Study | LSHTM

LSHTM is renowned internationally for its research excellence in global public health, and is a leading postgraduate teaching institution. The Centre for History in Public Health has a unique position here, where historians rub shoulders with epidemiologists and public health/ health service researchers from all parts of the world. We promote research and teaching in the history of public health in the twentieth and twenty first centuries.

The Centre offers a short course on the history of public health, delivered via Distance Learning each year in October-May and also in person in London in January-February. These are available externally as well as to in-house MSc students. The Centre also delivers teaching across LSHTM’s MSc programmes, and we also run a MOOC through FutureLearn. You can find out more about opportunities to study with us through the links below.

Decolonising Global Health: History and Legacy

The Centre has been providing lectures on decolonising global health since 2020. These are generally only available to LSHTM students and staff, with details circulated internally. If you would be interested in commissioning a lecture or other education on this theme, for your organisation, please get in touch. chiph@lshtm.ac.uk

Short Course: History & Health (in person)

The Centre runs a History and Health short course in January/February each year for five weeks, usually with classes on Thursdays and Fridays. This is available to in-house MSc students as part of their taught programme, and also to anyone externally who would like to take the course. The deadline for applying is in early December. To find out more about taking the course as an external applicant, please visit this page

Short Course: History & Health (distance learning)

For those who would like to study with us but are unable to come to London for face to face teaching, we also provide a Distance Learning version of the History and Health course. This is available to enrolled MSc students, and also to anyone else as a standalone ‘Public Health (PHM) Individual Module’. For more information on how to apply, please visit this page.

Cross-school Modules

We are committed to contributing history lectures to other cross school modules in order to introduce historical perspectives. Centre members contribute lectures to modules and courses including: Principles of Social Research, Health Promotion Theory, Environment, Health and Sustainable Development; Social Epidemiology.; Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco; the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Research Degrees

Graduate students have produced outstanding theses in a wide array of subjects relating to the history of public health, with particular strengths in the history of substance use and the development of health systems. The topics of recent successful PhD theses include: the development of the British health and safety system; disability policy in post-war Britain; medical cannabis; alcohol and binge drinking; and mental health in India. Many former students now continue to work in the field both at LSHTM and further afield.

Research students benefit from the advice of a specialist supervisor/s and all are encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of expertise available within the Faculty and the School more widely.

As a PhD student, you will have many opportunities to present your work and to share ideas through the Faculty’s wide and varied range of research seminars. You are also encouraged to gain valuable experience by establishing and convening your own networks and workshops. PhD students may also gain experience in teaching and leading seminar groups.

A list of current and past PhD students can be found on our about us webpage (under 'Our Team').

Funding

There is occasionally some funding available for study with the Centre

Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson PhD Studentship for history of public health

This studentship is not available every year. It is likely to be offered next in early 2026, for a September 2026 start date. Keep an eye on our News pages for further announcements. Please note: the studentship is only available to students who are assessed to have ‘Home’ fee status.

Wellcome Trust Masters Programme Award in Humanities and Social Science.

This studentship for a Masters in Public Health is available for those wanting to follow a humanities and social sciences track. It is only available to students who are assessed to have ‘Home’ fee status. Keep an eye on our News pages to see when the studentships are available.

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

We run a free, three week MOOC on the 'History of Public Health in Post-war Britain', in conjunction with LSHTM and FutureLearn.

#FLHistoryHealth

Why join the course?

History can offer us a unique insight into the public health problems, policies, and practices of the past, and is of critical importance to our understanding of healthcare in the contemporary world.

This online course will offer you an opportunity to bring the past into conversation with the present, enabling you to set the changing nature of public health in post-war Britain in context with changes seen today.

What will you achieve?

Explore the different definitions of public health and describe how these developed over the post-war period Identify the structures, organisations and individuals that put public health into practice Reflect on the challenges faced by public health in post-war Britain Evaluate the different solutions put forward to address public health problems in post-war Britain Interpret contemporary public health structures, challenges and solutions alongside their historical context

Learners from across the world who are intrigued by the history of public health in Britain. No prior knowledge or expertise in the area is needed, although you may be a student, professional, or individual with an interest in an aligned field, such as healthcare, medicine, public health, local government, history, or science.

Who is the course for?

Time commitment:
4 hrs per week