Epidemiology (by Distance Learning) (Taught)

Recent years have raised the profile of epidemiologists. However, pandemics are just one of the health challenges facing society. Cancer rates are also soaring. And so are other non-communicable diseases like diabetes. Study with us to investigate the causes of diseases, and to evaluate the impact of interventions for treating and preventing them.

Study Epidemiology by distance learning and you’ll benefit from our expertise in everything from infectious outbreaks to cancer survival, as well as from our industry links with organisations such as the World Health Organization and the UK Health Security Agency. While many of our academics are based here in London, our academic community spans high, middle- and low-income settings around the world.

Applying your epidemiologic skills, you’ll design and execute your own research project. Our students complete a variety of projects ranging from analysis of epidemiological data to the systematic review of literature on urgent public health problems. Students often design a research project that reflects the issues in the area they work. Examples of recent projects include a comparison of treatments for gastric cancer; physical activity and impact on wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic; and second-hand tobacco smoke exposure and risk of respiratory infection.

What you will learn

• Explore the role of epidemiology and its contribution to other health-related disciplines

• Learn how to choose appropriate epidemiologic designs and to develop detailed study protocols

• Discover how to manage clinical health data, carry out appropriate statistical analysis, and rigorously assess the results of studies

• Discuss how to investigate the causes of health conditions and how to predict outbreaks

• Understand how to review research findings in a broader policy context.

Please note: applications for the 2026/27 academic year are expected to open in November 2025. This information relates to 2025/26 academic year and will be updated in due course.