MSc Tropical Medicine and Clinical Research *
Develop your understanding of tropical medicine alongside the skills needed to evaluate and contribute to clinical research.
* subject to validation
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- Director of studies
- Uzochukwu Egere
- Course type
- Master’s course
- Location
- Online
- Start date
- January 2028
- Mode of study
- Part time, online
- Duration
- Two to five years
- Home fee
- TBC
- International fee
- TBC
Overview
How can healthcare professionals use clinical knowledge, research evidence and leadership to improve the diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases in settings where resources are limited?
Our online MSc Tropical Medicine and Clinical Research brings together clinical tropical medicine, infectious diseases, public health and clinical research to help you address complex healthcare challenges.
You’ll explore the diagnosis and management of tropical and infectious diseases, alongside evidence-based medicine, research methods and approaches to disease prevention and control. You’ll also examine the role of leadership, governance and health systems in improving clinical services and patient care.
Designed for clinical healthcare professionals, the programme connects clinical practice with the skills needed to evaluate evidence, investigate health challenges and contribute to research.
Studying online and part-time, you’ll be able to develop your expertise while continuing your professional career, with opportunities to consider how your learning applies to your own clinical environment.
Eligible, medically qualified applicants can also obtain the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene by completing the examination, for an additional fee.
Who is this course for?
This MSc is designed primarily for clinical healthcare professionals working, or planning to work, in low- and middle-income countries, as well as clinicians elsewhere who want to develop their knowledge of tropical medicine and clinical research.
It is particularly relevant to medical doctors, advanced nurse practitioners and clinical pharmacists who want to deepen their knowledge of tropical and infectious diseases.
You have the opportunity to develop your clinical, research and leadership skills, strengthen your ability to use evidence in practice, and contribute to improvements in patient care and healthcare delivery.
The programme will appeal to clinicians looking to strengthen their current practice, take on greater responsibility in healthcare services or develop their involvement in clinical research.
Applicants will normally need at least two years of clinical experience or significant experience in patient management.
“Designed for clinical healthcare professionals, the programme connects clinical practice with the skills needed to evaluate evidence, investigate health challenges and contribute to research.”
Why study at LSTM?
What will I learn?
The programme brings together clinical tropical medicine, public health, research and professional development.
You’ll explore:
- Clinical tropical and infectious diseases: The diagnosis, management and control of parasitic, bacterial, viral and fungal infections, including the relationship between infectious and non-communicable diseases.
- Evidence-based clinical practice: How to find, critically assess and apply research evidence to clinical decisions and patient management.
- Clinical research methods: Research design, critical appraisal and the ethical conduct of research in clinical and public health settings.
- Disease prevention and control: Approaches to developing and managing disease control programmes, health promotion and health protection.
- Health systems and leadership: The principles of clinical leadership, governance, education and service delivery, including the management of teams, patients and healthcare projects.
- Maternal and child health: Health challenges affecting mothers and children, particularly in settings where access to healthcare and resources may be limited.
- Research and service improvement: How to investigate clinical and public health problems and use findings to inform improvements in professional practice.
Modules
Modules are still to be finalised, but we will be running modules unique to this programme as well as shared learning with other programmes.
Core modules:
- Essentials of Tropical Medicine
- Public Health and Evidence-based Medicine
- Leadership and Education Principles for Clinical Practice
- Critical appraisal including non-communicable diseases, public health and evidence based-medicine.
Depending on your student research project, you will choose either:
- Quantitative Research Methods; or
- Qualitative Research Methods
You will choose one optional module from:
- Health promotion; OR
- Child nutrition and development
Projects are either independently developed with academic support, or available from a list of research projects conducted by our research staff. Appropriate supervision and support will be provided to ensure the relevance of chosen research projects to the individual professional interests of students.
The format of projects includes applied research, a systematic review, a quality improvement project or a clinical placement with a critical reflective dissertation or a case report.
This programme is delivered asynchronously online and part-time, providing an opportunity to develop your clinical and research knowledge alongside your professional commitments while working through the learning content at your own pace. There will also be live virtual touchpoints throughout the course.
The course is designed to connect academic learning with clinical practice, particularly the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income settings.
Further information about the course structure, learning activities, assessment and study requirements will be published as arrangements are finalised.
By the end of the programme, you should be better equipped to:
- Critically evaluate evidence and current challenges in tropical medicine.
- Apply knowledge of tropical and infectious diseases to clinical diagnosis, management and control.
- Design and undertake research relevant to clinical practice, public health or healthcare improvement.
- Consider ethical and safety responsibilities in research and clinical practice.
- Develop leadership and management approaches relevant to healthcare teams and services.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, patients and wider professional audiences.
- Contribute to evidence-informed improvements in healthcare delivery.
The MSc Tropical Medicine and Clinical Research can support professional development in clinical medicine, infectious diseases, public health, health systems and research.
Depending on your existing qualifications and experience, the knowledge and skills you develop may be relevant to:
- Clinical practice and infectious disease management.
- Leadership and management within healthcare services.
- Clinical and public health research.
- Healthcare quality improvement and service development.
- Work with government health services, non-governmental organisations and international health agencies.
- Further academic study, including PhD research.
The programme may be particularly valuable if you want to combine clinical responsibilities with research, contribute to improvements in healthcare delivery or take on greater leadership responsibilities.
Teaching and Learning
You will complete the core modules before proceeding with optional modules. You can complete the course at any point within the stipulated timeline of 2–5 years, depending on your pace of study.
Teaching and learning are delivered through a blend of live and recorded online sessions, interactive case-based discussions, collaborative group work, facilitated synchronous sessions and digital simulations. This format enables participation from a global student body while allowing for flexible engagement alongside professional and personal commitments. You will be encouraged to apply your learning to routine clinical situations as you move through the course. This is a key opportunity in this online part-time clinical master’s course.
Academic Expertise
Teaching staff with clinical experience include senior consultants and clinicians from the NHS and health facilities in LMICs. Other professionals informing the programme include public health specialists, clinical laboratory specialists, education specialists, senior health economists, humanitarian experts and health policy experts.
Key LSTM research teams with ongoing projects inform this clinical master’s programme. Some of these include the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, the Human Challenge Facility, the Centre for TB Research, the Emergency Obstetric and Quality of Care Unit, the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and the Institute for Resilient Health Systems.
Research Expertise
The teaching on the module Essentials of Tropical Medicine draws from the ongoing clinical research of academics within the teaching faculty. For example, Start4All, a four-year Unitaid-funded TB research project in seven LMIC partner countries focused on the improvement of TB screening, diagnosis and treatment, provides substantial materials for TB teaching.
The ENDPOINT research project focusing on the control of lymphatic filariasis provides an intersection of control of neglected tropical diseases and health systems strengthening in low-resource settings. It represents the typical multidisciplinary research showcased in the clinical master’s programmes to support the development of students’ research skills.
Student Research Project
Projects are either independently developed with academic support, or available from a list of research projects conducted by our research staff. Appropriate supervision and support will be provided to ensure the relevance of chosen research projects to the individual professional interests of students.
The format of projects includes applied research, a systematic review, a quality improvement project or a clinical placement with a critical reflective dissertation or a case report.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Home fee (January 2028)
TBC
International fee (January 2028)
TBC
Financial support for UK students
We have scholarships, bursaries, discounts and loans available, established through generous donations from alumni, staff and friends and funding from within Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Financial support for international students
We offer various scholarships for international students, particularly those from low- and middle-income countries. These include full or partial funding through programs like the LSTM Global Health Impact Scholarship and the LSTM Humanitarian Scholarship.
External funding
Scholarships, fellowships and grants are available from a range of funders and organisations. Any scholarship, studentship, fellowship or grant can be used as an alternative to, or part-funding of, an LSTM scholarship.
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 you use it, 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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