Overview & Structure

The MPhil and PhD are aimed at students who anticipate a career in which research plays a major role and who want to focus on an independent piece of research.

LSHTM provides a stimulating environment with state-of-the-art facilities in which to carry out research training in three academic faculties: Epidemiology and Population Health, Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Public Health and Policy.

MPhil/PhDs are very diverse: they may be desk-based, or include laboratory work or field work, but there are some common elements. You will be working on a health-related topic with advice from a supervisory team of academics. You will be encouraged to attend transferable skills and other courses, but these do not contribute to the formal assessment (unlike PhDs in some other countries). The examination of both MPhil and PhD is based on an oral examination (viva) of a written “thesis”. At LSHTM we encourage students to publish their work, and your thesis (maximum 100,000 words) may be a combination of chapters and published papers.

All PhD students initially register for an MPhil. Toward the end of the first year (second year if part-time), there is a formal upgrading process, with a written report (maximum 7,500 words), a seminar and an assessment panel in which two independent assessors explore the research plans with student. This provides feedback to improve the research, and identifies any students who may choose to, or may be better suited to, continue with an MPhil degree rather than transferring to a PhD. For students intending to stay registered for the MPhil the procedures are similar, with a formal review instead of the “upgrading”.

All students have a first supervisor and a second supervisor (who will be identified before registration) and may have further members in their supervisory team. They provide advice and guidance throughout the degree. Students will be in contact with their supervisor(s) at least once a month (full-time) or once every two months (part-time).

Students are expected to spend a minimum of 9 months in London over the course of the programme, usually including the first 3 months after registration. This is to enable students to benefit from the School’s academic environment and gain any training required for successful completion of their doctoral work including the opportunity to take relevant modules from LSHTM masters’ programmes to cover particular skills. Most students spend longer than this in London. Note that students without previous academic training in their discipline of interest will usually be advised to undertake an appropriate MSc as a first step before registering for a PhD.

Typically, a full time student might spend the first year in London, until after upgrading. In the second year, students continue laboratory work or carry out data collection/fieldwork either at or away from LSHTM. In the third year, students analyse and write up their research to prepare the thesis for submission.