
When you explore the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) website for information about global health, you will be met by a plethora of issues that are affecting people everyday. They range from the often ignored problems like air pollution, tobacco control and road safety, to the more obvious, more pressing matters such as child malnutrition and mortality, as well as vaccine-preventable communicable diseases. It can be overwhelming, and it was especially so when the COVID-19 pandemic descended upon us.
Thankfully universities have been diving headfirst into unearthing solutions. Using their resources and know-how, it was and still is awe-inspiring to see universities joining scientists in imparting real understanding of the problems we face as well as the tools they would need to craft and test out results.
Here are three top universities whose research is making an impact on global health:

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is the recipient of the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its world-leading work on COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness. Source: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
When it comes to improving health worldwide, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) does it best. Recently awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its world-leading work on COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness, the LSHTM has always been at the forefront of critical responses in public and global health for over 120 years. It’s ranked first for the key measure of impact and joint 10th overall of all universities in the UK (Times Higher Education REF2021 Impact Scores), first in the UK and third in the world for Public Health (Shanghai Rankings 2022) and second in the world for Public Environmental and Occupational Health (US News Best Global Universities Subject Ranking 2022).
LSHTM’s impressive research is acknowledged in the results of the government’s Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) too. “The REF is an important process for our institution, and I am confident these results will accelerate our progress to a successful and sustainable future working with partners to tackle many of the world’s major challenges and opportunities in human health,” says professor Liam Smeeth, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
LSHTM has intensive postgraduate programmes in London that only take a year or, if you would prefer, you could study part-time over two to five years online with their distance learning programmes. Classes allow more close contact with the academic and support staff, while campus is filled with diverse talent, thanks to 60% of students coming from abroad.
The MSc Nutrition for Global Health explores epidemiological, dietary, public health, social and biological aspects of nutritional science. Although its main focus is nutritional problems in low and middle-income countries, skills and learning outcomes are widely applicable to all populations globally. The Global Health Policy by Distance Learning programme provides an in-depth understanding of the planning and delivery of policy responses to global health concerns and issues. It’s ideal for students and professionals from both health and non-health backgrounds seeking positions related to issues of global health policy in national, regional or global health organisations, health-related research institutions, non-governmental organisations and private consultancies.
Many LSHTM graduates go on to assume world-changing roles. Notable alumni include England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Director General of the World Health Organisation Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Emory Healthcare has the most extensive healthcare system in the state of Georgia. Source: Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University: Rollins School of Public Health
Located in Atlanta, Emory University is home to Emory Healthcare, which is the most extensive healthcare system in the state of Georgia. The healthcare system is made up of 11 hospitals, the Emory clinic, and also forms the Emory Healthcare Network — the largest clinically integrated network in Georgia, with more than 2,800 physicians focusing in 70 specialisations.
That’s not all. Emory’s location at the “public health capital of the world” and its proximity with many state and regional health agencies, such as the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, make it the ideal study location for aspiring professionals in the sector.
At Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, students can embark on a two-year journey in the Master of Public Health programme, specialising in areas such as Behavioural, Social, and Health Education Sciences; Global Environmental Health; and Health Policy. Students with a particularly solid background in Mathematics or Science can opt for the Master of Science in Public Health.
“As a school, we strive to foster an environment where innovation, discovery, and differences are embraced and celebrated,” says James W. Curran, Dean of Rollins School of Public Health. “Core to this vision is a commitment toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, which extends not only to race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender, but also to a diversity of thought and opinion.”

Students can collaborate with and be part of international research to gain a better understanding of real issues. Souce: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
If you want to be an expert on prolonging life, preventing and controlling disease, as well as promoting physical and mental health, and deploying important health services, where better to learn than the number one public health school in the world? At the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, you’re not just trained for the field; you’re meant to lead it, too.
The Bloomberg School of Public Health is known for its unrivalled breadth and depth of programmes that are hands-on and flexible. Choose from more than 90 degree programmes and 40 certificate qualifications in areas such as epidemiology, mental health, and health policy management.
Whether you prefer full-time or part-time study, online or on-campus courses, the Bloomberg School of Public Health offers flexibility for everyone to advance their careers in public health. Its four-to-one student to faculty ratio and small class sizes ensures full participation in a highly interactive environment led by experts who save lives millions at a time, including Nobel Prize winners and advisors to the Biden administration.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) boasts a rigorous curriculum that is current, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based to nurture students into career-ready public health practitioners who can adapt to emerging challenges in the field. Students will have the chance to collaborate with experts engaged in international research and gain valuable knowledge from their peers, as well.
The learning doesn’t end there: students will become part of the largest MPH alumni network in the world. With over 80 research centres and institutes available for internships and hands-on experiences, students can get a head start in producing ground-breaking work to improve health in their communities.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International