Academic year 2021/22
All our intensive MSc programmes will offer a mix of online and on campus teaching during the 2021/22 academic year.
This means that each programme will involve an element of module level teaching on campus and students will be required to attend part of the programme in person. Within a programme, some modules may be online only, others may combine online and campus teaching.
The fact that there are likely to be ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions in place means that the proportion of online teaching delivery - provided through a combination of synchronous (live and interactive) and asynchronous (recordings, independent study, individual exercises, etc.) activities - is going to be larger than what can realistically be delivered in person on campus. Please check our Applicants and Offer Holders FAQs.
The programme
This programme provides ophthalmic professionals with the knowledge and skills required to reduce blindness and visual disability in their populations by developing an evidence-based public health approach for the control and management of blinding eye diseases. It enables students to contribute effectively at a local, national and international level in research, training and service delivery.
The training will enable students to develop a public health oriented approach to eye care services and the control of blindness in keeping with the objectives of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight.
They will acquire and apply skills in epidemiological and operational research, critical analysis of strategies for the control of major blinding eye diseases, in programme planning, management and evaluation; facilitate a personal development, so enabling individuals to contribute more fully to their countries’ and societies’ eye health; engage with local, national and international networks of health professionals and systems, for the prevention of blindness worldwide.
Further information on the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH).
Duration: one year full-time or split-study over two years. Ways to study explained.
At the end of this programme students should be able to:
- describe the basic epidemiology of the major blinding eye diseases
- design and interpret studies to assess public health eye care needs using appropriate research methods
- critically appraise and select appropriate public health interventions for the major blinding eye diseases
- design a comprehensive eye care programme for appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures for a community
- develop the skills necessary for resource mobilisation, management and evaluation of local comprehensive eye care programmes and integration into health systems
- discuss the importance of disability in the global context, appraise the epidemiology of visual and impairment leading to disability and the impact of disability on people’s lives
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.
- View programme specification (2021/22)
- View module specifications (2020/21)
- Module availability chart (2020/21) (xls)
- 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, revision time, examinations 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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All students take the following AB1 compulsory modules:
- Basic Epidemiology
- Basic Statistics for Public Health & Policy
- Epidemiological Methods Applied to Eye Diseases
- Foundations of Global Eye Health and Eye Care Programmes
- Introduction to Health Economics
- Skills for Field Projects in Eye Care
- 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). The list below shows recommended or compulsory modules. There are other optional modules which may be taken only after consultation with the Programme Directors - see module availability chart (2020/21) (xls).
C1 slot
- Childhood Eye Disease and Ocular Infections (compulsory)
C2 slot
- Non-Communicable Eye Disease (compulsory)
D1 slot
- Implementing Eye Care: Skills and Resources (compulsory)
D2 slot
- Ethics, Public Health and Human Rights
- Global Disability & Health
- Reviewing the Literature
E module
- Applying Public Health Principles
- Principles and Practice of Public Health
- Project report
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During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project on an appropriate topic. Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of about £1,500 to cover costs involved.
Please note: due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, we are not currently in a position to guarantee that overseas or field based projects will be possible or that London based laboratories will be accessible. Whilst we are hopeful that the situation will change before next summer, should it be the case that you are unable to travel overseas or access labs, you will be able to complete an alternative desk-based project allowing you to obtain your qualification within the original timeframe. 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.
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.
Additionally for the MSc Public Health for Eye Care, students are expected to be health care professionals involved in eye care, or to have an appropriate technical qualification and work experience.
Any prospective student who does not meet the above minimum entry requirement, but who has 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 C
Please see our English Language Requirements FAQs for information
Scholarship Funding Application
Successful applicants for scholarship funding will usually have at least 3 years’ experience in delivering clinical eye care and will often have undertaken some research projects or be actively participating in community eye health work or have a significant role in planning services for the population they serve. Eye care programme managers or eye care researchers who do not have a clinical background may also be successful in applying for scholarships.
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 the School
| Fees 2021/22 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £10,990 |
| Part-time | £5,495 | |
| EU/Overseas | Full-time | £25,410 |
| Part-time | £12,705 |
Sources of funding:
Graduates from this programme are expected and encouraged to enter into careers with ministries of health, universities and NGOs involved in developing health services to prevent blindness and improve vision.
Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this course have entered:
- Example job titles:
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Paediatric Ophthalmologist
Community Ophthalmologist
Director Blindness Prevention Program
Medical Director
Eye Specialist - Example organisations:
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The Lancet
United States Department of Health & Human Services
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
World Health Organisation
Business Without Borders
Al-Shifaa
University of Science and Technology
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital
Civil Hospital
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 dates for all taught Master’s applications for entry in the 2021/22 academic year is:
- Sunday 27 June 2021 at 23:59 UK time for all students requiring a Student visa
- Sunday 8 August 2021 at 23:59 UK time for all UK, Irish and non-Student visa students
Application fee
A standard application fee of £50 applies to all taught Master’s degree programmes and is payable upon application submission.
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.