Health in Humanitarian Crises by Distance Learning London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

Humanitarian crises due to armed conflict, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other causes are major contributors to ill health and vulnerability worldwide. The persisting effects of crises on health and health systems can undermine decades of social development.

This new programme provides you with the knowledge and skills to improve the health of populations, communities and particular groups within them when these populations are affected by humanitarian crises. You are encouraged to develop transferable and subject-specific skills to address multi-faceted and current health problems in their local setting, as well as internationally.

This self-study programme will suit practitioners, policy-makers or researchers who wish to deepen their understanding of humanitarian issues and increase their potential for career development in public health. It is aimed at professionals who may already be involved in delivering public health projects in humanitarian crises at community, hospital or district level, in research, in ministries of health or other health- or development-related organisations.

Entry requirements

All applicants are required to have:

• the equivalent of a UK first or second-class honours degree in a relevant subject from an acceptable institution

or

• an appropriate professional or technical qualification, plus three years' relevant experience.

Qualifications from around the world are accepted; for further guidance please see University of London's qualifications for entrance. Students who do not satisfy the entrance requirements may still be admitted at the discretion of LSHTM on the basis of their academic qualifications, work experience and references.

English language requirements

You need a high standard of English to study this programme. You will meet our language requirements if you have achieved one of the following within the past three years:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall, with 6.5 in the written test and 5.5 in listening, reading and speaking.
• TOEFL iBT: 100 overall, with 24+ in writing, 23+ in speaking, 22+ in reading and 21+ in listening.
• Pearson Test (Academic): 68 overall, with 62+ in writing and 59+ in listening, reading and speaking.
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: 185 overall, with 176+ in writing and 169+ in listening.
• Duolingo: must achieve an overall score of at least 130.

Alternatively, you may satisfy the language requirements if you have at least 18 months of education or work experience conducted in English.

If you do not meet these requirements but believe you can meet the standard, the University of London may also consider your application.

Additional requirements

The computer should have at least the following minimum specification:  

• a web browser with Cookies and JavaScript enabled (latest version of Firefox or Chrome is recommended)
• a good internet connection
• screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or greater
• sufficient bandwidth to download documents/files of at least 50 MB

And the following applications installed: 

• Word processing software, for example Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx)
• PDF reader, for example Adobe Acrobat Reader

A headset/microphone may be required to participate in "real time" online discussions.