- General welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to LSHTM and to the MSc Nutrition for Global Public Health. On behalf of all LSHTM’s nutrition group staff, I look forward to working with you, and hope that you have a stimulating and productive year. I’m certain this will be the start of a long and successful career!
This is a consequential time to be starting a career in nutrition. In this age of multiple and escalating global problems, the challenge of how to nourish the world’s population is more urgent and important than ever. The Nutrition Group at LSHTM brings together a group of interdisciplinary scientists working towards this. With many collaborators worldwide and with our LSHTM-MRC Gambia unit, we undertake cutting-edge research to inform actions to accelerate reduction in all forms of malnutrition sustainably and equitably. Our research spans from epigenetics to epidemiology; and through individuals, households, communities and planetary boundaries. We have done much over the years but much still needs to be done. With you joining the profession, we must continue working hard to ensure that nutrition remains a top priority in years to come. Some key steps and key references towards this, which you’ll be finding out more about over the year, include:
- Nutrition as key to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2 is to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”)
- Actions and interventions described in the Global Nutrition Report.
- UN-Nutrition: embraces the vast inter-sectoral breadth of nutrition issues, bringing together UN agencies, programmes and funds with a mandate or interest in nutrition.
- School Meals Coalition is an initiative for providing school meals across 80 countries.
- The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF and WHO)
- Global food policy report 2025: Food policy: Lessons and priorities for a changing world (International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
- The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) offers independent advice on nutrition and related health matters to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and other UK government organizations.
As you prepare to join us at LSHTM, please take time to review the information on this page. It is important to take time for essential pre-MSc reading before you arrive in September. Things move very fast once you start and the better your pre-MSc preparations are, the more you'll get out of the programme. This is especially critical for those of you who are not from a nutrition/health undergraduate background. Having a mixed class from many professional backgrounds is one of the best things about our programme – but since there is a large amount to cover over the year, we don’t have time to go over basic concepts and hence you need to arrive already prepared.
I look forward to meeting you in September, and in the meantime please email me if you have any questions about the programme.
Dr Marko Kerac
Programme Director- Welcome Week
The Welcome Week schedule will be available soon.
Welcome Week will help you adjust to student life and study at LSHTM as well as making life-long friends. Activities include:
- School-wide talks and events as well as MSc Nutrition for Global Public Health specific sessions which will include a visit to Kew gardens
- Opportunities to meet your fellow students and staff from the Nutrition Group
- Advice about your choice of modules
- Meeting the Programme Director to discuss your aims and aspirations for the MSc.Please could you send to Aisha (our MSc administrator, Aisha Hussein [email protected] ), cc Marko ([email protected]) TWO powerpoint slides by Wed, 16th September 2026. We will compile the slides and use them to introduce everyone in welcome week. Please include the following:
- Your name, where you’re from and where you’re living pre-MSc
- Your academic and/or work background
- Why you chose to do the MSc Nutrition for Global Public Health and your aspirations for the MSc
- Picture of yourself
To ensure a smooth start, please note the following:If you are arriving late for any reason, please email
- the Admissions team ([email protected]),
- MSc programme administrator at [email protected]
- cc programme director [email protected]
- Personal tutors
At LSHTM, each of our students will be allocated a personal tutor. This is a friendly academic from the Nutrition group with whom you can discuss your aspirations, your progress, your results, your module options and your summer project options. Your tutor is your first point of contact for any other issues that may arise during the year.
To facilitate the allocations of tutors, please complete the following short survey (<5mins to complete) which asks about:
- Your academic/professional background prior to the MSc
- Your mode of study (full time/part-time/split study)
- Key academic/other skills you’d like to develop during your MSc
- Personal tutor preferences
- Modules and timetable
For Term 1
Each module runs on the same slots for 10 weeks (reading week in the middle of the 10 weeks).
Monday am Tuesday am Wednesday am Thursday am Friday am Fundamental Public Health Nutrition (FPHN) Basic Epidemiology Fundamental Public Health Nutrition Fundamentals of Climate Change and Planetary Health*
or
Foundations for Health Promotion
Stats for EPH (STEPH) MSc Student Seminar
(Wed lunchtimes)
Monday pm Tuesday pm Wednesday pm Thursday pm Friday pm Fundamental Public Health Nutrition Stats for EPH Health Policy, Process and Power Principles of Social Research Mon Eve 530-630 LSHTM Global Health Lecture Modules in bold are compulsory. Others can be taken as extra with no assessment or credits. Part-time year 1 students will do FPHN in year 1 and stats/epi in year 2.
*Recommended extra module.
For Term 2
This is divided into two 5 week blocks. Each module will either run in the first half of the week (Monday - Wednesday morning C1 or Wednesday afternoon-Friday C2) and then D1 and D2 for the next 5 blocks
Slot 1 (C1):
- Maternal & Child Nutrition (MCN) (compulsory)
Slot 2 (C2):
- Qualitative Methodologies (recommended if doing qualitative data collection for summer project);
- Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (SME) (recommended if doing secondary data analysis for summer project);
- Family Planning Programmes;
- Conflict and Health;
- Social Epidemiology
Slot 3 (D1):
- Nutrition in Emergencies (NIE) (recommended);
- Current Issues in Safe Motherhood & Perinatal Health;
- Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases;
- Spatial Epidemiology in Public Health;
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene,Health;
- Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
Slot 4 (D2):
- Nutrition Related Chronic Disease (NRCD) (compulsory)
- Medical Anthropology and Public Health
For Term 3
One choice module in the second half of the week
Slot 5 (E):
- Nutrition Programme Planning (NPP) (recommended);
- Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology;
- Analysing Survey & Population Data;
- Applying Public Health Principles
- Information for new part-time/split-study students
You have opted to do your MSc on a part-time/split study basis, over two years: please read this carefully to fully understand some key things about these modes of study. Notably, whilst there are many advantages, there are also some associated challenges which you must be aware of. By planning ahead you’ll both avoid problems and get much more from your MSc.
Part-time study can also be referred to as “half-time” because you really do need to allow half of each term-time week for study. This is where some students struggle, especially if doing the MSc alongside busy jobs, family or other commitments. To succeed, it is important that you complete the recommended reading as well as make time for independent study. Ours is an intensive MSc and it’s critical to work steadily and not fall behind.
Term 1 - Part-time
The first term for full-time students involves Fundamental Public Health Nutrition (FPHN), Basic Epidemiology and Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health. All part-time students must study Fundamental Public Health Nutrition in Year 1 and do Basic Epidemiology and Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health (STEPH) in Year 2.
For students without prior stats/epi experience, this can be a challenge because many Term 2 and 3 modules assume a basic understanding of these topics. Hence, if you are new to these, you must do prior independent stats/epi learning (e.g. using LSHTM distance learning materials and/or reading list materials). We will discuss this more in the orientation period. Please also discuss with your personal tutor.
Terms 2 and 3 - Part-time
All modules are designed on a "five half-weeks” basis. One module runs from Monday to Wednesday lunchtime; the other from Wednesday afternoon to Friday. Sometimes the Wednesday half-day is timetabled for independent study but this varies from module to module. Full-time students take four modules in Term 2 and one in Term 3. As a part-time student, you have some flexibility about what you take and when. We strongly recommend that you take the two compulsory modules (Maternal and Child Nutrition and Nutrition-Related Chronic Disease) plus one other in the Year 1; then a final two elective modules in Year 2. You make your module choices during Term 1, so you can discuss this with me and your personal tutor when you start. The assessments for Term 1 modules are at the start of Term 2 and the Summer exam is always around mid-June in Year 2.
Term 1 - Split-study
The first term for full-time students involves Fundamental Public Health Nutrition, Basic Epidemiology and Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health. All split-time students must study Fundamental Public Health Nutrition , Basic Epidemiology and Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health in Year 1. The assessments for Term 1 modules are mainly at the start of Term 2
Terms 2 and 3 - Split-study
All modules are designed on a "five half-weeks” basis. One module runs from Monday to Wednesday lunchtime; the other from Wednesday afternoon to Friday. Sometimes the Wednesday half-day is timetabled for independent study but this varies from module to module. Full-time students take four modules in Term 2 and one in Term 3. Split-time students can choose exactly when to split but most take both C1 and C2 modules in Year 1 and D1/D2/E modules in Year 2. The Summer exam is always around mid-June in Year 2. Discuss details with PD and personal tutor to develop a plan that is best for you.
Summer project - Part-time and split-study
Full-time students start thinking about their Summer project in Term1 and preparing detailed plans in Term 2. They then work on their research projects full time from June (just after exams) until the deadline in early September.
Part-time and split-time students usually start thinking about and preparing for their project in Year 2, but can start work on it any time. Some even start in year 1 and have the benefit of more time for completion. Most do the project with their Year 2 peers from June to September. This is your choice, as best fits with your work/other commitments. Part-time and split study students can apply earlier to the ethics committee in Year 2.
Classmates
You make twice as many friends from your two (rather than one) years at LSHTM! It’s a small professional world in global nutrition and one of the best things about working in the field is that friends and colleagues you’ll meet at LSHTM are with you for life. With this in mind, remember that because part-time and split-time students are in a distinct minority (only one or two per year), some feel they have less opportunity to 'bond' with the rest of the class; hence make every effort to join our group socials!
In summary, there are lots of advantages to balance the challenges of part-time and split-time study and nothing that can't be overcome with a little forward planning and organization. No immediate action is required from you concerning the points mentioned above, but it is important for you to make sure that you understand the key issues so as make informed choices and make the most out of your MSc. We’ll discuss more during welcome week, and you’ll also all get a personal tutor with whom to discuss. I wish you every success!
- Information for returning part-time/split-study students
Welcome Week
Do come to the sessions. Though you’ll already know how LSHTM ‘works’, it’s a great way to meet and get to know the new students. They’ll also really value and appreciate all the tips and advice from you!
Modules
You’ll likely know which modules you are doing and the timetable. Do discuss any issues arising with your personal tutor and/or relevant module organiser. For Term 2 (and maybe Term 3), there’s still a chance to change your mind if you want to do different modules to the ones you selected last year.
Summer project
Start planning early. One of the benefits of being part-time is that your face-to-face teaching timetable is less intense than for full-time students. Use this time to start planning your project: do a scoping lit search, discuss with your personal tutors or with your friends and colleagues who have just completed their projects.
- Reading list
Many students on the MSc Nutrition for Global Public Health will already have formal nutrition training or qualifications e.g. nutrition, dietetics, medical/nursing or similar undergraduate degrees. Others will be from non-nutrition and sometimes even from non-science backgrounds. This variety of prior experiences and perspectives is critical to the long-term success and progress of global public health nutrition as a profession.
We're delighted that all of you are joining and are excited about what you'll be able to do in the long-term. However a short-term challenge is that you're all starting your professional journeys at very different places. To ensure that you all get the most from your time at LSHTM it is therefore important that you come prepared.
Please review the below essential readings and online learnings. We don't expect you to 'learn the textbook' but we do ask that you read and prepare before you arrive. This ensures that everyone has an overview of key nutritional topics and shares common core understandings regarding nutrition e.g. what's a micronutrient, macronutrient, protein etc. Having these basic 'building blocks' will:
- benefit you short term - Term 1 will be a far less daunting learning curve
- benefit the class - we can move through topics far better and have more productive debates and discussion if all are up-to-speed with the basics
- benefit you and the people/populations you'll be working with long-term - you'll get far more from the MSc if you arrive ready.You may find it helpful but you are not obliged to buy any books. Many are available through local libraries and are also in the LSHTM library when you arrive.
Essential readings for those with a limited nutrition background
Lanham-New SA, Mcdonald IA and Roche HM (editors). 2010. Nutrition and Metabolism. 2nd edition. Nutrition Society. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford.
- Focus on
- Chapter 1: Core Concepts of Nutrition
- Chapter 3: Integration of Metabolism 1: Energy
- Chapter 4: Integration of Metabolism 2: Protein and Amino Acids
- Chapter 5: Integration of Metabolism 3: Macronutrients
OR
Geissler C and Powers H. (2017). Human Nutrition, 13th Edition. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
- Part 1
- Chapter 1: Food and Nutrient patterns
- Part 2:
- Chapter 6: Energy balance and body weight regulation
- Chapter 7: Carbohydrate metabolism
- Chapter 8: Fat metabolism
- Chapter 9: Protein metabolism and requirements
- Part 3: Micronutrient function-all chapters
Essential reading for those with limited statistics backgroundCampbell MJ and Swinscow TDV (2009) Statistics at Square One11th edn.BMJ Books:
Essential online learning for those with limited nutrition backgroundFree open-access educational resource, developed by the LSHTM Nutrition group and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Wellcome Trust.
Khan Academy Crash Course Biology
For those with limited science/biology background (e.g. no science A level). N.B. you can skip the animal-only videosUnit 5: Macromolecules will be helpful.
Course: AP®︎/College Biology > Unit 1
Lesson 4: Properties, structure, and function of biological macromolecules
Exploring Nutrition & Health:
https://www.nutrition.org.uk/training-and-events/current-training/exploring-nutrition-and-health/
For those with limited statistics background:
Khan Academy Probability & Statistics
Focus on independent and dependent events; descriptive statistics; and statistical studies. Others will help but will be covered in the MSc. More basic maths is also available on the same site if needed.Other readings & resources
These are alternative texts and sources which can complement, enrich and supplement the above essential materials.
Podcasts
Free Associations from Boston University
Feed by Table Debates
The New Humanitarian podcast.
Nutrition
Savage-King D, Burgess A, Quinn VJ, Osei AK. 2015. Nutrition for Developing Countries, 3rd edition. Oxford University Press:Oxford. Oxford Medical Publications
Earlier edition also available from education charity TALC
Nutrition (Made Incredibly Easy UK Edtn)
Martyn K. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Chapters 1-9 are essential (Introduction to Nutrition; Nutrition Assessment). Others will be an advantage to have read. A basic but very approachable introduction.
Open University Nutrition Courses
- Vitamins, Minerals and ProteinAlison Courses
- Diploma in Human Nutrition
- Introduction to Human Nutrition
- Human Nutrition - Understanding Macronutrient Metabolism
- Human Nutrition - Introduction to MicronutrientsStatistics
Rowntree D. Statistics without tears: A primer for non-mathematicians. Penguin books
Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics (5th edn) Salkind NJ (2013)
Epidemiology for the Uninitiated (5th edn) Coggon, Barker DJ, Rose G. BMJ books (2003)
Good introduction to epidemiology based on a classic series of BMJ articles which you can access here
Lancet Maternal and Child Nutrition series - 2021
1) Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries
2) Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition: what can be done and at what cost?
3) Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: how can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition?
4) The politics of reducing malnutrition: building commitment and accelerating progress
In 10 episodes, Vanessa Hill teaches you about Public Health! By the end of this series, learners will understand:
- What is public health, and how is it different from medicine?
- Who is involved in public health?
- What are some of the biological, environmental, and social determinants of health?
- What is epidemiology?
- What are some different kind of healthcare systems and how do they work?
- How are public policy and public health related?
- What could the future of public health look like?
- Module choices
Please take time before arrival thinking about what you want to get out of the MSc: skills you want to develop; knowledge you want to obtain; what you might want to do after the MSc. With these in mind, consider which of the optional modules you might want to take. Checking the module specifications for full details. Speak to our alumni about their module choices.
- Computer skills
You will need a laptop to study and submit assessed work at LSHTM. Check for advice about which tech to invest in.
Page last updated July 2026