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| The course runs from 22 September to 12 December 2025 in London, UK. |
Learn from international experts as you immerse yourself in the practical laboratory skills and develop the knowledge you need for a solid foundation in global and public health on the Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H).
Managing HIV, malaria and TB, and learning about neglected tropical diseases are covered, as well as issues including chronic conditions, women’s and children’s health, and decolonising global health. Constantly adapting to today’s needs, the DTM&H at LSHTM has provided high-quality specialist training for doctors for over 125 years.
This London-based in-person, intensive teaching course is delivered full-time over 3 months (September-December). It’s aimed at postgraduate doctors who intend to work internationally, or who seek experience in public health, infectious diseases and clinical parasitology.
Why study the DTM&H with us?
A 160-strong group of world-leading experts teach on the course. You will learn from their diverse and extensive experience in relevant aspects of infectious diseases and public health through dynamic face-to-face lectures and interactive small-group teaching.
There are twice-weekly hands-on laboratory sessions, to develop your diagnostic skills, including getting up close to many different parasites.
Studying alongside students from a wide range of backgrounds and countries, many DTM&H graduates over the decades have developed lifelong friendships and a network of international colleagues.
This unique access to highly knowledgeable and passionate staff and peers has the power to transform perspectives and careers. Our alumni have gone on to work in senior positions in health ministries, universities and humanitarian organisations throughout the world.
Who should apply?
The Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene is open to doctors who hold a medical qualification from a recognised medical school in any country, who are registered for medical practice in that country. Priority may be given to students from low- and middle-income countries and to those with at least three years of post-qualification clinical experience.
An official DTM&H exam takes place in the 11th week of the course. Successful exam candidates can then go on to use DTM&H as post-nominals.
Aims & objectives
The course aims to teach doctors the skills required to understand, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases that are especially prevalent in tropical and developing countries where resources are constrained. The course has a strong epidemiological base but the scientific basis of infectious diseases is also given priority.
A particular feature of the course is the diversity of students who attend. Among the 70 students who take the diploma course each year, more than 25 different countries are usually represented. Students range in experience from recently qualified doctors (though usually no earlier than 3 years post-graduation) to specialist infectious disease physicians and surgeons with many years of experience working in tropical and developing countries.
The course is continually updated in response to changing needs, new developments in knowledge and technology, and student feedback. It has remained highly popular with students throughout its history which spans over 100 years.
Course outline
Much of the course is devoted to seminars, in which a multi-disciplinary team of experts from within and outside LSHTM covers a particular disease or group of diseases in depth. Lectures cover the causative organisms, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention of these diseases. Time is set aside after each lecture for discussion. Implications for travel medicine are discussed where appropriate.
Other seminars focus on aspects of community health. These include an introduction to epidemiological methods used in the study of communicable diseases, and lectures on water supply, sanitation and nutrition. Seminars are also held on maternal and child health, non-communicable disease, population and reproductive health and health in emergencies.
Two days a week are dedicated to laboratory practicals and small group case-based teaching.
The course is intensive, without much free time during the three months. Sessions start at 09.00 most mornings and teaching continues most days until 17.00 hours.
Students of this programme range in experience from recently qualified doctors (though usually no earlier than 3 years post-graduation) to specialist infectious disease physicians and surgeons with many years of experience working in tropical and developing countries. Graduates from this programme enter a diverse range of positions and organisations.
Below you will find just a few of the positions and organisations that our graduates from this course have entered after graduating:
- Example job titles:
-
Academic Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry
Academic Researcher
Acute Medicine Doctor
Additional Professor of Medicine
Bioinformatician
Cardiologist
Clinical Fellow in Medicine
Clinical Worker (Infectious Diseases)
Consultant Anaesthetist and Critical Care Doctor
Consultant Medical Microbiologist
Core Medical Trainee
Director of Emergency Medical Services
District Clinical Adviser
GP (General Practitioner)
Infection and Disease Consultant - Example organisations:
-
University Hospitals
NHS
General Hospitals
International Organization for Migration
Kaiser Permanente
Labor Berlin - Charité Vivantes GmbH
Ministry of Health - Rwanda
Partners In Health
Save the Children UK
Freelance Global Health Consultant
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Medecins Sans Frontieres
Patan Academy of Health Sciences
SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale)
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
Fees
Tuition fees for the September 2025 intake to be confirmed. Fees for the September 2024 intake were £6,970.00
Payable within ca. three weeks of notification of offer.
Funding
A small number of scholarships may become available for candidates from Low- and Middle-Income countries. Details will be published once confirmed.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be resident in, and a national of, a LMIC (eligible countries)
- Applicants must hold an offer of admission for the course before they can apply for any funding
How to apply
Applicants need to submit the following to shortcourses@lshtm.ac.uk:
- A statement of no more than 200 words, clearly stating their eligibility for this award and the difference it would make to their future career
- Contact details for two referees
- A letter of recommendation from one of their referees
Please state – ‘DTM&H Scholarship’ in the subject line.
Closing date for scholarship applications
- To be confirmed
Decisions will be confirmed within approximately two weeks of the closing date.
Applying for this course
Applications for 2025 are now open and can be made via our online application form.
Please read LSHTM's Admissions policies prior to submitting your application.
Entry criteria
The Professional Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene is open to doctors who hold a medical qualification from a recognised medical school in any country who are registered for medical practice in that country. The number of participants is limited to 70.
Priority may be given to students from low- and middle-income countries and to those with at least three years of post-qualification clinical experience. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applicants must have a good standard of written and spoken English and of English comprehension. LSHTM will require applicants to provide evidence of a satisfactory standard of English. LSHTM has approved certain English tests.
Visas
The student is responsible for obtaining any visa or other permissions to attend the course, and is encouraged to start the application process as early as possible as obtaining a visa for the UK can sometimes take a long time. The Short Courses team can provide supporting documentation if requested.
Accommodation
A list of hotels located in the vicinity of LSHTM, along with further resources for short term accommodation, can be found on our accommodation pages.
Important information
Please note:
- If you have been offered a place on the course you will not be able to register without bringing formal ID (Passport) and without having obtained the correct visa if required.
- It is essential that you read the current visa requirements for short course students.
- LSHTM may cancel courses two weeks before the first day of the course if numbers prove insufficient. In those circumstances, course fees will be refunded.
- LSHTM cannot accept responsibility for accommodation, travel and other losses incurred as a result of the course being cancelled.