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Population Health Sciences BSc

London, Bloomsbury
Population Health Sciences BSc (2025)

This interdisciplinary programme will provide you with a grounding in the different social science disciplines used to study population health, 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 2024
Application deadline
31 Jan 2024
UCAS course code
170C

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 5, plus Mathematics or Statistics at grade C or 5.

Contextual offer information

Grades
BBC more about contextual offers
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 5, plus Mathematics or Statistics at grade C or 5.
Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Points
30 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.

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 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 route which will enable you to become specialised in chosen topics 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.

See further details on our FAQ page. 

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. 

You will be provided with the opportunity to develop transferable skills that are highly sought after by graduate employers, from international NGOs to local start-ups.

Students can choose to focus on topics within the population health discipline or select a data science specialism route which teaches 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.

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 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 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.

Online - Open day

Population Health Sciences BSc Virtual Open Day

The BSc Population Health Sciences programme at UCL is hosting a webinar for prospective students/anyone who would like to find out more about our course. This will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Watch on demand event

The foundation of your career

BSc Population Health Sciences graduates have been successful in gaining employment in a wide range of sectors. Our graduates are working in public health, private health consultancy, legal services, financial services and education. Some have undertaken postgraduate study in public health, epidemiology, global health, healthcare management, management studies, data science and gender studies.

UCL is committed to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.

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.

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

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 attend BSc Population Health Sciences taster events run at UCL and virtually.

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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