This programme aims to develop the careers of doctors whose interest is the practice of medicine in tropical and low- and middle-income countries. It aims to enhance evidence-based decision making in tropical medicine, international health, and the underpinning disciplines through a wide choice of modules including small group clinically focused teaching.
By the end of this programme students will be able to:
- demonstrate understanding of the causation, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and control of the major parasitic, bacterial, and viral, and noncommunicable diseases affecting tropical and developing countries
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the evidence base of tropical medicine and disease control in developing countries and of its application in the practice of evidence-based tropical medicine and disease control
- demonstrate understanding and skills in diagnostic parasitology microbiology and entomology through the selection of appropriate testing methods and the preparation and examination of biological specimens for identification of common parasitic and bacterial pathogens and associated vectors
- demonstrate understanding of the application of basic epidemiological principles, including selecting an appropriate study design to address a given clinical or public health problem
- demonstrate understanding of the selection application and interpretation statistical methods in the analysis of quantitative data
- demonstrate ability to analyse and synthesise research findings for clinical and disease control decision making (in areas including assessment diagnosis, test selection treatment, prognosis and control) and to critically evaluate their effects
- demonstrate understanding of the key contribution of clinical trials to the evidence base of tropical medicine and international health, and of how such trials are designed, conducted, analyzed and reported
- demonstrate ability to synthesise and communicate relevant medical knowledge and principles at an appropriate level to patients, health care professionals, colleagues and other groups
- demonstrate understanding of the role of basic and applied research underpinning clinical and international public health practice, at an appropriate level depending on the individual student's choice of modules
Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
All students on the MSc will take the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H). Students with a prior DTM&H, or holding 60 master's level credits from the DTM&H (East African Partnership) may apply for exemption from Term 1 via recognition of prior learning.
Duration: one year full-time or split-study over two years. Ways to study explained.
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 teaching for the AB1 module, with the DTM&H examination in early December. Followed by the Winter break.
Term 2 (January-March) consists of MSc examinations, followed by 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.
- Term 1
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Students take one compulsory AB1 module:
- Tropical Medicine, Parasitology and Public Health
This module follows the course for the DTM&H. Term 1 consists entirely of the DTM&H lectures, seminars, laboratory practical and clinical sessions, and is examined through the DTM&H examination and resulting in the award of the Diploma and 60 Master's level credits at the end of Term 1.
- 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). Recognising that students have diverse backgrounds and experience, the programme director considers requests to take any module within LSHTM's portfolio, provided that this is appropriate for the student.
C1 slot
- Advanced Immunology 1
- Childhood Eye Disease and Ocular Infections
- Clinical Virology (recommended)
- Designing Disease Control Programmes
- Economic Evaluation
- Generalised Linear Models
- Health Care Evaluation
- Health Promotion Approaches and Methods
- Malaria: From Science to Policy and Practice (recommended)
- Maternal & Child Nutrition (recommended)
- Molecular Biology & Recombinant DNA Techniques
- Practical Research Skills (recommended)
- Research Design & Analysis
- Sociological Approaches to Health
- Study Design: Writing a Study Proposal
C2 slot
- Advanced Diagnostic Parasitology
- Advanced Immunology 2
- Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs
- Clinical Bacteriology 1 (recommended)
- Conflict & Health (recommended)
- Data Challenge
- Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies (recommended)
- Family Planning Programmes
- Health Systems
- History & Health
- Molecular Virology
- Non-Communicable Eye Disease
- Population, Poverty & Environment
- Qualitative Methodologies (recommended)
- Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
D1 slot
- Advanced Training in Molecular Biology
- Analysis of Hierarchical & Other Dependent Data
- Applied Communicable Disease Control (recommended)
- Basic Parasitology
- Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections (recommended)
- Current Issues in Maternal & Perinatal Health (recommended)
- Economic Analysis for Health Policy
- Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases (recommended)
- Evaluation of Public Health Interventions (recommended)
- Genomics Health Data
- Immunology of Clinical Disease
- Implementing Eye Care: Skills and Resources
- Medical Anthropology and Public Health
- Modelling & the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
- Nutrition in Emergencies
- Organisational Management
- Social Epidemiology
- Spatial Epidemiology in Public Health
- Vector Sampling, Identification & Incrimination
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, and Health
D2 slot
- Clinical Bacteriology 2 (recommended)
- Design & Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (recommended)
- Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights (recommended)
- Global Disability and Mental Health (recommended)
- Globalisation & Health
- Health Decision Science
- Immunology of Parasitic Infection (recommended)
- Molecular Research in Infectious Diseases
- Nutrition Related Chronic Diseases
- Population Dynamics & Projections
- Reviewing the Literature
- Sexual Health
- Survival Analysis and Bayesian Statistics
- Vector Biology & Vector Parasite Interactions
E slot
- Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
- Advanced Statistical Modelling
- Analysing Survey & Population Data
- Applying Public Health Principles (recommended)
- Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Environmental Health Policy
- Health Services Management
- HIV (recommended)
- Integrated Vector Management
- Integrating Module: Health Promotion
- Mycology (recommended)
- Neglected Tropical Diseases (recommended)
- Novel Drug Discovery & Antimicrobial Resistance (recommended)
- Nutrition Programme Planning
- Pathogen Genomics
- Principles and Practice of Public Health
- Proposal Development
- Vaccine Immunology (recommended)
- Project report
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During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project in a subject of their choice, for submission by early September. Projects may involve writing up and analysing work carried out before coming to LSHTM, a literature review, or a research study proposal. Some students gather data overseas or in the UK for analysis within the project. Such projects require early planning. Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of up to £1,500 to cover costs involved. The majority of students who undertake projects abroad receive financial support for flights from LSHTM's trust funds set up for this purpose.
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.
Prize
The Frederick Murgatroyd Award is awarded each year for the best student of the year. Donated by Mrs Murgatroyd in memory of her husband, who held the Wellcome Chair of Clinical Tropical Medicine in 1950 and 1951.
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 the MSc Tropical Medicine & International Health, an applicant must have a degree in medicine and be a registered medical practitioner. Preference will be given to candidates who have at least two years of experience working in clinical medicine (in any country) with recent professional experience in a relevant discipline.
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 for more information.
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 | |
| Field Trip | £500 |
*Mobile users, scroll right to view fees
Sources of funding:
Graduates from this programme go on to a wide variety of career paths including further research in epidemiology, parasite immunology; field research programmes or international organisations concerned with health care delivery in conflict settings or humanitarian crises, or return to academic or medical positions in low- and middle-income countries.
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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Accident and Emergency Health Worker
Analyst of Vector Control
Emergency Medicine Doctor
GP (General Practitioner)
Lecturer
Medical Director
Research Clinician AE-TBC
Associate Professor of Neurology
Dermatologist
Government Assistant
Specialist Registrar - Example organisations
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Imperial College London
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Médecins Sans Frontières
Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia
Nagasaki University Hospital
Save the Children
Rabito Clinic
Hospital Management Board
NHS
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.