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There are continuing threats to human health encompassing not only traditional tropical diseases like malaria and dengue fever, but also the challenges thrown up by emerging diseases with pandemic potential, the practice of medicine in conflict and humanitarian settings and antimicrobial resistance.
We’ve designed this course to support physicians who focus on the practice of tropical medicine and international health in today’s world. You’ll examine the issues faced in practicing medicine in areas of conflict where resources are limited and explore the evidence base of tropical medicine and international health. We’ll also help you develop your decision-making and research skills, confidence, and competence so you can make a significant impact on global health.
Over one year (full time) or two years (split study), you’ll build on the foundation of how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases that are threats to global health. Immersed in a thriving global community of like-minded professionals, you’ll complete modules tailored to your area of interest. You’ll be able to regularly interact with internationally recognised figures in global health. The strong professional networks you’ll build will continue well beyond the course.
What you will learn
- Understand the causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of major diseases affecting tropical and developing countries
- Develop skills in diagnostic parasitology, microbiology and entomology, and knowledge of how to apply epidemiological principles
- Practise communicating medical principles at an appropriate level for patients, professionals, and other groups
- Grow your ability to analyse research findings for clinical and disease control and to critically evaluate their effects
- Discover how to select, apply and interpret statistical methods for analysing quantitative data
The aims and learning outcomes are detailed in the programme specification.
Term one focuses on the foundations of medical practice, building your understanding of global medicine. As part of this compulsory module, you’ll have an opportunity to take the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTMH). If you’ve got an equivalent qualification already, we may be able to accredit the prior learning you’ve done and offer a January start.
You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of modules throughout the rest of the course, to suit your medical and professional aims. From conflict and health to water and sanitation and much more – the choice is yours. It might depend on whether you want to advance your skills in clinical research, learn epidemiological methods or explore disciplines that underpin global health.
Who is it for?
We’ve designed this course for professionals engaged in practicing medicine and focused on international health. General practitioners, hospital doctors and junior doctors from all specialities study with us. Perhaps you’re trying to decide how to specialise in tropical medicine and infectious diseases. Maybe you’re practising in a low- and middle-income country and want to upskill or increase your effectiveness and influence decision-making. You could also use the course as an opportunity to do clinical research.
Other students on the course are already engaged with or interested in humanitarian activities, migrant health, working in the NGO sector or with displaced populations.
Whatever your background, you’ll already hold a degree in medicine and be a registered medical practitioner with at least two years of experience working, anywhere, in the world, in clinical medicine.
With its immersive and stimulating environment, the course is also ideal for anyone looking to develop a sense of direction within medicine and debate big issues in global health for all with like-minded colleagues.
Past students have gone on to leadership roles in global health – in governments, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. Some are leading clinical research in therapeutics and vaccinology and others are delivering health care in conflict settings or humanitarian crises. Some are NHS consultants or academics engaged in global health. But they’re all in touch with their classmates.
Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
All students on the MSc will take the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H). Students with a prior DTM&H, or holding 60 master's level credits from the DTM&H (East African Partnership) may apply for exemption from Term 1 via recognition of prior learning.
Duration
One year full-time or split-study over two years. Ways to study explained.
The below structure outlines the proposed modules for this programme. Programme and module specifications provide full details about the aims and objectives of each module, what you will study and how the module is assessed.
- Structure of the year
Term 1 (September-December) consists of teaching for the AB1 module, with the DTM&H examination in early December. Followed by the Winter break.
Term 2 (January-March) consists of MSc examinations, followed by a further ten weeks of teaching for C and D slot modules, plus a Reading Week* in the middle of the term. C modules are taught in five half-week blocks before Reading Week. D modules are taught in five half-week blocks after Reading Week. Followed by the Spring break.
Term 3 (April - September) consists of five weeks of teaching for E slot modules, taught in half-week blocks, and the project report.
*Reading Week is a week during term where no formal teaching takes place. It is a time for private study, preparing for assessments or attending study/computer skills workshops.
- Term 1
Students take one compulsory AB1 module:
- Tropical Medicine, Parasitology and Public Health
This module follows the course for the DTM&H. Term 1 consists entirely of the DTM&H lectures, seminars, laboratory practical and clinical sessions, and is examined through the DTM&H examination and resulting in the award of the Diploma and 60 Master's level credits at the end of Term 1.
- Terms 2 and 3
Students take a total of five study modules, one from each timetable slot (C1, C2, D1, D2, E). The list below shows recommended modules. Recognising that students have diverse backgrounds and experience, the programme director considers requests to take any module within LSHTM's portfolio, provided that this is appropriate for the student.
C1 slot
- Clinical Virology
- Malaria: From Science to Policy and Practice
- Maternal & Child Nutrition
- Practical Research Skills
C2 slot
- Clinical Bacteriology 1
- Conflict & Health
- Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies
- Qualitative Methodologies
D1 slot
- Applied Communicable Disease Control
- Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Current Issues in Maternal & Perinatal Health
- Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases
- Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
D2 slot
- Clinical Bacteriology 2
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
- Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights
- Global Disability and Mental Health
- Immunology of Parasitic Infection
E slot
- Applying Public Health Principles
- HIV
- Mycology
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Novel Drug Discovery & Antimicrobial Resistance
- Vaccine Immunology
- Project report
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project in a subject of their choice, for submission by early September. Projects may involve writing up and analysing work carried out before coming to LSHTM, a literature review, or a research study proposal. Some students gather data overseas or in the UK for analysis within the project. Such projects require early planning. Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of up to £1,500 to cover costs involved. The majority of students who undertake projects abroad receive financial support for flights from LSHTM's trust funds set up for this purpose.
Please note: Should it be the case that you are unable to travel overseas or access laboratories in order to complete your project, you will be able to complete an alternative desk-based project allowing you to obtain your qualification within the original time frame. Alternatively, you will be able to defer your project to the following year.
Prize
The Frederick Murgatroyd Award is awarded each year for the best student of the year. Donated by Mrs Murgatroyd in memory of her husband, who held the Wellcome Chair of Clinical Tropical Medicine in 1950 and 1951.
Changes to the programme
LSHTM will seek to deliver this programme in accordance with the description set out on this programme page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for LSHTM to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.
In order to be admitted to the MSc Tropical Medicine & International Health, an applicant must have a degree in medicine and be a registered medical practitioner. Preference will be given to candidates who have at least two years of experience working in clinical medicine (in any country) with recent professional experience in a relevant discipline.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to meet these requirements: Band C
It is possible to apply without English language test results however the results of a test may be listed as a condition of an offer of admission. Please see our English language requirements for more information.
Access and widening participation
At LSHTM we are committed to ensuring that excellent students feel encouraged to apply for a course of study with us. We have introduced an innovative contextual admissions system that is designed to support those students who have faced the greatest barriers to their learning. More information on widening participation at LSHTM.
| Fees 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home | Full-time | £13,580 |
| Part-time | £6,790 | |
| EU/Overseas | Full-time | £31,450 |
| Part-time | £15,725 | |
| Field Trip | £520 |
*Mobile users, scroll right to view fees
Early application fee reduction for UK MSc students 2025-26
If you are a student from the UK (and have a home fee status), you will be eligible to receive a 5% reduction in your tuition fee if you submit your application by 23:59 on Friday 4 April 2025 and subsequently register onto one of our in-person MSc programmes (some exclusions apply, see detailed terms and conditions).
You must be applying for full-time study on a programme starting in September 2025; be funding your fees yourself; and be a new applicant.
If you meet the above criteria and submit your application by the deadline, you will automatically receive the tuition fee discount.
Graduates from this programme go on to a wide variety of career paths including further research in epidemiology, parasite immunology; field research programmes or international organisations concerned with health care delivery in conflict settings or humanitarian crises, or return to academic or medical positions in low- and middle-income countries.
Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this course have entered:
- Example job titles
-
Accident and Emergency Health Worker
Analyst of Vector Control
Emergency Medicine Doctor
GP (General Practitioner)
Lecturer
Medical Director
Research Clinician AE-TBC
Associate Professor of Neurology
Dermatologist
Government Assistant
Specialist Registrar - Example organisations
-
Imperial College London
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Médecins Sans Frontières
Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia
Nagasaki University Hospital
Save the Children
Rabito Clinic
Hospital Management Board
NHS
This programme is delivered on campus.
Applications should be made and will only be considered once you have provided all required information and supporting documentation.
Please also read LSHTM's Admissions policies prior to submitting your application.
You can apply for up to two master's programmes. Make sure to list them by order of preference as consideration will be given to your top choice first.
Application deadlines
All applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure availability of a place and a timely decision on their application. This is particularly important for applicants with sponsorship deadlines.
We strongly advise that you apply early as popular programmes will close earlier than the stated deadline if they become full.
The final closing dates for all taught Master’s applications for entry in the 2025/26 academic year is:
- Sunday 27 July 2025 at 23:59 UK time for all students requiring a Student visa
- Sunday 31 August 2025 at 23:59 UK time for all UK, Irish and non-Student visa students
Applicants will be required to meet the conditions of their offer and provide all necessary documents by the date of their Offer of Admission.
Application fee
A standard non-refundable application fee of £50 applies to all taught Master’s degree programmes and is payable upon application submission. Income generated from the application fee is shared between scholarships and student hardship fund.
Tuition fee deposit
Applicants are required to respond to their Offer of Admission and pay the £500 deposit within 28 days of receipt, or their place will be released and the offer automatically declined. The deposit is deductible from tuition fees upon full registration with LSHTM.
Do you need a visa?
Please visit our Visa & Immigration pages for advice and guidance.