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This is a multidisciplinary programme that bridges the fields of epidemiology, laboratory sciences and public health. It includes the option of choosing modules with a significant practical component and the opportunity to undertake a research project overseas. The programme will train students in all aspects of the control of infectious diseases and prepare them for a career in a range of organisations.
This programme will equip students with specialised skills that will facilitate a career in the control of infectious diseases as staff of health ministries, health departments, national or international disease control agencies, aid organisations or universities.
The majority of the research projects are performed with collaborating public health or research organisations and NGOs. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this overseas opportunity, which is crucial to the nature of the programme.
By the end of this programme students will be able to:
- investigate the transmission of endemic and epidemic infections
- select appropriate methods of control
- design, implement and evaluate co-ordinated control methods
- assess constraints of local public health delivery systems
- manage available resources in the context of the control of infectious diseases
- focus their efforts on particular geographical regions or specific diseases
Duration: one year full-time or split-study over two years. Ways to study explained.
Control of Infectious Diseases
Watch Programme Director Matthew Yeo 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
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Term 1 (September - December) consists of ten teaching weeks for AB1 slot modules, 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 for C and D slot modules, plus a Reading Week in the middle of the term. C modules are taught in five half-week blocks before Reading Week. D modules are taught in five half-week blocks after Reading Week. Followed by the Spring break.
Term 3 (April - September) consists of five weeks of teaching for E slot modules, taught in half-week blocks, and the project report.
*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
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Students take two compulsory AB1 modules:
- Introduction to Disease Agents & Their Control
- Basic Statistics for Public Health & Policy
In addition, students take one of the following AB1 module combinations:
- Basic Epidemiology and Introduction to Health Economics and Health Policy, Process & Power (3 modules)
- Extended Epidemiology and Introduction to Health Economics or Health Policy, process & Power (2 modules)
- Terms 2 and 3
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Students take a total of five study modules, one from each timetable slot (C1, C2, D1, D2, E). The list below shows recommended modules. There are other optional modules which may be taken only after consultation with the Programme Director.
C1 slot
- Designing Disease Control Programmes
- Malaria: From Science to Policy and Practice
- Health Care Evaluation
C2 slot
- Clinical Bacteriology 1
- Conflict & Health
- Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies
- Population, Poverty and Environment
- Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
D1 slot
- Applied Communicable Disease Control
- Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Current Issues in Maternal & Perinatal Health
- Economic Analysis for Health Policy
- Medical Anthropology and Public Health
- Spatial Epidemiology in Public Health
- Vector Sampling, Identification & Incrimination
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Health
D2 slot
- Clinical Bacteriology 2
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
E slot
- Applying Public Health Principles
- HIV
- Integrated Vector Management
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Project report
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During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project studying aspects of an intervention programme, for submission by early September. If appropriate, this may take the form of an optional period in a relevant overseas location. Most students on this course undertake projects overseas. Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of up to £1,500 to cover costs involved.
Please note: Should it be the case that you are unable to travel overseas or access laboratories in order to complete your project, you will be able to complete an alternative desk-based project allowing you to obtain your qualification within the original time frame. Alternatively, you will be able to defer your project to the following year.
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.
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.
Additionally for the MSc Control of Infectious Diseases, some prior public health/overseas experience is advantageous and will be considered but is not necessarily a prerequisite for this 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
Please see our English language requirements for more information.
Intercalating students
You will need the equivalent of a bachelor's degree to undertake an MSc. 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 an MSc at LSHTM.
Access and widening participation
At LSHTM we are committed to ensuring that students from all backgrounds feel encouraged to apply to study with us. To that end, we have introduced an innovative contextual admissions system that is designed to consider any barriers applicants may have faced and take account of the circumstances in which their grades have been achieved, rather than relying on results alone. More information on widening participation at LSHTM.
| Fees 2023/24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £12,330 |
| Part-time | £6,165 | |
| EU/Overseas | Full-time | £28,540 |
| Part-time | £14,270 |
*Mobile users, scroll right to view fees
Sources of funding:
Graduates from this programme enter a diverse range of positions and organisations across the fields of epidemiology, laboratory sciences and public health.
Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this course have entered after graduating:
- Example job titles:
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Assistant Professor
Doctor
Editorial Assistant
Epidemiologist
Immunisation Consultant
Infection Control Nurse
Malaria Data Analyst
Operational Researcher
Pharmacist
Programme Manager
Public Health Officer
Public Relations Executive - Example organisations:
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Malaria Consortium
Apotex
Basel University Hospital
Cancer Research UK
Chesterfield Royal Hospital (NHS)
RAPP
Civil Service
IBM
Public Health England
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Terrence Higgins Trust
The European Centre for Disease Control
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Hear Lanre's thoughts on the MSc Control of Infectious Diseases
Lanre tells us about studying the MSc Control of Infectious Diseases programme at LSHTM, the skills he has learned and his plans for his future career.
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 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.
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.
We strongly advise that you apply early as popular programmes will close earlier than the stated deadline if they become full.
The final closing dates for all taught Master’s applications for entry in the 2023/24 academic year is:
- Sunday 23 July 2023 at 23:59 UK time for all students requiring a Student visa
- Thursday 31 August 2023 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.
Application fee
A standard non-refundable application fee of £50 applies to all taught Master’s degree programmes and is payable upon application submission. Income generated from the application fee is shared between scholarships and student hardship fund.
Tuition fee deposit
Applicants are required to respond to their Offer of Admission and pay the £500 deposit within 28 days of receipt, or their place will be released and the offer automatically declined. The deposit is deductible from tuition fees upon full registration with LSHTM.
Do you need a visa?
Please visit our Visa & Immigration pages for advice and guidance.