​English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
For current students, please see our separate EAP page for English language support resources, including details of LSHTM's in-house EAP classes for intensive MSc and research degree students; and links to external UK-based English language courses and additional external electronic resources for all intensive MSc and research degree only students.
Wr​iting skills and referencing resources
LSHTM has developed a package of materials to help you develop your * prior to progressing with your intensive MSc and research degree or distance learning programme. This will be particularly important in essay-based modules and exams, and for your research project report. The materials include an online interactive self-assessment exercise which provides you with immediate feedback and links to further support available on external websites.
LSHTM also has an academic writing handbook giving general guidance about how to write in the 'academic style' LSHTM expects, which is relevant to all students. The Library & Archives Service maintain an with many useful links to aid you with any academic writing such as tips on planning, structure, style and composition.
Artificial Intelligence use in assessments
LSHTM recognises the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the way that students learn and the skills they need to succeed in their future careers. LSHTM is committed to critically exploring how AI can be used to enhance education and in supporting students to use it effectively and appropriately. LSHTM has produced a statement to guide students on how to use AI with integrity to support you with future assessments, so please ensure you take some time to familiarise yourself with this document.
Maths and nu​meracy skills
LSHTM has developed a package of materials to help you refresh your * prior to progressing with your intensive MSc and research degree or distance learning programme. Many modules will contatin basic mathematical content, particularly modules with 'statistics' or 'epidemiology' in the title. The materials include an online interactive self-assessment exercise which provides you with immediate feedback, PowerPoint slides and a Word document of notes, exercises and solutions.
You may also find the links below useful:
- - UK-based site with video tutorials on more than eighty topics, including diagnostics, summary text and exercises (with those on arithmetic and algebra of most relevance for the majority of LSHTM MSc students)
- - a good source to find online links to a number of topics
- - includes a useful statistics section under The Basics
- - useful for indices, percentages, approximations, graphs, representing data, probability & calculators
- - useful for basic algebra and number (rounding & fractions)
Statistics an​​​d epidemiology skills
All LSHTM students will receive formal teaching on statistics and epidemiology, if these are required components of the programme. As pre-course reading, you may find the following book helpful:
- Rowntree D. Statistics without Tears: An Introduction for Non-Mathematicians. Penguin Books Ltd, England; 2000. ISBN-13: 978-0140136326
In addition, Professor Hans Rosling (co-founder of the Gapminder Institute), provides an interesting and useful one hour long video on .
Informatio​n skills: the library and literature searching
Library & Archives Service
The Library provides access to a wide range of resources and services to support your studies, including print books and journals, e-books, e-journals and databases for literature searching. Full details are available on our library resources page. If you have any questions about Library services, please email library@lshtm.ac.uk.
Library staff also provide training and support for staff and students undertaking literature searching. Contact infoskills@lshtm.ac.uk for more information.
Literature ​​​searching
The Library provides training, guidance and support to help you to conduct effective literature searches for module assignments and for your project report. Intensive MSc and research degree and distance learning students should access the and our for guidance on each step of the literature search process, including video guides.
IT​​​ Skills
There are materials to help guide you in the use of Microsoft Office applications (such as Word and Excel), bibliography database/reference manager applications, and in using the internet.
Digital Workshops
The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) provides weekly digital workshops for all intensive students to improve digital awareness and confidence on the technological tools and techniques that may enhance study practices whilst at LSHTM, which may also be transferable to the world of work. Students will need to register for all digital skills workshops with their LSHTM log in details. Please see our for more information.
Gener​​al study skills
- (University of Surrey) - a very comprehensive site looking at study skills, academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism, copyright, writing skills, researcher training, methods, information literacy, innovation, IT training, numeracy and statistics and data interpretation
- (University of Leeds) - useful information on exam skills, writing skills, group work, voice presentation, listening skills, finding journals online etc.
Memo​​ry ​​​skills
- - extremely useful, a large amount of information is given & is easily located, includes tutorials, tip & tricks, further reading & study and activities
Time m​​anagement
- (Virginia Tech) - includes a quiz to assess your time management skills
Re​search skills
- (Cornell University Library) - useful for literature reviews
Using t​he Internet
Library staff can provide advice on using web search engines to locate information on your research and study topics. You might find the following link useful:
- (US National Library of Medicine)
In addition, the following more general links might also prove useful as well:
- (UC Berkeley Library) - some good notes on assessing the quality of a web page and tips on
- - Google search tips
Science ​study skills
- (Raymon H Mulford Library/ University of Toledo, Health Science Campus) - easy & comprehensive instructions for authors
Research ​degree study s​kills
- (Michigan State University) - from an American perspective so needs adapting to British situation. Includes some useful hints for the different stages of your PhD
- (University of New South Wales) also available in French, Italian & Spanish
*These study skills materials have been developed by staff of LSHTM specifically for LSHTM MSc students (and tailored to their needs), with copyright held by LSHTM. Those outside of LSHTM may also find a selection of these materials to be of some interest. The sharing of these LSHTM study skills materials is covered by the following