The Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine is the ideal degree for students seeking to make a difference to improving health and wellbeing, locally and globally, by shaping effective health policies and health care delivery systems. It is a truly interdisciplinary degree that combines social science with biomedicine. Students spend one part of their degree in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine learning about biomedical and public health approaches to disease and wellbeing, from neuroscience and pharmacology to epidemiology, human nutrition and immunology. The other part of their degree is spent in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy learning about the sociology, economics and politics of global health and medicine. This degree provides a rigorous intellectual and empirical grounding for careers in government, policy think tanks, charities, academia and the pharmaceutical industry working at the intersection between health, politics and society. Students on the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Health and Social Medicine with a Year Abroad will spend their third year studying abroad before returning to complete a final year with King’s. Students on the three year course may transfer to the four year Global Health & Social Medicine with a Year Abroad BSc. Studying abroad will be dependent on levels of achievement in second year modules. Students must pass the equivalent of 120 KCL credits at the partner institution to be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine with a Year Abroad” degree, otherwise they will only be awarded the “Global Health and Social Medicine” title.

Key benefits

• 1st in the UK for Sociology and Social Policy (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
• We offer excellent opportunities to study social aspects of health and medicine in a multi-disciplinary context with close collaboration between the social sciences, life sciences and biomedicine.
• The chance to combine high-level social science with an introduction to the main areas of biomedical knowledge and the implications for clinical practice.
• Our study courses are delivered by internationally renowned academics and clinicians with a strong focus on transdisciplinary education in key areas of health, disease and medicine.
• Gain transferable skills and expertise through an organised internship scheme and work with partner organisations ranging from local councils to global health NGOS (subject to availability).
• All applicants of our full time BSc or BA programmes are eligible for a £9,250 scholarship opportunity, including UK, EU and Overseas students. The scholarship will be awarded through assessment of academic performance. We welcome applications from students able to demonstrate their potential to succeed on their chosen programme. For undergraduate UK applicants, the university will use contextual information to gain a more complete picture of their individual and educational context.