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Global Health & Social Medicine BSc

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Overview

Our Global Health & Social Medicine BSc offers a unique and exciting course with the opportunity to study abroad for a year and aims to train a new generation of leaders who want to make a difference in the world.

This course is ideal 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. The BSc includes a focus on bioscience, specialising in one of three pathways; ageing, neuroscience or pharmacology.

Key benefits

  • Hear from some of our students about why they chose to study Global Health & Social Medicine at King's.
  • All applicants of our full time BSc or BA are eligible for the £9,000 scholarship opportunity, including UK, EU and Overseas students. 
  • 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.
  • Global opportunities for work experience including study abroad at world leading universities and fully funded international internships.
  • 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.

Key information

UCAS code L510, L512 (with a year abroad)

Duration Three, or four years with a year abroad

Study mode Full-time

Course type Single honours

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Department Department of Global Health & Social Medicine

Locations

 

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Global Health & Social Medicine at King's

In the heart of London

Hear from staff and students about studying Global Health & Social Medicine here at King's

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Course detail

Description

Modern society recognises the importance of 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.

The Global Health & Social Medicine BSc is an interdisciplinary degree course that creates unique opportunities to combine social sciences with an introduction to key areas of medicine. This course will provide you with the intellectual skills, practical knowledge and research techniques required for independent critical thinking and analysis.

Students on the Global Health & Social Medicine with a Year Abroad BSc 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.

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of techniques including examinations, coursework and tutorial participation.

Location

This course is delivered across three campuses – the Strand Campus,  the Guy’s Campus and the Waterloo Campus. All are close to the River Thames, with facilities offered by the university easily available and also 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.

Other related courses

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules.  Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

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

Required Modules

You are required to take the following modules:

You are also required to select one of the below biomedical pathways to follow throughout your degree from and take 30 credits from that pathway to make up 25% of your first year of study:

 

Neuroscience pathway

You are required to take the following modules:

• Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)

• Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)

 

Pharmacology pathway

You are required to take the following modules:

• Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)

• Cell Biology and Neuroscience (15 credits)

 

Ageing pathway

You are required to take the following modules:

• Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)

• Genetics & Molecular Biology (15 credits)

Optional Modules
There are no optional modules during your first year.

Year 2

 

 

Required Modules
You are required to take the following modules:

You are also required to take an approved optional module from the list below:

  • Applied Health and Social Statistics (15 credits)
  • Qualitative Research Methods: Analysing Data (15 credits)
Optional Modules

In addition, you are required to take further optional modules according to your selected pathway. Optional modules may typically include:

Neuroscience

  • Neuroscience (30 credits) 

Pharmacology

  • Drugs & Disease (various)
  • Physiology & Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System (15 credits)

Ageing

  • The Immune System in Health & Disease (15 credits)
  • Human Nutrition (15 credits)

Year 3

Global Health & Social Medicine BSc

If you are studying the three year BSc, you will take the final year modules in your third year. 

 

Required Modules

You are required to study the following modules:

Optional Modules

In addition you are required to take 30 credits from your chosen biomedical pathway and a further 45 credits from a range of optional modules which may typically include:

 

Global Health & Social Medicine with a Year Abroad BSc

Students on the four year course will spend their third year studying abroad before returning to complete a final year with King’s. This will depend on levels of achievement in first and second year modules and being accepted by a partner university. 

Our partner institutions currently include:

  • University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
  • University of Melbourne
  • Western University
  • National University of Singapore
  • Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore

Year 4

Global Health & Social Medicine with a Year Abroad BSc

Students on the four year course will spend their third year studying abroad before returning to complete a final year with King’s. 

Required Modules
You are required to study the following modules:
Optional Modules
In addition you are required to take 30 credits from your chosen biomedical pathway and a further 45 credits from a range of optional modules which may typically include:

Entry requirements

 

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. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer.

Required grades

35 points overall (including TOK/EE) with three Higher Level subjects at 665

Required grades

45 Level 3 credits: 33 must be from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit

Required grades

D3 D3 M2

Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels).

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

Further information below

If you are taking the new RQF BTEC Nationals (2016), you will not be required to fulfil the module requirement stipulated above - you will only need to get the right overall grade. If you are taking the QCF BTEC Nationals (2010), you must achieve both the required overall grade and the specified module grades. If you are unsure which BTEC you are studying, your teacher or school/college counsellor should be able to tell you.

Required grades

80% overall

Required grades

Visit our admissions webpages to view our international entry requirements and English language entry requirements.

Required subjects

Biology or Chemistry.

Preferred subjects

None.

Further information and other requirements

Entry requirements
A-Level  AAB 

Must include Biology or Chemistry.

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. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer.

NOTE: If you are taking linear A levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all science subjects.
Access to HE Diploma 

D: 33 credits

M: 12 credits

P: 0 credits

Access to Science Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits: 33 must be from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit.
Cambridge Pre-U D3 D3 M2

Must include Biology or Chemistry. 

Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels) considered.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

DDM with eleven Distinctions and two A levels at grades AB or DDM with ten Distinctions and two A levels at grades AA, including Chemistry or Biology.
BTEC Level 3 Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

DM with six Distinctions and two A levels at grades AB or DM with four Distinctions and two A levels at grades AA, including Chemistry or Biology.
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (QCF from 2010)  

D with four modules at Distinction and two A levels at grades AB or M and two A levels at grades AA, including Chemistry or Biology.
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers

AAB at Highers

and

AB at Advanced Highers

Must include Advanced Higher Biology or Chemistry.

Must be a combination of three Scottish Highers and two Scottish Advanced Highers. We do not count the Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject.
International Baccalaureate 35 points

Including 6,6,5 at Higher Level, and including Higher Level Biology or Chemistry. Note the total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE. 
Other International Qualifications   Visit our admissions webpages to view our international entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

 

Selection procedure

Application deadline: January 15th 2020

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2020-2021 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees EU:

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 (September 2020) who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

The UK tuition fee for the 2020-2021 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 2020-2021 academic year is £26,700 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.

 

Additional costs/expenses

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). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities. 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.

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 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses 
  • Graduation costs

For further information, please visit our fees and funding pages.

 

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

With the job market becoming ever more competitive, it has been reported that King’s offers its graduates the best job prospects of any London or Russell Group university, with an employment rate of 95.2 percent, an increase of 2.6 percent on last year. The data, compiled by The Careers Group, University of London, is based on institutional Employment Performance Indicators (EPI) for full-time, first degree, UK domiciled graduates in work or further study.

King’s is ranked 4th in the UK for Graduate Employability (Times Higher Education, 2018).

Career destinations

This course equips students for a wide range of career options in the health services, in public health, in government and NGOs in the UK and elsewhere, and in the commercial, medical and health sectors, as well as for future careers in academic research and teaching.

 

Testimonials

Deborah

Deborah

"Growing up I always had an interest developing nations. Visiting relatives in Nigeria I would notice how there were so many inequalities from one area to another. This sparked my interest in global health and social medicine and my course specialises in these sorts of topics, enabling me to explore what I can do to bring change and promote equality across all nations. 

King's was always somewhere I wanted to study, firstly because of its location, right in the heart of London and also because of its reowned global reputation. Being nearly half way through my degree, I can safely say my experience so far has been beyond my expectations."

Next steps

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