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King's College London
You are viewing a course in < Biomedical and life sciences
Undergraduate degree

Global Health & Social Medicine BSc

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

Key information

Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
Classroom
Study mode:
Full time
Required A-level:
AAB
Duration:
Three years full-time or four years with a year abroad
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2023
Application deadline:
25 January 2023
Optional study abroad
Apply via UCAS

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine is the ideal degree for students seeking to make a difference to improving health and wellbeing, locally and globally, by shaping effective health policies and health care delivery systems. This is an interdisciplinary degree course that creates unique opportunities to combine social sciences with an introduction to key areas of biomedicine. This course will provide you with the intellectual skills, practical knowledge and research techniques required for independent critical thinking and analysis.

Key benefits

  • We offer excellent opportunities to study social aspects of health and medicine in a multi-disciplinary context with close collaboration between the social sciences, life sciences and biomedicine.
  • The chance to combine high-level social science with an introduction to the main areas of biomedical knowledge and the implications for clinical practice.
  • Taught by internationally renowned academics and clinicians with a strong focus on transdisciplinary education in key areas of health, disease and medicine.
  • All applicants of our full time BA or BSc are eligible for the £9,250 scholarship opportunity, including UK, EU and Overseas students. Criteria is based on the quality of your application, previous academic performance, relevant experience if appropriate and your personal statement.

Modern society recognises the importance of the health and has created supportive healthcare systems to maintain welfare and to tackle diseases. These systems are not only ‘medical’, such as training and certifying doctors, networks of general practitioners, hospitals and specialised clinics, they are also ‘social’, covering the provision of clean water, food and sanitation, the design of accommodation, education in child development and the promotion of health and hygiene. Students on the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine with a Year Abroad will spend their third year studying abroad before returning to complete a final year with King’s. Students on the three year course may transfer to the four year Global Health & Social Medicine with a Year Abroad BSc. Studying abroad will be dependent on levels of achievement in second year modules. Students must pass the equivalent of 120 KCL credits at the partner institution to be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine with a Year Abroad” degree, otherwise they will only be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine” title. The degree course is delivered across three campuses, the Strand Campus, Guy’s Campus and Waterloo Campus. Campuses are close to the River Thames, with facilities offered by the university easily available and the cultural attractions of the South Bank and Covent Garden close by. The library and computing facilities are readily accessible together with the opportunity to use the University of London Library at Senate House

Base campuses

Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Special features

Optional study abroad

Awarding Institutions

kcl logo

King's College London and Affiliates

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Subject requirements

Required subjects:
A-level (or equivalent) grade B in Biology or Chemistry.
Preferred subjects:
None.

A-Levels

Required grades:
AAB

Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.

Must include grade B in Biology or Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

Contextual A-Level information

BBB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Must include grade B in Biology or Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

International Baccalaureate

35 points including 665 at Higher Level.

Must include grade 5 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry. Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.

Contextual International Baccalaureate information

32 points including 555 at Higher Level. Must include grade 5 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry. Notes: The total point score of 32 includes TOK/EE.

Alternative accepted qualifications

Standard requirements

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above

English language requirements

English language band: B

Selection process

Application deadline: 25th January 2023 - 18:00 (UK time)

 

Contextual consideration

We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.

Deferrals

Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.

If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.

Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.

Foundation courses

Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.

We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.

Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.

The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.

Graduates

Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.

Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.

Where a programme has subject requirements, these will still need to have been met. If you have not met the subject requirements via A-level (or equivalent) then we may be able to consider the content within your degree. We would be looking for significant study of the subjects across the degree programme with a 2:1 or above grading on those modules.

Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.

Resits

We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.

Transfers

We are able to consider applications for transfer into Year 2 of this programme. Please see our Transferring to King’s website for more information.

Help for international applicants

International Foundation Year

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.

Pre-sessional courses

If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures
Seminars
Small Group Tutorials

Hear from some of our students about why they chose to study Global Health & Social Medicine at King's.

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

Teaching

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. In Year 1 you will spend 16% of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities and 84% of time in guided independent study. In Year 2 you will spend 17% of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities and 83% of time in guided independent study. In the final year, 10% of time will be scheduled learning and teaching activities and 90% in guided independent study. 

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

  • Coursework
  • Examinations
  • Tutorial Participation

You will be assessed through a range of techniques including examinations, coursework and tutorial participation. In Year 1, 28% of assessment will be by written exams and 72% of assessment by coursework. In Year 2 39% of assessment will be by written exams, 4% by practical exams and 57% by coursework. In the final year 10% of assessment will be by written exams, 2% by practical exams and 88% by coursework.

Structure

This is a three-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits. Students will have the option to apply to study abroad for a year, which would extend the programme to a four-year degree course if they are successful.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

The COVID-19 pandemic shows the social science of global health and medicine has never been more important in meeting the significant social, political and ecological challenges facing the world.

This degree provides a rigorous intellectual and empirical grounding for careers in public administration, NGOs and INGOs, charities, think tanks, academia, and social advocacy organisations. Our graduates enter a wide range of professions within health services, public health, government, and NGOs in the UK and beyond. For example: 

  • Policy (e.g., Nuffield Council on Bioethics, King’s Fund, UK Biobank Ethics & Governance Council, public health policy analyst World Health Organization)
  • National and international NGOs (e.g., Cancer Research UK, British Lung Foundation, Médecins Sans Frontières, Gates Foundation, Malaria No More)
  • Government (Department of Health, Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, Health Research Authority, Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology)
  • Private sector (e.g., management consultancy, political affairs, pharmaceutical companies)
  • Academia (postdoctoral study).

Tuition Fees

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2023-2024 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees International:

The International tuition fee for the 2023-2024 academic year is £31,260 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.   Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books, if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Society membership fees
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

Modern society recognises the importance of the health and has created supportive healthcare systems to maintain welfare and to tackle diseases. These systems are not only ‘medical’, such as training and certifying doctors, networks of general practitioners, hospitals and specialised clinics, they are also ‘social’, covering the provision of clean water, food and sanitation, the design of accommodation, education in child development and the promotion of health and hygiene. Students on the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine with a Year Abroad will spend their third year studying abroad before returning to complete a final year with King’s. Students on the three year course may transfer to the four year Global Health & Social Medicine with a Year Abroad BSc. Studying abroad will be dependent on levels of achievement in second year modules. Students must pass the equivalent of 120 KCL credits at the partner institution to be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine with a Year Abroad” degree, otherwise they will only be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine” title. The degree course is delivered across three campuses, the Strand Campus, Guy’s Campus and Waterloo Campus. Campuses are close to the River Thames, with facilities offered by the university easily available and the cultural attractions of the South Bank and Covent Garden close by. The library and computing facilities are readily accessible together with the opportunity to use the University of London Library at Senate House

Base campuses

Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Special features

Optional study abroad

Awarding Institutions

kcl logo

King's College London and Affiliates

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Subject requirements

Required subjects:
A-level (or equivalent) grade B in Biology or Chemistry.
Preferred subjects:
None.

A-Levels

Required grades:
AAB

Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.

Must include grade B in Biology or Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

Contextual A-Level information

BBB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Must include grade B in Biology or Chemistry. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.

International Baccalaureate

35 points including 665 at Higher Level.

Must include grade 5 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry. Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.

Contextual International Baccalaureate information

32 points including 555 at Higher Level. Must include grade 5 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry. Notes: The total point score of 32 includes TOK/EE.

Alternative accepted qualifications

Standard requirements

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above

English language requirements

English language band: B

Selection process

Application deadline: 25th January 2023 - 18:00 (UK time)

 

Contextual consideration

We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.

Deferrals

Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.

If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.

Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.

Foundation courses

Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.

We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.

Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.

The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.

Graduates

Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.

Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.

Where a programme has subject requirements, these will still need to have been met. If you have not met the subject requirements via A-level (or equivalent) then we may be able to consider the content within your degree. We would be looking for significant study of the subjects across the degree programme with a 2:1 or above grading on those modules.

Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.

Resits

We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.

Transfers

We are able to consider applications for transfer into Year 2 of this programme. Please see our Transferring to King’s website for more information.

Help for international applicants

International Foundation Year

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.

Pre-sessional courses

If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures
Seminars
Small Group Tutorials

Hear from some of our students about why they chose to study Global Health & Social Medicine at King's.

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

Teaching

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. In Year 1 you will spend 16% of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities and 84% of time in guided independent study. In Year 2 you will spend 17% of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities and 83% of time in guided independent study. In the final year, 10% of time will be scheduled learning and teaching activities and 90% in guided independent study. 

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

  • Coursework
  • Examinations
  • Tutorial Participation

You will be assessed through a range of techniques including examinations, coursework and tutorial participation. In Year 1, 28% of assessment will be by written exams and 72% of assessment by coursework. In Year 2 39% of assessment will be by written exams, 4% by practical exams and 57% by coursework. In the final year 10% of assessment will be by written exams, 2% by practical exams and 88% by coursework.

Structure

This is a three-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits. Students will have the option to apply to study abroad for a year, which would extend the programme to a four-year degree course if they are successful.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

The COVID-19 pandemic shows the social science of global health and medicine has never been more important in meeting the significant social, political and ecological challenges facing the world.

This degree provides a rigorous intellectual and empirical grounding for careers in public administration, NGOs and INGOs, charities, think tanks, academia, and social advocacy organisations. Our graduates enter a wide range of professions within health services, public health, government, and NGOs in the UK and beyond. For example: 

  • Policy (e.g., Nuffield Council on Bioethics, King’s Fund, UK Biobank Ethics & Governance Council, public health policy analyst World Health Organization)
  • National and international NGOs (e.g., Cancer Research UK, British Lung Foundation, Médecins Sans Frontières, Gates Foundation, Malaria No More)
  • Government (Department of Health, Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, Health Research Authority, Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology)
  • Private sector (e.g., management consultancy, political affairs, pharmaceutical companies)
  • Academia (postdoctoral study).

Tuition Fees

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2023-2024 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees International:

The International tuition fee for the 2023-2024 academic year is £31,260 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.   Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books, if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Society membership fees
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

Key information

Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
Classroom
Study mode:
Full time
Required A-level:
AAB
Duration:
Three years full-time or four years with a year abroad
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2023
Application deadline:
25 January 2023
Optional study abroad
Apply via UCAS

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