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 2,700 students registered in 130 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 / Certificate or MSc degree by distance learning in five subject areas: Clinical Trials, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Public Health and Global Health Policy. Opportunities also exist for students to take individual modules as short courses from the full Diploma/Certificate or Degree programme.
The courses operate through the University of London International Programmes and applications must be made through the University.
The University of London International Programmes
The University's thriving International 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 University of London International Programmes 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 International Programmes, they are now able to realise.
The Structure of the Distance Learning Courses
The distance learning courses comprise three components: (i) core (ii) elective modules and, (iii) a project (compulsory for those taking Epidemiology, optional for Global Health Policy, Infectious Diseases and Public Health) or integrating report (compulsory for Clinical Trials).
LSHTM operates a credit system for its taught courses, consistent with the English and European (ECTS) credit systems. This allows other educational institutions and employers across Britain, the rest of Europe and beyond to more easily understand and recognise the amount and standard of study which courses at the School involve. Credits are awarded for successful completion of modules (each distance learning module is formally assessed) and the project/integrating report with most modules being worth 15 credits and the project 45 credits. A total of 180 credits are required for an MSc degree, 120 for a Postgraduate Diploma, and 60 for a Postgraduate Certificate. All credits obtained will be shown on final award transcripts.
Details of the specific elements required for each award, and the number of credits assigned to those elements, are included on the course-specific pages
Method of Study
The distance learning programme is self-taught using the fully comprehensive study materials provided. All the necessary reading material to obtain a specific award is supplied. Students will need access to a calculator as this is not provided. Access to a computer and the Internet is essential for those on all the distance learning courses. The Clinical Trials course is an online course supported by additional textbooks and reading materials. The Epidemiology and Global Health courses are mainly taught through use of interactive CD-ROMs 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 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 Commitment
The 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 Certificate, two years for the Postgraduate Diploma or 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 Certificate students have a minimum period of one year and a maximum of five years, to complete. Postgraduate Diploma and MSc students have a minimum period of two years and a maximum of five years in which to complete their course.
Study Materials
Students 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 (iii) a reader containing copies of journal articles, book chapters and other papers; (iv) textbooks, and (v) sample examination papers.
Assessment
Assessment for the Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate and MSc is usually by unseen examination or written assignment for the compulsory core modules, and a combination of unseen written examinations and compulsory written assignments for the elective modules. Examinations are held once a year in June, usually one 2-hour examination for each module (plus 15 minutes reading/planning time). Postgraduate Diploma and MSc students who achieve a pass in the core modules will be permitted to continue on to the elective modules for their course.
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. (see http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/current_students/general_resources/exams/exam_centres/index.shtml).
Entrance Requirements
Entrance requirements for each of the Diploma/Certificate and MSc courses are specified in the following pages. Applicants who do not have the usual academic qualifications may be required to study one individual module from the programme in order to qualify for consideration for entry to the 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/Certificate as appropriate, provided that application for the degree or diploma/certificate is made within four years of having passed the relevant module(s).
Studying Individual Modules by Distance Learning.
Individuals may wish to undertake study of only one distance learning module, or group of modules, from the Distance Learning MSc Programme for reasons of professional updating/refreshing or special interest, or to 'sample' the programme. For full details of the distance learning modules available for individual study, visit the Short Courses section of the School's website.
How to Apply
Application details may be obtained from the University of London International Programmes website, where an application form can be downloaded, or by contacting:
The Information Centre
University of London
Stewart House
32 Russell Square
London WC1B 5DN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8360/61/62/58
Email: enquiries@london.ac.uk
