MEDFL5120 – Introduction to infectious disease modelling

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

The course is intended to give a conceptual understanding of the basic techniques available for analysing and interpreting epidemiological data on infectious diseases. The course should provide the participants the background for reading and interpreting modelling papers.

Learning outcome

The course covers the following areas: An introduction to compartmental models, exemplified by the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model; presentation of fundamental epidemiological concepts such as the basic reproductive rate (R_0), endemic infections and vaccination policies; impact of population structure and human contact patterns on the transmission dynamics of infections; stochastic models; emerging infections with focus on design of intervention programmes.

Admission to the course

The course is reserved for students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.

Students sign up for classes and exam to this course in StudentWeb.

Applicants will upon registration receive an immediate reply in StudentWeb as to whether a seat at this course is granted or not.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

The course will be divided between lectures and group sessions. In the group sessions emphasis will be on reading and discussion of relevant modelling papers, including calculation of simple epidemiological parameters.

You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance at lectures will be registered.

Examination

Home exam.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Nov. 6, 2026 3:40:07 PM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
3
Teaching
Autumn
Autumn 2026: StudentWeb opens for registration 1.6. Teaching dates and sign-up deadline is posted on the semester page.
Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English

Contact

Faculty of Medicine