Frequently Asked Questions - MSc Public Health
What is the MSc Public Health?
The degree covers the whole breadth of public health and allows students to follow a general stream of study (Public Health stream), which focuses mainly on high- and middle-income countries, or to concentrate on one of the five other streams (as indicated below):
- MSc Public Health (Public Health stream)
- MSc Public Health (Environment & Health stream)
- MSc Public Health (Health Economics stream)
- MSc Public Health (Health Promotion stream)
- MSc Public Health (Health Services Management stream)
- MSc Public Health (Health Services Research stream)
The decision on which stream to follow will depend on the needs of the student, and can be discussed with your Course Director and Tutor once registered on the MSc. However, you should refer to Tables 1 and 2 below for further details. It is important to remember that:
a) Full-time students are required to take six modules in Term 1, and four of these - the "common core" - are pre-determined (i.e. Basic Statistics, Basic Epidemiology, Introduction to Health Economics, and Principles of Social Research). You should familiarise yourself with the Term 1 Timetable and full list of modules available to students on MSc Public Health.
b) There are additional "stream-specific" compulsory modules and at least one of these compulsory modules will run in Term 1.
c) During Orientation, you will need to choose the fifth and sixth modules that you wish to take in Term 1. The latter choices will determine which streams are available to you. For example; if you elect to take Issues in Public Health and Health Policy, Process and Power, you can only do the general Public Health Stream. However, if you take Issues in Public Health and Health Services, you will have the option of doing any one of four streams (i.e. Public Health stream, Health Economics stream, Health Services Management stream or Health Services Research stream). These details are summarised in Table 2.
Table 1: Module Choices in Terms 1, 2 and 3
Term 1 Terms 2 and 3 Modules 1 - 4 Modules 5 and 6 6 Modules to be chosen All students take the compulsory 'common core' modules*:
- Basic Statistics
- Basic Epidemiology
- Introduction to Health Economics
- Principles of Social Research
Choices will determine which streams are available to student (see Table 2*) Choices made in November* *If you are a half-time student you take 6 modules in your first year of study (3 from Term 1, and another 3 modules form Terms 2 and 3). However, you should consider the two years of study together when making these choices. Table 2: Stream-specific compulsory Term 1 Modules
Module Public Health Stream Environment and Health Stream Health Economics Stream Health Promotion Stream Health Services Management Stream Health Services Research Stream Environment, Health and Sustainable development X Health Promotion Theory X Health Services X X X Issues in Public Health X Health Policy, Process and Power (not a stream pre-requisite)
You will need to make a formal declaration in the middle of Term 1 as to which stream you wish to take, but remember that this may be made de facto by the modules selected during Orientation Week.
On successful completion of the course, the degree awarded will be MSc Public Health, and will reflect the stream chosen; for example: MSc Public Health (Environment & Health).
When completing the MSc Application Form, do I need to indicate if I am interested in a particular stream?
Applying to the MSc Public Health counts as one choice, and it is not necessary to elect a stream at this stage.However, in the personal statement, you may wish to indicate which particular streams are of interest to you and why. If you are interested in other MSc courses, (e.g. MSc Health Policy, Planning & Financing), these count as separate MSc Course choices on the MSc Application Form.
Is there a closing date for applications?
No. However, you should submit an application as soon as possible. If you are likely to require a visa to study in the UK then we strongly suggest you apply by June 1st as obtaining a student visa can take time.
If you are required to take an English language test, we also strongly suggest you apply by June 1st as obtaining English language results can take time.Is it possible to visit the school and meet the Course Directors?
We receive several hundred applications every year, and also numerous requests for one-to-one meetings. Unfortunately, we are unable to meet all such requests, and would hope that the MSc PH webpages will provide answers to most (if not all) of your questions. If the website does not answer all your questions then please email your specific questions to mscph@lshtm.ac.uk , and we will be more than happy to respond.
Is the MSc Public Health course mainly for those who are medically qualified?
No. People from a wide range of backgrounds attend the course.
How do you judge applications?
In judging applications, we look carefully at your work experience, your academic qualifications and your personal statement indicating why you wish to do the course. Entry is very competitive and we find that almost all students have at least one year of relevant work experience. Further details available at Entry Requirements.
What should I write in my personal statement?
The purpose of your personal statement is to give the Course Director some insight into why you wish to follow a particular course of study and how this course will further your career objectives or plans. It is not useful to repeat information from the Prospectus, we prefer to hear your views on:
- why you wish to study the MSc Public Health
- how your previous training and work experience (where applicable) have prepared you for this course. If you have professional experience in the field, please outline this, highlighting aspects of your work which raised questions, or which indicated the need for further study
- how the course will help you to take forward your career. Please outline what you plan to do after completion of the course.
Try not to write more than 500 words. You should be able to express your views succinctly. Do not forget to give the reasons for each choice of MSc Course, if you wish to be considered for more than one.
Is there a particular type of work experience which would be more beneficial to my application? What if I do not have much work experience? Is there any type of work experience I should try to obtain?
Students come from a variety of backgrounds, so it is difficult to advise on what kinds of experience we require. The type of work experience is likely to depend on which MSc Public Health stream you wish to follow, and what your career plans are. For instance, are you more interested in managing health services, organising a health promotion campaign, or working in environmental health issues? You should also remember that many different jobs are relevant to public health. This could, for example, involve working in an NGO, or a government health department. Alternatively, it could be volunteer work experience within a health programme. We are happy to consider applications from people with limited work experience but we would then expect excellent academic achievement and a strong personal statement.
What are my career prospects after the MSc?
For many individuals participation in a Masters Course involves major investments of time and money and, understandably, we receive many requests for career advice. However, there is no easy answer to this question. The range of Public Health career opportunities is vast, and we are not in a position to provide tailored career advice to all applicants. What we can say is an MSc in Public Health will enhance your opportunities of gaining employment, and former students have gone on to work for local, national and international organisations. These include NGOs, government health departments, World Bank, WHO, and others. Further examples are provided under each stream link. Once you are enrolled on the Course the LSHTM Careers Department will be able to provide further advice. The Careers Department also run Career Workshops during the academic session.
Further MSc Public Health Careers advice
Can I contact my personal tutor or project supervisor before the course starts? Can I start planning my study programme or project in advance?
No. Personal tutors are allocated during the Orientation period. You will also be assigned to a Tutor Group, with a named Course Director. Preparatory work on projects begins at the end of Term 1 (November/December) and start of Term 2 (January).
How much time does the full-time course take?
The Full-time Course means you will be expected to attend for up to four full days per week over one year. The exact days depend on the modules chosen. The course is intensive and involves much private study.
Where do I find details about half-time study options?
Full details on the options for half-time study are available in the Masters Degrees in London - Introduction section of the website.
If I take the half-time study option, on which days of the week do I need to attend the School?
We recognise that you may have work commitments and may also need to inform your employer which days you will be attending the School. The days of attendance will very much depend on the Modules you elect to take during Terms 1, 2 and 3 over the two years of study. However, as a half-time student, one of the most important things to recognise is that you are expected to commit between 15 and 20 hours per week to the course. This time will be comprised of formal lectures, seminars, group work and private study. You are strongly advised not to take the half-time option unless you can commit this time to the course.
Term 1:
You will see from the Term 1 Timetable that there are a number of options available to you. Some half-time students elect to take three "common core" modules in the first year of study. For example: if you decide to take Basic Statistics, Introduction to Health Economics and Basic Epidemiology, then you would need to attend the School all day Monday and Tuesday morning.
You may elect a very different combination of modules in Term 1, and this might necessitate coming to the School on three days every week. We recommend that you take at least two of the "common core" modules in the first year of study, but the choice is entirely yours.
Term 2:
The Timetable for Terms 2 and 3 is different in structure from Term 1 (see The Structure of the Masters Degree in London). Essentially, the week is divided into two time periods (i.e. 09:30am Monday to 12:30pm Wednesday, and 14.00pm Wednesday to 17.00pm Friday). These time periods equate to the C1, D1, E1 and C2, D2, E2 timeslots highlighted on the Timetable for Terms 2 and 3.
Thus, a typical C1 module will have a timeslot that runs from Monday morning to Wednesday lunchtime. The amount of time spent in lectures, seminars, and/or private study will vary between modules. For example, some C1 modules may have a lecture and group work session on Monday mornings, with Monday and Tuesday afternoons devoted to private study for that module.
Half-time students often choose which half of the week they want to attend in the first year of study. For example; Monday morning to Wednesday lunchtime, or Wednesday afternoon to Friday afternoon (i.e. C1, D1, E1 or C2, D2, E2). Again, alternative combinations are available (e.g. in your first year you might decide to attend C1, D2, E1) and you can discuss the options available with Course Directors or Tutors.
If I cannot come to London to undertake the MSc, are there any other options available to me?
The School offers a Distance Learning programme, MSc Public Health.
Is it possible to study individual modules without attending the whole MSc course?
Students can apply to attend modules from any of the MSc Courses offered by the School. Further details on the Modules offered are given in the Short Study pages and information how to apply is listed in the How to Apply section of the website.
What are the normal study hours?
Teaching times are usually 9.30am - 12.30pm and 2.00pm - 5.00pm. There are usually some periods of private study each week, but some days will be full teaching days. There are also lunchtime seminars and early evening seminars, which are optional, but students are encouraged to attend. Most students will find that they need to complete their reading in their own time outside School hours.
How is the course assessed?
The degree is awarded if you achieve suitable grades in each of three components. The three components are: coursework, formal examinations and a project. The weighting given to these three components is 40%, 30% and 30% respectively. Assessed coursework consists of the submission of six pieces of work - one for each of the six modules chosen in Terms 2 and 3. The examination consists of two 3-hour written papers. The project should be a piece of original work presented as a dissertation of around 7,000-10,000 words.
Is there a reading list for the course?
General reading lists are sent out with the Pre-registration Pack and Course Directors' Welcome letter in August. Students are advised not to spend large sums of money purchasing books on the reading list, but to find those that interest them in academic libraries. The general reading list books are mostly for background reading. Reading lists for specific streams are not available before the start of the course.
I am an overseas student and wish to study half-time – is that possible?
It is possible, but you should note that students subject to immigration control may have difficulty in obtaining a visa for part-time studies. For more information you should visit the UK Nationality & Immigration Directorate website, the UKCISA website or contact Frankie Edwards, the Student Adviser (frankie.edwards@lshtm.ac.uk).
What are the term dates?
The dates of term are listed on our website at http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/termdates.html
