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Epidemiology is a key discipline for understanding and improving global health. Epidemiological methods underpin clinical medical research, public health practice and health care evaluation, investigation of the causes of disease, and evaluation of interventions to prevent or control disease. This programme covers both infectious and non-communicable disease epidemiology.
Duration: one year full time; half-time or split-study over two years. Ways to study explained.
Epidemiology
Watch Programme Director, Punam Mangtani, and students talk about the programme.
By the end of this programme, students should be able to:
- demonstrate advanced knowledge and awareness of the role of epidemiology and its contribution to other health-related disciplines
- choose appropriate designs and develop detailed protocols for epidemiological studies
- enter and manage computerised epidemiological data and carry out appropriate statistical analyses
- assess the results of epidemiological studies (their own or other investigators'), including critical appraisal of the study question, study design, methods and conduct, statistical analyses and interpretation
The below structure outlines the proposed modules for this programme. Module specifications provide full details about the aims and objectives of each module, what you will study and how the module is assessed.
Term 1
All students take the compulsory modules and usually take optional modules.
Compulsory modules are:
- Clinical Trials
- Epidemiology in Practice
- Extended Epidemiology
- Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health
- Epidemiology & -omics
Optional modules include:
- Demographic Methods
Terms 2 and 3
Students take a total of five modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.).
*Recommended modules
Slot 1
- Study Design: Writing a Study Proposal (compulsory)
Slot 2
- Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (compulsory)
Slot 3
- Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases*
- Modelling & the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases*
- Social Epidemiology*
- Spatial Epidemiology in Public Health*
- Applied Communicable Disease Control
- Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Current Issues in Maternal & Perinatal Health
- Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
- Medical Anthropology and Public Health
- Nutrition in Emergencies
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Health (formerly Tropical Environmental Health)
Slot 4
- Environmental Epidemiology*
- Epidemiology & Control of Communicable Diseases*
- Design and Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes
- Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights
- Globalisation & Health
- Nutrition Related Chronic Disease
Slot 5
- Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology*
- HIV (formerly AIDS)
- Applying Public Health Principles in Developing Countries
- Integrated Vector Management
- Principles and Practice of Public Health
Residential Field Trip
This course has a compulsory two-day residential retreat outside London. This is held on the Wednesday and Thursday of the first week in Term 1. This is included in the £200 field trip fee.
Day field trip to Oxford
A one-day field trip to Oxford usually takes place in November during reading week. Students are encouraged to attend but it is not a compulsory part of the course.
Project Report
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a written research project on a topic selected in consultation with their tutor, for submission by early September. This can be a data-analysis of an adequately powered study, a study protocol, a systematic review or an infectious disease modelling study. Students do not usually travel abroad to collect data.
Prize
The Nand Lal Bajaj and Savitri Devi Prize is awarded to the best project each year. The prize was donated by Dr Subhash Chandra Arya, former student, in honour of his parents Dr Nand Lal Bajaj and Mrs Savitri Devi.
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.
A student must normally satisfy the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine general entrance requirements and the additional programme specific entrance requirements as follows:
The normal minimum entrance qualification for registration at the School on a Master's programme is at least one of the following:
- a second-class honours degree of a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a subject appropriate to that of the course of study to be followed
- a registrable qualification appropriate to the course of study to be followed, in medicine, dentistry or veterinary studies
Applications with an appropriate technical qualification, or equivalent qualification and experience from overseas, are also welcomed.
Additional requirements for the MSc Epidemiology are:
- evidence of numeracy skills (e.g. A level Mathematics or Statistics or a module with a good mark in their university degree)
- it is preferable for a student to have some work experience in a health-related field
Any prospective student who does not meet the above minimum entry requirement, but who has relevant professional experience, may still be eligible for admission. Please contact the course directors if you are not sure whether this is the right course for you.
Applicants with a background in veterinary science are advised to apply for the School's sister course, MSc Veterinary Epidemiology. Applicants looking for training in public health practice are advised to apply to the MSc Public Health.
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to meet these requirements: Band A
Please see our English Language Requirements FAQs for information
| Fees 2020/21 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £10,470 |
| Part-time | £5,235 | |
| Overseas | Full-time | £24,200 |
| Part-time | £12,100 | |
| Field Trip | £230 |
Please note that EU nationals will continue to benefit from home fee status and can access financial support for the 2020-21 academic year. Find out more.
Other sources of funding:
Graduates from this programme enter medical research, academic medicine, public health and community medicine, epidemiological field studies, drug manufacture and with government or NGOs.
Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this course have entered:
- Example job titles:
-
Academic Clinical Fellow
Co-Investigator and Study Co-Ordinator
Consultant (Intensive Care)
Epidemiological Scientist
HIV/STI Surveillance and Prevention Scientist
Malaria Elimination Initiative Manager
Principle Investigator and Research Scientist
Public Policy Specialist
Statistician - Example organisations:
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
AstraZeneca
Drug Safety Research Unit
GSK Vaccines
Health Protection Agency
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johnson & Johnson
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Médecins Sans Frontières
Ministry of Health
National Environment Agency
NIMR & Joint Malaria Program
Public Health England
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
University College London (UCL)
World Health Organisation
Medical Research Council
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. 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 date for taught Master’s applications is as follows:
- 17 July 2020 by 23:59 (BST) for international applicants requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, and
- 31 August 2020 by 23:59 (BST) for applicants not requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa.
Application fee
A standard application fee of £50 applies to all face-to-face Master’s degree programmes and is payable upon application submission.
Tuition fee deposit
Applicants are required to respond to their Offer of Admissions 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?
EEA Nationals
If you have EU nationality or you are from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you do not need immigration permission to come to the UK. You can enter, study and work in the UK without restriction. If you have dual nationality, and you choose to come to the UK using your EEA or Swiss passport, you do not need immigration permission.
For useful guidance on EEA nationals in the UK, go to the UKCISA website.
Students from outside the EEA
All non-EEA nationals who want to study in the UK must hold immigration permission that allows you to study in the UK.
If you are coming to the School to study on a full time degree programme and you have no other immigration permission for the UK, you will need to apply for a Tier 4 Student visa. You can only apply for Tier 4 when your offer at the School is unconditional.
If you already hold a Tier 4 visa for a different institution, you will probably have to apply for a Tier 4 visa for the School before you can start studying with us.