Masters Degrees by Distance Learning
The School is aware of the difficulties some students face in finding the time and funding to come to London to study, and has developed a distance learning programme to make widely available its specialised advanced training. Being unable to come to London for an extended period need no longer be a barrier to obtaining an excellent qualification in public health and tropical medicine. The courses, and assessment protocols ensure that students achieve the same standard as those on London-based courses. The School's Distance Learning Programme was established in 1998, and there are currently 1,900 students registered in 120 countries. Our aim is to meet the needs of health practitioners, clinicians, policy-makers, laboratory scientists and scientists who want to obtain a world class qualification in aspects of public and global health. Students may study for a Postgraduate Diploma or MSc degree by distance learning in four subject areas: Clinical Trials, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health . Opportunities also exist for students to take individual modules as short courses from the full Diploma or Degree programme. The courses operate through the University of London External Programme and applications must be made through the University. The University of London External ProgrammeThe University's thriving External Programme was established in 1858 to make the University of London degree accessible to students who, for one reason or another, could not come to the University to study in a conventional way. Studying through the External Programme provides an attractive option for those with financial constraints, commitments to work or family, or lack of local access to higher education. Nearly 40,000 external students in more than 180 countries across the world are registered for a wide range of University of London qualifications. For many students, gaining such a qualification has been a long-term ambition which, through the External Programme, they are now able to realise. The Structure of the Distance Learning Diploma/Masters DegreeThe distance learning courses comprise three components: (i) core (ii) advanced modules and, (iii) a project. Students registered for Clinical Trials are required to take four modules in the core component, successful completion of these leads to the award of the Postgraduate Diploma; students are then permitted to proceed to the advanced modules. To be awarded the MSc Clinical Trials degree, students must successfully complete six advanced modules and an integrating module including a written report. Students registered for Epidemiology are required to take four modules in the core component, successful completion of these leads to the award of the Postgraduate Diploma; students are then permitted to proceed to the advanced modules. In addition to the core component, to be awarded the MSc degree Epidemiology students must successfully complete six advanced modules and a project. Students registered for the Infectious Diseases course are required to take four modules in the core component. Successful completion of these leads to the award of the Postgraduate Diploma; students are then permitted to proceed to the advanced modules. In addition to the core component, to be awarded the MSc degree students must successfully complete nine advanced modules, or alternatively, with the permission of the Course Organiser, they may undertake to do a project and six advanced modules. Students registered for the Public Health course are required to take six core modules, leading to the award of Postgraduate Diploma, and will then be permitted to proceed to the advanced modules. To be awarded the MSc Public Health degree, students must successfully complete nine advanced modules in addition to the six compulsory core modules. Subject stream-specific options are available for those studying the MSc Public Health, for which some compulsory and recommended modules should be taken. Method of StudyThe distance learning programme is self-taught using the fully comprehensive study materials provided. All the necessary reading material to obtain the MSc or Postgraduate Diploma is supplied. Students will need access to a calculator as this is not provided. Access to a computer is essential for the Clinical Trials, Epidemiology and Public Health courses, for whom Internet access is also strongly recommended. The Clinical Trials course is an online course supported by additional textbooks and reading materials. The Epidemiology course is mainly taught through use of interactive CDROMs and other associated materials. The Infectious Diseases and Public Health course modules are taught through use of study guides, textbooks and other reading materials. Students receive academic support and assessment feedback via email from subject tutors, and the use of web-based conference systems is strongly encouraged. Students can also arrange networking and mutual support with others studying on the programme. Time CommitmentThe time commitment needed by each student to successfully complete the course varies. A rough guide is that to complete in the minimum period (one year for the Postgraduate Diploma, two years for the MSc) students should be prepared for not less than 15 hours of study per week during the first year, and 30 hours per week in the second. Postgraduate Diploma students have a minimum period of one year and a maximum of five years, to complete. MSc students have a minimum period of two years and a maximum of five years in which to complete their degree. Study MaterialsStudents receive comprehensive study materials and these enable them to function as independent learners. The materials provided may include: (i) student handbook, giving information on planning studies, preparing for examinations, and study techniques; (ii) study guides/workbooks or CD-ROMs for individual modules containing the text of the module, self-assessment exercises and assignment questions; (iii) a reader containing copies of journal articles, book chapters and other papers referred to in the module text; (iv) textbooks, and (v) sample examination papers. AssessmentAssessment for the Postgraduate Diploma and MSc is by unseen examination or written assignment for the compulsory core modules, and a combination of unseen written examinations and compulsory written assignments for the advanced modules. Examinations are held once a year in June, usually one 2-hour examination for each module. Students who achieve a pass in the core modules will receive the award of the Postgraduate Diploma and will be permitted to continue on to the advanced modules for the MSc degree. Students on the Infectious Diseases course who have received approval to substitute the project option in place of three advanced modules will be required to produce a project report of not more than 10,000 words. For the Epidemiology course, a compulsory project report of between 4,000 and 7,000 words is required of each student studying for the MSc degree. Students of the Clinical Trials course are required to complete an integrating module which will be assessed partly by unseen written examination and partly by submission of a written report. Examinations are normally held in a student's country of residence, using the existing system of overseas examination authorities that the University of London utilises for all its external students. Entrance RequirementsEntrance requirements for each of the Diploma and MSc courses are specified in the following pages. Applicants who do not have the usual academic qualifications may be required to study one teaching module from the programme as a Short Course student in order to qualify for consideration for entry to full programme. Students who successfully complete one or more modules and who pass the assessment satisfactorily may later use these modules to build towards a Masters degree or Postgraduate Diploma as appropriate, provided that application for the degree or diploma is made within four years of having passed the relevant module(s). Short Courses: Distance Learning MSc Programme Teaching ModulesIndividuals may wish to undertake study of a distance learning module, or group of modules, from the Distance Learning MSc Programme as a Short Course, for reasons of professional updating/refreshing or special interest, or to 'sample' the programme. For full details of the distance learning modules available as short courses, visit the Short Courses section of the School's website. How to ApplyApplication details may be obtained from the University of London External
System website, where
an application form can be downloaded, or by contacting: |
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