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Masters Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Public Health

(by Distance Learning)

These courses aim: to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the global health of populations, communities and particular groups within them, through the promotion of health and prevention of diseases; the provision and evaluation of treatment and care; and the investigation and control of environmental threats to health. The emphasis is on the use, development and critical evaluation of conceptual models, evidence and methods of analysis; and on practical, effective interventions.

The Programme specification gives a more detailed breakdown of how elements of the courses support and achieve learning objectives.

Similar to the structure and contents of the London-based courses, these courses provide a multidisciplinary perspective, drawing on a wide range of disciplines from health and social sciences. The courses are interactive, using activities and exercises that build on the personal experience of participants. The courses cover public health in low, middle and high income countries and allow the student to either follow a wide-ranging curriculum, or to concentrate on a specialised area. MSc students will be asked to select one of the following four streams:

  • Public Health (General)
  • Public Health (Environment and Health)
  • Public Health (Health Promotion)
  • Public Health (Health Services Management)

Course Duration

On successful completion of the PHM1 modules, students can exit the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health or transfer their registration to the Postgraduate Diploma or MSc. Diploma and MSc students have a minimum period of two years and a maximum of five in which to complete their degree. Certificate students have a minimum of one and a maximum of five years to complete their qualification.

Computing Requirements

Students must have regular access to the internet. The list below gives the specifications for a computer capable of running the software supplied by LSHTM. A computer with the minimum rather than recommended specifications will be able to use the courses but may be rather slow.
Computer: PC capable of running Windows and fulfilling the other requirements.
Please note that some applications may not run on Apple Mac computers. 
Processor: Pentium or better, 90MHz or higher (recommended).
Memory (RAM): 512MB (1GB recommended).
Hard disk space: 1GB of available disk space or higher.
CD-ROM drive: Double speed or faster recommended.
Operating System: Windows 98 or higher
Graphics: 256 colours (minimum), 65536 colours or higher (recommended). Resolution 640x480 or higher.
Internet connection: E-mail account and regular web access is essential.
Printer: Either laser or Ink Jet (recommended).
A sound card and headset (recommended), or sound card, speakers and microphone will be useful.

Objectives

By the end of these courses, students should be able to demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge of the core disciplines of public health, consisting of statistics; epidemiology; health economics; and social research, to real world health problems.

The Programme specification gives a more detailed breakdown of how elements of the courses support and achieve learning objectives.

Course Content

Students can choose to pursue an MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate, or take individual modules. The last option, “individual modules”, is ideal if you wish to sample the degree or update your professional knowledge.

Course structures

The compulsory core modules, which are common to the Certificate, Diploma and MSc courses, comprise:  

All students take two additional PHM1 modules, selected from:

For those studying for the MSc and choosing one of the three specialised streams, one of these modules is compulsory: Environment, Health & Sustainable Development (for the Environment and Health stream); Health Promotion Theory (for the Health Promotion stream); and Health Services (for the Health Services Management stream).

Completion of four compulsory PHM1 modules and two further PHM1 modules constitutes the Postgraduate Certificate.

After successful completion of the PHM1 modules, those registered for the Postgraduate Diploma and MSc must successfully pass a specific number of elective modules to complete the award.

Students registered for the Postgraduate Diploma must choose four elective modules to complete the award; at least two of these (three are recommended) must be from the PHM2 module list below.

MSc students select eight elective modules from the following list, or alternatively, may choose five from the list and complete a final year project (at least three modules must be from the PHM list).

For those studying for the MSc on one of the three specialised streams, one of these modules is compulsory: Environmental Health Policy (for the Environment and Health stream); Health Promotion Practice (for the Health Promotion stream); and Organisational Management (for the Health Services Management stream).

Note that restrictions and pre-requisites may apply to some of the modules below. Not all modules will be available every year.

Project Report

All MSc students have the option to apply to undertake a project report specific to their chosen stream, which is equivalent to 3 module credits.

Combining DL studies with studies at the School - "blended learning" study
After successful completion of a minimum number of core modules, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc students may also be eligible for the 'blended learning option', which allows for the study of up to two modules only (from a restricted list) at LSHTM in London during the Spring or Summer terms in place of distance learning modules. Please note that these options, and the dates when the modules are held at the School, are subject to change - full details will be sent to all DL students in July each year. The fee for attending LSHTM in-house modules is payable directly to LSHTM, not to the University of London International Programmes, and is in addition to the distance learning course fees.
Method of assessment
 
All distance learning modules are assessed by means of a two-hour unseen written examination (with 15 minutes planning/reading time at the start of the examination). Examinations are only held once a year, usually in June. Students may sit examinations in any one of a wide range of examination centres around the world - see http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/current_students/general_resources/exams/exam_centres/index.shtml to view details of the examination centres available.

PHM2 modules and elective modules from the other DL courses - EPM2, IDM2, IDM3 and IDM5 modules - are assessed partly by the two-hour unseen written examination (70%) and partly by an assessed assignment (30%), submitted electronically to LSHTM by a set deadline.

Credits awarded

Credits will be awarded for all elements successfully completed: 10 credits for each PHM1 module; 15 credits for PHM elective modules; and 45 credits for the project option. To successfully pass an award, the following credits must be gained:

Postgraduate Certificate – 60 credits
Postgraduate Diploma – 120 credits
MSc – 180 credits

Entrance Requirements

All applicants are required to have a second-class honours degree or equivalent in a subject appropriate to the course from a university or other institution acceptable to the University of London and a minimum of one year's relevant work experience.

Students who do not satisfy the above requirements may still be admitted at the discretion of the School on the basis of their academic qualifications, application essay, work experience and references.

For all applicants, an advanced ability to study and write clearly in English is required. Applicants may be required to pass, or to have passed within the last five years, a test of proficiency in English at a level acceptable to the University. Further information on the English language tests and scores accepted by the School are available on the Entrance Requirements section of the University of London International Programmes website.

Application for Study by Distance Learning

The School's distance learning courses are run in collaboration with the University of London International Programmes. Applications for the distance learning courses must be made direct to the University of London International Programmes. Applications should be made online here.
 
Alternatively, an application form may be downloaded from the above website and posted, together with evidence of academic qualifications and references, to the following address:
Postgraduate Admissions Office, University of London International Programmes, Ground floor, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DN, UK.
(Faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted.)
 
Applications must be received no later than 30 June. (Students applying to study individual modules rather than a full PG Certificate, Diploma or MSc award, may apply until 31 August.)
 
Enquiries may be submitted online here or by contacting:

The Information Centre, University of London, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5DN

Email: enquiries@london.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8360
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8361
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8362
Fax: +44 (0)20 7862 8358

 

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