The Global Health BSc is a one-year course aims to equip students with the skills and concepts to navigate a range of quantitative and social sciences disciplines that contribute to global health scholarship. The course has an orientation towards the interpretation of quantitative and epidemiological evidence in global health, reflecting the strengths of Imperial College. However, it also explores the cultural, economic, geographical and social processes and contexts which determine health outcomes across the world. Crucially, the course aims to develop students’ critical thinking skills, and the skills and values required to reflective leadership and collaboration.

The course comprises three modules spread from September to May. 

Module 1 (‘Global health in dynamic world’) is the core taught module that takes place in the first term (September to mid-December).

Module 2 includes two components (Community Group Placements and Critical Summary of the Task or Literature Review ) which are based on experiential learning and active small-group learning respectively.

During Module 3, students spend 15 weeks within a research team, developing and completing a scientific research project investigating a current issue in global health issue. This module also has an experiential learning basis and students often find this a highlight of the course, having developed a rich skillset for research. Many of our students go on to publish their work. Projects span epidemiology and public health including quantitative and qualitative, or policy aspects of the field.

Module 1: Global health in a dynamic world

This is the core taught module which mixes didactic lectures and innovative teaching methods. We invite experts in their field from Imperial College, other academic institutions and relevant civil society organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières. Alumni tell us that this is a real highlight of the course which allows them to engage with a real range of contemporary Global Health issues and concepts.

As part of the recent curriculum review, we have included innovative assessments, with a focus on authenticity. Students will have the opportunity to develop and practice their skills for scientific writing, conference presentations and analyse and interpret real Global Health “field” data and appreciate the importance of learning about the rich context of global health data

Module 1 includes 3 themes:

Causes of disease, morbidity and mortality (Mondays): communicable and non-communicable causes and contributors to global ill health and evidence and interventions for these

Skills and Methods for Global Health (Tuesdays): Data, methods and critical appraisal of evidence generated for global health

Global Health Governance (Fridays): Global health frameworks and institutions, systems, policies and financing

Module 2: Self-directed learning in small groups (Critical Summary of the Task/Literature Review) and individual CGP report

Module 2 a: Critical Summary of the Task or Literature Review task in small groups

This module will provide students with an in-depth understanding of evidence synthesis and its role in guiding interventions and policy. In small groups, the students will gain hands-on experience in conducting their own critical summary of the literature and going through a peer review process.

Module 2b: Community Group Placements (CGP)

Our Community Group Placement scheme will contextualise much of the students’ learning and thinking on the Global Health pathway overall. It provides a platform for students to build and finesse the skills and behaviours that students will need to work effectively in a public health or global health environment.

Our CGP partner organisations are all community-based organisations (CBO) working with our local communities across London. London faces huge challenges in terms of poverty and inequality, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges facing global health. You can read more about this in the summary of our Impact Afternoon event held in 2019 and 2020.

Module 3: BSc research project

This is a self-directed research project exploring a global health question. This involves carrying out research in a field related to Global Health to enable students to learn about scientific inquiry, and the skills of planning, carrying out a research project, and analysis interpretation and dissemination of evidence. Projects are a highlight of the course because they provide experiential learning in research, embedded within existing research teams, and most GH BSc courses in the country do not provide this level of research experience. Find out more about previous student research projects.

Choosing a project

Students are offered a list of projects in November and are required to apply for their top 6 choices, submitting short application statements. Please visit the Students research projects page for details on choosing a project.

Community Groups Placements (CGP) experiences
In the year 2019/20, we had, students placed in groups of 2-3 placed at 10 Community based organisations (Addison Community Champions (Urban Partnership Group – UPG, Baraka Youth Association, Disability Advice Service Lambeth (dasl), Foundation for women’s health, research and development (FORWARD), Hammersmith Community Gardens Association, Myatt’s Fields Park Project, One Westminster, The Abbey Centre - Abbey Community Association Limited, Young Brent Foundation and Young Hammersmith & Fulham Foundation.