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Overview
Overview - Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing
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The course runs from 12 March to 23 July 2025 (Easter break 16 April 2025) with some assessments taking place after studies have concluded. Students study for one full day each week on a Wednesday for 19 weeks.

Develop your career as part of the global nursing community!

Nursing in challenging environments requires knowledge of a broad range of health issues and practical tools to provide high-quality care to patients - wherever you are. This unique course prepares nurses and allied health professionals for work in low-resource settings and with vulnerable populations.

World-leading experts in their field teach through online sessions including interactive lectures, practical skills, and laboratory training. The vital insights they share open doors to careers around the world, as well as bringing fresh perspectives and understanding about the diversity and impact of nursing.

First established at LSHTM in 1996, it was the first programme of its kind that was designed with nurses in mind, acknowledging the vital role they play in health system strengthening and global nursing, while equipping them to work in a range of challenging circumstances with little or no infrastructural support. Our thousands of course graduates make significant contributions to global health. By taking this course you will also join this dedicated and supportive international network and become part of a lifelong alumni community.

What you will learn

Held up as the industry standard, the Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing (PTDN) covers a huge breadth of topics including infectious disease, mental health, decolonisation, and women's and children’s health. We are constantly adapting our approach to incorporate new areas of practice or emerging health challenges.

The course features a highly popular virtual laboratory element which is new to many students. Guided by a range of interactive videos and lectures, you will have the chance to see down the microscope on your computer screen, and learn skills such as how to recognise malaria, TB, leishmaniasis, filariasis and other parasitic diseases. Blood grouping, cross-matching and haemoglobin estimation are also demonstrated.

The PTDN is an established professional qualification and a requirement for many international agencies including Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children, Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), and the British Red Cross among others.

The course covers a range of key topics in global nursing including:

  • Global healthcare challenges
  • Optimising and advancing nursing practice global nursing practice
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Women and children's health
  • Mental health
  • Specific non-communicable and infectious diseases

Themes woven throughout the course are:

  • The role and value of nursing
  • Working with low resources
  • Health inequalities
  • Decolonisation
  • Partnership working

Who should apply?

The PDTN is available to candidates with a degree who are currently registered as nurses, midwives, paramedics or allied health professionals.

We recommend you have two years of post-registration experience by the start of the course applied for. Any student who does not meet the above minimum entry requirements but who has relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission.

The PDTN scholarship fund helps train, encourage and support the next generation of nurses from low- and middle-income countries.

How you will learn

Students study for one full day each week on a Wednesday for 19 weeks. For the duration of the programme, each week will typically include 7 hours of online time and 8 hours of self-directed study for a total of 285 notional hours.

The course is extremely rich and concentrated and you will get the most benefit from engaging with live lectures. Lectures are scheduled between 9am and 5pm London time, as well as being recorded and accessible afterwards on our e-learning platform, Moodle. Where possible we encourage all students to attend live lectures to be able to interact with the academic exercises, and other students, ask questions and get immediate answers. Students from many different time zones across the world join our live online lectures to benefit from the enhanced learning experience.

Assessment

Assessment for the Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing for the March 2025 intake will take place on the following dates. Please note: some of the assessments take place after scheduled teaching has concluded.

AssessmentDate
Practical lab exam2 July 2025
MCQ exam30 July 2025
Essay submission27 August 2025

Additional information 

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Laura Haskins
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Laura Haskins, Diploma in Tropical Nursing Alumna
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"The diploma gave me a strong foundation in so many different aspects of global health through a nursing lens." - Read Laura's Story

Course objectives
Course objectives - Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing
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Aims & Objectives

The overarching aim of this course is to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in providing effective healthcare within low resource settings. It facilitates the development of practical skills, clinical knowledge, academic proficiency, and ethical awareness to enhance healthcare and address disparities.

The programme aims to do this by:

  • Providing students with the latest knowledge and skills relevant to nursing in low and middle income countries (LMIC).
  • Facilitating high quality learning that is informed by current knowledge and best practice.
  • Enabling students to develop analytical skills for both their careers and future learning.
  • Developing effective professionals, able to function well alone or in both team situations.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Understand and evaluate key issues affecting primary health care in LMIC.
  • Aim to be able to maximize care in practice with minimum resources.
  • Demonstrate the importance of promoting health through prevention rather than cure.
  • Analyse, critically evaluate and interpret information from a variety of sources.

Learning outcomes

  • Apply and interpret laboratory methods available at local and district level clinics in low resource settings, for the diagnosis of infectious diseases and other medical conditions. 
  • Critically discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and nursing management of the major communicable and non communicable diseases endemic in low resource settings. 
  • Critically analyse the determinants of health, and how these are significant in the planning and delivery of health services 
  • Critically evaluate the ethical and professional responsibilities of healthcare workers in diverse socio-economic and cultural settings, and assess their role in improving health and diminishing health inequities.

Learning, teaching and assessment methods

The programme is taught through online lectures and laboratory sessions. Students are expected to learn through both directed and self-directed study.

The course is formally assessed through an online laboratory exam (25%), an online multiple-choice exam (25%), and the submission of a 2500-word essay (50%). These assessments are designed to enable students to demonstrate their learning in relation to the course's learning outcomes.

Candidates must pass all three course components.

Accreditation

The course is Level 7 within the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ). Successful candidates will be awarded the 'Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing'.

Computer requirements

Students will require regular access to a computer with an internet connection, speakers and a microphone to access the LSHTM’s online learning site where many of the programme’s study resources are located.

Internet connection and web access are essential. If you can stream videos, your connection and device should be sufficient. The main applications used during the programme are LSHTM’s online learning platform Moodle, Collaborate, Zoom, and videos.

It is recommended that users run the latest version of Google Chrome.

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Kevin Corrigan, Diploma in Tropical Nursing Alumnus
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Nicolas Morris, Diploma in Tropical Nursing Alumnus
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"The DTN has been fundamental in my career... it gave me the foundations of knowledge, skills, awareness and context needed for overseas health work" - Read Nicolas' story

Fees & Funding
Fees - DTN
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Fees for March 2025 entry

£2,200.

Funding - DTN
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Funding

Applicants must hold an offer of a place before they can apply for any funding. The deadline for submission of all funding applications is Wednesday 5 February 2025 for March 2025 entry.

A small number of full tuition fee waivers to the value of £2,200.00 are available for March 2025 entry.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants must hold an offer of admission for the course
  • The fee waivers will be awarded to applicants who are resident in, and a national of, a Lower- or Middle- income country (LMIC) - World Bank definition

How to apply:

Applicants need to submit a statement of 250 words to shortcourses@lshtm.ac.uk clearly stating their eligibility for this award, how they plan to maximise their learning on the course, and the difference this award would make to them.

Please state ‘PDTN Fee Waiver Application’ in the subject line.

The deadline for submission of fee waiver applications is 5 February 2025 for March 2025 entry.

Entry requirements
Entry requirements - DTN
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Entry Criteria

The programme is open to candidates with a degree who are currently registered as nurses, midwives, paramedics or allied medical professionals.

Any prospective student who does not meet the above minimum entry requirements but who has relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission.

Candidates must be computer literate and have a good standard of written and spoken English and of English comprehension. LSHTM may ask the applicant to provide evidence of a satisfactory standard of English. LSHTM has approved certain English tests. Further details can be found in the English Language Requirements policy.

Priority may be given to applicants with experience of working in low- and middle-income countries and to those with at least two years of post-qualification experience.

How to apply
How to apply - Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing
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Applications are now closed. You can register your interest and we will let you know when applications reopen.

The application deadline for self-funded students for March 2025 entry was 12 February 2025. We strongly advise that you apply early as courses may close earlier than the stated deadline if they become full.

Please read LSHTM's Admissions policies prior to submitting your application.

LSHTM may cancel courses two weeks before the first day of the course if numbers prove insufficient. In those circumstances, course fees will be refunded.

Student community
Community Journal Club - DTN
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Professional Diploma of Tropical Nursing - Virtual Journal Club

Open to everyone - Professional Diploma of Tropical Nursing Virtual Journal Club. Join nurses from across the world at our monthly journal club.

The club provides a platform for global nursing professionals (and other interested individuals) to engage with recent research. Here you can explore findings from relevant peer-reviewed papers, led by PDTN students and graduates, LSHTM staff, and external experts.

Expand your knowledge and network with the global nursing community!

It’s open to everyone!

Winter timetable

Just click here to join all Zoom sessions.

  • 13:00 (UK time) - Friday 10 January 2025 
  • 13:00 (UK time) - Friday 7 February 2025
  • 13:00 (UK time) - Friday 7 March 2025
  • 13:00 (UK time) - Friday 4 April 2025
  • 13:00 (UK time) - Friday 2 May 2025
  • 13:00 (UK time) – Friday 30 May 2025
     

Watch recordings on our Panopto channel.

Alumnus Aebhric O'Kelly

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Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing (PDTN) alumnus Aebhric O'Kelly reflects on his experience studying the course online and how it has enhanced his career. 

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Professional Diploma in Tropical Nursing student Krystal Bodily
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Krystal Bodily, Diploma in Tropical Nursing Alumna
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“The skills and knowledge gained in this course are invaluable for those pursuing a career in global health.” - Read Krystal's story