Master in Commercial Determinants Health

Tuition costs 875 GBP per year; the application deadline for Master in Commercial Determinants Health is Nov 2, 2026.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a global leader in public health research, providing a rigorous academic environment for exploring the complex drivers of modern health challenges. This short course, delivered in collaboration with the Commercial Determinants Research Group (CDRG), offers a critical examination of how private sector activities influence population health outcomes.

Unlike programmes that narrow their focus to single industries like tobacco or alcohol, this course adopts a holistic view of Unhealthy Commodity Industries (UCIs). It investigates how corporate actors shape public policy, market environments, and consumer understanding to advance their interests, often at the expense of public well-being. Participants will engage with the latest evidence on causal pathways and systemic health impacts.

Expert-Led Research Training

The curriculum is designed for academics and practitioners who aim to develop robust research methodologies for studying commercial determinants. You will be guided by internationally renowned experts, including Professors Cécile Knai and Mark Petticrew, alongside a distinguished faculty from institutions such as the University of Edinburgh and Aarhus University. The course combines conceptual grounding with practical application, covering topics such as:

• Mechanisms of corporate influence and cumulative effects on regulation.
• Methodological approaches to framing and systems analysis.
• Data sourcing strategies, including freedom of information requests and social media analysis.
• Comparative study of diverse industries, including processed food, gambling, and firearms.