Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Registration and Payment

• General Course Information

• Course Platform Information and Access

Registration and Payment Questions

Are any prerequisites needed in order to participate in a course?

The target audience and descriptions of each course are listed on the course page. If you’d like more information to see if it is a good fit for you, we have previous course agendas of those courses offered before.

Do participants receive McGill credit for taking courses in the Summer Institutes?

No, courses in the McGill Summer Institutes are not for credit. It is a professional development activity and a certificate of participation is awarded upon completion of the course.

When does registration close?

Starting May 17, 2024: Registration closes when the course is full, or three days before the course is scheduled to begin. If you want to see if it is possible to register after the course is closed please email summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (the Summer Institute team.)

What is the course schedule?

Details for each course, including the approximate times that faculty will be teaching live, can be found on the "Courses" page. A detailed agenda for each course will be released a couple of weeks before the course starts. If you want to view previous agendas (as available) visit the course agendas page.

How many courses do I have to take?

Each course can stand alone and there is no requirement to take multiple courses. Participants can take one course, or multiple courses depending on their schedule.

Do I have to join the online courses live?

The faculty members will teach online live each day (for times consult the course pages). We encourage participants to join live during these times, but if you are unable to join live for any reason you may view the recordings (see details below).

I want to come to Montreal. Are any of the courses in-person?

Seven courses are offering in-person learning in 2024. These include: From Evidence to Impact: Fundamentals of Global Health Advocacy, Qualitative Methods in Global Infectious Diseases Research, Digital Health, Global Health Law: A primer for health students and practitioners, Global Health Diagnostics, TB Research Methods, and Providing Care to Refugee, Immigrant and Migrant Populations.

Will I need a travel visa to attend the Summer Institutes?

Please consult the Government of Canada website to learn more about applying for a visa. If you need a visa to enter Canada the Canadian government recommends applying at least 12 weeks before the course begins. Those applying after March 1st should be aware it could be difficult to obtain one in time and the Summer Institute may suggest online enrollment. Check visa processing time for your country.

How do I change courses?

Course change requests must be made at least seven days prior to the start of a course. Please email summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (the Summer Institute team) with your registration name and what course you'd like to change.

How do I know what payment category I am in?

The McGill Summer Institute charges a different amount for low, middle, and high income country participants. We follow the World Bank guidelines for you country category. You can look up your country on the World Bank website to determine what category you fit into. Note that both lower-middle and upper-middle are considered “middle-income countries” for registration pricing. Complete pricing information

How do I cancel my registration?

Participants unable to attend a course of the McGill Summer Institute 2024, after having paid their registration fees, must provide a written request to the summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (Summer Institute team) for their refund on or before May 15, 2024. The Organizers regret that requests received after this date will not be considered. Administrative charges for cancellations will be $25 plus tax for all reasons.

Who do I contact with questions regarding registration and payment?

Contact the summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (Summer Institute team) for all registration and payment questions.

General Course Information

Where are the in-person courses? What's the address?

All in-person courses will be on McGill University's downtown campus in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Each course location is listed here:

What about parking for the in-person courses?

Parking for 2001 McGill College

Will sessions be recorded? Where are they be available? How long will they be available?

Most course material will be recorded to accommodate asynchronous learners from all time zones. Recordings are also useful for those that may want to go back and review sessions. The small group discussions will not be recorded.

Taped content will be viewable via the course platform (Cvent) 24 hours after it was given as a live lecture. The recordings will be available for at least 14 days after the course. You will not be able to download the recordings.

Please note that the Qualitative Research Methods course is offered in-person only May 27-31, 2024 and will not be recorded.

Will I receive a certificate of completion? When?

Yes, all participants will receive a certificate of completion for each course they take. Course organizers will confirm that participants have attended (either live, remotely, or asynchronously) the majority of sessions before issuing the certificate of completion.

Certificates will be sent by July 31, 2024.

Are there grades or assessments?

There are no grades or assessments for any of the courses. Some courses have optional homework or assignments that participants are encouraged to complete to further their learning.

What is the language of instruction?

The primary language of instruction and language for course materials is English.

Are there disability-related accommodations and services?

The McGill Summer Institute endeavors to provide an inclusive learning environment. If you have specific learning needs, please let us know well in advance so that we can work to find an appropriate accommodation. Please contact the summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (Summer Institute team).

Course Platform Information and Access

How do I find the schedule on the course platform?

The Summer Institutes in Global Health is using an online platform called Cvent for the courses. Log-in to the Cvent platform will be provided before the start of the courses. On the homepage, there will be a box called “schedule”. From the schedule, you can select the session you want and join the Zoom classroom. Alternatively, you can view the overall agendas on our website, but you’ll only be able to join the sessions via Cvent.

How do I log-in to Cvent?

About a week before your event you'll receive an email from our office with a direct link to the course platform (Cvent). The log-in site will ask for your name and email address. You must use the email address you provided for registration. The system will then send you a verification code via your email and/or phone text message. Check your spam folder if you don't see the code! Once you enter the verification code you'll have access to the platform and all course materials.

Where are the PowerPoint slides? Articles/Readings that the speakers mention?

The Summer Institutes in Global Health is using an online platform called Cvent for the courses. Log-in to the Cvent platform via the link in the email sent to you. On the homepage there will be a box called “schedule”. Click the schedule and then select the session that you want the PowerPoint slides or readings from. Scroll down and you’ll be able to click the slides or readings you are interested in. In addition to readings associated with a specific session, there is a “Readings” session on the first day of each course. Here you will find general readings related to the course topic, but not a specific session.

How do I ask one of the course faculty a question?

Course faculty will take questions from the live audience via Zoom chat or verbally. For those tuning in asynchronously, you can send a message via Cvent to the faculty member. If you have a question about administration or need assistance please email summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (the Summer Institute team).

How do I network with other attendees?

After you log in to the course platform, Cvent, you can network with attendees and faculty in a few ways. First, is via the “discussion board”. You can find this under the “community” button on the top. Also under “community” you can find “attendees” and send messages to attendees you are interested in connecting with.

I have another question that is not in this FAQ.

Please send any questions relating to the event to summerinstitute.med [at] mcgill.ca (the Summer Institute team).

Please note that Summer Institute staff will do their best to assist and answer your questions but we are unable to offer technical support for issues relating to computer hardware, operating systems and connectivity. For additional help, you can also view the Cvent Attendee Guide.