Infectious diseases continue to place a heavy burden on global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. From pandemics like COVID-19 to endemic challenges such as HIV, TB and dengue, the world faces urgent health challenges that demand innovative, inclusive solutions.

Overview

MSc Infectious Diseases and Global Health offers the best of both worlds. Featuring blended delivery, you’ll spend one semester learning face-to-face on campus in Liverpool, and benefit from the flexibility of online learning for the remainder of your course.

Studying the fundamentals of clinical medicine, you’ll gain professional skills in tropical medicine, disease control and public health, while exploring applications in different local contexts and low-resource settings. This course will equip you to apply education principles to day-to-day practice and empower you to lead wider healthcare teams across a range of clinical environments.

Who is this course for?

1. Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, public health specialists and clinical educators.
2. Professionals who want to balance study with a busy working life, and want to benefit from blended learning in-person and online.
3. Health workers in resource-limited settings and those who want to become leaders in addressing global health inequalities.

“Whether you want to work on the ground with NGOs, shape policy at international level or improve services for displaced populations, this course will equip you with the tools to lead change.” — Dr Uzochukwu Egere, Director of Studies

Why study Infectious Diseases and Global Health at LSTM?

1. Combine clinical application with research, education and leadership skills.
2. Understand the impact of infectious diseases in a global health context.
3. Choose modules that reflect your professional interests and goals.
4. Undertake a research project at home or abroad.
5. Choose a postgraduate certificate, diploma or full MSc.

What will I learn?

You’ll study core and optional modules, followed by a self-directed research project.

Year 1, Semester 1 (on campus)

Compulsory modules:

• Essentials of Clinical Medicine (20 credits)
• Further Tropical Medicine, Public Health & Evidence-Based Medicine (20 credits)

Year 1, Semester 1 and 2 (online)

Compulsory modules:

• Leadership and Education Principles for a Clinical Service (20 credits)

Year 2 (online)

Modules are taught during set semesters but can be taken in any order across 2-5 years according to personal curcumstances.

Compulsory research methods module (choose 1):

• Quantitative Methods (20 credits) OR
• Qualitative Methods (20 credits)

Optional modules (choose 2):

• Radiology for Low Resource Settings (20 credits)
• Global Health within Local Contexts (20 credits)
• The Pharmaceutical Supply Cycle (20 credits)
• Developing a Disease Control Programme (20 credits)
• Climate Change and Health (20 credits)
• Health Promotion & Health Protection (20 credits)

Year 3 (research project)

• Research or Quality Improvement Project (60 credits)

The timeline for the research project can be adjusted to fit with personal circumstances (over a shorter or longer time period). This should be discussed with the Director of Studies during the first semester. 

How will I study?

This blended, part-time course is delivered partly in-person and partly online. You’ll spend the first semester learning face-to-face on campus in Liverpool and then move to online learning for the remainder of the course. Online content is available on-demand, so you can access materials and complete assessments to fit with your own schedule. Each 20-credit module involves around 200 hours of study.

What will I gain?

• Diagnose, control and manage tropical, infectious, and non-communicable diseases in diverse settings.
• Evaluate how health systems and services respond to health issues, and apply research and improvement methods to raise standards of care.
• Take a leadership role in the management of patients, teams, services and projects.
• Apply educational principles to clinical work and design training programmes.
• Tackle global health impacts of climate change and contribute towards health systems strengthening in low resource settings.

Where will it take me?

Graduates go on to work in:

• Clinical leadership roles in global health or humanitarian settings.
• Research and policy roles in academic or public health institutions.
• Infectious disease and tropical medicine programmes worldwide.

Fees and funding

Financial support for UK students: We have scholarships, bursaries, discounts and loans available, established through generous donations from alumni, staff and friends and funding from within Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Financial support for international students: We offer various scholarships for international students, particularly those from low- and middle-income countries. These include full or partial funding through programs like the LSTM Global Health Impact Scholarship and the LSTM Humanitarian Scholarship.

External funding: Scholarships, fellowships and grants are available from a range of funders and organisations.

Entry requirements

Academic: A degree in a clinical or health-related subject (e.g. medicine, nursing).

Professional: Experience of professional work in a clinical setting is essential, preferably in low- and middle-income countries.

English language

The programme is taught in English. Applicants whose first language is not English must normally provide evidence of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all learning components, or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 88 for the Internet-based Test (iBT), with minimum scores of 21 for Listening and Writing, 22 for Reading and 23 for Speaking. Tests should be within their validity period of 2 years. Other English Language Tests and country specific English Language qualifications are also accepted – a full list with details of levels required can be found on the LSTM website (http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements). Applicants who have recently completed a degree level qualification taught in a majority English speaking country (as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)) may also be accepted at the discretion of the Director of Studies.