Climate change is one of the biggest health challenges of our time, with consequences that are increasingly familiar in our everyday lives and felt across communities worldwide. From more frequent and intense heatwaves and extreme weather events to worsening air quality, growing pressures on food and water security, changing patterns of infectious disease and increasing demands on health systems, the impacts on human health and wellbeing are profound and interconnected. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach that takes into consideration the deep connections between the health of people, the planet and the ecosystems that sustain life.
The MSc in Climate Change and Planetary Health explores not only how climate change and wider environmental transformations affect human health and wellbeing, but also how we can respond to these challenges and drive meaningful change. Drawing on scientific evidence and interdisciplinary research, the programme explores opportunities to develop solutions that deliver benefits across human health, environmental sustainability and economic and social development.
You will examine how evidence can inform policy and decision-making, how effective interventions can be put into practice and scaled up, and how different sectors and disciplines can work together to address complex challenges. The programme will equip you with the knowledge and analytical skills to identify opportunities for action, influence policy and contribute to solutions that support healthier, more equitable and sustainable societies.
You will study at one of the world's leading schools of public health, benefiting from LSHTM's internationally recognised research and interdisciplinary expertise. The programme draws on knowledge and insights from across our School, including the Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, connecting you with cutting-edge research and a community working at the forefront of climate change and planetary health.
What you will learn
Through the MSc, you will develop an understanding of the complex relationships between climate change and human health, alongside the knowledge and skills to assess risks, evaluate evidence and identify opportunities for action.
You will learn to:
- Understand how changes in global environmental systems, including increased heat, food systems, air pollution and biodiversity loss, affect human health and wellbeing.
- Interpret and critically assess scientific research and evidence, understanding its theoretical foundations and relevance to policy and practice.
- Apply and evaluate methods to measure and quantify the health impacts of climate change and other environmental changes.
- Explore approaches to developing solutions, engaging different stakeholders and translating evidence into action.
- Identify opportunities to protect and improve population health while advancing environmental sustainability.
Reflecting LSHTM's global outlook, you will examine climate change and planetary health challenges across diverse geographical, political and socio-economic contexts, from urban environments in high income settings to rural settings in low- and middle-income countries and regions particularly vulnerable to climate-related health hazards.
Who is it for?
This programme welcomes applicants from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. You will learn alongside fellow students bringing different disciplinary perspectives, professional experiences and interests, all with a shared interest in understanding and addressing the connections between planetary and human health.
It is particularly suited to those who want to explore the relationships between environmental change and human health, and to bring a planetary health perspective to their work, research or future career. Some elements of the programme involve quantitative assessment, so a basic mathematical background is important.
Graduates pursue a wide range of career paths, including roles in public health, environmental and climate policy, research, and national and international organisations. Whether you aspire to influence policy and decision-making, contribute to organisations addressing global environmental and health challenges, or pursue an academic or research career, the programme will provide a strong foundation for your next steps.
Duration
One year full-time (in-person and online); part-time or split-study (in-person only) over two years. Ways to study explained.
Intercalating study
Find out about intercalating this programme.
Climate Change & Planetary Health
Watch Programme Directors Pauline Scheelbeek and Priya Mondal talk about the programme.
The below structure outlines the proposed modules for this programme. Programme and module specifications provide full details about the aims and objectives of each module, what you will study and how the module is assessed.
- Structure of the year
Term 1 (September - December) consists of ten teaching weeks, plus one Reading Week* in the middle of the term. Followed by the Winter break.
Term 2 (January - March) consists of a further ten weeks of teaching, plus a Reading Week in the middle of the term, followed by the Spring break.
Term 3 (April - September) consists of a further five weeks of teaching, followed by the research project.
*Reading Week is a week during term where no formal teaching takes place. It is a time for private study, preparing for assessments or attending study/computer skills workshops. There are two Reading Weeks at LSHTM: one in November and the other in February.
- Term 1
All students take three compulsory modules and one elective module in Term 1.
Compulsory modules:
- Fundamentals of Climate Change & Planetary Health
- Concepts in Epidemiology
- Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health 1
Elective module options:
- Promotion, Prevention, and Protection
- Health Economics, Systems and Policy
- Term 2
All students take two compulsory modules and one elective module in Term 2. Students take three modules in the four teaching blocks in Term 2, leaving one block for Project preparation. Non-assessed support will be available to help with the planning of student Projects.
Compulsory modules:
- Methods in Climate Change & Planetary Health
- Environmental Epidemiology
Elective module options:
- Health Policy, Process & Power
- Population, Poverty & Environment
- Research Design & Analysis
- Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health 2
- Qualitative Methodologies
- Term 3
All students take two compulsory modules in Term 3.
Compulsory modules:
- Planetary Health Research in Practice
- Environmental Epidemiology
Students will start working on their summer project in June for submission by early September. The project will typically involve formulating strategies and concepts, deciding and acting on own initiative, planning, organising and time keeping, analysing critically, systems thinking, relating and networking, adapting and responding to change, expressive writing and scientific reporting and presenting and communicating information.
Changes to the programme
LSHTM will seek to deliver this programme in accordance with the description set out on this programme page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for LSHTM to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.
The below structure outlines the proposed modules for this programme. Programme and module specifications provide full details about the aims and objectives of each module, what you will study and how the module is assessed.
Lectures and practicals for this online programme will be delivered live during the UK timezone, on weekdays, usually between 09:00 and 17:00.
- Structure of the year
Term 1 (September - December) consists of ten teaching weeks, plus one Reading Week* in the middle of the term. Followed by the Winter break.
Term 2 (January - March) consists of a further ten weeks of teaching, plus a Reading Week in the middle of the term, followed by the Spring break.
Term 3 (April - September) consists of a further five weeks of teaching, followed by the research project.
*Reading Week is a week during term where no formal teaching takes place. It is a time for private study, preparing for assessments or attending study/computer skills workshops. There are two Reading Weeks at LSHTM: one in November and the other in February.
- Term 1
All students take three compulsory modules and one elective module in Term 1.
Compulsory modules:
- Fundamentals of Climate Change & Planetary Health
- Concepts in Epidemiology
- Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health 1
Elective module options:
- Promotion, Prevention, and Protection (Distance Learning*)
- Health Economics, Systems and Policy (Distance Learning*)
- Social Research Methods for Public Health (Distance Learning*)
* Our distance learning modules are delivered entirely online through directed self-study and materials on Moodle, our Virtual Learning Environment. Study at times convenient to you, within assessment schedules, with tutorial support and opportunities to connect with other students through online discussions and study groups.
- Term 2
All students take three compulsory modules in Term 2. Students take three modules in the four teaching blocks in Term 2, leaving one block for Project preparation. Non-assessed support will be available to help with the planning of student Projects.
Compulsory modules:
- Methods in Climate Change & Planetary Health
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Population, Poverty & Environment
- Term 3
All students take two compulsory modules in Term 3.
Compulsory modules:
- Planetary Health Research in Practice
- Environmental Epidemiology
Students will start working on their summer project in June for submission by early September. The project will typically involve formulating strategies and concepts, deciding and acting on own initiative, planning, organising and time keeping, analysing critically, systems thinking, relating and networking, adapting and responding to change, expressive writing and scientific reporting and presenting and communicating information.
In-person MSc
*Mobile users, scroll right to view fees
| Fees 2027/28 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £16,430 |
| Part-time | £8,215 | |
| EU/Overseas | Full-time | £36,240 |
| Part-time | £18,120 |
Online live MSc
| Fees 2027/28 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £23,100 |
| Part-time | £11,550 | |
| EU/Overseas | Full-time | £23,100 |
| Part-time | £11,550 |
Some tax authorities require us to apply sales taxes to our online programme fees (online live and distance learning). Depending on your country or region of residence, this may include VAT, GST, or similar local taxes. For full details, please see the Sales Tax Information for International Students section.
Sources of funding:
In order to be admitted to an LSHTM master's degree programme, an applicant must:
- hold either a first degree at Second Class Honours (2:2) standard in a relevant discipline, or a degree in medicine recognised by the UK General Medical Council (GMC) for the purposes of practising medicine in the UK, or another degree of equivalent standard awarded by an overseas institution recognised by UK ENIC or the GMC.
or
- hold a professional qualification appropriate to the programme of study to be followed obtained by written examinations and judged by LSHTM to be equivalent to a Second Class Honours (2:2) degree or above.
or
- have relevant professional experience or training which is judged by LSHTM to be equivalent to a Second Class Honours (2:2) degree or above.
If you have not previously studied in the UK, you can check our guide to international equivalent qualifications for our master's degrees.
Additional requirement: applicants for the MSc Climate Change and Planetary Health will need to provide some evidence of ability in mathematics, post-16 year education. This could include:
- A-level or a higher school certificate
- a module within an undergraduate degree (such as quantitative methods, epidemiology or statistics)
- mathematics (including statistics) studied as part of a general research methods course
Applicants who do not meet the minimum entry requirement, but who have relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission. Qualifications and experience will be assessed from the application.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to meet these requirements: Band B.
Some applicants may be exempt if they have previously studied in English or meet other specified criteria. Please see our English language requirements for details.
It is possible to apply without English language test results however the results of a test may be listed as a condition of an offer of admission.
Intercalating students
This option is available for in-person MSc programmes. You will need the equivalent of a bachelor's degree to undertake a master's degree. This will usually require you to have a BSc degree or have completed the first three years of your medical degree. More information on intercalating a Master's at LSHTM.
Access and widening participation
At LSHTM we are committed to ensuring that excellent students feel encouraged to apply for a course of study with us. We have introduced an innovative contextual admissions system that is designed to support those students who have faced the greatest barriers to their learning. More information on widening participation at LSHTM.
Applications for this programme are now open for 2027/28 entry.
Applications should be made online and will only be considered once you have provided all required information and supporting documentation.
Please also read LSHTM's Admissions policies (pdf) prior to submitting your application.
You can apply for up to two master's programmes. Make sure to list them by order of preference as consideration will be given to your top choice first.
Please ensure you pay careful attention to the content of your personal statement, as we do not invite applicants to interview for this programme, so the clarity and relevance of the information you can provide is of considerable importance to us. We would like to know your experiences in the relevant field(s), your reasons for applying to our programme, what you hope to gain from the training we offer, and how you intend to use the knowledge and skills you acquired to further your career and contribute to improving health.
Application deadlines
All applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure availability of a place and a timely decision on their application. This is particularly important for applicants with sponsorship deadlines.
In-person programme
Closing dates for all taught face-to-face MSc, PG Diploma and PG Certificate applications for entry in the 2027/28 academic year is:
- Sunday 25 July 2027 at 23:59 UK time for all students requiring a Student visa
- Tuesday 31 August 2027 at 23:59 UK time for all UK, Irish and non-Student visa students.
Online live programme
The final closing date for all taught online Master’s applications for entry in the 2027/28 academic year is:
- Monday 31 August 2027 at 23:59 UK time for all UK, Irish and non-Student visa students
Applicants will be required to meet the conditions of their offer and provide all necessary documents by the date of their Offer of Admission.
Tuition fee deposit
All applicants must respond to their offer of admission within 28 days or their place will be released and the offer automatically declined. The deposit is deductible from tuition fees upon full registration with LSHTM. Applicants in receipt of a full scholarship will not be required to pay the deposit.
- Home students: £500 non-refundable deposit, payable within 28 days of the offer date
- Overseas students: £2,000 non-refundable deposit
- Offers made before 31 January 2027: deposit due by 1 March 2027
- Offers made from 1 February 2027 onwards: deposit due within 28 days of the offer date.
Do you need a visa?
Please visit our Visa & Immigration pages for advice and guidance.
Important notice for nationals/citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan: If you require a UK student visa, the government has introduced a “visa brake”. As a result, LSHTM is currently unable to sponsor student visas for applicants from these countries.
The programme prepares you for careers across:
- public health agencies and international organisations
- healthcare services and sustainability teams
- government policy and advisory teams
- non-governmental organisations and international development agencies
- research institutes and universities
- consultancy and the private sector
Our graduates go on to work in various roles including climate and health researchers, policy advisers, healthcare professionals with a sustainability focus, programme managers and consultants. They contribute to the work of organisations including the NHS, UK Health Security Agency, Clean Air Fund, PATH and the Gates Foundation. For those keen to pursue a research career, the programme also provides a strong foundation for doctoral study, with graduates undertaking PhDs at LSHTM and other universities.
Whether you are starting your career or building on professional experience, the programme equips you to address the connections between climate change, the environment and population health.
Employability
On average, 90% of our master's graduates from the 2019/20-2022/23 cohorts were in employment or undertaking further studies 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Surveys, 2020-2023).
Hear from a MSc Climate Change & Planetary Health alumni
Shahab shares his experience of studying the MSc at LSHTM and how it shaped his career after graduation.
Employers and job titles examples for this programme
As a top-ranked institution for public health, our graduates' knowledge, skills and qualities are in demand in the field. Our graduates go on to various roles with a wide range of employers. Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this programme have entered:
Example job titles:
- Academic Researcher
- Clinical Fellow
- Consultant and Managing Director
- Managing Director
- PhD student
- Program Manager
- Research Coordinator
- Resource Mobilization Officer
- Senior Program Officer
Example organisations:
- Clean Air Fund
- Gates Foundation
- LSHTM
- Ministry of Health
- NHS Foundation Trust
- PATH
- UK Health Security Agency
LSHTM Alumni
LSHTM’s alumni community includes over 35,000 graduates across more than 190 countries. It offers a lifelong connection to LSHTM and to each other.
We are proud of our global alumni network, which includes many notable members, such as:
- Tedros Adhanom, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who completed his MSc in Immunology of Infectious Diseases
- Karina Rando, the Minister of Public Health in Uruguay, studied MSc Public Health
- Christopher Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England and Chief Medical Adviser to UK Government, studied MSc Epidemiology.
- Vanessa Bradford Kerry, founder of the non-profit Seed Global Health, director of the Program in Global Public Policy and Social Change at Harvard Medical School, and Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health for the World Health Organization (WHO), studied the MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing
- Career support - the LSHTM Careers Service provide a range of services from 1-1 appointments to events and workshops.
- Alumni blogs - did you know LSHTM has over 35,500 alumni in more than 190 countries.
- International alumni chapters - find an LSHTM network of alumni near you from our over 30 chapters.