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Social Epidemiology MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Inequalities in health relating to poverty, deprivation or other social characteristics are now major themes in research and policy debates in both developed and developing countries. Join us on this specialist MSc at UCL to gain a detailed insight into the social factors affecting health. It is the ideal preparation for specialising in this area as a trained health professional, researcher or policymaker.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£14,200
£7,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£39,200
£19,600
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required. Applicants must be confident using computers and show evidence of numeracy e.g. O level/GCSE Mathematics or Statistics (or overseas equivalent), or a module with a good mark in their degree.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

If you want to learn about different approaches to social epidemiology – in other words, the role of social factors in determining people’s health – this course will equip you with the knowledge and tools to do this, and become a better public health professional.

You will develop skills in study design and statistical analysis, and explore the link between people’s social environment and their health. Delving into the social determinants of health, you will also learn to advocate research and policy measures. 

These skills will help you to build a career in this field, where you can contribute towards alleviating the burden of ill health caused by poverty, inequalities and deprivation.

You will be better placed to generate ideas for projects regarding social aspects of disease, talk about social factors with health-related non-academic organisations, and incorporate the role of social epidemiology into your work, whether in public health or elsewhere. 

Who this course is for

The course equips high-achieving graduates from a broad range of disciplines from social sciences, medicine, and biology to statistics, as well as health professionals, with the skills necessary to contribute to understanding and working to alleviate the burden of ill health caused by poverty, inequalities and deprivation.

This course is for graduates who are:

  • Passionate about making a positive change in the world.
  • Enthusiastic to understand and debate health inequalities.
  • Interested to develop skills in health data analysis and interpretation.
  • Excited to join a diverse student cohort.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

  • Study at a university ranked 9th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026), 3rd in the world for public health (ShanghaiRankings 2024), and ranked number one for research power and impact in medicine, health and life sciences (REF 2021). 
  • Work with renowned academics at the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care (UCL IEHC), which has an outstanding reputation for research and teaching. Researchers are helping to tackle many complex issues in public health such as the role of area deprivation on health, and the impact of early child experiences on adult health and wellbeing.
  • Access a highly interactive and engaging learning community of like-minded peers, researchers and academics, with regular networking opportunities for academic and professional development.
  • Develop in-depth knowledge of theories, concepts and evidence relating to social epidemiology, life course epidemiology and the social determinants of health.
  • Gain a good understanding of statistical modelling concepts, methods, and the foundational principles of data analysis.
  • Learn to critique and interpret evidence, understand how evidence translates into practice, and conduct your own research in the field of health inequalities.
  • Benefit from being based in Bloomsbury in the heart of London, a stimulating and exciting environment in which to study.
  • Develop transferrable professional and academic skills to prepare you for doctorate-level studies, research or a clinical career.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This 12-month course is ideal if you want to work as a social epidemiologist, public health policymaker or researcher.

Whether you choose to work on public health locally, nationally or globally, you will be able to consider careers in government, the NHS, non-governmental organisations, charities, insurance companies, health data companies, universities and research institutions. Some graduates continue on to do a PhD.

Graduates of this Master’s degree have gone on to work in health and social care, policy and government, academia, commerce and other industry sectors. Destinations include Pfizer, The Lancet, International Health Policy Program, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Mexican Health Foundation, the Chinese National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, also the UK cabinet office, Imperial College London and King’s College London.*

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 cohorts. 

Employability

This course will give you the skills and expertise to understand the main debates around health inequalities.  

You will develop in-depth knowledge of the theories, concepts and evidence relating to social epidemiology, life course epidemiology and the wider social determinants of health. You will also develop the statistical skills to be able to analyse data and contribute to these much-needed conversations.

As well as developing specialist knowledge, you will also gain valued transferable skills you can apply in many other careers, including:

  • Preparing and delivering oral presentations
  • Scientific writing
  • Effective teamwork
  • Critical appraisal of evidence
  • Statistical analysis of large datasets
  • Grant proposal writing
  • Time management 
     

As Social Epidemiology MSc alumni, you will join a growing global network of graduates. You will have access to the UCL alumni network – with the chance to attend networking and social events around the globe.  

Networking

UCL IEHC offers five on-campus MSc courses and a fully online MPH course encompassing a wide range of topics. Our students come from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, from the UK and overseas providing great networking opportunities within and across courses. Each course holds social events during the year to enable networking between students. Students can also join the recently formed Population Health Sciences Student Society. During the year, online, hybrid, and in-person seminars are hosted by the institute. These cover a variety of topics and provide an opportunity to hear from national and international experts and to network with attendees and speakers.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through lectures, seminars, problem-solving exercises, discussions, and supervised practical work. Students are encouraged to develop research and presentation skills.

Assessment is through a variety of methods, including coursework, essays, unseen examinations, oral presentations, data analysis and grant proposal exercises. Students will also produce a research dissertation.

Full-time students will typically spend 15 to 20 hours per week in face-to-face learning, including lectures and seminars, and 15 to 20 hours in self-directed study. Part-time and flexible students study at a pro-rata rate.

Additionally, it is expected that students will spend approximately 600 hours preparing their dissertation projects.

Modules

You will take a total of 120 credits in taught modules (seven compulsory and one optional module). You will also complete a dissertation project (60 credits). Work on the dissertation begins in Term 2 and is completed and submitted in late August.

You will take a total of 120 credits in taught modules (seven compulsory and one optional module) over two years. A dissertation project (60 credits) is to be completed in Year 2 with submission in late August of Year 2. We will help to guide you through your module selection to fit with your other commitments and optimise your learning journey.

You will take a total of 120 credits in taught modules (seven compulsory and one optional module) over two to five years. Flexible students can take as many or a few modules as they would like in any given year.

A 60-credit dissertation project is to be completed. The dissertation would usually be started in Year 3 or Year 4, in case of any delays because the five-year period of study cannot be extended. The dissertation is usually submitted in late August. We will help to guide you through your module selection to fit with your other commitments and optimise your learning journey.

Compulsory modules










Optional modules





Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Social Epidemiology.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Social Epidemiology MSc

Studying at the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care opens doors to impactful careers across healthcare, research and policy. Join our virtual open events to explore our Master’s degrees in Population Health, Social Epidemiology and Health Psychology, meet Programme Directors, and learn how to make your application stand out.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £14,200 £7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27) £39,200 £19,600

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this course.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

The MSc in Social Epidemiology offers a competitive one-year Michael Marmot studentship for full-time, part-time and modular flexible students who enrol on the course. The studentship consists of £2,500 towards tuition fees. The recipient will be expected to secure the remaining part of their tuition fees and to cover their living costs. To be eligible the student will need to have received an unconditional offer for this course.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

MPH IMPACT Scholarship

Deadline: 30 June 2026
Value: £20,500 - covers tuition fees for 1-yr full-time studies. For part-time and modular/flexible student ()
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

MSc Health Psychology Jane Wardle Studentship

Value: £3,750 towards tuition fees ((pro-rata if part-time) (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

MSc Population Health Studentship

Deadline: 26 June 2026
Value: £2,500 (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

MSc Social Epidemiology Michael Marmot Studentship

Deadline: 26 June 2026
Value: £2,500 (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

The MSc Dental Public Health Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship

Deadline: 26 June 2026
Value: £2,500 (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK

The MSc Dental Public Health Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship for Overseas Students

Deadline: 26 June 2026
Value: £12,000 (1 Year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Social Epidemiology at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study Social Epidemiology at UCL.
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

Frequently asked questions

Question: Do I need to have any knowledge of statistics before starting the Social Epidemiology MSc course? 
Answer: We start from basics in statistics and build up your knowledge and skills slowly in Term 1, so you do not need to have studied statistics before.  
 
Question: Do I need to come from a health-related background to apply for this course?  
Answer: We accept students from a wide range of disciplines. The most important thing is to demonstrate a strong interest in social epidemiology and statistics.
 
Question: How many days am I required to be on campus?  
Answer: A full-time student is required to be on campus about 3 days a week. For part-time and modular flexible students, it will vary depending on the modules that you select. Please contact us to discuss further.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care
Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care

eph.healthsociety@ucl.ac.uk

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