What is the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)?

Updated

LSHTM is a London-based institution dedicated to research and postgraduate education in public and global health. It is best understood as a specialist school rather than a general university: its work centres on health at the population level, and its teaching is aimed primarily at postgraduate students.

What LSHTM focuses on

The institution describes itself as a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health. That description points to two connected roles:

  • Research — investigating health problems and their determinants at the population level, including infectious disease and global health issues.
  • Postgraduate education — training students who already hold a degree and want to specialise in public health, global health and related fields.

The site description also references medicine, social sciences and arts as subject areas. In practice, this reflects the interdisciplinary character of public and global health: the field draws on clinical knowledge, social science methods and broader perspectives on health and society, not laboratory medicine alone.

Who it is for

LSHTM is most relevant if you are:

  • considering postgraduate study in public health, global health or a related discipline;
  • looking for a research-intensive environment focused on population health;
  • seeking an institution in London with an international orientation in global health.

It is not a general undergraduate university in the usual sense, and its identity is defined by its health specialism rather than a broad catalogue of subjects.

How to check whether it fits your plans

Because programme offerings, entry requirements and research areas change, verify details directly on lshtm.ac.uk before applying or planning a visit. Look specifically at:

  1. The study section for the postgraduate programmes currently offered and their entry requirements.
  2. Research pages for the departments and themes that match your interests.
  3. Admissions and fees information for costs, funding and deadlines — these are not stated in the available site description, so confirm them on the site rather than assuming.

If your goal is postgraduate training or research in public and global health, LSHTM is a directly relevant institution to investigate; if you need a broad undergraduate education or a non-health specialism, it is likely not the right match.