The Population Health BSc will give you 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.
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma, with a minimum of 28 credits awarded with Merit in the Level 3 units.
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)
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades ABB.
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Good (Advanced for GCSE/IGCSE)
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
World-leading researchers will teach you the social, economic and demographic distribution of health and disease, and train you to analyse data to address health inequalities.
You will develop quantitative data-analysis skills. These are in high demand by employers, especially in the health sector.
You will also learn the theory, history and policy of population health, creating a unique multidisciplinary educational experience.
You will benefit from small-group, problem-based teaching, including hands-on computer practical classes.
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).
Compulsory modules in years one and two provide breadth and depth in understanding how public health and disease are measured and analysed, incorporating research methods, social theory, demographics, health behaviours and a module on the life course. You will receive quantitative data-analysis training in all years, bringing data and theory together in an applied hands-on learning environment.
From year two there will be the opportunity to specialise by taking optional modules to suit your interests (e.g. in health psychology and health economics).
In year three you will complete a dissertation.
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Epidemiological Transition
Measuring Population Health
Research Methods in Population Health
Social Determinants of Health
Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods
Principles of Social Science Research
Acute and Chronic Infectious Diseases
Data Analysis
Health Demography
The Life Course
Frontiers of Knowledge in Population Health
You will select at least one of the following two optional modules:
Health and Behaviour
Social Theory
In addition, students will be able to choose a module from other UCL departments.
Advanced Topics in Data Analysis
Causal Analysis: Observational Data
Population Health dissertation
You will select 2.0 credits of optional modules from the following:
Population Ageing
Genomics, Health and Society
Health Economics
Health Psychology
Child and Adolescent Public Health
Study Abroad
In addition, students will be able to choose from a wide range of modules in other UCL departments.
Teaching will be delivered through lectures, problem-based seminars, practical computer laboratory classes, group working and through UCL's virtual learning environment. Students will be able to access materials online, where they will also be able to interact with programme tutors and fellow students.
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.
Detailed module descriptions are available on the department website: Population Health BSc.
Population health graduates 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.
Our graduates will be well placed to progress to careers in public health, policy, private consultancy and the voluntary sector, as well as to undertake postgraduate study.
UCL is commited 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.
“Studying Population Health has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the factors that affect health beyond the medical realm. In particular, I have enjoyed learning about the control of infectious disease via modern mortality regimes. ”Sangeeta Das - Population Health BSc First Year
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2019/20 academic year. The UK/EU 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 2019/20 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.
If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
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.
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
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.
The programme will require students to demonstrate critical reasoning and independent decision-making to address complicated problems in population health. You should be interested in exploring pertinent issues including health inequalities, ageing populations and expanding health economies. You will be required to show how you can work effectively when working independently and as part of a group to meet challenging deadlines for course assessment.
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.
Application deadline: 15 January 2019
We realise that applicants may write their UCAS personal statement about an interest in subject(s) in other departments or institutions. For that reason, we invite you to write a statement outlining your interest in population health, in addition to the main UCAS personal statement. This can be sent to bscpopulationhealth@ucl.ac.uk and should include your UCAS application number.
If you fulfil our entry criteria and are resident in the UK, you will be invited to a taster day. Here you can meet staff, ask questions and discuss the programme. If you are resident outside the UK you will be invited to a Skype discussion.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.