King's College London

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine is an interdisciplinary course that welcomes students to discuss urgent questions about how we address health and well-being disparities around the world. It 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.

The course is designed for students who want to take a predominantly social science related degree in global health, but also want to continue their studies in biomedicine. Students spend roughly one third of their contact hours (equivalent to 25% credits) in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Here they learn about biomedical and public health approaches to disease and wellbeing within either a neuroscience, pharmacology or ageing pathway. The other part of their degree is spent in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, learning about the sociology, ethics, politics and economics of global health and medicine. This is through a variety of perspectives, including anthropology, sociology, epidemiology, economics, history, and bioethics. In teaching, real-life examples are used as a basis for learning, including, Covid-19, climate change, HIV/AIDS, the opioid crisis, trauma and war, mental health and psychiatric disorders, access to vaccines and medicines, and many more. Students will gain an understanding of how core debates within global health and the social sciences can shape our responses to pressing social and political questions associated with these real-life examples. By bringing theory and practice together, students will be empowered to form their own ideas on ways to make a difference in the world.

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 be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine” title.

Overall, this degree provides a rigorous intellectual and empirical grounding for careers in local and national government, policy think tanks, charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia and the pharmaceutical industry, working at the intersection between health, politics and society.

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, but 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 Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine creates a unique opportunity to take a degree in 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.

Check out further information about our Global Health & Social Medicine course including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our online hub page.