Control of Infectious Diseases MSc

Overview

This is a multidisciplinary programme that bridges the fields of epidemiology, laboratory sciences and public health in the context of disease control. It includes a strong practical component and the opportunity to undertake a research project overseas with collaborating public health or research organisations and NGOs. The programme trains students in all aspects of the control of infectious diseases and prepares them for a career in a range of organisations.

This programme will equip students with specialised skills that will facilitate a career in the control of infectious diseases as staff of health ministries, health departments, national or international disease control agencies, aid organisations or universities.

The majority of the research projects are performed overseas, with collaborating public health or research organisations and NGOs. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this overseas opportunity, which is crucial to the nature of the course.

Objectives

By the end of this programme students should be able to:

• investigate the transmission of endemic and epidemic infections
• select appropriate methods of control
• design, implement and evaluate co-ordinated control methods
• assess constraints of local public health delivery systems
• manage available resources in the context of the control of infectious diseases
• focus their efforts on particular geographical regions or specific diseases.

The normal minimum entrance qualification for registration on a Master's programme is at least one of the following: a second-class honours degree of a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a subject appropriate to that of the course of study to be followed; applicants with a strong academic background in ancillary subjects will also be considered; a registrable qualification appropriate to the course of study to be followed, in medicine, dentistry or veterinary studies.