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Population Health Sciences BSc

London, Bloomsbury
Population Health Sciences BSc (2024)

Population health sciences study the factors shaping our health, including the social and physical environment, healthcare systems, our lifestyles and genes. 

This three-year programme provides a grounding in the social science disciplines used in population health science, preparing you for research and professional practice in the health sector and beyond.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 academic years
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£9,250
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
Programme starts
September 2025
Application deadline
29 Jan 2025
UCAS course code
170C
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
ABB
Subjects
No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
GCSEs
English Language at grade C or 4, plus Mathematics or Statistics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Contextual offers are typically one to two grades lower than the standard offer. Grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Contextual offers are typically one to two grade boundaries (equivalent to A levels) lower than the standard offer. IB Diploma grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass, all from Level 3 units.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects

ABB at Advanced Highers (or A,B at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher)

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB.

International applications

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

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview



As you progress through the programme, you will be provided increased opportunity for specialisation in population health. Compulsory modules in years one and two provide breadth and depth in understanding how global health and disease are measured and analysed, incorporating research methods, demography, infectious and non-communicable disease and life course epidemiology. You will receive applied data analysis training in all years, bringing UCL's unparalleled data access and understanding of theory together in a hands-on learning environment.

You will choose between two routes:

The Population Health Sciences (Main) route which will enable you to become specialised in chosen topics including health economics, ageing, geonomics, child health, health psychology and more within the population health discipline.

The Population Health Sciences (Data Science) route which has a strong emphasis on quantitative research methods in the social sciences, learning how to use statistical software and interpret complex statistical outputs for policy makers.

You will be asked to choose your route once you are enrolled. There is plenty of time to ask questions before you decide your route.

What this course will give you

  • World-leading researchers will immerse you in the social, economic and demographic distribution of health and disease, and show you how to analyse big data to address health inequalities. 
  • UCL is ranked 6th in the world for public health (ShanghaiRanking’s 2023), is among the top ten in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and is winner of The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year 2024.
  • Our students are closely integrated into our community through research-embedded teaching.
  • Study within the Faculty of Population Health Sciences and discover the cutting-edge research and innovations that are delivering real world benefits. On successful completion of the course, you will graduate with the latest knowledge and insights in population health. 
  • You will be provided with the opportunity to develop transferable skills including data analysis, interpretation and communication of complex ideas. These are highly sought after by graduate employers, from international NGOs to start-ups and will also prepare you for post-graduate study should you pursue this.
  • Students can choose to focus on topics within the population health discipline or select a data science specialism route which teaches advanced quantitative research methods.
  • The programme offers an optional study abroad year. Those who want to study abroad will apply for a place at a selection of international universities in their second year. If their application is successful, students will then go on to study abroad in their third year. UCL has long-established links with universities in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. The universities available as options for study abroad may vary year on year. Find out more about UCL study abroad.
  • Specialise in the elements of population health that interest you most, including genomics, child health, population ageing, health psychology, qualitative methods and health economics.

Hear what our students and alumni say.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Population Health Sciences.

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 is 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.

Year one
In year one you gain a broad knowledge of population health sciences, including research methods and social determinants of health. Three-quarters of modules are common to both routes, but those on the main route also study perspectives of global health and the lifecourse, while data science route students have extra modules on social data science.

Year two
In year two, core modules deepen your knowledge and advance your skills. In addition, you begin to shape your degree to your interests, with optional modules from epidemiology and health care, political science, geography, sociology, and global health.

Year three
As in the second year, there are many options to choose from, to personalise your degree within population health sciences. One quarter of the final year marks come from the dissertation, a piece of original research, supervised by research and teaching staff within the department. This is your chance to showcase your abilities, and focus on an issue that you care about.
 

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Compulsory modules










Compulsory modules






Optional modules






Compulsory modules



Optional modules











Your learning

Teaching will be delivered through lectures, problem-based seminars, practical computer classes, group working and through UCL's virtual learning environment. You will have access to online learning facilities, where you can interact with world-leading researchers and fellow students.  

On both pathways you would be expected to spend 40 hours a week in full-time study, which is made up of a mixture of contact hours and self-directed study. In a typical week, this would be 20% contact hours and 80% self-directed study, although this ratio will vary dependent on what year you are in and which optional modules you select.

Assessment

Assessment takes place via various methods including examinations, practical exercises, essays, individual and group presentations and a dissertation in the final year of study. The weight given to each method will vary to ensure manageable workloads throughout the programme. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

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Online - Open day

Book a virtual 1-2-1 about Population Health Sciences BSc

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We welcome you to book a 1-2-1 appointment with Alison Moody, Deputy Director and Admissions Tutor for the Population Health Sciences BSc. Ask any questions you have regarding the programme, admissions, or studying at UCL. Teachers and parents are also welcome to attend a 1-2-1 appointment.

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Online - Open day

Undergraduate Virtual Open Days

UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, voted University of the Year 2024 by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. With students from over 150 different countries, UCL is a diverse global community of world leading academics and students. Join us at our Virtual Open Days and discover why UCL might be the place for you! Check out our Open Days webpages where you can find out about the programmes on offer, student services and book live Q&A sessions to get your questions answered.

The foundation of your career

Population Health Sciences BSc graduates have been successful in gaining employment in a wide range of sectors. Our graduates are working in public health, private health consultancy, the civil service and financial services with employers such as Cancer Research UK, AXA Group, the NHS, Department of Health and Social Care, Wellcome Trust and Health Lumen.*

Some have undertaken postgraduate study in public health, epidemiology, global health, healthcare management, management studies, data science and gender studies.* 

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 cohorts

Employability

On graduation, you will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to anticipate and address the social, economic and healthcare needs of the future, from the local to the global, whilst also being prepared for the graduate labour market more broadly.

Many of our students go on to further studies such as a master’s or PhD, making good use of the research skills within the Population Health Sciences BSc. Students may also go straight into employment within local councils, the NHS, consultancies and think tanks.

Hear from our alumni: Sonya, an Epidemiologist in the pharmaceutical sector, Jamie, who is undertaking a PhD and Tami, who is a Senior Public Health Intelligence Analyst.

Learn more about UCL careers and employability support.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £9,250
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

This course is for those who want to understand population health, and apply that knowledge to improve health and health equality. As an interdisciplinary course, it is inclusive to students who have and have not studied any of the related disciplines at A-level. However, it may appeal to those who have studied geography, health science, biology, psychology, politics, social science, maths, statistics or computing.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

We encourage applicants to read our FAQs and to attend a face-to-face or virtual open event.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

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

bscpopulationhealth@ucl.ac.uk

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