MSc Health Data Science

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London, UK
One year full-time

This programme, supported by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), aims to train a new generation of world-leading health data scientists, to work in both the public and private sector. Teaching will focus on building strong quantitative, computational and practical data management skills, while providing opportunities to develop key professional skills required to be a successful health data scientist.

Health Data Science is an emerging discipline, combining mathematics, statistics, epidemiology and informatics. This programme will equip graduates with the tools and skills to manage and analyse very large diverse datasets across healthcare systems.

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

apply statistical and machine learning approaches to analyse health-related data
acquire the tools and skills to manage very large diverse datasets across healthcare systems
develop the professional skills – including teamwork, project management, and presentation skills – to work as a successful data scientist in the public or private sector
understand the varied roles of a health data scientist within the wider health and health research environment
learn about the key sources of health data, and the context in which these data are collected, implications of the context on issues such as data quality, accessibility, bias and the appropriateness of use to address specific questions
study the key issues related to ethics, security and information governance.

Structure
The modular structure of the programme allows you to tailor the programme to your specific interests.

Compulsory modules:

Introduction to Health Data Science
Programming
Health Data Management
Epidemiology for Health Data Science
Statistics for Health Data Science
Machine learning
Data challenge

Elective modules include:

Genomics Health Data
Modelling & the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
Population, Poverty & Environment
Social Epidemiology

View full programme structure and module choice

Project report
Students will start working on their summer project mid-April for submission by early September. The project will typically involve identifying appropriate data to tackle a particular research question, extracting and cleaning the data, analysing the data and creating suitable visualisations of the results. Students will describe the whole project in a detailed written report.

Entry requirements

a second-class honours degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject. In this case appropriate qualifications will include mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering and computer science. Life science qualifications will be considered subject to evidence of sufficient quantitative background.
a professional qualification appropriate to the programme of study to be followed

In addition, applicants must demonstrate a high level of quantitative skills and knowledge, including: basic probability, calculus and linear algebra. They must have some prior experience of computer programming.

English Language Requirements
As part of the application process, applicants are required to demonstrate how they meet LSHTM’s minimum English Language requirements.

How To Apply

Please apply via the LSHTM online application system.

Open Days
Join us at our London campus open day on 12 February 2020 or online during our virtual open day on 4 March 2020 – find out more and register.

Funding Opportunities

Please visit the LSHTM website to view the up-to-date list of scholarships for our master’s programmes.

Get in Touch
Contact the LSHTM study team

SHARE THIS LISTING