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Reproductive and sexual health is fundamental to human health and wellbeing. Around the world, reproductive and sexual health is influenced by everything from regressive policy changes, gender inequality, and access to education, to extreme weather events and humanitarian crises. Join us to carry out high-quality policy-relevant research, critically review existing evidence, and examine this vital area of health across the entire lifespan.

We’re one of the few universities in Europe offering a MSc course that specialises in providing a non-clinical foundation in reproductive and sexual health research. Running since 1998, our programme is well established and internationally recognised for high-quality graduates who work at leading organisations across the world.

You’ll network with experts at the forefront of the field who carry out groundbreaking research in key areas including sexual behaviour, control of STIs, and reproductive rights and justice. We also have researchers exploring contraception and abortion access, as well as maternal, perinatal, and newborn health. This team deliver the course alongside insightful guest lectures from the World Health Organization (WHO), International Planned Parenthood Federation, and MSI Reproductive Choices UK.

This programme is delivered on campus in London, UK and is recognised by the ESRC as providing high quality research  training and a small number of ESRC scholarships are available to UK or EU residents. These are advertised each year with the LSHTM scholarships information.

What you will learn

• Discover evidence-based approaches to researching reproductive and sexual health issues
• Learn how to apply research approaches to inform development, health and social welfare programmes
• Untangle the socio-cultural, political and ethical issues surrounding reproductive and sexual health
• Develop your research skills by gaining expertise in research study design, data collection and analysis, critical evaluation, and application of research findings
• Use methods from a range of public health disciplines to address research questions in reproductive and sexual health

The aims and learning outcomes are detailed in the programme specification.

Being able to attain the highest possible level of reproductive and sexual health is recognised as a human right. To address public health challenges in this area, we need to understand the social, environmental, and structural determinants of health while carrying out high-quality research and critically appraising existing evidence.

Studying with us, you’ll learn how to answer emerging questions about the potential of using technology to improve sexual health and the impact of humanitarian crises. We’ll also explore the effectiveness of health policy and programmes in enhancing reproductive and sexual health and rights. This programme focuses on middle- and low-income settings but we also provide excellent training in the principles and methods of research for high-income countries.

To make the course relevant to your career and ambitions, you’ll have the freedom to explore different topics. Current Issues in Maternal and Perinatal Health, Family Planning Programmes, and Control of STIs are just a few examples of optional modules you can choose from. Through your module choices, you’ll also be able to decide whether you develop your quantitative or qualitative skills (or a mixture of both).

You’ll apply everything you’ve learned to a research project in a subject area of your choice. Past students have looked at how people make choices around the use of contraceptive methods, the promotion of breastfeeding in the UK, the impact of the COVID lockdowns on access to abortion services in Nepal, and the relationship between intimate partner violence and sexually transmitted infections.

Who is it for?

Perhaps you’re a midwife, nurse or doctor involved in delivering reproductive and sexual health services. Or you may be a professional working in government, an NGO or a charity. You might have just finished your undergraduate degree and are keen to gain specialist knowledge and skills related to reproductive and sexual health research. We also welcome students intercalating study to help you go beyond what you’ll cover in your medical degree on this topic.

You’ll be the perfect fit for this course if you’re driven to improve sexual and reproductive health, whether you’ll be carrying out research yourself or weighing up whether evidence is reliable and if you can use it to inform decision-making, policy and practice.

Some graduates continue to carry out research, whether in academia, government, or for an NGO, charity, or private company. Others go on to focus on policy and programme development and implementation. Those with clinical training may return to their prior roles to apply their new expertise to their research and practice.

You’ll find students from this course working in international organisations like the UN, the World Health Organization, and UNAIDs, along with other NGOs and charities, the NHS, as well as various government departments across the world.

Duration

One year full-time; part-time or split-study over two years. Ways to study explained.

Intercalating study

Find out about intercalating this course.