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Department of Global Health & Social Medicine
School of Global Affairs

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Undergraduate

The Department of Global Health and Social Medicine offers undergraduate degrees that combine social science, critical analysis and real-world engagement, equipping students to understand and address some of the most pressing challenges facing societies today.

Our degrees reflect the department’s longstanding strengths in sociology, social medicine and global health. Whether students choose a disciplinary sociology degree or an interdisciplinary programme grounded in global health and social science, all are encouraged to think critically about social structures, institutions and inequalities, and to develop the analytical tools needed to respond to complex social challenges.

Across our programmes, students gain training in qualitative and quantitative research methods, engage with critical and decolonial perspectives, and explore how knowledge is produced and used in policy, practice and social change initiatives. 

Our degrees

Students in the department can choose from three distinct undergraduate degrees, each with a clear intellectual focus and shared commitments to critical enquiry, ethical research, and tackling contemporary social challenges. 

September 2027 Entry: Applications open through UCAS from September 2026

A sociology degree offering strong theoretical and methodological training, focused on inequality, power, institutions and social change.

UCAS Code: L301

Duration: Three years

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An interdisciplinary degree designed for students who want a social science degree in global health.

UCAS Code: L511, L513 (with a year abroad)

Duration: Three years (or four years with a year abroad)

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An interdisciplinary degree for students who want a predominantly social science degree in global health while continuing their studies in biomedicine.

UCAS Code: L510, L512 (with a year abroad)

Duration: Three years (or four years with a year abroad)

View course

 

Have a sneak peak at GHSM

Study 'Science, Tech and Society' at the home of the UK's No.1 Sociology courses. In this video, Professor Anne Pollock discusses what students in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine learn about the social aspects of science, technology and medicine.

Enjoyed this video? Watch more from our other academics by following the links below:

Study abroad with your degree

To encourage you to develop a well-rounded global perspective on health and social medicine, we offer the possibility to study abroad with a King’s partner university. Choose from either an entire academic year (in addition to the existing three-year module sequence) or a school programme. Hear from Sefora who shares her perspective on the study abroad experiences in Singapore, exploring new cultures, gaining global perspectives, and making the most of her time overseas.

BA or BSc?

The focus of our BA is on making a difference through social science. Meanwhile, the BSc includes a focus on bioscience and specialises in one of three pathways: ageing, neuroscience or pharmacology. Both provide you with the strong foundations you need to pursue careers in global health and social justice.

Hear from Rachael

Meet Rachael and hear about why she studies a Global Health & Social Medicine BA at King's, including her focus on racial inequalities, healthcare in conflict and post-conflict zones and her year abroad in USA at Johns Hopkins.

Hear from Rob

Meet Rob and hear about why he studies a Global Health & Social Medicine BSc at King's, a unique degree which brings together the study of social science and bioscience.

Hear from Hannah

Meet Hannah and hear about why she studies a Global Health & Social Medicine BSc at King's, including her focus on the politics of and access to healthcare, in particular, refugee health.

Discover the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine

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