MSc Medical Parasitology
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
0 Hours
LANGUAGES
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PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Scholarships
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Introduction
MSc Medical Parasitology
This programme provides core training in the theoretical and practical aspects of medical parasitology, covering the protozoan and metazoan parasites of humans and the vectors which transmit them. Students will gain specialised skills to enable them to pursue a career in research, control or teaching related to medical parasitology.
Objectives
By the end of this program students should be able to demonstrate:
- demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the biology, life cycles, pathogenesis, diagnosis of parasitic infections in humans and their relevance for human health and strategies for control
- demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the biology and strategies for control of the vectors and intermediate hosts of human parasites
- carry out practical laboratory identification of the various parasite stages both free and in tissues and diagnose infections
- demonstrate specialised skills acquired through taking modules on: advanced diagnostic, molecular, immunological, genetic, chemotherapeutic, ecological and/or control aspects of the subject
- demonstrate the ability to design a laboratory or field based research project, apply relevant research skills, critically analyse and interpret data, and work with minimal supervision
- prepare a written report including a critical literature review of relevant scientific publications; and show competence in communicating scientific information and findings.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Structure
Term 1
There is a one-week orientation period that includes an introduction to studying at LSHTM, sessions on key computing and study skills and an introduction to major groups of pathogens, followed by two compulsory core modules:
- Parasitology & Entomology
- Analysis & Design of Research Studies
Recommended module: Molecular Biology
Sessions on basic computing, molecular biology and statistics are run throughout the term for all students.
Terms 2 and 3
Students take a total of five modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.). Some modules can be taken only after consultation with the program Director.
Slot 1
- Designing Disease Control Programmes
- Malaria: from Science to Policy and Practice
- Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Techniques
Slot 2
- Advanced Diagnostic Parasitology
- Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies
- Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
Slot 3
- Advanced Training in Molecular Biology
- Spatial Epidemiology
- Vector Sampling, Identification & Incrimination
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Health (formerly Tropical Environmental Health)
Slot 4
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
- Immunology of Parasitic Infection
- Molecular Research in Infectious Diseases
- Vector Biology and Vector-Parasite Interactions
Slot 5
- Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Integrated Vector Management
- Pathogen Genomics
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Vaccine Immunology
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates from this program enter global health fields ranging from diagnostics through to applied basic research and operational control to higher degree studies and academic/teaching-related positions.
Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this course have entered after graduating:
Example job titles:
- Applied Research Analyst
- Assistant Professor
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Clinical Researcher
- Data Manager
- Microbiology Laboratory Technician
- Research Scientist
- Research Technician
- Scientific Officer
- Veterinary Parasitologist Housing Officer
- Vector Biologist
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.