Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice

Duration
4 weeks
Mode of study
Online
Home fee
£425
International fee
£425
Start date
28 September 2026

In an increasingly globalised world, and with international travel on the rise, the need for experts in travel health is at an all-time high. Coupled with escalated health-awareness and more stringent health requirements post-pandemic, travel health is an exciting and evolving area of medicine.

Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice will enhance your knowledge of travel vaccinations and give you valuable skills to support people to travel confidently to new and exciting destinations.

What will I get out of it?

In just four weeks, you’ll explore the basic principles of immune response to live and non-live vaccines and understand key features of travel vaccine-preventable diseases.

You’ll gain increased competence in travel health consultations, be able to recommend relevant vaccines and confidently summarise their components including dose, route, schedule, side effects and efficacy, embedding your learning from day one.

High-quality interactive learning complemented by opportunities for reflection will set you up for a rewarding career supported by continuous professional development.

Is Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice for me?

This online course has been designed to fit around a busy working life, so you can boost your professional skills and knowledge conveniently and efficiently.

Wherever you are in the world and whatever your level of experience, whether you’re a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or travel or expedition health professional, this course will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to make a meaningful contribution to health services for travellers.

Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice is also a module within the Professional Diploma in Travel Health.

Why LSTM?

  • Complete the course in four weeks
  • Study online, whenever you want, from anywhere in the world.
  • Take it as a standalone course, or combine it with other modules for a Diploma.

Course Content

Developed by subject specialists and supported by interaction with international peers, Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice covers:

  • Travel vaccine preventable diseases
  • Travel vaccinations in detail
  • Immunology
  • Advising complex travellers
  • Application of knowledge using vaccine travel scenarios

There are no formal assessments for the Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice short course.

Delivery

  • Travel Vaccinations: Principles and Practice is delivered entirely online, and can be accessed on-demand, without having to ‘attend’ sessions at specific times.
  • Course content is taught by experienced clinical professionals from LSTM and NaTHNaC(link is external)(opens in a new tab) (National Travel Health Network and Centre).
  • This four-week short course is split into four weekly blocks. Complete each block at your own pace within its allocated week), with activities and reading taking around 10-15 hours per week.
  • Benefit from a rich e-learning package, including video lectures, individual and group activities, online discussions, scenario-based learning, quizzes and reflective practice.
  • Access course resources and interact with peers and tutors through your personalised virtual learning environment (VLE). It’s mobile friendly and functions well in low-bandwidth settings – perfect for remote learning.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

This course is suitable for anyone who works in the fields of travel health, nursing or travel medicine. GPs, practice nurses, travel health advisors, pharmacists, specialist infectious disease doctors in training and other related disciplines would find this course extremely useful.

Open to all health related disciplines, including medicine.

Work experience

Students who have previously completed this course have a rich and varied background, including:

  • Doctors worldwide
  • NHS GP practice doctors and nurses
  • Travel Medicine Clinic staff worldwide

English language requirements

The course is taught in English.  Students whose first language is not English should be aware that to gain maximum benefit from the course, you should have English language proficiency at the equivalent of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5.  More English language information can be found on our website – http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements 

However, applicants will be considered if English Language competence is demonstrated by alternative means to the IELTS test. For example, this may include published papers in English, a work setting where English is the language of operation, or successful attendance on other courses held in English.

IT system requirements for study

To enable you to participate and get the most out of the online course we recommend the following;

  • You will need access to a functioning desktop computer or laptop, Mac or Windows. Aspects of the course may be undertaken on an internet enabled portable device such as an iPad or tablet, however core learning will require a full computer with a keyboard, mouse and screen. Any typical computer produced within the last five years should be sufficient.
  • The computer will need to have a reliable internet connection sufficient for streaming online video content or two-way communication. This will require a minimum stable internet speed of 500Kbps (kilobits per second) usually provided through corporate LAN, broadband, ADSL, DSL, cable internet and most stable 3G connections. It is unlikely that dial-up modem connections will suffice. Internet speed tests may be undertaken online to determine your internet speed, for example www.speedtest.net
  • You will need headphones or speakers connected to your computer. Standard earbuds will work fine.  If you are unable to use audio devices, as part of LSTM policy we will make reasonable adjustment to the course such as providing transcripts of audiovisual media.
  • To get the most out of the course you will need to use a modern and up-to-date web browser such as:
    • Mozilla Firefox – Latest
    • Google Chrome – Latest
    • Apple Safari – Latest*

It is possible to use other browsers, but if you encounter problems we will ask you to try one of the freely available supported browsers listed above.

*If using Apple Safari, you may need to change your Preferences to allow all third party cookies.

Your web browser will need to have Javascript and Cookies enabled. You can conduct an automated system check to determine if you are using a supported browser, and to check if Javascript and Cookies enabled, here: https://brightspace.lstmed.ac.uk/d2l/systemCheck.

If Javascript and Cookies need to be enabled see http://enable-javascript.com/ and http://www.whatarecookies.com/enable.asp

 

How to apply

You can apply for a course at any time throughout the year using our online application portal, MyLSTM. You will need to register for an account the first time or if you’ve already created an account you can pick up where you left off by logging in directly to MyLSTM.

By registering for a MyLSTM account, you will be able to:

  • Apply for courses at LSTM.
  • Upload supporting documentation.
  • Save your draft application.
  • Accept an offer to study.
  • Keep your account information up-to-date.

If you can’t access our online application form, please get in touch. Paper application forms are available on request.

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