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Global Health & Social Medicine BSc

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

Key information

Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
Campus
Study mode:
Full time
Required A-level:
AAB
Full entry requirements, including contextual requirements
Duration:
Three years full-time or four years with a year abroad
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2024
Application deadline:
31 January 2024
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. 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.

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.
  • Our study courses are delivered 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 BSc or BA programmes are eligible for a £9,250 scholarship opportunity, including UK, EU and Overseas students. The scholarship will be awarded through assessment of academic performance. We welcome applications from students able to demonstrate their potential to succeed on their chosen programme. For undergraduate UK applicants, the university will use contextual information to gain a more complete picture of their individual and educational context.
  • We rank 2nd in the UK for sociology and social policy (The Guardian Subject Rankings 2024).

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.

Destinations

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).

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.

Our professional network

Where can a degree like this take you? Hear from 2016 graduate Heather Ewert:

Role: Public Health Programme Manager - States of Guernsey 

In my role, I write many of our Public Health Strategies and policy papers. I have been able to work on modernisation of our local abortion law, development of a new Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy, policies related to Substance Use (tobacco, alcohol and drugs) as well as development of a Healthier Weight Strategy. My undergraduate degree was absolutely perfect in setting me up for my current role. Now, I have opportunities to reach my potential. I had a broad background knowledge regarding both public and global health, with research skills and knowledge that has been incredibly transferable.

Heather's top career tip:

Follow what you enjoy. I'm never bored and I enjoy my role wholeheartedly. King's was the core foundation in me being able to achieve this. 

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.

Destinations

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).

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.

Our professional network

Where can a degree like this take you? Hear from 2016 graduate Heather Ewert:

Role: Public Health Programme Manager - States of Guernsey 

In my role, I write many of our Public Health Strategies and policy papers. I have been able to work on modernisation of our local abortion law, development of a new Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy, policies related to Substance Use (tobacco, alcohol and drugs) as well as development of a Healthier Weight Strategy. My undergraduate degree was absolutely perfect in setting me up for my current role. Now, I have opportunities to reach my potential. I had a broad background knowledge regarding both public and global health, with research skills and knowledge that has been incredibly transferable.

Heather's top career tip:

Follow what you enjoy. I'm never bored and I enjoy my role wholeheartedly. King's was the core foundation in me being able to achieve this. 

Key information

Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
Campus
Study mode:
Full time
Required A-level:
AAB
Full entry requirements, including contextual requirements
Duration:
Three years full-time or four years with a year abroad
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2024
Application deadline:
31 January 2024
Apply via UCAS

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