Public Health by Distance Learning London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

These courses provide students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the improved health of populations and particular groups within them through the promotion of health and prevention of diseases; the development and evaluation of care practices; and the investigation and control of environmental threats to health. Students are instructed in the development, use and critical evaluation of conceptual models, evidence, methods of analysis, and practical interventions.

These programmes provide students with the knowledge and skills to address diverse public health issues in low, middle and high income settings.  The varied curriculum allows students to opt for a broad range of knowledge or to concentrate on specialised areas. The programme offers four alternative streams; the general Public Health stream and three specialist streams: Environment and Health; Health Promotion and Health Services Management.

Students on this programme come from diverse backgrounds. Many are health professionals working at a service or policy level, while others wish to obtain public health skills that they can apply to their work in development, community services, government, research or teaching.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

All applicants are required to have:

• a minimum of one year's relevant work experience; and
• a first or second class honours degree or the equivalent, in a subject appropriate to the course, from a university or other institution acceptable to the University of London.

Qualifications from around the world are accepted; for further guidance please see the School's qualifications for entrance. Students who do not satisfy the entrance requirements may still be admitted at the discretion of the School 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.