies of certificates and
certified copies of academic transcripts. Forms, which are not completed properly, cause
delays in processing of applications.
Program Duration:
This is a three- year program, organised in Semesters; namely: two Semesters with a
Recess term in the first and second years. All courses on the program are core courses.
Program Structure:
The Master of Medicine in Psychiatry is a Clinical professional course geared to producing
specialists in the medical discipline of Psychiatry. As such, all students have clinical
attachments throughout their training. A Certificate of Due Performance is completed for
each candidate per course in which all the described expected skills are assessed to ensure
professional competence as befitting a specialist psychiatrist. The clinical attachment is at
Mulago Hospital, Butabika Hospital, specifically chosen community clinics or any other
setting found suitable for training as a specialist in psychiatry. The specific timetable of
these attachments will be detailed for each rotation.
Elective Practicum: Students are encouraged to take an Elective Practicum to attain
experience and familiarity in the area in which they hope to do their research. This helps
them develop and concretise their research ideas to write their proposal.
Course work requirement: Much of the clinical training uses clinical apprenticeship method.
Each student is required to carry out psychiatric evaluations, interviews and investigations;
administer psychotropic medications, and psychotherapy. All these are done under
supervision by a clinical supervisor. In addition, each student is required to read around
selected program topics and to lead tutorials and or interactive discussions with their
teachers and supervisors.
A supervised research dissertation is mandatory for every student.
Study Load:
A total of 99 Credit Units must be accumulated for successful completion of the Master of
Medicine in Psychiatry.
Course Outline:
Year 1
SEMESTER I
COURSE
CODE
PHA 7102
PSY 7102
PSY 7104
PSY 7105
Sub-Total
SEMESTER II
COURSE TITLE
LH
TH/PH
CH
CU
Pharmacology
Medical Sociology and
Anthropology
Psychiatric Clinical
Skills, Phenomenology
and Emergencies
30
75
60
_
60
45
4
3
15
60
75
5
Proposal Development
6
10
30
2
126
130
210
14
CHS 7201
PSY 7201
PHY 7202
PSY 7204
MSA 7202
Epidemiology,
Biostatistics and
Research Methods
Liaison Psychiatry
Advanced
Neurophysiology
Clinical Neurology
Advanced
Neuroanatomy
Sub-Total
RECESS
TERM
HSM 7301
PSY 7303
PSY 7304
30
20/40
60
4
30
75
90
_
60
45
4
3
15
30
60
60
45
45
3
3
180
270
255
17
20/60
75
5
_
45
3
60
45
3
140
165
11
Health Systems
25
Management
Advanced
60
Neurobiochemistry
Neuro-imaging and
15
Electroencephalography
Elective Practicum
Sub-Total
100
Year 2
SEMESTER I
COURSE
CODE
COURSE TITLE
LH
PSY 8101
PSY 8102
Clinical Psychology
Psychological Therapies
75
30
PSY 8103
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
Sub-Total
TH/PH
CH
CU
90
75
75
5
5
30
90
75
5
135
180
225
15
30
90
75
5
-
SEMESTER II
PSY 8201
Old Age Psychiatry
Alcohol & Substance
PSY 8202
Abuse
30
90
75
5
PSY 8203
Organic Psychiatry
30
90
75
5
90
270
225
15
Dissertation: Field
Work & Data Collection
10
-
30
2
COURSE
CODE
COURSE TITLE
LH
TH/PH
CH
CU
PSY 8401
Forensic Psychiatry,
Ethics and Patient
Rights
30
90
75
5
PSY 8402
Trans-cultural and
Social Psychiatry
30
90
75
5
PSY 8403
Community Psychiatry
and Service Delivery
30
90
75
5
90
270
225
15
Sub-Total
RECESS TERM
PSY 8205
Year 3
SEMESTER I
Sub-Total
SEMESTER II
PSY 8501
Psychiatric Problems of
Women of Childbearing
30
90
75
5
PSY 8502
Major Psychiatric
Syndromes
25
100
75
5
PSY 8503
Dissertation – Write-up
15
100
30
2
70
290
180
12
Sub-Total
Assessment: Each candidate is assessed continuously on the basis of lecture, tutorials,
seminars and practical/field work output; and mid-semester written and clinical
assessments (where applicable). There is one written examination of 3 hours per course,
and this consists of three parts; MCQ, short answer questions, and long essay questions.
The clinical examination consists of one long, and two short (spot) cases, and this takes
three hours per candidate.
The oral examination (Viva voce) takes 20-30 minutes per candidate and is marked
independent of the other clinical examinations.
Dissertation is assessed according to the rules and regulations governing dissertations and
is examined independent of clinicals and orals.
A candidate is required to obtain at least 2.0 on each course in order to pass for the award
of the M.Med Psychiatry degree.
Assessment Weighting:
Progressive Assessment shall carry 30% of the final mark, and end of Semester
examinations shall carry 70%.
Assessment Grading:
The following is the composition of each progressive and end of Semester examinations.
Basic Sciences:
Progressive Written Assessment
40%
End of Semester Written Examination
60%
Total
100%
Clinical Courses:
Progressive Assessment
40%
End of Semester Examination
60% (to be constituted as follows):-
Written examination
20% (MCQ 10%, Essays 10%)
Clinical examination
30% (Long cases 20%, short cases 10%)
Oral examination
10% (Viva)
Dissertation
Pass
Competences acquired:
At the end of this postgraduate training program, the students acquire knowledge, clinical,
ethical and attitudinal skills necessary for the practice of psychiatry as outlined below:
Knowledge/Skills
The student is required to demonstrate that he/she has attained adequate knowledge of all
common psychiatric, psychological, neurological, social, emotional and behavioural
disorders encountered in Uganda. In addition, the student is required to demonstrate
adequate knowledge of the relationships existing between these disorders and basic
science and social science concepts. The student is further required to demonstrate a basic
working knowledge of psychotherapy.
Clinical Skills
The student is required to show adequate skill in the use of theoretical knowledge in
collecting relevant clinical data, their analysis, and use of information in providing
appropriate therapeutic care, as well as in providing appropriate liaison consultation
service within the health care system in Uganda.
Ethical and Attitudinal Skills
Each student is required to have acquired appropriate, congenial and ethical attitudes and
behaviour to patients and their families, and to professional colleagues in the practice of
psychiatry.
Teaching and Learning Resources:
Fees and Finances:
The students are required to pay the following fees to the University:
Ugandans
1.
Application fee
10,000=
Non-Ugandans
USD 25 p.a.
2.
Registration fee
50,000=
USD 30 p.a.
3.
Administrative fee
120,000=
USD 200 p.a.
4.
Library fee
12,000=
USD 5 p.a.
5.
Examination fees
6.
Tuition fees
60,000=
3,500,000=
USD 200 p.a.
USD 2,500 p.a.
Please Note:
1. Application fees are paid at the time of collection of application forms
2. University fees (i.e. Registration, Administration, and Library, Examination, and
Tuition fees) must be paid to the University before registration.
3. Graduation, Certificate, Convocation and Academic Transcript fees are paid on
completion of the course.
4. University fees may be paid in form of cash or Bank draft to Makerere
University Council.
5. Non-Ugandans may pay fees in US Dollar equivalent to Uganda Shillings.
6. The student may be government sponsored, Aid agency sponsored or selfsponsored.
7. Other requirements like books, stationary & materials, accommodation, food,
research expenses, etc; the sponsor should pay directly to the Student
8. The funds for research are paid to the student at the beginning of the research
Project.
Employment Opportunities:
Contact Us:
Department Of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hill, Mulago
Hospital Complex
P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
E-mail: psychiatry@chs.mak.ac.ug
Tel: +256312513469. Fax: +256414531091