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    MSc 1 year full-time

Masters Degree Description

The amount of health data available today is vast. That information has huge potential to improve health around the world, but only if it’s properly managed, analysed, and communicated. Study MSc Health Data Science at LSHTM to combine your passion for healthcare with your technical knowledge – and help identify new ways to prevent, treat, and cure disease.

Over one year (full time) or two years (part time or split study), you’ll develop the specialist skills you need to become a successful and in-demand health data scientist. Immerse yourself in an inspiring environment where world leaders in subjects like machine learning, electronic health records and epidemiology are pushing boundaries.

What you will learn

  • Discover how mathematics, statistics, programming, epidemiology, and informatics converge to power innovation in public health.
  • Develop strong computational and data management skills, mastering tools and methods used at the forefront of digital health research.
  • Apply machine learning and data science techniques to analyse complex health data, generate insights, and tackle real-world challenges such as disease prediction, prevention, and health system optimisation.
  • Examine data quality, accessibility, bias, and ethics, and learn how to build responsible and transparent AI systems for health.
  • Build professional and collaborative skills that enable you to use advanced analytics and AI for social good and meaningful public health impact.

LSHTM’s international portfolio of research and our Medical Research Council Units in The Gambia and Uganda provide a unique opportunity to learn about the challenges of global health and the emerging role of health data science in both high- and low-income countries.

Our data science partners can provide the setting for your own research project and give you experience of what employers are looking for. As part of their MSc our students have conducted research with healthcare consultancies, pharmaceutical companies, tech companies, SMEs, government agencies, and clinical audit providers. These include IQVIA, GSK, Pfizer, The World Food Programme, The UK Office for National Statistics. and the Royal College of Surgeons.

We’re one of only six UK institutions delivering this master’s for Health Data Research UK (the UK’s national institute for health data science). That means we have demonstrated scientific excellence and a commitment to building a health data science community.

Entry Requirements

In order to be admitted to an LSHTM master's degree programme, an applicant must:

  • hold either a first degree at Second Class Honours (2:2) standard in a relevant discipline, or a degree in medicine recognised by the UK General Medical Council (GMC) for the purposes of practising medicine in the UK, or another degree of equivalent standard awarded by an overseas institution recognised by UK ENIC or the GMC.

or

  • hold a professional qualification appropriate to the programme of study to be followed obtained by written examinations and judged by LSHTM to be equivalent to a Second Class Honours (2:2) degree or above.

or

  • have relevant professional experience or training which is judged by LSHTM to be equivalent to a Second Class Honours (2:2) degree or above.

If you have not previously studied in the UK, you can check our guide to international equivalent qualifications for our master's degrees.

Applicants to the MSc Health Data Science are expected to have a solid foundation in mathematics. Specifically, a prior understanding of probability and statistics, calculus, linear algebra including logarithms and exponents is required. This should have been gained to undergraduate level, either as a mathematics/statistics degree or as a substantive element of other science-based undergraduate programmes. Moreover, although not a prerequisite, familiarity with programming logic and prior experience in computer programming would be beneficial. In place of a degree, significant relevant professional experience (2-3 years) in health data science or a related field involving substantial quantitative methods may be accepted.

After submitting an application, the Programme Director will email a pre-entry assessment to evaluate the applicants quantitative and programming knowledge. This assessment must be completed to move further in the application process. The 60-90 minute online assessment will review the applicant's knowledge in probability and statistics, linear algebra, functions, calculus, combinatorics and programming/programming logic (prior exposure to writing programming syntax is essential). View the previous pre-entry assessment as an example.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum entry requirement, but who have relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission. Qualifications and experience will be assessed from the application.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to meet these requirements: Band B.

Some applicants may be exempt if they have previously studied in English or meet other specified criteria. Please see our English language requirements for details.

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. 

Intercalating students

You will need the equivalent of a bachelor's degree to undertake a master's degree. This will usually require you to have a BSc degree or have completed the first three years of your medical degree. More information on intercalating a Master's at LSHTM.

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Fees

For fees and funding options please visit website to find out more

Module Details

All students take five compulsory AB1 modules:

  • Concepts and Methods in Epidemiology
  • Health Data Management
  • Programming
  • Statistics for Health Data Science
  • Thinking Like a Health Data Scientist

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