Epidemiology and One Health takes an integrated approach to studying health and disease conditions, recognising that the health of people, animals and ecosystems are interlinked and interdependent. Epidemiology is essential for understanding how diseases emerge and spread, and for the development of effective control methods.

Why study with us?

£80.6 million
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences has the largest research income at the University Liverpool.
4*
research in the latest Research Excellence Framework for 2021 (Unit of Assessment 6).
Success
2 NIHCR funded research centres, 2 Wellcome Trust investigators, the Microbiome Innovation Centre, and the NERC Natural Environment O'mics Facility.

Overview

The University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences (IVES) was established to bring together leading medical, veterinary and basic science researchers from across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. In IVES we study the epidemiology of a range of infectious and non-infectious diseases of people and animals, including zoonotic diseases.

Epidemiological research in humans includes clinical and molecular epidemiological studies of a range of gastrointestinal, respiratory, vector-borne and sexually-transmitted infections of adults and children in the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Epidemiological research in animals takes place predominantly at the Leahurst campus, where multidisciplinary staff, including clinically-qualified veterinary researchers, statisticians, mathematicians and basic scientists, work together to address a range of issues. These include the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens; the spread of antimicrobial resistance; understanding human behaviour as a driver of disease transmission; disease prevention and improving health and welfare in farmed and companion animals; and the influence of the environment and climate on the transmission of disease.

Research themes

Epidemiology
Epidemiology and One Health
Veterinary Epidemiology
Public Health
Parasites and tick-borne diseases in a changing world
Animals in Society

Facilities

Research is linked to the top Veterinary School return for 4* overall research in the Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences unit in REF2021. Work on this topic is spread across our main campus in modern, well equipped research facilities, our Veterinary campus at Leahurst, and at our facilities in Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia all with access to the Liverpool Shared Research Facilities.

Study options and fees

The fees below reflect one year of study. Fees stated for UK students are for the academic year 2024/25 and are subject to change for 2025/26. Fees stated for international students are for the academic year 2025/25.

MPhil / PhD / MD	Duration	UK students	International Students
Full time	2-4 years	£4,786	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £31,250 (Band A) Faculty of Science and Engineering* £31,250 (Band A) or £24,600 (Band B) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £24,600 (Band B)
Part time	4-6 years	£2,393	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £15,650 (Band A) Faculty of Science and Engineering* £15,650 (Band A) or £12,300 (Band B) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £12,300 (Band B)

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

Entry requirements

Students will normally have a minimum of a 2:1 class honours degree in a relevant biological science subject, or an equivalent medical, veterinary or dental qualification. Applicants are selected on the basis of their curriculum vitae, qualifications and referees’ reports, together with their perceived ability to complete the programme successfully and on the value of the training offered to their subsequent career plans.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT	Overall 6.5 no band below 5.5
TOEFL iBT requirement	Minimum 88 overall with L 17 W 17 R 17 and S 19
C1 Advanced CAE requirement	Overall 176 with no less than 162 in any paper
PTE Academic requirement	61 with minimum scores of 59 in each component
Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II)	ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components
Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language	Grade C
Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language	Grade B
Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency)	Overall 176 with 162 in components
Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced)	Overall 176 with 162 in components
Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced)	Overall 176 with 162 in components