Medical Microbiology MSc

The world is facing an unprecedented threat from infectious diseases due to the challenges around a mobile population, antimicrobial resistance, rapid urbanisation and climate change. Study MSc Medical Microbiology with international experts working to understand and tackle these urgent threats.

Over one year (full time) or two years (split study), you’ll spend up to 50% of your course gaining essential practical skills in the laboratory. You’ll develop close working relationships with inspiring lecturers from across LSHTM as well as academia, the NHS, UK Health Security Agency, World Health Organization, and our own Medical Research Council Units in The Gambia and Uganda.

Join us to gain unique insights into current global challenges and prepare for a career where your passion for pathogens and problem-solving can make a significant contribution to the future of planetary health.

What you will learn

• Understand pathogenic microorganisms in depth, through hands-on laboratory experience
• Study microbial pathogenesis and choose to explore specialised areas such as mycology and pathogen genomics
• Build on specialist diagnostic, research, and analytic skills to assess and critique approaches to the prevention of disease
• Develop professional skills of critical thinking and analysis, written and verbal presentations, and intellectual independence
• Learn through a small, culturally diverse peer group
• Choose a research project abroad with our partners across Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Your MSc can open up a wide range of employment and research options. Previous graduates are working across the world in research, medicine, and pharmaceuticals in roles like research principal investigators, healthcare scientist, lab technician, or running clinical trials. And our dedicated careers team are on hand with consultations, practical advice, and talks from organisations such as CHAI, ICRC, and Local Authority Public Health departments.

Who is it for?

You may have just finished a biology or microbiology degree and are keen to explore the subject in greater depth. Perhaps you’re working in a diagnostic lab and looking to further your career by acquiring specialist skills. You could be a medical student using this degree for intercalated study. Or maybe you’re planning on undertaking a PhD further down the line.

You can join us from an undergraduate degree in any relevant discipline. We also welcome professionals with a biomedical or research background. Fascinated by organisms and pathogenesis? Want to learn first-hand how technological advancement is moving the science of microbiology forward? This course is for you.

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.