Quick Information
| University | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM); Imperial College London |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | GBP 32,950 per year overseas, full-time in person (LSHTM, 2027/28) |
| Eligibility | First degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) in a relevant discipline (LSHTM) |
| Last Verified Date | November 10, 2026 |
| Official Source | https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/masters-degrees/public-health |
What a Master of Public Health Covers
Public health is about improving the health of whole populations rather than treating one patient at a time. A Master of Public Health (MPH) teaches the core disciplines of the field: epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management, environmental health, and the social factors that shape health. Students learn to measure disease in populations, to design and evaluate health programmes, and to use evidence to guide decisions. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine describes its MSc in Public Health as giving students a strong grasp of these core disciplines over one year full-time, or two years part-time. Imperial College London offers its MPH as a part-time online degree over two or three years, so students can study while working.
How Long It Takes and What Degree You Receive
LSHTM’s in-person MSc lasts one year full-time or two years part-time, with a distance-learning version lasting two to five years. Imperial’s MPH is part-time and online, lasting two or three years. Both award a master’s degree — an MSc at LSHTM and an MPH at Imperial — and Imperial also offers shorter Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma options within the same programme. The right choice depends on whether you can study full-time, whether you want to be on campus, and how much time your work and family commitments allow.
Entry Requirements
LSHTM asks for a first degree at Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) in a relevant discipline, or a medical degree recognised by the UK General Medical Council, or an equivalent overseas degree. Applicants with a 2:2 degree are also considered if they have sufficient relevant professional experience, typically at least two years working in a field allied to public health. Applicants also need to show some evidence of ability in mathematics at post-16 level. Imperial asks for a minimum 2:1 in any subject, or an MBBS degree, and states clearly that a science background is not mandatory — applicants with relevant academic or professional experience are also considered. English-language evidence is required at both institutions; LSHTM uses its own English bands, and the exact test scores are published on the official admissions pages.
Tuition Fees
LSHTM’s official page lists 2027/28 in-person fees of £32,950 per year for overseas students and £14,250 for home students on the full-time MSc. Imperial’s official course page lists overseas fees of £13,450 per year and home fees of £8,150 per year for its online MPH (2026 entry listing), with a total overseas fee of £26,900 for the two-year route. Fees change each year, so confirm the current figure on the university’s own page before applying, and check scholarship options early — public-health scholarships are competitive and often have deadlines months before the course starts.
Where the Degree Can Lead
Graduates work in government health departments, public-health agencies, hospitals, research institutes and international health organisations, in areas such as epidemiology, health policy, health economics, disease prevention and health programme management. The degree suits both clinicians who want to move into population health and graduates from other fields who want to work in health systems. No degree guarantees a particular job, and senior roles usually also require relevant work experience.
