Program Overview

Global Health & Social Science BA

Key Information

Course type: Single honours Delivery mode: In person Study mode: Full time Required A-level: AAB Duration: Three years full-time or four years with a year abroad Application status: Open Start date: September 2025 Application deadline: 29 January 2025 Optional study abroad: Yes

Course Description

This Global Health and Social Science BA will teach you how to analyse and address issues of disparities in health and well-being around the world. You’ll study global health through an interdisciplinary curriculum that covers complex social, cultural, political, economic and ethical aspects, encouraging you to explore the field from a variety of perspectives. And by learning how to bring theory and practice together, you’ll be empowered to form your own ideas of how to make a difference.

Key Benefits

• 1st in the UK for Sociology and Social Policy (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
• Discover how to apply a breadth of social science theories and methods to urgent contemporary problems of health, disease and medicine
• Understand how healthcare systems around the world operate, and how policymaking in global, international, and national contexts works in practice, not theory
• Shape your curriculum with a range of interdisciplinary optional modules and study the social issues you care most about
• 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)
• Choose to study abroad for a year and deepen your expertise
• All students are eligible for a £9,250 scholarship opportunity, including UK, EU and Overseas students

Course Essentials

Base Campuses

• Strand Campus: Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties
• Waterloo Campus: Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Special Features

• Optional study abroad: On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office

Entry Requirements

Subject Requirements

• Required subjects: None
• Preferred subjects: None

A-Levels

• Required grades: AAB
• Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects

Contextual A-Level Information

• Required grades: BBB
• Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels
• Note: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE

Contextual International Baccalaureate Information

• 32 points overall or an aggregate score of 15 from three Higher Levels
• Note: The total point score of 32 includes TOK/EE

Alternative Accepted Qualifications

• Access to HE Diploma
• BTEC Nationals/CTECs
• Cambridge Pre-U
• European Baccalaureate
• Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

English Language Requirements

• English language band: B
• Note: Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test

Selection Process

• Contextual consideration: We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements
• Deferrals: Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application
• Foundation courses: Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme
• Graduates: Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent
• Personal Statement: Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application
• Resits: We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications
• Transfers: We are able to consider applications for transfer into Year 2 of this programme

Teaching Methods

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Small Group Tutorials

Assessment

• Coursework
• Examinations
• Tutorial Participation

Structure

• Courses are divided into modules
• You will normally take modules totalling 360 credits
• Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits
• The course consists of a mixture of required and optional modules, and a research-based dissertation in the final year

Required Modules

• Introduction To Global Health (15 credits)
• Inequalities in Global Health (15 credits)
• Social Science Perspectives on Health and Medicine (15 credits)
• Social Medicine and Intersecting Inequalities (15 credits)
• Research Practice & Design Studio (30 credits)
• Foundations in Social Science and Social Theory (30 credits)

Optional Modules

• There are no optional modules in the first year of this course

Employability

• This Global Health & Social Science BA will equip you with knowledge in a fast-growing field of research that’s expected to open up a range of exciting job opportunities in diverse careers at the intersection of research, policy and practice
• You’ll graduate from a university that boasts the best job prospects of any London or Russell Group university, with an employment rate of 95.2 per cent

Destinations

• This Global Health and Social Science degree provides a rigorous intellectual and empirical grounding for careers in public administration, NGOs and INGOs, charities, think tanks, academia, and social advocacy organisations
• Our graduates enter a wide range of professions within health services, public health, government, and NGOs in the UK and beyond

Tuition Fees

Full Time Tuition Fees UK

• The UK tuition fee for the academic year is currently £9,535 per year
• This is based on the UK Government's cap

Full Time Tuition Fees International

• The International tuition fee for the academic year is £27,100 per year
• Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions

Additional Costs

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Funding

• To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section