London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The information on this page relates to pre-arrival and enrolment for 2023/24.

Pre-arrival

When does my programme start? 

All Master’s programmes will start the week commencing Monday 25th September (Welcome Week). Term 1 teaching will begin the week commencing Monday 2nd October. 

MSc Health Policy, Planning & Financing students are also expected to attend welcome events at LSE in the week commencing Monday 18th September. All queries regarding this should be sent to healthpolicy@lse.ac.uk.

What happens during Welcome Week?

Welcome Week involves a series of School-wide and programme-specific sessions and activities to introduce you to life and study at LSHTM, alongside completing your in-person enrolment and making new friends across the LSHTM student community. Some programmes may have introductory teaching sessions and most organise social activities. Further information and timetables will be provided on our Welcome Week pages in early September.

When do I need to arrive in the UK/London? 

We recommend that all students arrive in London in good time ahead of the start of term. This will enable you to settle in, make any final arrangements (e.g. around finding accommodation) and be ready to participate fully in your Welcome Week activities.  If you are not able to arrive ahead of Monday 25th September, you should email our Admissions Team at the earliest opportunity for advice.

When will I know which modules I'm completing?

The majority of Term 1 teaching consists of compulsory (core) modules. Any optional module selection for Term 1 will take place during Welcome Week, following introductory sessions with your Programme Director(s). Module selection for Terms 2 and 3 will take place in early November. Please see the specific programme page for further details of your core modules.

Where do I find my reading list and timetable?

Reading lists and Term 1 timetables will be added to our pre-course information pages when available. Generally, you will not need to do much reading in advance, however your Programme Director(s) will recommend any key texts you should read. Students won’t be required to buy many books as you’ll have access to everything in our Library and online, but you may wish to purchase a few key texts if suggested by your Programme Director(s).

I am studying full-time, when does teaching take place?

You should be prepared to attend to attend lectures, classes and, where necessary, laboratory practicals from 9.30 to 5pm Monday to Friday during the teaching terms. Depending on your programme and module selections, you may have some days or half days free for private study.

I am studying part-time, what days do I need to attend?

Half-time study involves attending two to three days per week during the teaching term. Depending on your programme and module selections, you may be required to attend on different days in each term and year of study. As the requirements for half-time study can vary, we recommend contacting your Programme Director(s) with any specific queries. 

If you are planning split-study, we recommend contacting your Programme Director(s) to discuss when you will take your split.

What IT equipment will I need to participate in my teaching sessions?

Students are required to have a modern and up to date laptop or MacBook, with a built-in webcam. LSHTM participates in a UK-wide laptop buying scheme for students who want to purchase hardware, enabling you to buy a good quality laptop pre-loaded with software and accompanied by a warranty and insurance at a reasonable price. For further information, visit the Student Store website. We also recommend the use of a headset for interactive sessions. 

To get the most from your studies, your computer should have the latest version of either Firefox or Chrome web browser installed and a sufficient bandwidth to download documents and participate in interactive sessions – preferably at least 2Mbps. 

You will be able to download Office 365 for free for the duration of your programme as part of the LSHTM licence agreement. 

Please see our Laptop requirements FAQs for further details on specifications.

Can I defer my place to next year?

Please see our Admissions Policy for full information on deferral options.

How can I submit evidence of my qualifications?

We accept the following formats as evidence of qualifications: 

• an electronic transcript provided by a secure third-party link shared with admissions@lshtm.ac.uk  via an approved electronic verification system, such as Digitary or Parchment; 
• a PDF transcript sent from an official institution email address directly to admissions@lshtm.ac.uk  by a suitable department or staff member, such as Registry or School Office; 
• a formal letter sent from an official institution email address directly to admissions@lshtm.ac.uk  by a suitable department or staff member (such as Registry or School Office). The letter should be on headed paper and must confirm your course, results and years of study, as well as why the institution cannot provide a transcript. 

Please do not post any documents to LSHTM.

I need to take an English language test. Where can I find out more?

Please see our English Language FAQs for full details of all approved assessments.

Enrolment

What do I need to do to complete my enrolment?

You will receive a personalised email from Registry containing a link to complete the enrolment process outlined below.

Step 1 – Confirming your details and accepting terms of enrolment

As part of the process, you will need to upload a current, ‘passport-style photo’, which will be used on your student ID card (please note, the file size should not exceed 37kb and we recommend that you prepare this before starting the process). 

You will also be asked to accept terms of Enrolment with us. It is essential that you read this carefully and understand what you are agreeing to. As part of the process you are reaffirming your acceptance of Terms & Conditions of Admission.

Please also see our Student Privacy Notice to understand how LSHTM uses the data you provide us with, and any other data about you that we may hold.

Step 2 – Tuition fee payment

Once you have completed the above steps, you will be temporarily registered until your tuition is paid or sponsorship confirmed. Please ensure that this is settled before the start of term so that your access to learning resources is uninterrupted.

Will I need to complete an ID check?

In addition to the above, you will also be required to complete an ID check during Welcome Week. You will receive instructions on how and when to complete this requirement in due course.

What happens if my ID check is scheduled on the same day as a religious day of observance?

Once you’ve completed online registration, simply reply to the confirmation email from the enrolment team to inform them and we’ll make an alternative arrangement.

When will I be able to enrol?

You will receive an email asking you to enrol online in early September. If you haven't received any email from us by Friday 8th September, please contact us at enrolment@lshtm.ac.uk. Please make sure to check your spam folder in the first instance.

I have not received an email asking me to enrol, what do I do?

If you have not received your personalised email, or if you have any issues completing this task please feel free to contact our Registry team at enrolment@lshtm.ac.uk.

What is the latest date I can complete my enrolment?

We encourage all students to complete enrolment as soon as possible, and before the start of Welcome Week. Please note that in order to be able to participate in studies, you will need to enrol and subsequently activate your LSHTM network account.

Tuition fees

When should I pay my tuition fees?

Tuition fees should be paid in full by Friday 1st September 2023 at the latest, unless you are in receipt of a UK Postgraduate Loan or a US Federal Loan and have another arrangement agreed with LSHTM.  If you are yet to receive a tuition fees invoice please contact fees@lshtm.ac.uk.

What should I do if I am in receipt of a scholarship?

If you are in receipt of a scholarship through LSHTM Scholarships Team which pays all or part of your tuition fees, then the Scholarships Team from LSHTM will already have liaised with colleagues in Fees and Admissions so that they are aware who will be paying your fees. You do not need to provide proof of your scholarship again.

If you are in receipt of funding which has not been applied for through LSHTM Scholarships, then you should already have provided proof of sponsorship to our Fees Team so that they can invoice your funder for the fees.  If you have not yet done this or have received a tuition fee invoice addressed to you then you should contact fees@lshtm.ac.uk in the first instance, providing them with proof of your funding (scholarship award letter).

If your scholarship only pays part of your fees, then you should have received a tuition fee invoice for the balance and you will need to ensure that this is paid before the start of term.

What should I do if I have a US loan?

US Federal Loan students will be contacted individually by our Tuition Fees team once their disbursement has been processed.

Can I pay tuition fees in instalments?

If you will be paying UK/Home fees and would like to pay in instalments, please apply for a Postgraduate loan, which will enable you to pay tuition fees in line with loan disbursements. You will need to forward evidence of the approved loan to fees@lshtm.ac.uk. 

If you will be paying overseas fees and studying in the UK on a Student Visa, please be aware that you will need to show enough funds to cover the first year’s tuition fees and living costs as part of the visa application process. Therefore tuition fee instalments are not possible in this instance.

How can I request a receipt?

Tuition fee payment receipts can be requested by emailing fees@lshtm.ac.uk.

Collecting Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

How do I collect my BRP ?

UKVI recommend collecting the Biometric Residence Permit within 7-10 days of arriving in the UK.

We will be distributing BRP by appointment, kindly contact us on visa-enquiries@lshtm.ac.uk after arriving in the UK and we shall arrange to see you.

General information

When can I access the LSHTM's IT services?

In order to be able to access learning resources you will need to complete your Enrolment and subsequently activate your LSHTM network account. Should you experience any issues during this process please email ServiceDesk@lshtm.ac.uk who will be able to provide necessary guidance.

How can I get a letter confirming my registration?

Once you are fully registered with us, you will be able to update your ​​personal details and download Confirmation of Registration and Council Tax Exemption Certificate via your Student Portal.

How do I open a bank account in UK?

You can find information on opening a bank account in the UK on our Banking pages. 

Will I receive a student ID card?

You will be issued with an ID card when completing an ID check during Welcome Week.  You will receive instructions on how and when to complete this requirement in due course.

How can I get a student discount card?

All MSc and Research Degree students are eligible to apply for a Totum card.  The Totum card is a student discount card which has replaced NUS Extra.

How do I apply for a student Oyster card?

Students can apply online via the Transport for London (TfL) website. Please note, we will not be able to validate your student Oyster card application until you have fully registered. Please review TfL’s terms & conditions and student eligibility policy carefully and prior to applying for a student Oyster card, as some students may not be eligible. 

Useful links

• Student Charter (pdf) - LSHTM has a student charter which summarises the standards of service LSHTM expects and aspires to offer students, as well as the standards of conduct which students should expect and aspire to follow in turn. 
• Please take your time to familiarise yourself with LSHTM’s Regulations, Policies & Procedures.