Public Health (General stream) (MSc)

Having grown up in London but been away for the last 4 years, returning to study at LSHTM has given me a new and extraordinary experience of my home town. It has provided and exposed exciting opportunities in previously unknown and impenetrable areas in London.

The teaching is quite different to that I experienced during my undergraduate studies, including a lot more discussion and creative group work fit into full, well-structured days. I was worried that having no clinical background would make the course more challenging, but it is organised in a way that accommodates and challenges both the clinically and non-clinically trained students. With so much choice over what modules to take, the Public Health course is easy to mould into an experience that meets your individual needs; satisfying those that have very specific objectives as well as those for whom the course is an exploration into public health.

For me, the MSc is exploratory as I have no definite career plans. I am one of the younger students at LSHTM and initially I was concerned that I would not be able to contribute as much as others who had been working in fascinating settings all over the world for many years. However, I soon realised that the experiences that I myself have had are as informative as those of others, and that the mixture of perspectives that students at LSHTM hold are what creates such a valuable learning experience. I have also been impressed by how forthcoming my fellow students have been with advice and ideas for my future. I am very lucky to be able to learn directly from the careers and experiences of students at different stages of their lives with whom I share similar interests and aspirations.

I applied to the MSc because it is most similar to the course I am due to take as part of my Medical Residency of Public Health training in Portugal.

When going through the program, I was impressed by how flexible it is apart from the core disciplines in Public Health. The possibility of tailoring my MSc program to my needs and preferences was definitely a key factor that influenced my choice.

Being a member of the Student Representatives Council was also an incredible experience that allowed me to develop leadership skills and provide a better experience to other students.

I completed my third year of medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska before coming to the School for my MSc in Public Health. Next year I hope to finish medical school and go into psychiatry and mental health policy. I first heard about the School while interning at the World Health Organization. I chose the School for its stellar reputation in global health, the variety of coursework to choose from, the ability to complete my MSc in one year and of course the opportunity to live in such an incredible city.

I couldn’t be happier with my choice! The professors are fantastic! I frequently notice that the papers and books I am reading are authored by the School’s faculty, who are very enthusiastic and approachable teachers. My fellow students are also remarkably accomplished with diverse backgrounds. Classes are focused on building skills and teaching us to think in new ways about public health. It has been one of the most educational, exciting, and enjoyable years of my education.

Every day at the School is like diving into a global swimming pool of experience, with so much learning occurring outside the classroom in the context of a truly international and multicultural student cohort. From conversations with fellow students, I have learned about the medical politics of Kenya; the format of medical school interviews in the USA; and have even had the chance to test theories from a policy class against their architects in Geneva. The School presents a unique environment and opportunity, not easily replicated anywhere in the world.

One of the strengths of the School is the diversity of students”, remarked a Dean during orientation. The School attracts the brightest from all over the world, and with their wealth of knowledge and personal backgrounds, the learning opportunities are immense. Despite their outstanding accomplishments, the students here are extremely friendly and humble. I have learnt so much from my classmates and made life-long friends within this short year. All this would not have been possible without the unique environment at the School, where diversity, passion and the warmth of the students are true strengths.