Masters Programme
Project report handbook
2015-16
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
All students taking a masters course at LSHTM are required to carry out a project, and to write it up and
submit it in the form of a ‘project report’ which counts for a major component of your degree.
This handbook is designed to bring together all general guidance from the School and from your course
about project work. It consists of two parts –
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Part 1 contains School-wide information that applies to all MSc project reports.
Part 2 contains important further course-specific information that applies for your MSc.
Each course’s specific version of the handbook, along with all forms that you may need to complete, will
be available on Moodle (log in at ble.lshtm.ac.uk) under the course site for your MSc.
Version information:
Specific guidance regarding Risk approved by the Safety Manager, and guidance regarding Ethics by the Chair of the
MSc Research Ethics Committee.
Last updated December 2015.
Note that ‘School-wide’ information given in this handbook applies only to projects for LSHTM MSc degrees taught faceto-face in London, under School regulations. Different guidance may apply for Distance Learning courses, or
intercollegiate MSc courses taught jointly with other University of London colleges for which projects come under the
other college’s remit.
In the event of any inconsistency between the information in this handbook and any other School document, please
contact your Course Director. Where an interpretation may be required, advice should be sought in the first instance from
the Quality Enhancement Office.
© London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 2015
CONTENTS
PART ONE: SCHOOL-WIDE INFORMATION ………………………………………..… 6
1. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT PROCESS ……………………………………………………6
1.1 Project lengths and learning times …………………………………………………………………...6
1.2 Permitted project types ………………………………………………………………………………..6
1.3 Project objectives as part of your masters degree …………………….…………………………..7
1.4 Stages in the project report process ………………………………………………….……………..7
1.5 How your project will be assessed …………………………………………………………………..7
2. YOUR SUPERVISOR ……………………………………………………………………………..9
2.1 Matching you with a project supervisor ……………………………………………………………..9
2.2 Different supervisory roles ……………………………………………………………………………9
2.3 Role of supervisor ……………………………………………………………………………………..9
2.4 Frequency of contact with supervisor ……………………………………………………………...12
2.5 Role of personal tutor ………………………………………………………………………………..12
3. STARTING TO PLAN YOUR PROJECT ………………………………………………………13
3.1 Pre-planning (Stage 1 of planning & approval process) ………………………………………….13
3.2 Initial planning (Stage 2 of planning & approval process) ………………………………………..13
4. THE PROJECT APPROVAL PROCESS ……………………………………………………...15
4.1 Proposal development (Stage 3 of planning & approval process) ……………………………...15
4.2 Starting to complete the CARE form ……………………………………………………………….15
4.3 CARE Section 1 – Administrative Details ………………………………………………….………17
4.4 CARE Section 2 – Project Filter …………………………………………………………………….17
4.5 CARE Section 3 – Overview of Project …………………………………………………...………..18
4.6 CARE Section 4 – Methodology ……………………………………….………………………..…..18
4.7 CARE Section 5 – Experience of Investigators ………………………………………………..…..19
4.8 CARE Section 6 – Participant Oversight ………………………………………………………..….19
4.9 CARE form Section 7 – Funder ……………………………………………………………………..19
4.10 CARE form Section 8 – Interventional Studies ……………………….………………………….19
4.11 CARE form Section 9 – Drug and Device Information …………………………………………..20
4.12 CARE form Section 10 – Human Tissue Samples ………………………………......................20
4.13 CARE form Section 11 – Local Approval ……………………………………………………........20
4.14 CARE form Section 12 – MSc Specific Information ……………………………………………...21
4.15 CARE form Section 13 – Signatures ………………………………………………………………22
4.16 Proposal approval (Stage 4 of planning & approval process) …………………………………..22
4.17 Approval deadlines …………………………………………………………………………………..24
4.18 Recording approval and submitting the CARE form ……………………………………………..25
4.19 Revisions during the approval process ……………………………………………………………27
4.20 Revisions after final approval ……………………………………………………………………….28
5. SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT……………………………………………………………30
5.1 Laboratory work safety requirements ……………………………………………………………....30
5.2 Work away from LSHTM ……………………………………………………………………………..31
5.3 Arrangements with external institutions …………………………………………………………….32
5.4 Work outside the UK ………………………………………………………………………………….33
5.5 CARE Section 12 – Risk Assessment form ………………………………………………………..34
5.6 Restricted Travel Safety form ………………………………………………………………………..36
6. ETHICS APPROVAL …………………………………………………………………………….39
6.1 Ethics policy for MSc students ………………………………………………………………………39
6.2 Ethics Approval Process via CARE form ..…………………………………………………….…...40
6.3 Maintaining confidentiality ……………………………………………………………………………42
6.4 Information Sheets and Consent Forms for study participants …………………………………..41
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7. FUNDING FOR PROJECT WORK ……………………………………………………………...43
7.1 Trust Fund Awards …………………………………………………………………………………….43
7.2 Other possible sources of funding …………………………………………………………………..45
8. TRAVEL FOR PROJECT WORK ………………………………………………………………..45
8.1 Key points to consider before travelling ………………………………………………………….….45
8.2 International requirements for visas, passports etc. ……………………………………………….45
9. UNDERTAKING RESEARCH FOR YOUR PROJECT REPORT ……………………………47
9.1 Preparatory work ………………………………………………………………………………………47
9.2 Main project work ……………………………………………………………………………………...49
9.3 Seeking further assistance …………………………………………………………………………..49
10. COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY……………………………………………50
10.1 Copyright and IPR agreements …………………………………………………………………….50
10.2 Setting restrictions on access to your work ……………………………………………………….51
10.3 Data Protection principles …………………………………………………………………………..52
10.4 Publication of project reports ………………………………………………………………………52
11. WRITING UP YOUR PROJECT REPORT ……………………………………………………53
11.1 Length of project report ……………………………………………..……………………………....53
11.2 Format of project report ……………………..……………………..………………………………..53
11.3 Structure of project report – named sections ……………………..………………………………55
11.4 Referencing ……………………..……………………..……………………..………………………58
11.5 Plagiarism and assessment irregularities ……………………..……………………..……………60
12. RECOGNISING THE CONTRIBUTION OF OTHERS ……………………..………………..62
12.1 Writing the Acknowledgements section ……………………..……………………..……………..62
12.2 Proof-reading and help with writing or language ……………………..………………………….64
13. SUBMITTING YOUR PROJECT REPORT ……………………..……………………………66
13.1 Deadlines ……………………..……………………..……………………..………………………..66
13.2 Required formats ……………………….…………………………………………………………...67
13.3 Submission ………………………...……………………………………….………………………..68
14. PROJECT ASSESSMENT ……………………..……………………..………………………..69
14.1 General marking criteria ……………………..……………………..……………………..………..69
14.2 What the examiners will be looking for ……………………..……………………..………………69
14.3 What happens next? ……………………..…………………………………..……………………..70
14.4 Project re-sits ………………………………………………………………………………………...70
PART TWO: COURSE-SPECIFIC PROJECT INFORMATION ………………………72
Objectives of the project report ……………………..……………………..………………………...….72
Identifying a project topic – how the process works for this MSc ……………………..…………….72
Types of project report permitted for this MSc ……………………..……………………...………….72
Expected time commitment of projects ……………………..……………………..…………………..72
Identifying a supervisor – how the process works for this MSc ……………………..………………72
Supervisor support ……………………..……………………..……………………..…………………..72
Key dates and deadlines ……………………..……………………..……………………..…………....72
Project marking criteria ……………………..……………………..……………………………………..72
Further course-specific information ……………………..……………………..……………………….72
OTHER RESOURCES – FORMS
These will be available on Moodle under the course site for your MSc, or on the web/intranet as
indicated.
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Forms all students are expected to complete:
Combined Academic, Risk Assessment and Ethics Approval (CARE) form, available via LSHTM
Ethics Online (LEO) at: http://leo.lshtm.ac.uk. Queries regarding the LEO system should be sent to
MScethics@lshtm.ac.uk
Forms for those travelling overseas:

Travel Insurance form, available at: https://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/Services/Travel/index
Forms which may be relevant for specific courses only:
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ITD Project Choice form
Other general forms which may be of use:
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Agreement template for assigning ownership of Copyright (CR)
Agreement template for assigning Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
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PART ONE: SCHOOL-WIDE INFORMATION
1. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT PROCESS
All students taking a masters course at the School are required to undertake a project report, sometimes
called the summer project, in which you carry out and write up an independent piece of work on a topic that
is relevant to the MSc course or stream that you are studying. The project must be carried out by you
yourself, but you will have support from a supervisor (who may or may not be your personal tutor), and may
also have access to co-supervisors or technical advisors where relevant. The project forms a large
component of your final degree grade.
While specific deadlines may vary between courses, the key phases are:
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From as early as January (if not before), you should be actively thinking about what you will do for your
project in the summer.
In February and March (while still undertaking taught modules), you will need to turn your idea into a
formal proposal and get approval to go ahead with it from School staff.
By the end of April, you should expect to have received all required approvals, and may be able to start
doing preparatory work or getting arrangements confirmed.
During the summer (after the exams are over), you will normally undertake the main part of your project
work – including research or data collection, analysis and writing-up.
Start of September – you will need to submit your project report.
1.1 Project lengths and learning times
The topic you wish to address should be specific enough to be answered within the time and resources you
have available.
School Regulations set out criteria for a ‘standard length’ project, which will apply for the vast majority of MSc
students.
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The notional learning time for a standard length project is suggested as 450 hours, typically consisting
of:
o 50 hours on selection of topic and preparation of proposal;
o 300 hours carrying out work involved in project;
o 100 hours on writing up the project report.
The recommended word count for a standard length project report is about 8,500 words (with a minimum
of about 7,000 and an absolute maximum of 10,000). Certain courses (at present, MSc Medical Statistics
only) set a page limit rather than a word limit, of 50 pages with prescribed formatting.
For specific courses (at present, MSc IID only), regulations also allow for ‘extended’ projects to be
undertaken. Further details are given in Part 2 of the MSc IID project handbook. Extended projects require
additional learning time, with work on the project during both D and E timetable slots, and a word count of
10,000 words (absolute maximum 12,000 words) recommended for the final extended project report.
1.2 Permitted project types
Project reports may encompass a wide variety of approaches. Individual MSc courses will set criteria on
what constitutes a valid project type for that course.
Examples of different types of project include:
 Field-based research project – undertaking primary data collection away from the School, followed by
analysis of the results. Such projects may cover a spectrum of work; from collecting samples to bring
back to the lab, to social research.
 Laboratory research project – which may be based either in School labs or at institutions elsewhere.
 Analysis of an existing dataset – may be based on work done or data collected by you prior to or during
the course; or use data provided by School staff, or others, or which is in the public domain.
 Protocol for new study – an MSc project may consist of designing a detailed proposal for a larger
scientific study, addressing all relevant issues.
 Policy report – typically involves reviewing a policy issue using data from grey and other literature
and/or from ‘original sources’ to draw conclusions and make recommendations for policy.
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
Systematic literature review – undertaking a comprehensive and original review of the literature on a
relevant subject.
The specific types of project permissible for your MSc are listed in Part 2 of this handbook. You can also see
copies of past students’ project reports for your MSc on the Library site
at:www.lshtm.ac.uk/library/collections/mscprojects.html
1.3 Project objectives as part of your masters degree
The project report is an essential component of MSc study at the School. Presenting a project report will
enable you to demonstrate your ability to carry out and write up an independent piece of work on a topic that
is relevant to your course. The project report provides 25% of the credits for your overall degree. It also
contributes towards 30% of your final degree GPA and classification, i.e. playing an even stronger part in
indicating how well you have done overall and whether you may obtain a distinction.
Your project report should indicate to the markers that you are able to:
 demonstrate understanding of a substantive portion of the body of knowledge covered by the course
curriculum;
 demonstrate the ability to think critically and develop original ideas;
 analyse data or literature and form conclusions based on this analysis;
 demonstrate independent research skills;
 demonstrate an awareness of the practical aspects of planning and conducting a study, including
potential problems and pitfalls;
 produce an extended piece of writing that is clear and coherent;
 demonstrate the ability to present research findings and/or policy recommendations in a clear and
systematic format;
 where appropriate, reflect on social or ethical issues relating to the research; and
 demonstrate familiarity with either conventional research-reporting or policy-reporting styles, including
project layout and referencing.
Given the wide variety of projects undertaken at the School, project work should aim to fulfil these objectives
in general terms, without necessarily fulfilling each individual statement.
The specific aims of the project for your MSc are listed in Part 2 of this handbook.
1.4 How your project will be assessed
All MSc project reports are marked by two markers, who jointly agree a grade on the School’s standard scale
from 0 to 5. The specific marking criteria that will apply for your course are given in Part 2 of this handbook.
Further general information, including things you can expect the markers to be looking for, is given later in
Part 1, under Section 14 “Project assessment”.
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Please ensure you understand how your project will be marked from an early stage. You should
also particularly pay careful attention to the marking criteria when you reach the writing-up stage.
1.5 Stages in the project report process
Please be aware that the various stages in preparing and undertaking a project report, including associated
deadlines, may differ from course to course. You will find the specific key dates and deadlines for your MSc
in Part 2 of this handbook. However, key stages and milestones are similar across all courses.
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Note that the deadlines indicated above relate to standard project reports, but may differ for extended projects. Specific deadline dates are given in
Sections 4.7 and 13.1
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2. YOUR SUPERVISOR
All students should have a project supervisor, to guide you in planning, undertaking and writing up your
project work. This is an important relationship. Supervision arrangements may vary considerably between
courses (see Part 2 of this handbook for further specific details relating to your MSc); and the nature of your
relationship with your supervisor may also depend on the project type or topic you are undertaking. However
the following notes, especially on frequency of meetings and what you can or cannot expect your supervisor
to do, should apply for most projects.
2.1 Matching you with a project supervisor
The process by which students are matched with supervisors (and sometimes also with project topics) varies
considerably between MSc courses. The specific process for your MSc is detailed in Part 2 of this handbook.
In some cases a supervisor may be assigned to you, or will be attached to the project. In other cases, you
may need to ‘find’ a supervisor yourself, approaching members of academic staff with appropriate expertise,
or staff from other institutions or organisations. It may sometimes be appropriate for your personal tutor to
become your project supervisor.
Course Directors will ensure that no student is without a supervisor – please contact your Course Director if
you are having any problems with identifying a suitable supervisor.
If you are dissatisfied with supervision arrangements, please discuss this first with your supervisor and
attempt to resolve any problems directly with them. If you are still dissatisfied, you can then speak to your
Course Director. It is sometimes possible to change supervisor during the course of a project; indeed this
may be appropriate if your plans or project topic change significantly, or if your original supervisor will no
longer be available during key stages. However, changes are discouraged unless absolutely necessary
because of the disruption they can cause to your project work.
2.2 Different supervisory roles
Your supervisor, once identified, is the person who provides you with guidance about your project l. The role
of your supervisor is explained in more detail in section 2.3 below. Supervisors may be members of staff at
the School (whether based at the School in London, or at research sites elsewhere); or they may be
‘external’ (i.e. based outside the School and not employed by the School).
If a person who is not a School staff member agrees to act as your supervisor, they should familiarise
themselves with what your course requires for an MSc project (as per Part 2 of this handbook), and be willing
to take on the responsibilities outlined in section 2.3. In such cases, your Course Director should approve the
external supervisor’s appointment, and ensure that you also have a designated member of School staff
(known as a ‘School supervisor’) available to provide guidance from the School’s perspective. The School
supervisor may potentially be your personal tutor, your Course Director, a staff member acting as ‘Projects
Organiser’ for your course, or someone else.
Other individuals may also be involved in supervising or assisting with your project. They may be closely
involved in specific parts of your project – for instance directing you in carrying out specific laboratory
procedures, working with you during fieldwork, or advising you on statistical techniques for a specific part of
your analysis – or involved with the project as a whole, though they do not have the responsibilities of your
‘main’ supervisor. These individuals are referred to as ‘co-supervisors’ if they are academics, or as ‘technical
advisors’ if they are not academics (e.g. staff working for an NGO).
It can be perfectly normal and appropriate for you to have a greater level of direct contact with a cosupervisor or technical advisor (be they external or internal to the School) than with your ‘main’ supervisor.
Day-to-day advice in the course of fieldwork or lab work may often be primarily given by co-supervisors or
technical advisors, while your main supervisor may only need to give advice on the strategic direction of the
project.
Note that your main supervisor may also delegate substantive supervisory responsibilities (including
responsibilities for approving your project proposal and reading and commenting on your draft final project
report) to an internal or external co-supervisor, provided everyone involved agrees to do so.
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2.3 Role of supervisor
The role of your supervisor is to provide you with guidance and advice, and to support your learning during
the project report. However, the final content of the project report is your responsibility alone; it must be your
own work, reflecting your own abilities and the skills and knowledge you have acquired during the course
and during the period of supervision.
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In the planning stages, you must write the project outline. In some cases your supervisor may identify the
dataset and define the research question for you to investigate, but you are responsible for specifying
the analytical approach.
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Similarly during the course of the project, your supervisor will normally provide guidance, but should not
tell you what to do or what to write, or carry out specific actions such as writing text/commands or
running STATA analyses for you.
o Where you encounter specific challenges, you may find it helpful to have a discussion with your
supervisor about situations similar to that which you now face, then apply what you learn from
such a discussion to your project report.
o Sometimes the data you are analysing will belong to your supervisor. However, your supervisor
should not direct the analysis beyond your level of ability. In some cases your supervisor may
carry out further analysis after the project report has been submitted, but the project report must
be your work alone.
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When writing-up the project, as a general rule your supervisor can be expected to read or criticise one
written draft of the project report – so long as the draft is ready with sufficient time to do this (e.g. a
minimum of one (1) week).
o It is up to you to ensure that meetings are planned to allow adequate reading time; it may be
helpful to jointly agree target dates with your supervisor, for when they can expect to receive
your draft and when they will be able to give you feedback after having read it.
o Rather than have your supervisor read through a single final draft of your project just before you
submit it, it may be much more helpful to adopting a ‘write as you go’ approach and get
supervisor feedback on individual chapters as you draft them during the course of the project.
o Note that your supervisor is not expected to correct your English when reading or commenting
on your work, though may advise where further improvement is necessary.
You should quite clearly understand that it is not your supervisor’s responsibility to make sure that the project
report submitted is of at least a ‘pass’ standard. Rather, their responsibility is to provide guidance and
support to ensure your best efforts can be directed into appropriate work, so that your final project report will
be a good example of your ability and knowledge.
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Checklist – role of the supervisor
Things the supervisor can do –
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The supervisor may identify the dataset.
The supervisor may define the research question.
The supervisor can advise on development of the project proposal, including giving feedback and
making specific suggestions for how to complete the online CARE form.
The supervisor should give their approval for the final project proposal using the online CARE form –
including confirming the appropriateness of the risk assessment, and advising the student on seeking
ethics approval where required either by the School or locally.
The supervisor should provide guidance over the course of the project, particularly on overarching
elements but also on specific aspects where appropriate.
The supervisor may insert ‘comments’ electronically.
The supervisor will usually provide feedback on a penultimate draft of the project report (provided this
is given to them in good time, according to a jointly-agreed timetable).
Things the supervisor should not do –
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The supervisor is not expected to correct the student’s English.
The supervisor is not responsible for deciding the final content of the project report.
The supervisor must not write the project outline.
The supervisor must not specify the analytical approach.
The supervisor should not tell the student what to do.
The supervisor should not tell the student what to write.
The supervisor should not write text/commands for the student.
The supervisor should not track-change text electronically.
The supervisor should not run STATA analyses for the student.
The supervisor is not responsible for ensuring that the project is of at least a “pass” standard.
The supervisor should not rewrite a project report.
If your main supervisor is not a member of School staff, you should clearly establish with them early on as to
what support they will or will not be expected to provide – including things like availability and frequency of
contact, or what they can arrange for you in terms of facilities and practical support (e.g. travel,
accommodation, administrative assistance etc.)
Disabilities
You may wish to inform your supervisor if you have a disability or ongoing medical condition – e.g.
physical or sensory impairments, learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, or difficulties affecting
emotional or mental well-being. Please note that even if you have already declared a disability to the School,
such information is treated confidentially and supervisors will not automatically be advised. Supervisors are
likely to be able to support you better if they are aware of your specific circumstances. The Student Advisor
can help with any queries about disabilities – please see further information at
http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/studentadvice/disability
2.4 Frequency of contact with supervisor
Your supervisor acts as an advisor, not a collaborator, so you must expect to do most of the work
independently.
During the initial planning and proposal development stages, you should seek advice from your supervisor
about the general topic and direction of your project. Supervisors will often suggest useful points and ideas
you might not otherwise be aware of or have considered. Your supervisor can reasonably be expected to
give you feedback on one full draft project proposal during these planning stages, but not more detailed input
(e.g. they should not do your literature search for you). Your Course Director can give advice and feedback if
no supervisor has yet been appointed.
Moving into the main (summer) period of project work, and particularly during the early stages, the supervisor
should normally organise regular sessions with you – e.g. meetings, phone calls, email briefings. It is usually
helpful to agree a timetable of work for the project report with your supervisor from early on; and you should
agree the plan of analysis and the structure of the report at a relatively early stage, including chapter titles
and sub-headings.
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The exact amount of contact time will vary according to your needs, the type of project involved, and any
particular difficulties or problems that may arise. However the total contact time you can expect between
yourself and your supervisor over the summer period is between 6 and 10 hours. This includes all
contact, whether by telephone, email or face to face. The one thing that the supervisor can be expected to
do in addition to this 6-10 hours contact is to read through and comment on one full draft of your project.
 Note that some courses set more prescriptive requirements for how supervisor contact should be
managed – e.g. recommending up to three substantive meetings with the supervisor, corresponding to 36 contact hours, topped up to max. 10 hours by additional contacts such as emails.
 Lab-based work in particular may often involve students being in contact with their supervisors on more
or less a daily basis. In such scenarios, “technical” contact such as setting up equipment, handling
materials and demonstrating or carrying out procedures is not expected to count towards the max. 10
hours supervision time. However, strategic advice on the project overall or approaches to be taken
should count towards the supervisory guidance quota of expected contact hours.
 Please see Part 2 of this handbook for more details on how supervisor contact is expected to operate for
your MSc.
The primary responsibility for maintaining contact with your supervisor rests with you as the student. You
should consult them from early on about your plans, and jointly agree on how they will give input as your
work progresses. There may be periods where your supervisor is unavailable, e.g. if travelling or undertaking
their own research; they should let you know when this is the case. If you feel that your supervisor is not
sufficiently available to give you necessary support, you should let them know – do not allow this to delay
your work. If you are still dissatisfied, you should let your Course Director know.
2.5 Role of personal tutor
In some instances, your personal tutor may also be your project supervisor. This is standard practice for
certain MScs. In cases where students have an external co-supervisor who will undertake the majority of
supervision, it is also common practice for the personal tutor to act as School-based co-supervisor, with
more limited responsibilities (e.g. focused on proposal approval).
If your personal tutor is to act as your project supervisor, you should note the distinct shift in their role and
responsibilities at this time. Whilst during the rest of the course your personal tutor will give you as much
support as is reasonably possible, there is a clear limit to the level and amount of supervision they can give
for the project – a maximum of 10 hours contact time under any circumstances. The same applies if your
MSc Course Director is also your (co-)supervisor.
These arrangements need to be strictly followed, as the project report counts substantially towards your
overall assessment and equality of conditions for all students needs to be ensured.
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3. STARTING TO PLAN YOUR PROJECT
As the summary table given earlier (under ‘Overview of the project process’) indicates, you should work
through key stages of “pre-planning”, “initial planning”, and “proposal development” for your project, before
seeking all required approvals and then beginning any substantive project work.
The pre-planning and initial planning stages are described below. These early stages should not necessarily
require a great deal of work; but the key point to be aware of is that you should start actively thinking about
your “project report” from as early as the Autumn term.
3.1 Pre-planning (Stage 1 of planning & approval process)
 Consider from early Autumn term. Deadline for this stage will be approx. mid-November.
This does not apply for all courses, but MSc students on some ITD courses will be asked to make a decision
early on about whether they wish to undertake a ‘standard’ or ‘extended’ project. This decision is linked with
the number and type of teaching modules selected, and the deadline for it is the same as that for module
selection – around mid-November.
3.2 Initial planning (Stage 2 of planning & approval process)
 Consider from late Autumn term, and certainly from early January. Deadline for this stage will be approx.
end January.
Initial ideas
All students should find it helpful to begin to think about potential project areas at an early stage in the
academic year. It will always be useful to consider what type of work or topic area will best suit you and your
expertise, or fit with your career goals for after the course. You may wish to explore a number of different
ideas with a variety of staff before coming to a decision.
Your chosen topic must be relevant to your MSc course. Further specific guidance is given in Part 2 of this
handbook; but if in any doubt, please speak to your Supervisor, Tutor or Course Director before spending
any time investigating options that may not be relevant or appropriate.
Course-specific approaches
The process by which a possible project topic emerges is a dynamic one, and varies considerably between
MScs – please see Part 2 of this handbook for further guidance. Some courses assemble a list of potential
projects (e.g. see the ITD Project Choice form for lab-based ITD projects), or a list of potential project
supervisors, or both. Others leave it to students to come up with a project idea – usually after discussion with
your personal tutor, who may also be your Project Supervisor.
Type of project
The project idea or topic area you decide on will help determine what type of project you undertake, and vice
versa. Each MSc or MSc stream will set and define specific allowed project types – please see Part 2 of this
handbook for details.
Identifying a supervisor
Your supervisor should also normally be identified at this stage. As noted previously, on some courses a
supervisor will be assigned or may be responsible for a particular project topic available on a list; but for
other courses, you may need to approach staff with relevant expertise to ask them to act as a supervisor or
advisor. Specific notes on how this process will work for your MSc are given in Part 2 of this handbook. It is
not always necessary to identify a supervisor during initial planning, and your Course Director can provide
advice if no supervisor has yet been appointed.
Identifying external placements
Where appropriate (although note that this may not be relevant or even permitted for certain courses), your
initial exploration of project ideas may lead you to identify a potential external placement – e.g. in a hospital,
college, research institute, NGO headquarters, field station or so on. Sometimes such links may be
suggested by your supervisor or Course Director; or this may perhaps be an organisation that you know of or
have some previous experience with.
It will usually be appropriate to contact such institutions/organisations at this stage, to find out whether a
placement will be possible, and identify a suitable member of staff who can support you while there (e.g. as
main supervisor, co-supervisor or technical advisor).
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Guidelines on good research practice
At this point, you may find it helpful to read through the School’s “guidelines on good research practice” at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/researchgovernanceandintegrity/index.html as well as the guidance in this
handbook (especially the course-specific information in Part 2). This may help clarify your thinking about how
specific aspects of the project might best be carried out.
Completing initial planning
The initial planning stage has a clear ‘endpoint’, by which time you should know the type of project you will
be doing, who your supervisor will be, and the likely topic. Although the final title of your project may not
emerge until the writing up stage, the broad topic area should normally be decided on now. This stage
should usually be completed by the end of January, or a couple of weeks before the hand-in date for your
draft project proposal – to allow your supervisor to check the details and for you to make any final
amendments.
Setting a work schedule
Good project management is key to a successful project – setting a plan and schedule from early on, then
following this through.
 You should develop a timetable, prepare a clear project outline/structure you can follow through in main
research, and always be conscious of what is or isn’t feasible.
 It’s extremely helpful to do as much groundwork and preparation as possible ahead of the project
starting ‘properly’ in the summer. Once your main research is underway, aim to maintain a steady
productive pace. Beware the temptation to think you can cram everything in at the end!
 Always plan to set aside specific writing-up time after completing the main research or data collection.
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4. THE PROJECT APPROVAL PROCESS
The next main stages in the project planning process are developing your proposal and getting it approved.
These two stages are closely linked; you will want to seek and incorporate feedback from your supervisor
(and possibly other staff like your Course Director) as you develop your proposal, then your supervisor and
Course Director will then be the first people you need to seek approval from.
You must complete the School’s Combined Academic, Risk assessment and Ethics approval (CARE) form,
to obtain the formal approvals the School requires before you undertake substantive project work. The CARE
form is also intended to be a useful tool for project development, helping to give shape to your proposal and
acting as a reminder about important areas to consider.
It is vital that you obtain full approval before starting work on your project, so please pay careful
attention to the notes below. Further guidance about how proposal development and approval should
operate for your MSc specifically is given in Part 2 of this handbook.
4.1 Proposal development (Stage 3 of planning & approval process)
 To be done in January-February; deadline for this stage will be approx. mid-February.
Having identified the project type and topic you would like to carry out (as per the previous ‘initial planning’
stage), proposal development is where you shape your ideas into a more specific plan. This is likely to
include:
 Adding more details about the background to this topic, your intended approach, and expected
outcomes.
 Following up to confirm any major aspects like who your supervisor will be (if not previously confirmed)
or setting up an off-site placement for the summer (if this is part of your plans).
 Seeking advice and feedback from others – particularly from your supervisor, but potentially also from
other staff such as your personal tutor or Course Director, other students, or past colleagues and
personal contacts.
It is recommended that you use the CARE form when you begin to develop specific details of your proposal –
this should save you some work later, as you will need to put information into this format for approval
purposes. Typically you may produce several drafts of the CARE form, revising them in turn after discussions
and feedback from your supervisor or others, before you submit a final version for approval.
Your supervisor can reasonably be expected to give you feedback on one full draft project proposal, or your
Course Director can give such feedback if no supervisor has yet been appointed.
The final milestone of the ‘proposal development’ stage will be to submit a final project proposal for approval,
using the CARE form.
Deadlines relevant to each MSc will be confirmed by Course Directors.
4.2 Starting to complete the CARE form
The Combined Academic, Risk assessment and Ethics (CARE) form is intended as a way to
comprehensively summarise the work you intend to do in your project, so that staff have sufficient
information to give approval. It will also prompt you on a number of key points you need to think about.
Past example CARE forms
You may find it helpful to look at actual examples of completed CARE forms, based on past students’
projects, when reading the more general guidance given below. These are available on the web at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/taughtcourses/studentforms/careforms.html Note that these were completed using a
previous version of the form so the question order is different.
Structure of the CARE form
The form is divided into five main sections, covering:
(1) administrative details which cover basic information about the type of submission;
(2) project filter to set the appropriate questions for your study;
(3) overview of the project including the academic content of proposal;
(4) description of your background and experience;
(5) project methodology;
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(6) participant information (might not be applicable);
(7) funder details (might not be applicable);
(8) intervention study information (might not be applicable);
(9) drug and device information (might not be applicable);
(10) human tissue samples information (might not be applicable);
(11) details of local approval (might not be applicable);
(12) MSc specific information on
(12a) data sources, intellectual property and permissions and
(12b) risk assessment, and
(13) declarations and signatures.
Based on the project filter in section 2, this will enable and disable questions specific to your study. You will
then need to complete each question as they will all apply to your study.
Questions in the CARE form have been agreed on behalf of the School’s Learning & Teaching Committee,
Safety Committee and MSc Research Ethics Committee, and may not be altered.
Use of electronic form
The form should be completed online at http://leo.lshtm.ac.uk. The link can be found on the Moodle course
site for your MSc, which will also have a copy of this handbook and all other forms and information that may
be relevant for your course. You can access this by logging in at ble.lshtm.ac.uk using your School
username and password.
The online form is saved automatically as you navigate between questions. You can share the form, or save
as a pdf to send to your supervisor and course director, as required.
Drafts and versions
Completing the CARE form is an iterative process – you are not expected to get it all done at once, and may
need to return to the form on several occasions. You should use the website to work through the proposal
development stage of the process, to eventually come up with a version ready to be approved.
It can be helpful to start work on a first draft of the CARE form as you begin to discuss initial project plans
with your tutor, supervisor or Course Director – from January, or even earlier. Alternatively, you can just fill it
out ‘all at once’ later on, when you have worked out your plans more fully.
You can share the form on LEO with your supervisor so they can review it as you complete it. Your
supervisor may write on the “post-it” notes included within the system.
When saving the pdf version of the CARE form to share with others, be careful about how you save the
electronic files. It is very helpful to date or number different versions. Files should ideally be named in the
following format (which particularly helps staff like Course Directors who have to deal with a great many
forms):
“[MSc title]_[Year of Submission]_[Surname]_[Forename]_
CARE [Version]”
For example, “PH_2014_Chadwick_Edwin_CARE_v01_Jan19th.pdf”
Please ensure you keep an electronic copy of all versions of the form that you submit to staff for approval,
and that you can always identify the most recent version – especially where you have had to incorporate
amendments based on staff feedback about a previous version.
Any other documentation you need to provide, e.g. consent forms when submitting to the MSc Research
Ethics Committee, should be saved in a similar format but changing the word ‘CARE’ in this. For example,
“PH_2014_ Chadwick_Edwin_EthicsConsentForm_v01_Jan19th.doc”
Who should fill in CARE
The CARE form should normally be filled out by you the student writing in the first person, e.g.
 “I will be based at MRC Fajara, The Gambia…”
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However, it may be appropriate for supervisors to edit parts of the CARE applications, or to supply specific or
standard text to help answer certain questions. To help distinguish such contributions they should normally
be written in the third person, e.g.
 “The student’s CV will be submitted to the Scientific Co-ordinating Committee at MRC
Fajara, to inform them of her visit during this project and participation in the broader study
into which this fits as a component and for which ethics approval has already been given
from the MRC and Gambian Government.”
A note about abbreviations
You should be careful to ensure that any abbreviations you mention in your proposal are defined in full
the first time they appear in the CARE form. Even if you think the term is so obvious that it can simply be
given as an abbreviation and doesn't need an explanation, please bear in mind that your form may be
considered by staff other than your supervisor or Course Director – it may be unintelligible or difficult to
understand if it is not defined. In particular, the Ethics Committee membership consists of about half
biologists/medics, and half in law, social science or lay positions; one group may know quite well what an
undefined abbreviation stands for, but the other may not. Writing your application clearly and spelling out or
defining abbreviations is helpful and reduces the potential for delays in approval.
4.3 CARE Section 1 – Administrative Details
Section 1 of the CARE form constitutes a “cover sheet” of important basic information about your proposal or
submission

Project title: You will need to come up with a draft project title for the purposes of the CARE form. This
doesn’t have to be the final title you use for the actual project report you end up writing; for now, it can
just be a working title for the type of work you intend to carry out. If you already know precisely what your
project will focus on, that’s great and you can say so; but otherwise, it’s fine to give a fairly generic title –
typically, saying what kind of project you will be doing in what subject area and perhaps in relation to a
specific location or data source. For example,
“Data analysis of factors associated with vaccination coverage and timing of vaccination in young
Tanzanian children”.

The form asks for your name and email contact details, so that staff (e.g. reviewers from the Ethics
Committee) can contact you with any queries. You should not give your candidate number anywhere on
the CARE form.

The form also asks you to confirm supervisor details. You may not have had your project
supervisor’s name fully confirmed by the time you submit the form for approval; if so, you can
state the status in question 3c(iii). Where no supervisor has yet been identified, you should also supply
the name of your personal tutor. All these details can be updated again if they are confirmed or changed
later in the course of the CARE approval process.
o If you haven’t had a supervisor confirmed but you still know what you intend to do for your
project, this shouldn’t delay you completing the form. Personal tutors or Course Directors
may approve proposals when the supervisor is still to be confirmed.
o However, if there are difficulties in identifying or confirming a supervisor, and the nature of
your project is likely to depend on who they are, you should speak to your Course Director
and personal tutor to ensure that you can develop a proposal and get it approved within the
deadlines. There may be some flexibility with course-level deadlines, but you should not
miss the School-wide deadline for submission of proposals to the MSc Research Ethics.
4.4 CARE Section 2 – Project Filter
This section contains filter questions to tailor the form to your proposal. For example, in question 4, you
need to select the type of study. By selecting “literature review”, this will disable questions on informed
consent and on drugs and devices. Ensure that you select the appropriate answer to these filter questions,
as if there is an error and the wrong type of form is populated, this may result in a delay in starting the study.

Project type: Details about permitted ‘project types’ for your MSc are given in Part 2 of this handbook.
Some courses are quite flexible about allowed project types, including the use of hybrid approaches.
However other courses have very defined criteria for the type of work permitted, e.g. not allowing
projects that require collection of new data.
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4.5 CARE Section 3 – Overview of Project
This section of the CARE form allows you to describe the main features of what you intend to cover in your
project, with a general project outline plus points about general feasibility.
You are likely to benefit from discussing this section of the form with your |Supervisor, Tutor or Course
Director, and may need to go through several drafts and revisions before it is finished. Once you’ve got this
section reasonably complete, you should be in a better position to answer the questions in the next sections
– though be aware that questions and answers on those topics may also prompt you to come back and
revise academic elements in this section.
Project Outline
Academic requirements for projects, i.e. what you summarise in a ‘project outline’, will differ between courses
– further details and guidance are given in Part 2 of this handbook.
 Normally the project outline should not exceed 750 words total. The form is only intended to sketch out
your project plan, not the project itself, so there should be no need to go into comprehensive detail.
 The CARE form is designed so that you do not have to duplicate information. Please remember that
sections such as the project outline serve a variety of purposes – e.g. as a basis for the Course Director
to give academic approval, and for other staff to understand your proposal and give ethics or risk
assessment approval.
To give further guidance on some of the specific questions asked:

Hypothesis (Q12): Not every project will need a specific hypothesis; this depends on project type.

Aim (Q13): The overall aim of the project may simply be to investigate the hypothesis, if one is put
forward.

Specific objectives (Q14): While these don’t necessarily have to be highly specific at the proposal stage,
setting out sensible objectives now helps demonstrate that your project has been properly thought out.
o It can be helpful to check how your objectives meet ‘SMART’ criteria: are they Specific,
rather than too woolly or general? Are they Measurable, to help allow you to reach a
conclusion about what your work has found? Are they Achievable, given the limited
resources you will have for your project (just you doing the work)? Are they Relevant to the
project topic, and to the criteria your project will be marked on? And are they Time-bound,
i.e. achievable within the limited time you will have to carry out the project (it may be helpful
to start drawing up a project time-plan even at this proposal stage)?
o Equally however, it is often fine to give quite generic objectives like “Reviewing the literature
and making policy recommendations as appropriate based on the weight of evidence” –
simply to indicate that this is one of the things you are setting out to do.
4.6 CARE Section 4 – Methodology
This section (questions 15-21) should cover both data collection and data analysis. It is good to include a
provisional data analysis plan, e.g. listing statistical techniques to be used.
Feasibility (questions 19-20b)
The Feasibility sub-section of the CARE form asks about things that might prevent you from carrying out
a successful project, and back-up plans for such scenarios. This will be relevant for all students to
answer, no matter what type of project you are doing. While projects that involve fieldwork and data
collection may have higher risks or more things to go wrong, desk-based projects also have the potential to
encounter problems – e.g. for literature reviews, if too many or too few articles are identified in the search, or
if comparisons across articles are difficult due to the use of different measures or concepts.
Some examples of the kind of feasibility issues to consider, drawn from actual project proposals by past
students, include:
 “Dangers of getting insufficient numbers of clients entered into study, or a large number of
participants withdrawing from the study part-way through.”
 “Failure to access/obtain appropriate interviews with former WHO senior staff.”
 “The project is planned to take place from June - August, which coincides with lower
seasonal peaks of mosquitoes in the area and may affect results.”
 “Incorrect storage of net samples prior to chemical assay could affect analysis.”
 “Potential difficulties dealing with the advanced statistical methods required.”
 “Frequency of outcome variables being insufficiently high to warrant further investigation.”
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
“Supervisor will be based on another continent and if contact is difficult this may pose
problems.”


Some further examples of how to sketch out a potential back-up plan include:
“If the literature search produces insufficient information on the specific topic of HIV
transmission among sex workers in Cambodia, to widen the scope of the project to become
a broad-based review of gender violence and inequality in Cambodia and whether these
issues may be partly responsible for driving the HIV epidemic.”
“If there are problems with the ABI3130xl machine (genetic analyser) the planned
processing of samples could be delayed or prevented, in which case alternative genotyping
methods would be applied to undertake a parallel approach within the time frame of the
project report.”
“If the data for analysis is not available, I would do a policy review of health rights in Costa
Rica for undocumented and immigrant communities.”


You should also consider what you would do if there are delays with permissions – in particular, what you
would do if ethics approval is required but not initially granted. For example:
 “If ethics approval is not granted for the collection of primary data, then as outlined above
the emphasis of the project will be on undertaking a cost-effectiveness model using
available estimates and carrying out probabilistic sensitivity analysis.”
 “If ethics approval is not initially granted, I would expect to confer further with the LSHTM
MSc Research Ethics Committee and revise my proposal based on their feedback in order to
gain approval. If there is a problem with obtaining local approval, I may need to abandon
the human data collection element and switch to a pure literature review on the same
topic.”
Your answers in this section may also link up with details you give in the later Risk Assessment section. This
may also be an opportunity to give contextual information on possibilities like natural phenomena or transport
issues – e.g. whether travel may be affected during a monsoon season.
4.7 CARE Section 5 – Experience of Investigators
You should provide brief details of your experience in relation to the project, as well as upload a short CV.
4.8 CARE Section 6 – Participant Oversight
This section looks at the information provided to participants for your study, as well as how they will be
consented. Further information is provided in this handbook in section 6.4 on how to prepare the information
sheet and consent form.
Note for studies where you will be undertaking a secondary data analysis, or using data fully in the public
domain, you will not need to complete this section.
The section also looks at confidentiality of data. Further details are provided in section 6.3 of the handbook.
4.9 CARE form Section 7 – Funding
Any details of funding available for the project should be provided here. This includes any travel grants or
other funds awarded to you.
4.10 CARE form Section 8 – Interventional Studies
This section is for any student undertaking an interventional study for their project. An interventional study is
defined as: “interventional studies include all trials based on random allocation of interventions and also nonrandomised interventions where participants or groups of participants are given treatments (of whatever
nature) that they would not otherwise be receiving in the ordinary course of events and which are allocated
by the investigator”.
Most students will not undertake this type of study as their project report due to the length of time it takes to
set up a trial.
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4.11 CARE form Section 9 – Drug and Device Information
Following on from Section 8, this section only appears for drug and device trials, therefore it is unlikely that a
student will need to complete this.
4.12 CARE form Section 10 – Human Tissue Samples
Students may take, or use human tissue samples during their project report. As there is specific legislation
in the UK which guides how we handle and use human tissue samples, it is important that students are
familiar with appropriate laboratory techniques. Further information is available on the tissue section of the
intranet: https://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/Research/Research-Governance/Human-Tissue/index
4.13 CARE form Section 11 – Local Approval
For this, you need to think about whether any approvals or permissions are required in relation to your
project from bodies outside LSHTM.
A wide range of external bodies may require you to seek approval or permission for work that falls under
their remit. This could include local ethics approval (from an ethics committee associated with the institution
or organisation running the research site you will be working at, or a national or regional body or government
department in the country concerned), research governance approval (e.g. to work in an NHS facility in the
UK), appropriate permission to work with vulnerable groups such as patients or children, etc.
Note that work with animals is not in the remit of the LSHTM MSc Research Ethics Committee; but for any
such work, you should be aware of and expected to follow the LSHTM policy on the use of animals in
biomedical research, available at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/researchgovernanceandintegrity/animal_research_policy.pdf. Such work is
also very likely to require some form of external approval.
If local approval is necessary you should outline the requirements in brief, demonstrating that you
have investigated them. For example:
 “The Ministry of Health and Social Services of Namibia require a detailed summary of the
proposed project, with covering letter, in order to give local ethics approval.”
 “Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust will require me to undergo some preengagement checks, to be determined by them, but have confirmed that they will not need
me to have an NHS Research Passport as I will not be interacting with individuals in a way
that has any direct bearing on the quality of their care.”
In some cases, local ethics approval that is required for the work you are undertaking will already have been
granted – generally, where you will be doing research that is part of or spun off from a larger ‘parent’ study
that has already been given comprehensive ethics approval. If necessary approvals have already been
granted you should make this very clear, quoting approval reference approval numbers and if possible
giving web links to documents or attaching a copy/scan. For example:
 “Ethics approval has already been given by the MRC and Gambian Government Scientific
Co-ordinating Committee (SCC) and Joint Ethical Committee (JEC), in Letter L2011.28 of
28th April 2011, for a broader study into which this project fits as a component. A copy of
this is attached. My CV will be submitted to the SCC and JEC to inform them of my visit and
participation in the work during this project.”
Sometimes, local ethics committees will require that you get ethics approval from the School before they are
willing to give their local approval. In such a case, you should apply for School ethics approval and make
very clear that “local approval has not yet been given because it requires School approval first”. The School’s
MSc Research Ethics Committee can then give you their approval in the normal way, and you can use this to
get local approval.


If local approval is not granted, then this will make your School approval invalid. In any cases where local
ethics approval is required, you must not start work until you have obtained full approval both locally and
from the School.
Where local approval is required and is duly received, details should be included with your final project
report submission (usually giving physical copies of the approval document as well as an electronic
scan).
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There may also be cases where you are working away from LSHTM with human subjects or human data, but
cannot identify a relevant local ethics committee or believe that no formal approval is required. If you
indicate that local approval is not required, you should briefly explain why, including what you have
done to check this.
You should always be able to demonstrate some kind of appropriate local support for the work you will be
doing, e.g. correspondence with local government officials or an involved Non-Governmental Organisation.
For example:
 “My data collection in Kigoma, Tanzania will comprise semi-structured interviews about
local nutrition matters with up to a maximum of 15 individuals, to be identified via
‘snowball’ recommendations from my two lead contacts in Mtanga Village (who are a village
Councillor and the village primary school Head teacher). I do not believe this will require
formal local approval. Attached are copies of correspondence from my contacts, plus a copy
of a letter setting out my intended work which I have sent to the District Executive
Director, Kigoma Rural District.”
If you will be working at the invitation of an NGO or similar responsible body, you should give details about
your relationship with them and their work in the country in question. For example:

“The Red Cross already have relevant wide-ranging permissions to work with refugee
groups in this area. I will be working under their auspices as a volunteer, and they have
agreed that I can carry out my health and sanitation survey as part of this work (see letter
of confirmation attached).”
Where you have identified that approval is required, you will be responsible for following up to obtain it, and
should not undertake substantive work until it has been confirmed as granted. It is always useful to apply for
local approval as far ahead of your project as possible, as approving organisations can sometimes take
a long time to consider and respond to applications.
It is the responsibility of each student and their supervisor to ensure that all applicable ethics approvals are in
place before the start of the study.
 Details of local ethics approval need to be included in CARE form submissions to the LSHTM Ethics
Committee.
 Copies of any local ethics approval or similar documentation will need to be bound in to your final project
report.
4.14 CARE form Section 12 – MSc Specific Information
Data sources, intellectual property and permissions
At this stage of project planning, you should also consider whether any issues around data sources,
intellectual property rights, copyright or other permissions may apply for your project. It is each
student’s responsibility to seek and gain any requisite permissions. Please don’t simply assume that this is
not relevant – if you are unfamiliar with these issues, further notes are given in Section 10 “Copyright and
Intellectual Property” later in this handbook, and extensive guidance and resources are available on the
School website/intranet. Speak to your supervisor in the first instance if anything is still unclear.

If you expect to use existing data previously collected by others, you should explain how you intend to
gain permission to use it, think about methods by which you are likely to be able to access it, and
consider what kind of restrictions may apply to your access or what you can write or publish about it (e.g.
data usage limitations to prevent identification of individuals).

If you intend to use public domain data, for purposes of ethics approval it is important to make clear that
this is fully public domain – i.e. available to any member of the public, without any restrictions or
requirement for special permission, and does not enable the identification of living people.

The form also prompts you to indicate whether any data rights permissions or usage limitations will apply
to data collected or used in the project – e.g. if the body granting permission needs you to ensure that no
personally identifying information appears in your final report (this is a very standard requirement); or if
the owner of the dataset you will be using will only grant you permission to use it for the specified
purpose of your LSHTM project report. For example:
o “Data will belong to the MRC Unit in The Gambia. I will be permitted to analyse
and present the data in my MSc project report, but not to make the results
available to others. The right to incorporate my project data together with other
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existing data into a future publication will be retained by my supervisors at MRC
The Gambia, with the assurance that I would be appropriately credited.”

In many cases you may be working with data that belongs to LSHTM, for example a dataset provided by
your supervisor. If so, you should discuss whether it is necessary to sign any specific agreements in
advance about intellectual property rights or copyright. Standard forms are available for this (in the same
place as the CARE form, on the Moodle site for your course) which may be adapted to suit specific
requirements.

You should tick the appropriate box to indicate which type of agreement may be applicable, if any –
including with external parties. Copies of forms and agreements should also be supplied where possible,
even if they are still in draft, when the CARE form is submitted for approval.
The risk assessment will be covered in more detail in section 5.5 of this handbook.
4.15 CARE form Section 13 – Signatures
Electronic signatures act as authorisations on behalf of all parties required to sign the form (supervisor,
course director, faculty safety supervisor etc). These need to be obtained after the final draft of the form is
completed online and can be requested by different people. This will lock the form and will no longer be
editable. Should you need to make changes to the form after requesting signatures, this will unlock the form
and void signatures. You will then need to request these again.
 The first item is a “Student Declaration” for you to sign electronically. You will need to electronically sign
the form before submitting the CARE form to the MSc ethics committee. Signing the form will confirm
that you will carry out the project as stated on the form, particularly with regard to safety and ethics
requirements, and note the date. Affirming this declaration in this way before submitting it to a member of
staff will be regarded as the equivalent of a signature, which you agree to abide by.

You will also need to obtain the electronic signature from your Supervisor and Course Director. They
need to be registered on the LEO system before requesting their signature. Where appropriate, the
Faculty Safety Supervisor may also need to sign the form before it can be submitted to the MSc
Research Ethics Committee. Further guidance on the process of submitting the form for approval is
given in Section 4.16 of this handbook.
You must click on “submit” once you have received all relevant signatures. Otherwise your form has not
been submitted to the MSc ethics committee and will not be approved.
Please be aware that approval does not signify that a report which sticks rigidly to the proposal is guaranteed
to pass.
Later sections of the CARE form
Detailed guidance about filling in the sections on Safety and Risk Assessment in the CARE form is given
later in this handbook. NB that you must in absolutely all cases fill out all questions in the CARE form
section 12 as these will confirm whether you will be required to do a more substantive risk assessment.
4.16 Proposal approval (Stage 4 of planning & approval process)
 To be put through approval stages from late February to early March. For most courses, key date of this
stage will be to submit CARE form for Ethics approval by late March, with subsequent deadline for
lodging final approved CARE form with TSO by approx. end April.
The School requires that all students obtain appropriate approvals for intended projects before starting work.

Academic approval (from your supervisor and Course Director) is necessary to ensure you do not work
on a project which would be unsuitable for the MSc you are studying.

Risk assessment approval (from your supervisor and Course Director, and possibly from further staff
such as the Faculty Safety Supervisor) is a requirement of the School.

Ethics approval is another very important aspect. Not all projects will need ethics approval, but you are
required to submit your application to the MSc Ethics Committee for their initial review. You should also
investigate, and make clear in your CARE form, whether you are likely to need any forms of local
approval for work you may be doing away from LSHTM. Please be aware that any work in breach of
ethics requirements is liable to be disqualified and given an automatic fail grade.
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Key steps in the approval process
Approvals should be obtained in a specific order – first from your supervisor, then your Course Director, then
the Faculty Safety Supervisor if necessary, and finally the MSc Research Ethics Committee. A final copy of
the CARE form should be submitted to TSO once fully approved.
Approval step
Instructions
Proposal development
Complete the CARE form, get feedback from your supervisor or tutor, and
edit or re-draft as required. You may need to go through several drafts before
this is ready. You should attempt to fill in all sections at this stage, including
for risk assessment and ethics.
 When ready, share with your supervisor on the LEO system.
Supervisor scrutinises the form, particularly for academic content and risk
issues. They may wish to speak to you about specific points.
* Course Directors or personal tutors can give approval if your supervisor is
still to be identified or confirmed.
Supervisor approval
You should incorporate their feedback (see notes on revising the form)
Course Director
approval

If approved, you may then request that the supervisor sign the final
version of the CARE form on the LEO system.

If not approved, the supervisor will inform you and should give feedback
about what you need to change or improve. You should go back to the
proposal development stage, and make changes incorporating their
feedback.
Course Director (CD) scrutinises the form, to confirm it is academically
suitable for the MSc and that any key risks have been identified. They may
wish to speak to you about specific points. * For courses with more than one
Course Director, only one needs to give approval.

If approved, you may request that the CD sign the form electronically. If
relevant, the Faculty Safety Supervisor will also be able to sign the
form electronically before submitting to the MSc Research Ethics
Committee.

If not approved, the CD will inform you and should give feedback about
what you need to change or improve. You should go back to the
proposal development stage to make changes incorporating their
feedback and put a revised form through for supervisor and CD approval.
(Faculty Safety
Supervisor approval)
* where relevant – esp.
as indicated by answers
to Question 43c and 48a
and b of the CARE form
In certain cases only, relating to work with hazardous substances as clearly
indicated on the form, you will need to seek specific approval from the Faculty
Safety Supervisor (FSS).
* This step is only likely to be required for ITD courses.
You should incorporate their feedback (see notes on revising the form)
Ethics approval
All studies will be submitted to the MSc Ethics Committee for review. Queries
regarding the ethics review process or with the LEO system may be sent to
MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk . Your form will be scrutinised by a member of a
sub-group of the MSc Research Ethics Committee, who may also wish to
contact you with queries or to clarify any specific matters.
* Please also include any other relevant documentation, inc. copies of
information sheet and consent form for collecting data from human subjects,
confirmation of local ethics approval received, etc.


If approved, the FSS may sign the form electronically on the LEO system;
then submit to MSc Research Ethics Committee. If not approved, the
FSS will inform you and should give feedback about what you need to
change or improve. You may be able to simply re-submit for FSS
approval if changes will not require fresh approval from your supervisor
and CD.
If approved, the MSc Research Ethics Committee will inform you via an
approval letter– and may also have further comments. You should then
submit the final approved form to TSO.
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Approval step
Submission to TSO
Instructions

If not approved, the MSc Research Ethics Committee will inform you and
should give feedback. This may include cases where they simply need
you to revise the proposal based on their input before it can be approved.
You can re-submit for ethics approval, and will need to obtain new
signatures from your Supervisor, CD and FSS as the CARE form will
have changed. (see notes on revising the form). More substantial
revisions may need you to go back to the proposal development
stage.

Request for clarification, the MSc Research Ethics Committee may
request additional information from you before they make a decision as to
whether to approve or not approve your proposal. You will be informed of
this via a request for clarification letter. You will be able to respond to the
Committee by going back to your original application and changing the
answer to Q2f to ‘responding to request for clarification’ and uploading a
covering letter. You will then need to obtain new signatures and submit
your application to the Committee.
When all required approvals have been obtained, you should submit a final
copy of the CARE form to the Teaching Support Office by email – see
section 4.18 below for full instructions including email addresses to use. The
form can be saved at any time in pdf format. Please also retain an
electronic copy as you will need to include it (without the front sheet) in your
final project report.
Please also see Section 4.19 “Revisions during the approval process” later in this handbook for details about
reasons why staff may not approve proposals at certain stages, and what to do if so.
Other approval steps – peer review of proposals
PHP courses use an additional ‘staff peer review’ sub-stage in the approval process, which comes between
proposal development and formal supervisor approval. In this, the draft CARE form is sent to two tutors,
neither of whom are the designated supervisor, who provide brief written comments on the draft project
proposal. The comments are returned to the student, who should discuss further with the supervisor and
revise their draft form accordingly before submitting it for formal supervisor approval.
Other approval steps – local ethics approval
If approval is required from an external body (e.g. local ethics approval, NHS research governance
approval), then this must be followed up and obtained separately – see more detailed guidance later in this
handbook, under Section 6 “Ethics Approval”. Such approval does not have to be obtained prior to getting
the CARE form approved; but it should always be in place before you commence the local work in question.
Other approval steps – restricted travel
In the very rare case that you wish to undertake a project in a country or region to which the Foreign &
Commonwealth Office advises against travel, you will also be required to complete a separate Restricted
Travel Safety form, get it endorsed by your supervisor and Course Director, and then put forward for
approval by the Safety Policy Adviser and Chief Operating Officer of the School. Such approval is not
normally given, and may only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Further guidance about this is given
in Section 5.7 of this handbook.
4.17 Approval deadlines
School-level project deadlines (covering submissions to the MSc Research Ethics Committee and lodging
approved CARE forms with TSO) are set out below. Please also take careful note of the specific courselevel deadlines for obtaining supervisor and Course Director approval, as given in Part 2 of this
handbook. For extended projects (MSc IID only), please be aware that different deadlines will apply; those
mentioned below are for standard-length projects.
Any students having problems finalising their proposal or obtaining approval should ensure their Course
Director is aware before the deadline is reached.
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The most critical School-level deadline is for Ethics approval. For 2015-2016, the standard deadline for
students to submit a completed CARE form to the MSc Research Ethics Committee is Monday 11 April
2016 (just over two weeks after the end of Term 2).
 Course deadlines should have been set to allow you time for your supervisor, Course Director, and
where relevant Faculty Safety Supervisor, sufficient time to review and authorise the form electronically
and incorporate their feedback ahead of the Ethics deadline. Staff may be away, and it’s important to get
their input at as early a stage as possible.
 The MSc Research Ethics Committee submission deadline has been set to enable the Committee to
deal with the substantial workload of reviewing a very large number of student projects in time for work to
commence in the summer. It should be strictly adhered to, and applies across the School (with the
exception of two MScs where projects are almost all undertaken overseas, and an extra two weeks are
allowed to confirm local ethics approval).

Note that ITD MSc projects, if taking place overseas have a slightly later MSc Research Ethics
Committee submission deadline of Monday 18 April 2016. This has been specially agreed for these
courses only(if unsure if this effects you please check with your Course Director).
Ethics approval will typically take 4 to 5 weeks from the point of submission, though this can be longer if the
project is particularly complex. Normally, you should expect to have all approval in place by around the
beginning of May, i.e. early in Term 3.
The date by which a final approved CARE form should be submitted to the Teaching Support Office is ideally
no later than Friday 06 May 2016. Course Directors and TSO Administrators will work together to check that
all students have submitted completed proposals by that time.
 There is some flexibility in this deadline for submission to TSO, and it may be amended at the request of
Course Directors (see Part 2 of this handbook).
 However, please remember that you must not commence the main work of the project until you
have received all required approvals. This is particularly important for anything involving lab work or
field-based data collection, or with ethics implications

For ITD MSc projects, if taking place overseas, a later MSc Ethics Committee submission deadline
applies, and the date by which approved CARE forms should be lodged with TSO is Friday 20 May 2016
for these courses only.
Staff will endeavour to accommodate late submissions, but the School reserves the right to defer approval or
marking of projects for which proposals are submitted at an unduly late stage.
 If you anticipate delays in being able to submit a proposal for approval, you should let your supervisor,
Course Director and (where relevant) the MSc Research Ethics Committee know as soon as possible.
 However please be aware that if you fail to meet the deadlines for submitting your proposal (the Ethics
deadline is particularly critical), you risk approval being delayed, during which time you will not be
permitted to start work. This may make it necessary to defer the work, or marking, to the following
academic year; and thus delay completion of your degree.
 Even if you are permitted to proceed with a late-approval project for marking in the same academic year,
you should be aware that late submissions are likely to jeopardise the quality of your work, which may
affect marks.
You will not be penalised if there are delays on the part of staff in approving your proposal; but you should
always let your supervisor and Course Director know if such a delay is preventing you from beginning work.
4.18 Recording approval and submitting the CARE form
Staff members’ formal approval for the CARE form should be obtained via the signatures section in the LEO
system. Note that this should only be done after you have finalised the form, incorporating any comments,
as should you edit the form after signatures are requested, these will be voided and a new request sent
through.
Contacting staff
When ready, you should email the relevant member of staff informing them that you will be finalising the form
and a request will be made for them to authorise the form by signing electronically. Ensure that your
supervisor, CD and FSS have all registered on the LEO system. In section 13 of the CARE form, you will be
able to click on “request signature” and sign the form as applicant.
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Staff responding to you
Having received your request for approval via the LEO system, staff may first wish to discuss specific items
with you face-to-face or by phone, or may email you back with specific queries. However the response to
your request for authorisation will be as follows:
Either:
The staff member will confirm by signing electronically the form
Or:
The staff member may clearly specify that they are not giving approval at the present time, and
advise on what you need to change or do differently in your proposal in order to gain approval.

Section 4.19 below gives further guidance on what to do where revisions are requested.
The process should work in this way for all involved staff (supervisor, Course Director, Faculty Safety
Supervisor) as they each give any required approvals. Once all parties have authorised/signed electronically
your CARE form, you will then be able to submit to the MSc ethics committee by clicking on “submit”.
You should email staff at their LSHTM email addresses unless they are based externally or have specifically
asked you to use another address.
Communications with the MSc Research Ethics Committee should go via the MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk
address. Once you have submitted the application, you will receive an ethics reference number which is
important to keep a record of.
Note that the School’s Safety Policy Adviser is a different role to that of Faculty Safety Supervisor. The
Safety Policy Adviser does not need to see or sign off individual CARE forms, and is only likely to become
involved in cases where you submit a separate request to work in a country or region to which the Foreign &
Commonwealth Office advise against travel.
Saving approval details
Once you have received an email from the LEO system giving approval, you should ensure you save a copy.
You may later be asked to provide this as evidence of approval. The LEO system will retain copies of all
correspondence which you can access at any time. You can save copies of the approval letters and
application form to your hard drive.
To save a copy of an email:
 Open up the email in the School’s webmail application, select from the “From: “ part of the message title
down to the end of the relevant part of the message text, then copy and paste into whichever wordprocessing package you are using.
 Make sure you capture all relevant message header details (who it’s from, the date and time, who it was
sent to, the subject, the filenames of any attachments) as well as the main message.
 Save a copy with an appropriate filename, along with your copy of the form it is approving.
Submitting final approved CARE form to TSO
Once you have received all necessary approvals, you must email a final approved version of the form in pdf
format to your Course Administrator in the Teaching Support Office. TSO will retain this as the School’s
master file version.
As noted previously, you should aim to have your CARE form fully approved and submit a final version to
TSO by Friday 06 May 2016. There is some flexibility in this date, and it may be adjusted by Course
Directors. However if you are having any problems finalising the proposal or obtaining approval, please let
your Course Director know – they will want to check that all students are on track with their project plans by
May at latest.
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

MSc
Faculty
Initials
Public Health Eye Care
ITD
PHEC
Control of Infectious Diseases
ITD
CID
Demography & Health
EPH
D&H
Epidemiology
EPH
EPI
Global Mental Health
EPH
GMH
Immunology of Infectious Diseases
ITD
IID
Medical Entomology for Disease Control
ITD
MEDiC
Medical Microbiology
ITD
MM
Medical Parasitology
ITD
MP
Medical Statistics
EPH
MS
Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases
ITD
MBID
Nutrition for Global Health
EPH
NGH
Public Health – all streams
PHP
PH
Public Health in Developing Countries
ITD
PHDC
Reproductive & Sexual Health Research
EPH
RSHR
Tropical Medicine in International Health
ITD
TMIH
Documents should be saved as “Approved CARE form” followed by the initials of your MSc (as per
the table above) and followed by your name. For example “Approved CARE form – MSc PH – Your
name”.
Please check that the relevant approval boxes have been filled in correctly on the form, and that all other
relevant sections have been filled out as required.
Please also ensure you retain an electronic version of the final approved form as you will need to include it
with your final project report in due course. You will be able to access the application form at any time via
the LEO system.
4.19 Revisions during the approval process
During all stages of the process, staff are likely to give you feedback on your proposal and may request
amendments before they approve it. This may be fairly informal, particularly with supervisors and Course
Directors advising on ‘draft’ proposals and suggesting changes to make. Members of the MSc Research
Ethics Committee who are reviewing your project may also get in touch with queries, feedback or requests
for aspects to be revised.
The following notes set out what you need to do when making revisions to the CARE form after it has first
been put forward for approval.
Approval given, with feedback or minor revisions
Sometimes staff will give approval but at the same time make further suggestions for aspects to improve. If
so, you should update the form to incorporate their feedback before passing it on to the next stage of
approval. You should also give those staff a copy of the revised form, for the record. Remember that
updating the form will void any signatures received and you will not be able to submit to the MSc Research
Ethics Committee until all signatures are in place.
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Approval withheld
If staff are not willing to approve the proposal as it stands –– then they should return the form to you
unapproved, letting you know why and discussing revisions you should make before they can give
approval.
Approval being withheld does not mean your project is being rejected – rather, it will usually be that staff
require you to further develop or clarify it in order for them to give endorsement. Where you need to make
revisions, you will need to assess whether they are minor (and can just be re-submitted to the same person),
or major (requiring you to go back to an earlier stage in the approval process).
Making minor revisions
It is permissible to make small changes to your proposal even after it has been approved by some or all
involved staff, without having to get it “re-approved”, provided such changes are minor and do not affect the
previously-approved aspects. For example:
 If prompted by the Faculty Safety Supervisor, you could add some notes about additional precautions to
be taken with pathogens – provided these do not affect the main approach to project work already
agreed with the supervisor and Course Director.
 If prompted by the MSc Research Ethics Committee, you could add further details about local ethics
approval you will be seeking before commencing work at a non-LSHTM site – provided this does not
affect any other aspects of the planned project.
When you have made revisions, you should re-submit the updated form for approval by the person who
requested them. If they withheld their approval previously, it needs to be formally given before you move on
to the next step in the approval process.
Making major revisions
If you need to update your proposal after it has been approved by some or all involved staff, and the
revisions are significant enough to make a material difference to the academic content of the project, risks
involved or ethics considerations, then you should seek re-approval from all relevant staff.
For example:
 If the Faculty Safety Supervisor requests changes, e.g. to use a completely different procedure for
handling pathogens, which would affect the academic content of the project and change the risk
considerations your supervisor and Course Director had already approved.
 If the MSc Research Ethics Committee requests changes, e.g. in your proposed data handling methods
for assuring the confidentiality of participant data, which would affect the academic content of the project
already approved by your supervisor and Course Director.
Such re-approval should usually be quick and straightforward, since the staff involved will already have read
the main part of your proposal. It is helpful to identify such revisions within the CARE form itself – e.g. stating
“[Details added on recommendation of Faculty Safety Supervisor]” where you have added information about
precautions with pathogens.
In the rare instance that objections to your proposal are so major as to necessitate an entirely new proposal
(e.g. if the proposal is judged too high-risk or inappropriate on safety or ethics grounds), you will be told this,
and asked to discuss further with your supervisor. In any such cases, you may ask for a deadline extension
to give you sufficient time to work through the process again.
Updating the Student Declaration
If you update the CARE form in any of the ways detailed above at any point after submitting it for approval by
staff, you will need to re-sign the student declaration and obtain all signatures again.
4.20 Revisions after final approval
Once you start your main research work, after your final CARE form has been fully approved, your actual
project may begin to develop in ways that differ from your original proposal. Usually this will be fine, as a
natural outcome of scientific method and the process of discovery. However you must consult staff if, in
the course of the project, you need to significantly alter your approach from that set out on the CARE
form – including any changes affecting safety, risk assessment or ethics matters. Such changes
should be discussed with your supervisor first.
If the changes relate to academic aspects only, and your supervisor is made aware of and happy with them,
then that is fine – but you should explain any more notable changes in your final project report, e.g. in an
annex.
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If the potential changes relate to safety, risk assessment or ethics, your supervisor will advise on whether
updated approval needs to be sought from relevant staff – e.g. the Faculty Safety Supervisor for lab safety
issues, or the MSc Research Ethics Committee for ethics issues.
NB that if you make such changes without checking with your School-based supervisor, you may be liable to
penalties from the School – potentially including failing your project. If you have a supervisor at another
institution, checking with them will not be sufficient. However, if your School-based supervisor has been
informed, they will be responsible for advising you correctly.
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5. SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT
The School has a legal ‘duty of care’ towards you in all studies you undertake as part of your degree, and
you in turn have a duty to undertake these in line with School policies and procedures. This is particularly
important in relation to projects, for which you as a student (rather than School staff) have substantive control
over how, where and when you work.
To comply with this duty of care and related insurance requirements, the School requires a risk assessment
to be carried out for all MSc projects. This should be done using the CARE form, which has been designed to
highlight and prompt any further consideration of key issues. Approval of this section of the CARE form must
be obtained from your project supervisor and Course Director, plus your Faculty Safety Supervisor where
relevant, before work begins.
 If your project will involve laboratory work or work away from LSHTM (especially field-based work) or
significant travel (especially overseas), then important safety issues will need to be considered and
addressed as part of the CARE form.
 If your project work will be only be carried out either (i) at LSHTM, but not in labs or involving hazardous
activities, or (ii) in libraries elsewhere in the UK, or (iii) at your personal residence in the UK, then work
as these locations is considered as standard study and does not require detailed risk assessment
information in the CARE form.
You should also be aware that any accidents during the course of project work which result in an
injury must be notified to the Safety Policy Adviser in the form of a factual report.
Comprehensive information about safety at the School can be found on the School’s safety web-pages at
http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/safety . Note that where safety guidance documents refer to ‘risk assessment’ or a
‘risk assessment form’, then for MSc project reports this means the CARE form. You do not need to
complete a risk assessment other than using the CARE form.
LSHTM students registered on intercollegiate courses for which projects come under the other college’s
remit (i.e. MSc HPPF with LSE and MSc Vet Epi and One Health with RVC) should normally follow the other
college’s risk assessment processes. However if you are on such a course but your project work is primarily
being done at or through LSHTM (e.g. in LSHTM labs), you should check with your LSHTM Course Director
or Faculty Safety Supervisor as to whether you need to carry out an LSHTM risk assessment.
5.1 Laboratory work safety requirements
It is vital to ensure that additional safety training is given to you before any laboratory based project begins
and that a high degree of suitable supervision is maintained during the practical work. If you as a student
have any concerns about your training, please don’t hesitate to speak to your supervisor.
Please specifically be aware that:
 The CARE form needs to be approved by the Faculty Safety Supervisor before commencing any work
with hazardous substances such as pathogenic organisms, human blood or radiochemicals.
 All MSc students expecting to work in a lab setting must read the School’s lab safety manual, at:
http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/safety/laboratory/laboratory_safety_for_msc_students.pdf, and have had their
project risk assessment (CARE form) approved before gaining access to the laboratory.
 Practical work should be overseen by your project supervisor, or another nominated member of the
research group, until such a time as you (the student) are considered competent to continue without
direct supervision. Work outside normal school hours will not be permitted without approval of the project
supervisor and Faculty Safety Supervisor.
 As well as basic laboratory skills, it is important that you (the student) are given adequate training in use
of central lab equipment, such as ultra centrifuges. Such equipment not only poses a threat to personal
safety if used incorrectly, but damage caused by misuse can be very expensive.
 Projects involving use of infective stages of category 3 pathogens will not be permitted.
 Projects involving genetically modified organisms or radioisotopes must be cleared with the Faculty
Safety Supervisor well in advance.
 If a supervisor is likely to be absent during the course of a project, a suitable designated alternative must
be nominated in advance.
All supervisors of laboratory based MSc project reports should also be aware of the requirements above.
Completed CARE forms should demonstrate understanding of all major lab-based risks relevant to the
project.
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5.2 Work away from LSHTM
Some LSHTM MSc courses allow projects to be undertaken off-site – e.g. elsewhere in London or the UK, or
overseas. The location and type of work may vary greatly, from laboratory-based studies to field observation
and interviews with health personnel.
It is important to make yourself aware of any potential risks or safety issues which may apply for any work
you may be carrying out away from School buildings. You should discuss this with your supervisor as part of
the process of completing the CARE form and getting it approved. Further guidance or restrictions to be
aware of are given in Section 5.5 later in this handbook, about completing “CARE Section 12b – Risk
Assessment”.
Work away from the School does not just mean fieldwork or primary data collection – it may apply for many
other types of project, e.g. doing data analysis at another institution, placement work doing policy research at
a non-governmental organisation, work in a library or archive outside the UK as part of a literature review
project, etc.
The only areas where work done away from the School will not require a detailed risk assessment are for
library-based work elsewhere in the UK, or for work at your personal/family residence in the UK or overseas
– though you still need to make clear that you will be going there.
Code of Practice on off-site work
If working away from the School, you must also read the guidance and information available at
https://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/Services/Travel/index This contains a wealth of important and useful information, to
be borne in mind before and during travel – including about risk assessment and safety responsibilities in
general; guidance on what to consider when preparing for off-site work, including completing the risk
assessment; field surveys and social research; accident reporting; emergency procedures; travel health
overseas, including School procedures and advice from the Department of Health; School travel insurance;
and more. Completed CARE forms should demonstrate understanding of these issues.
If you will be doing fieldwork, your completed CARE form should demonstrate that relevant points,
precautions and good practice have been considered, and you should indicate how you plan to minimise
risks. You should take a broad view of all issues that might affect you in the field – e.g. interactions with the
public (what kind of people you will be visiting/interviewing and where); working or travelling alone (noting
modes of transport to be taken and times of day you would plan to travel), etc.
Restrictions on off-site work
It is also very important to note that restrictions may apply in where you may conduct work off-site or
overseas, and whether this is permitted at all.
 The School does not permit work in countries to which the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises
against travel.
 Furthermore, certain courses may not permit any substantive off-site work or collection of new project
data, e.g. because the academic content of the project is intended to showcase the skills you have learnt
being applied to existing data. If this is the case for your course, it will be made clear in Part 2 of this
handbook.
Contact arrangements
At the time you are filling out the CARE form, you won’t necessarily have a final itinerary or be able to
provide full details of how to contact you while you’re away. However, you should have all this information by
the time you set off for your work outside the School. You should discuss intended contact arrangements
with your supervisor, as per question about this on the CARE form, to agree by what methods (e.g. email,
Skype, phone, face-to-face meetings) and how frequently you expect to be in communication or how easily
contactable you expect to be.
You should also make clear on the CARE form about your ability to call for emergency medical
assistance and/or evacuation services in the event of an accident – in the case of overseas projects,
assistance or services may be located at a considerable distance from the off-site location (e.g. on another
continent). More information about such procedures is given on the safety web-pages.
Before departure you should ensure that you have details of all key contacts to take with you. If
travelling overseas, you should particularly ensure you take contact numbers for Medical Evacuation (via
insurers), insurers, details of the appropriate in-country high consulate or embassy, and any relevant NGO or
other local contacts.
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It is recommended that you give your supervisor a latest itinerary and contact sheet just prior to departure –
including both contact details for ‘standard’ work, and emergency contact details (e.g. the main offices of the
organisation you will be working at) in case they should be required.
You should also confirm your supervisor’s contact details for this period – many LSHTM staff tend to travel or
work abroad during the summer months, and they themselves may not be easily contactable by standard
routes such as email.
5.3 Arrangements with external institutions
Projects undertaken away from the School are normally expected to be based at an established site or with a
specific organisation – e.g. at a hospital, college, research institute, NGO office, field station, or similar – for
the main data collection element. In some cases your LSHTM project supervisor will be able to arrange this
or facilitate appropriate contacts for you to make the arrangements; or you may wish to set this up directly
yourself using your own contacts.
 Your project supervisor should ensure that local arrangements comply with the School’s requirements.
This means ensuring that the host institution meets its duty of care towards you, and that all legislation
appropriate to the country is taken into account, including arrangements for ethics approval.
 If you have initiated the contact leading to the placement or co-supervision arrangements, you may need
to follow up on these matters on behalf of your supervisor, in order for your project proposal to be
approved by the School.
 The information you give in the CARE form should help demonstrate that you have sought and received
appropriate and up-to-date information about the research site, including health and safety advice.
 Where specific hazards may be involved at the local site (e.g. work with pathogens, blood or
radiochemicals when based in a lab outside the School), please ensure you seek out and read local
safety guidance in addition to LSHTM manuals and guidance.
You should usually have support at this ‘local site’ from a co-supervisor or technical advisor who is a member
of staff at the institution or organisation involved; or sometimes, an LSHTM member of staff will be based at
the site and able to act as your main or co-supervisor. This should be confirmed when arranging your work at
the site, and details should be given on the CARE form as part of your risk assessment. If no-one at the site
is able to formally act as your co-supervisor or advisor, it is even more important to ensure that you obtain
written agreement in advance about exactly what support or facilities the site will be able to provide to you.
It may often be appropriate to arrange to do your project at your normal place of employment – e.g. where
you have been and/or will be working before and after the course, or where you may still be working parttime while studying part-time. However in such circumstances, you should be careful to distinguish between
your role as a staff member at the institution/organisation, and your role as an LSHTM student carrying out a
project. You should make arrangements on the same basis as set out above, i.e. ensuring that a more senior
member of your employer’s staff knows what you will be doing for your LSHTM project and can confirm that
this is satisfactory.
5.4 Work outside the UK
Risk assessment is particularly important for project work you wish to undertake outside this UK. You will
also need to request specific LSHTM travel insurance for any overseas travel.
Travel Clinic advice (required prior to travel)
All students should obtain medical advice prior to any travel overseas for your MSc project. Students
with pre-existing health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disorders, immunesuppression or taking long term medication, are strongly advised to seek advice from a travel health
specialist.
The School has an agreement with the Travel Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases for them to provide
students with a health advice consultation and any necessary vaccinations, anti-malarials or medication for
MSc project work overseas. The cost of this will be paid by the School, up to a set maximum, provided this is
booked through the School.
 School-supported appointments cannot be made until after your CARE form has been approved by your
supervisor and Course Director.
 As soon as your CARE form has been approved, you should complete the ‘Health Consultation Request’
form available from the Teaching Support Office. Please give details of the country or countries you will
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
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be visiting, plus any more specific information you can provide about the area(s) where you will be
working.
Take the completed form to be signed by the Team Manager for your Faculty in the Teaching Support
Office (Kevin Jones for EPH, Lindsey Dowsen for ITD, or Lisa Grisolia for PHP). If you are unsure which
Faculty your course comes under, see your Course Handbook.
TSO will then fax the signed form to the Travel Clinic, so that they have a copy to hand when you
telephone to make an appointment. The original form, plus two copies, will be returned to you.
Please then telephone the Travel Clinic to make an appointment – the form gives telephone numbers.
Depending on the country/area you are visiting, your appointment will either be with a doctor or a nurse.
The Travel Clinic of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases is located at Mortimer Market (off Tottenham
Court Road), Capper Street, London WC1E 6JB. Please take the original TSO-signed form plus one
copy when you go to the Clinic; these will be taken from you. The other copy is for you to keep.
Further related details are given on the School’s Safety web-pages at
https://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/Services/Travel/index
Travel insurance
If you will be travelling outside the UK primarily for the purpose of your MSc project, you must
register for the School’s free travel insurance. This provides emergency medical and insurance cover to
members of staff and students working abroad on School business. Full information about this is available at
http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/overseas/insurance
The procedure to register for the School’s travel insurance is as follows:
 Any student travelling overseas as part of your studies should complete the "Travel Approval and
Insurance Application” form, available at https://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/travel/travel_approval_form.docx
 This will need to be approved by an appropriate School signatory (check with your Course Director), and
returned to the Finance Office (contact insurance@lshtm.ac.uk, or telephone +44 (0)20 7927 2076.).
 You must check whether the area to which you are travelling is the subject of a Foreign Office Advisory
Notice (see www.fco.gov.uk/travel). Travel to such areas of risk is not normally permitted, and a special
Restricted Travel Safety form must be approved for this – see sub-section 5.6 later in this chapter.
 Travellers, who are pregnant, or who have a pre-existing medical condition, must check with their doctor
that they are fit to travel.
 If you are a non-UK national and wish to be repatriated to your home country in the event of a medical
emergency, you must specifically notify insurance@lshtm.ac.uk. Note that should this then occur,
medical insurance under the School’s policy will not be valid in your home country after such repatriation.
Otherwise however, you would normally be repatriated to the UK and fully covered in the UK under this
scheme.
 European nationals who will be travelling within Europe are expected to obtain the European Health
Insurance Card (EHIC), available from the Post Office, from the website
https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do or by telephoning 0845 606 2030. Cards are valid for 3 or 5
years and can be renewed up to 6 months before their expiry date.
 If your partner or family members will be accompanying you, they can be added to your application for
insurance coverage, but you must reimburse the School for the associated cost of covering them.
 Please ensure you send in your application for insurance well before you travel. At the very latest,
it should be with the School's Finance Office 5 days before the date of departure; or at least 15 days
before departure if they have a pre-existing medical condition, are pregnant, or are planning to travel to
an area of risk as highlighted on the Foreign Office website.
You must not travel overseas for project work unless you are covered by the School's insurance and
carrying an emergency assistance card. You may not use your personal insurance in place of the
School's insurance.
Advice for Emergencies
Please be aware of the following advice relating to the School’s free travel insurance in case an emergency
occurs:
 Always call the helpline before going to a hospital. Make sure that other people know that you have
emergency medical insurance and that they should call the helpline on your behalf, if you are unable to
do so.
 Keep a note of the emergency no with you at all times, and keep your emergency assistance card, or
details of the insurance, where they can be found easily if you are unable to call the helpline yourself.
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Key information is as follows:
 Emergency Telephone number: +44 20 8762 8326
 Insurance company name: AIG (Formerly Chartis Insurance UK Ltd)
 The School's Policy No is 10005152 (policy is in the name of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine)
The LSHTM Safety Manager and the Finance Office insurance section (insurance@lshtm.ac.uk) should also
be informed of any accident or emergency as soon as possible.
Local support overseas
For project work overseas, the School encourages arrangements where you will have access to support from
a member of LSHTM staff at the overseas site – whether such staff take the formal role of supervisor, or act
as a co-supervisor.
The information you give in the CARE form should indicate which person(s) or other sources of information,
with relevant experience and knowledge, have given you advice you on local issues that may pose risks in
the region or country to which you intend to travel.
Health awareness on returning from travel overseas
It is important to note that if you are unwell on return from project work overseas:
 If feverish or acutely unwell with no clear cause, go direct to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases on the
2nd floor of the Mortimer Market centre to be assessed by the doctor on duty.
 If not acutely unwell as above, visit your GP requesting a referral to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases for
more detailed investigations.
 Any febrile illness within three months after return from a malaria-endemic region should raise the
suspicion of malaria and travellers should immediately seek urgent attention from their local A&E
department or the Hospital for Tropical Diseases for a blood film.
 If not based in London after return from such travels, please seek appropriate alternative medical
attention if unwell.
5.5 CARE Section 12 – Risk Assessment Aspects
Section 12 of the CARE form covers safety and risk assessment. The School has a duty of care towards you
as a student, and therefore needs to know where you will be working during your project and whether any
specific hazards may be involved. You in turn are expected to give full and relevant information for this risk
assessment, and to be responsible for ensuring your own safety during project work.
Bear in mind that you may not be able to fully answer all questions in this section of CARE until you have a
fairly clear idea of the academic approach your project will take (as described in the guidance earlier on
developing your proposal). Therefore as you finalise your CARE form, you may need to update your risk
assessment answers so they fully reflect your intended project.
You should aim to give sufficiently detailed information in this section of CARE to enable staff reviewing the
form to satisfy themselves that adequate safeguards will be in place for your project – e.g. to confirm that you
have sought relevant safety advice and identified potential local issues prior to work at an external site or
travel overseas; to note travel safety advice you will be following; to clarify how much support will be
available to you at an external site; or to describe particular issues or hazards you have identified, and the
steps you are taking to avoid problems with them.
You should normally have discussed the intended work with your supervisor, and it can be very helpful to
write down the key points from this discussion and include them at relevant points in the CARE form. This
can save repeating the same discussion later on with your Course Director, Faculty Safety Supervisor, or
even members of the MSc Research Ethics Committee. If such discussions do not take place until after you
have submitted a version of CARE for sign-off by your supervisor, you or your supervisor can still update the
form to include specific points you have talked about (see guidance given earlier on making revisions to
CARE during the approval process).
Some examples of completed CARE forms based on past students’ projects, indicating the kind of
information you may need to give in the Risk Assessment section of CARE, are available at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/taughtcourses/studentforms/careforms.html
Note that the section on risk assessment is now in Section 12 on the LEO system. All questions have
remained the same.
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Types of risk
This sub-section of CARE should be completed by all students. These answers, about intended
location(s) and potential hazards of project work, will determine which subsequent sections you may need to
complete (as indicated on the form).
 You need to make explicit where your project will take place – ticking all relevant boxes that apply. If you
will be working only at LSHTM, at libraries elsewhere in the UK, or at your home in the UK then this
should not present risk assessment concerns and you will not need to give further details. However if
you will be doing any other form of work in the UK or abroad (especially anything involving fieldwork,
isolated work, work with organisations, interactions with other people, or any significant travel) then you
will need to complete later sections of the form. If you will be working at your personal residence outside
the UK, you also need to say so as this is relevant to the School’s insurance.
 You then also need to indicate whether you will be working with any hazardous materials, whether the
project may involve any other hazardous activities, and whether any special requirements may apply. If
you tick ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you will need to complete whichever sub-section is relevant later
on.
Work away from LSHTM
This sub-section of CARE should be completed if you will be doing any work away from LSHTM (i.e. other
than work at home or visits to UK libraries).
 The questions here prompt you to give as much relevant information as possible about where you will be
based, whether you will be supported by LSHTM or external staff during your time away from the School,
the type of work you will be carrying out, and your arrangements for contact with your main supervisor
while away.
 Be aware that certain courses do not permit non-desk-based projects (i.e. those covered by this section).
If this is the case for your MSc, it will be made clear in Part 2 of this handbook.
Work outside the UK
This sub-section of CARE should be completed by students who will be doing any work outside the UK. As
well as covering work abroad at a research site or in the field (for which you should also have filled in the
previous sub-section), this covers any work you may expect to be doing at your family home or personal
residence in your home country, if your home country is not the UK.
 You need to tick to indicate what form of work you will be doing while abroad, i.e. based at home only, or
spending any time at a research site, or spending any time in the field (you may be doing either of the
last two options, or even both).
 You must also name the regions(s), country or countries involved, and check their status on the
Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Travel Advice Notices available via
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country .
 There are some entire countries, or specific regions within countries, to which the FCO advise
against travel (see the ‘Warnings’ section on the right-hand side of the FCO webpage linked above;
this links through to full lists). The School will not normally permit project work to be undertaken in
such regions. In exceptional circumstances only, requests may be considered by the Safety
Committee – for which a separate form is required.
 Otherwise, even if the FCO does not advise against travel to the country or region in question, you
should still find they provide useful information about current issues of which you should be aware –
e.g. as well as an overall travel summary, they will give information on safety and security, local laws
and customs, entry requirements, health, risks such as natural disasters, and other or general
information.

You should also be aware that for travel overseas, you will need to obtain travel advice and any
relevant vaccinations, and obtain travel insurance, well in advance of departure. You should confirm
this on the CARE form. Free LSHTM travel insurance can be applied for using a separate form, as
described earlier (and project work should be the primary focus of your trip).
Work with hazardous substances
This sub-section of CARE should be completed by students who will be doing any work with hazardous
substances including pathogenic organisms, human blood or radiochemicals. NB that this will require
approval from the Faculty Safety Supervisor. Work of this nature will apply mostly for ITD courses.
 While the questions in this sub-section of CARE should be self-explanatory, further guidance is available
in the School’s lab safety manual for students at
http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/safety/laboratory/laboratory_safety_for_msc_students.pdf . If you have any
specific concerns or queries, please talk to your Faculty Safety Supervisor.
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
Guidance about whether health surveillance may be necessary, and related occupational health issues,
is given both in the main lab safety manual and in additional appendices available via the safety webpages at http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/safety
Precautions against hazards
This sub-section of CARE should be completed if any potentially hazardous activities are likely to be carried
out during the project.
 This is intended as a catch-all section, for you to indicate any aspect of the project you believe may
involve risks or hazards. It may cover any work with pathogens, blood or radiochemicals (as referred to
in the sub-section above); work with any other hazardous substances such as dangerous chemicals or
highly flammable material; or any other risks – including broader contextual/environmental issues for any
work outside LSHTM or the UK, such as conflict, crime, endemic disease, lack of medical facilities, poor
sanitation, poor vehicle safety in public or private transport, dangers in travel outside hours of daylight,
political matters that may be unsafe to discuss except with trusted individuals, etc.
 Please number all distinct hazards, and use the same numbering when detailing the corresponding
precautions to be taken against them.
 You should not normally need to write at length or go into significant detail. For example, a potential
hazard might be
“6. Access to field site is by private transport only, with local vehicle safety and road
safety known to be poor”;
with precaution
“6. Transport to and from site has been arranged using trusted and seatbelt-equipped
vehicle owned by NGO responsible for field site”.
 If the project supervisor feels that it is appropriate in light of the risks identified in this sub-section, the
Faculty Safety Supervisor’s approval may also need to be obtained as part of the risk assessment /
CARE approval process.
Special requirements
This sub-section of CARE should be completed if any special requirements or other concerns need to be
taken into account for you as a student, study participants or colleagues.
 This should include any factors relevant to participation in the project. For example: potential need for
emergency medical care; availability of appropriate first aid; medical conditions; disability-related
matters; allergies; food and diet; provision of drinking water; access/mobility/transport matters; language
issues; religious restrictions; childcare requirements; emergency plans including fire safety; etc.
 This could obviously be a very long list. You are not expected to note every conceivable requirement or
eventuality, but simply to think about and note any matters that might have a significant impact on the
way you plan and carry out your project. For example: location of work; legal requirements that will apply
for the project site; arrangements for contact and communication between student and supervisor;
whether any specific aspect of the project may potentially result in a need for medical treatment; etc.
5.6 Restricted Travel Safety form
Projects are not normally permitted to be undertaken in areas of high risk as defined by the Foreign &
Commonwealth Office (FCO). If you are hoping to travel abroad, you should always check their Travel
Advice Notices at www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country to see whether
the FCO advise against travel to the country or region concerned. Question 46 of the CARE form specifically
prompts to check this.
The School does not normally permit such travel for project work. In exceptional circumstances only,
requests with clear justification may be considered by the Safety Committee and require approval by the
Safety Manager and Secretary & Registrar. Requests must be put forward using an additional ‘Restricted
Travel Safety form’.
Where such permission is sought
 Your main CARE form (particularly the project outline in sections 3 and risk assessment in section 12b)
should already have been completed with an explanation of why the work needs to be undertaken in the
area in question.
 You then need to fill out the Restricted Travel Safety form, with further relevant details about you, your
proposed trip, and justification as to why an exception to the School’s normal policy on travel to high-risk
areas should be made in your case. The form itself gives fairly detailed guidance about the kind of
information you should provide.
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
Your project supervisor and Course Director should already have approved the overall risk assessment
as part of the CARE form, but should additionally indicate on this form as to whether they support the
request to work in the country or region indicated.
Staff do not have to support such student requests. If the project can reasonably be undertaken
elsewhere without affecting the academic quality of the work, they would be expected to encourage that
instead.
Approval process for restricted travel permission
 When complete, students should send an electronic copy of the Restricted Travel Safety form and their
CARE form to the Safety Manager (contact details given on Safety intranet pages at
http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/safety).
 The Safety Policy Adviser will circulate the application for consideration by a specialist sub-group of the
Safety Committee, for a decision to be made within 10 working days.
 If approved by this sub-group, the Safety Manager will forward the request to the Chief Operating Officer
for final approval and notification to the School’s insurers.
 Students will be informed of the final decision if the request is approved.
Important notes for cases where permission has been granted
 Permission will be required for every trip to an area that the FCO define as high-risk or to which they
advise against travel; and it must not be assumed that such permission will always be granted.
 During the course of project work, if a request arises for either additional or new trips to countries or
regions on the FCO advised-against list, then the above approval process must be repeated in full. A
new Restricted Travel Safety form and a revised CARE form should be submitted to the Safety Policy
Adviser. The revised version of the CARE form should clearly indicate new trips and any other changes;
but the CARE form itself will not normally need re-approval provided you are not proposing to amend the
actual type of work being carried out.
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6. ETHICS APPROVAL
6.1 Ethics policy for MSc students
This chapter constitutes the School’s formal policy and guidance on ethics approval for MSc projects –
please ensure you read it carefully.

The key point is that (in line with staff research studies), any student projects involving human
participants, or human data must be given formal LSHTM ethics approval before they can proceed. The
term ‘human data’ includes any documentary data (e.g. case studies, records from interviews), datasets
or biological samples.

The only projects which will not require LSHTM ethics approval are those not involving any human data
whatsoever, or for which the only human data involved is fully in the public domain (i.e. available to any
member of the public without having to register for use) and cannot directly or indirectly enable the
identification of living people.
o
All projects will be submitted via the LEO system. The administrator will triage the project
and either: Confirm that ethics approval is not required (for reasons stated above)
Or
o

Will forward to the MSc Research Ethics Committee for full review
You will also need to investigate and obtain any local ethics approval (i.e. from bodies external to
LSHTM) that may be required for the work being undertaken.
These requirements have been set by the MSc Research Ethics Committee, who may seek clarification of
any point in your project proposal, or request amendments before they can approve it. Filling out the CARE
form carefully, in light of this guidance, will help minimise such queries when they scrutinise your application
and thus reduce the possibility of approval being delayed.
NB that you may be liable to fail your project if you breach the School’s ethics requirements.
 If you do not gain ethics approval which is subsequently judged to have been necessary, whether from
LSHTM or an external body, you may be liable to fail.
 If you breach the School’s ethics guidelines in the course of carrying out your project, e.g. deviating from
the approved methodology and approach, you may be liable to fail (although Exam Boards have
discretion to treat minor or accidental breaches proportionately).
 If, after your CARE form has been approved, you need to change aspects of your project approach that
may affect ethics (e.g. collecting a new type of data from human participants), then this may be
permissible but you will need to apply for an amendment via the LEO system. You should follow the
procedures for this given earlier in this handbook under Section 4.20 about making “Revisions after
approval”. LSHTM ethics approval is given based on the proposal submitted in the CARE form, and it is
very important that the study you carry out is consistent with what the MSc Research Ethics
Committee has approved.
Staff responsibilities
Project supervisors or tutors are jointly responsible with their students for:
 Checking whether LSHTM or local ethics approval is likely to be required for the work proposed
(including whether any non-fully-public-domain human data is involved, whether the work falls within the
scope of ethics approval previously given for data collection and usage, etc.)
 Ensuring that applications are made to the School’s MSc Research Ethics Committee where required.
 Making certain that any required approvals have been given before student projects commence.
 Ensuring that documentary evidence of both local and LSHTM approval is received and held on file.
Course Directors also have a responsibility to ensure that applications are made to the School’s MSc
Research Ethics Committee where required.
If you have any queries on ethics-related matters which cannot be answered by your supervisor or Course
Director, please contact the MSc Research Ethics Committee via MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk
Intercollegiate courses
For LSHTM students registered on the MSc HPPF, MSc Vet Epi or MSc One Health joint courses, projects
come under the remit of LSE or RVC respectively as ‘lead college’ responsible for projects, and should follow
their ethics approval processes as appropriate.
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For students registered on the MSc GMH joint courses, LSHTM is the lead college responsible for project
assessment, but ethics approval should follow the supervisor – i.e. if your supervisor is based at King’s/IoP,
follow their approval procedures; if your supervisor is a member of LSHTM staff, follow the School’s ethics
approval procedures.
6.2 Ethics Approval Process via CARE form
Not all projects will require ethics approval. However, it is vital that you consider any ethics issues that may
be pertinent to your project. The CARE form is designed to facilitate such consideration.
Some examples of completed CARE forms based on past students’ projects, indicating the kind of
information you may need to give in the Ethics section of CARE, are available at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/taughtcourses/studentforms/careforms.html
Note that these were completed on the previous version of the form and therefore the question order has
since changed.
Note that even if your project has already been granted local (i.e. external) ethics approval at the site you will
be undertaking it, you must still apply to the LSHTM MSc Ethics Committee for your project. LSHTM has a
duty to consider ethics implications for all research involving humans, their tissue or their data being carried
out by our students. Even if this work has already been approved by an organisation with which the School
has long-established links (e.g. nearby hospitals, other colleges of the University of London, or collaborative
research sites), LSHTM’s own specific approval must still be given.
Please also remember that supervisor approval should always be obtained before submitting your completed
application to the MSc Research Ethics Committee. Academic approval from Course Directors should also
have been obtained by this stage.
Project outline
You should also ensure that the project outline given in sections 3-5 of the CARE form contains sufficient
detail to allow the MSc Research Ethics Committee to make an informed decision without reference to other
documents. This should include the purpose, methods and procedures of the activities you will be carrying
out with human subjects or participants, or human data; as well how you will obtain data, including whether
specific permissions or limitations will apply, or whether the data is fully public domain.
For projects using human data, datasets or biological samples collected in a previous study or studies, you
should make sure that the project outline states the new work to be done in your project, and describes how
this will build on the previous work (e.g. by allowing you to cross-reference against previous data to obtain
new results).
For projects collecting any new human data, datasets or biological samples – whether as an entirely new
study, as part of an ongoing study, or in addition to a previously-set-up study – you should make sure that
the project outline contains sufficient detail about things like purpose, methods and procedures to enable the
MSc Research Ethics Committee to make an informed decision without reference to other documents.
Scope of study
In section 2 (project filter), you are given the option to select the type of study in question 4 which will help
the MSc ethics committee administrator determine whether further review by the ethics committee is
required.. In essence, you will need approval from the MSc Research Ethics Committee if your project
will be based on human subjects or data involving human subjects. This includes any documentary or
qualitative data about individuals, any datasets or quantitative data, or anything based on human biological
samples e.g. blood or stool samples.
 The only exception to this is for projects which will only use human data that is fully and unequivocally in
the public domain – for example published statistics on birth and deaths, notifications of infectious
diseases, hospital activity indices or published national Demographic and Health Surveys. LSHTM ethics
approval is not required to use such data and the MSc ethics committee administrator will advise you of
this via email.
 To be “unequivocally public domain”, data must be available to any member of the public,
without any restrictions or requirement for special permission, and must not enable the
identification of living people either directly or by linking with other data.
 Anything for which you must go through a ‘gate-keeper’ to gain access, or to which you have
privileged access (e.g. as an employee of a particular organisation), will not count as fully
public domain.
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

If you are conducting a literature review, be aware that some forms of ‘grey literature’ may
not necessarily be in the public domain.
Other types of project which do not involve human data will not normally require LSHTM ethics approval
(e.g. a literature review using published literature only).
Projects using only previously-collected human data
For studies where you are using previously-collected data (i.e. selected “study using data from secondary
sources) in question 4 of the CARE form, this will activate questions 41 in section 11 (local approval). You
will need to give details of the purpose and methods of the original study or studies, the original approval(s)
granted, and whether your analyses will still be covered by the original permissions granted (if not, then
explaining how you will obtain permission or retrospective consent); as well as further details on the work you
intend to carry out.
If you are planning to use data previously collected in an ethics-approved study, you must check that this will
not in any way breach or go beyond the terms of the approval originally granted. Information about the
conditions under which such data was collected, and the ethics approval it received at the time, should be
available to you. Your CARE form should make clear that you have checked and confirmed that your plans
remain consistent with the earlier approval.
If you are planning to use data previously collected as part of routine service provision (e.g. relating to a
hospital or medical service), you must also check that these data have approval for use in research.
Where you are making use of work for which local or LSHTM ethics approval was previously granted, the
approval reference number should always be cited. Web links to the approval documentation should be
given if possible, as well, a copy/scan of relevant approval documentation should normally be attached.
Projects collecting any new human data
Sufficient details regarding the work to be carried out should be detailed in the relevant sections of the CARE
form.
Where you are making use of work for which local or LSHTM ethics approval was previously granted, the
approval reference number should always be cited. Web links to the approval documentation should be
given if possible, and if not, then a copy/scan of relevant documents should normally be attached.
You should also clarify in the local approval section whether the work to be carried out is covered under the
original approval, and if not what steps have been taken to amend the original approval to cover the
proposed work.
Submitting the CARE form to the Ethics Committee
Please see Section 4.8 “Recording approval and submitting the CARE form” earlier in this handbook for
details about how to submit your completed and supervisor-approved CARE form to the MSc Research
Ethics Committee. For any queries, please contact MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk
Once you have submitted the CARE form via LEO, you will receive a notification that it was transmitted. The
ethics administrator will review the application and will send you an email detailing:
1. The application is valid and has been circulated to the MSc ethics committee for review. THIS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN APPROVAL, or
2. The application is not valid and you are requested to re-submit with additional information, or
3. No ethical review is required as it meets the criteria (literature review, secondary data analysis fully
in the public domain, not using any human tissue or data). A letter will also be sent out.
After your application is validated, the ethics administrator will forward onto the committee for review.
This process takes approximately 4-6 weeks. Please account for this time in your planning. The MSc
ethics committee WILL NOT accept any applications after 1 July 2016, including re-submissions, aside
from those which meet the criteria for not requiring ethical review. Amendments to approved projects
may be submitted after this date.
Following the review, you will receive one of the following responses:
–
Favourable opinion/approval: The committee has approved the project. There may be
conditions attached to the approval which you will need to adhere to (eg the LSHTM ethics
approval is contingent on receiving local ethical approval prior to starting the project)
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–
Request for Clarification: The committee would like to request more information before
giving an opinion on the proposed study. You can respond to the committee by changing the
answer to Q2f on your CARE form to ‘responding to request for clarification’ and uploading a
cover letter addressing the committee’s comments. You will then need to re-obtain
signatures before clicking submit.
–
Unfavourable opinion: The committee has not approved the study and will provide
reasons. You will need to submit a new application on LEO and will be issued with a new
reference number.
6.3 Maintaining confidentiality
Ethics approval is required not just for studies gathering biological data, but also for studies collecting
questionnaire information – including ones mainly or only involving interviews with health professionals. Such
interviews can be as stressful as those with patients and others.
Students should pay particular attention to preserving confidentiality in studies involving small numbers of
participants even when data have been anonymised. Anonymity does not guarantee confidentiality.
For example, if data on participants are cross-tabulated by smaller sub-groups with resulting small numbers,
it may be possible for someone who knows the background to the study to identify individuals. To give an
extreme example, if there is only one person in a sub-group shown as a man, of a particular age, working in
a particular area, identifying that person could be very easy.
There are three main ways of avoiding this possibility:
(i) Ensure that there are never less than, say, five individuals in a sub-group.
(ii) Describe the results for the initial group as a whole, i.e. not broken down into any sub-groups.
(iii) Give each participant the option in the consent form of not being quoted at all, anonymously or
otherwise, or included in any of the analyses. This approach does mean that some data may be
unavailable for analysis, but experience so far has shown that it is very rarely adopted.
Further standard guidance about how to store confidential information, such as interview transcripts or
personal data about individuals, is being developed by the MSc Research Ethics Committee.
6.4 Information Sheets and Consent Forms for study participants
Studies will require written information sheets and separate consent forms. Please remember that these
should be concise and easily understood by lay people.
The three main ways of obtaining consent are as follows:
(i) Participant reads information sheet and signs consent form. This should be witnessed where possible.
(ii) Information sheet is read to participant who agrees verbally and signs or marks his/her agreement. This
should be witnessed where possible. A record is kept of this procedure and agreement.
(iii) In exceptional circumstances, verbal agreement only will be accepted, without either signature or mark.
Reasons should be fully explained on the Ethics application form. A record that consent was given by
each individual should be kept.
Groups of participants within a study may require different information sheets, depending on their
characteristics and different components of the study.
Information Sheets
Information sheets should include the following information –
1. Study title and investigator’s name and contact details.
2. Explanation that the research is being undertaken as part of a Masters’ degree.
3. The overall objective of the study, why is it important and the reason why the subject’s cooperation is
requested.
4. Explanation that taking part in the research is entirely voluntary and withdrawal possible at any time
without having to give a reason.
5. What will happen to participants if they take part?
6. What inconvenience or discomfort this will involve? Detail this inconvenience or discomfort, for example
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

Number and amount of blood samples
Number and duration of hospital visits and the likely discomfort
7. The risks involved, including the possible side effects of a new drug being tested.
8. Explanation of the arrangements if something goes wrong.
9. Who will be responsible for the confidentiality of the material and its use or disposal at the end of the
study?
10. The manner in which the data and/or samples will be collected, handled, stored, who will see them and
what will happen to the material at the end of the study.
11. That in randomised trials, participating involves random allocation either to an experimental treatment or
to orthodox or no treatment. The reasons and advantages for randomisation should be explained in
appropriate lay language.
12. Request consent for long term follow-up through medical records or other use of medical records for
which participants have not given explicit consent. If in doubt contact the Chair of the MSc Research
Ethics Committee via MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk
13. The financial arrangements should be set out, for example –
 Expenses incurred which would normally be reimbursed.
 Any other financial payment. This should not amount to a financial incentive or inducement to take
part in the study.
14. State the ethics committees which have approved the study.
Consent Forms
Consent forms should include the following information and statements (see also under
Confidentiality, above) –
1. Study title and investigator’s name and contact details.
2. “I have read the information sheet concerning this study [or have understood the verbal explanation] and
I understand what will be required of me and what will happen to me if I take part in it”
3. “My questions concerning this study have been answered by …………..”
4. “I understand that at any time I may withdraw from this study without giving a reason and without
affecting my normal care and management”
5. “I agree to take part in this study”
Name Participant…..Signature Participant …………
Date ……………
Name Student………Signature Student……………
Date..................
NB: For children and young adults (usually under the age of 18), the consent of the parents or
guardians must be obtained in line with local custom and practice. If this is not possible, this should be
explained on the ethics application and the agreement of the child should be obtained to the degree possible
dependent on the age of the child.
Further guidance
Further detailed guidance about patient information sheets and consent forms, as well as many areas of
research ethics, is provided by the National Research Ethics Service at
www.nres.nhs.uk/applications/guidance and on the Standard Operating Procedures Intranet page:
https://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/Research/Research-Governance/Standard-Operating-Procedures(SOPs)/index (see
SOP 005 on informed consent).
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7. FUNDING FOR PROJECT WORK
Costs, particularly for travel, can be a significant factor in undertaking a project. While your fees cover the
costs of standard School resources, facilities and staff support available during the project period, the School
cannot necessarily cover all the many and varied costs which individual projects may entail. It is very
sensible to consider such costs from as early as possible in planning your project, to give yourself time to
explore potential sources of funding or financial support where this would be helpful.
The Registry maintains web pages with links to extensive details of potential funding available:
 Please see www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/funding for details of potential funding for both students and
prospective applicants to the School.
 For details of funding specifically for current LSHTM students, including Trust Fund awards (about which
further details are given below), please see
www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/funding/sourcesoffundingforstudentsregisteredatlshtm.html.
Please check these web pages for the most up-to-date details, as they are updated regularly during the year
– in particular, many details about funding available for 2015-16 students are expected to be updated in
early 2016. All relevant application forms will be available either direct from these web pages, or via the
Registry in Keppel St.
The following information is intended to give an overview of the types of funding available – though note that
this may be subject to change, and the Registry web pages should be checked for definitive information.
7.1 Trust Fund Awards
The School sets aside some specific funding, known as ‘Trust Fund Awards’, to assist students with the cost
of MSc project reports. Further information about this will be released on the web in early 2016 (link to be
available via www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/funding/sourcesoffundingforstudentsregisteredatlshtm.html), including
about eligibility, how to apply, and links to application forms.
Eligibility to be considered for a Trust Fund Award
 The carrying out of the project should be beneficial to the School, i.e. it may be an extension of an
existing project which may lead to further collaboration or raise the profile of the School in a certain
country/region.
 The student must be able to justify financial need.
 Either the student or Faculty must be able to contribute towards the total cost.
 All applicants are expected to have gained ethics clearance and risk assessment approval prior to
application.
Please note that the majority of trust fund awards are allocated to projects whose subject matter is
related to tropical disease (HIV is considered a tropical disease for the purposes of the Trust Funds).
However students with other projects are also encouraged to apply.
What the Trust Funds cover
 For successful applicants, a Trust Fund award will cover the costs of return flights to the main project
destination. Internal overland travel is not usually covered.
 In exceptional circumstances, costs other than international travel may be covered; but this must be
agreed in advance.
The Trust Funds application process
 Applicants are asked to complete the application form, including the project supervisor’s statement, and
return it to Registry. The form is available via the Trust Funds page linked above.
 The Registry aim to process applications within approximately 3 weeks (but this is not guaranteed and
there is a possibility it may take longer). Applicants will be informed of the outcome by email.
 Funds will be released on production of a receipt of payment for international travel (confirmation of
reservation will not be considered sufficient). The School will aim to reimburse successful applicants
within 14 days of receiving a receipt.
 Deadlines for receipt of forms and submission of receipts are given on the web page.
Remember that making an application does not mean you are guaranteed to be awarded the funds. Only a
limited amount of funding is available, so only a small proportion of students can benefit. If you cannot afford
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to travel unless you receive a Trust Funds award or other such grant (e.g. from external organizations), it is
highly advisable not to pay or make a non-refundable booking until you’ve had such funding confirmed.
7.2 Other possible sources of funding
Other sources of funding may also be available depending on the course you are studying for and/or the type
of research you wish to undertake. The web pages mentioned at the start of this section will provide further
information. Some of the notable awards on offer, for which you may be encouraged to apply if eligible,
include:
 The Dr Helena Vrbova Scholarship
 The African Student Scholarship
 The Dr Gordon Smith Travelling Scholarship
 Chadwick Scholarships
If seeking financial assistance for your project, you are also encouraged to make your own further
investigations of potential funding sources, including following up with personal contacts. Many organisations
exist which may be prepared to offer assistance to the right student and project. Students from outside the
UK should particularly check possible funding sources in your home country, which are unlikely to be
detailed on the Registry pages.
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8. TRAVEL FOR PROJECT WORK
Many students undertake projects away from LSHTM – whether elsewhere in the UK, or (particularly)
overseas. This may mean going to your home country, or to another country or an area/region you are less
familiar with. This does not just apply to fieldwork or primary data collection, but to all types of project – e.g.
NGO placements, desk-based work at another institution, using libraries outside the UK when conducting a
literature review project, etc. All such travel must be very clearly indicated in the risk assessment section of
your CARE form.
Also, while certain courses actively encourage project work abroad or ‘off-site’, please be aware that certain
courses do not permit this; details will be given in Part 2 of this handbook if so. And there are certain
countries (or regions within countries) to which travel is absolutely forbidden – namely those for which ‘travel
is advised against’ by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
8.1 Key points to consider before travelling
Before arranging any travel associated with project work, it is vital that you read the comprehensive guidance
given in Section 5, Safety and Risk Assessment, earlier in this handbook.
In particular, please see guidance in:
 Section 5.2 on work away from LSHTM – e.g. make sure that you read the LSHTM Code of Practice
on Off-Site Work; compile an itinerary plus details of all key contacts, and give your supervisor a copy
before you leave.
 Section 5.3 on arrangements with external institutions/organisations – e.g. clarify in advance about
what support and facilities you can expect while based off-site.
 Section 5.4 on work outside the UK – e.g. get clinic advice and immunisations/medicines, and register
for the School’s free travel insurance where relevant prior to travel.
 Section 5.5, about the Risk Assessment section of CARE – e.g. give appropriate details in the
sections of the CARE form on ‘work away from LSHTM’ and ‘work outside the UK’.
 Section 5.6, on restricted travel – it is vital that you check the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s
website for advice on travel to the relevant countries or regions. The School does not permit project work
to be undertaken in areas to which the FCO advise against travel.
And please be aware of relevant guidance elsewhere in this handbook:
 Section 2 on supervision – be clear about how and how often you can expect to be in contact with your
supervisor whilst away from the School.
 Section 7 on funding – you may wish to seek financial assistance to help with aspects of your project
such as flight costs
 Section 8.2 below on visas – you should ensure you are well aware of any official requirements of the
country to which you are travelling.
For all students, it is highly advisable to ensure that full approval has been obtained for your project
(including risk assessment and ethics approval) before making final payments or non-refundable bookings
for travel.
8.2 International requirements for visas, passports etc.
If you will be travelling outside the UK as part of your project work, please be very careful to:
(i) Check and ensure you obtain/meet any visa or entry requirements that apply.
(ii) Ensure that you get the right type of visa, in sufficient time before you travel.
(iii) Check that your passport (and any other relevant documents) will be valid for a sufficient length of time
after your intended trip.
Checking visa and entry requirements
For all international travel, it is very important to ensure you check and arrange a visa and anything else
that may be required, in good time before travelling. Remember that other countries will assess your visa or
entry eligibility primarily based on your nationality. It may also be relevant that you are a student.

If you have UK nationality, then the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Advice website at
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice gives comprehensive information for all other countries in the
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world – each should have a section on ‘Entry requirements’, covering things like visas, how long your
passport must be valid for, medical and immunisation-type requirements, etc. The UK Council for
International Student Affairs’ (UKCISA) Go International site also give advice on visas and formalities for
UK students studying abroad, at http://www.go.international.ac.uk/going-abroad/i-am-student-what-next

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s specific advice may not be applicable if you are from Europe or
Overseas. You will need to directly check the destination country’s requirements for your nationality.
That country’s embassy in the UK will be a good place to start – they should tell you whether people of
your nationality need to apply for visas before travelling to their country, and will also be likely to issue
any visa. The FCO give embassy contact details at www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/foreignembassies-in-uk.
Remember that the embassies of different countries will not all be equally efficient – some may take a while
to process visa applications. It’s always advisable to investigate properly and get your application in as early
as possible.
Getting the right type of visa
It is also very important to ensure you arrange to get the right type of visa. Getting the wrong kind can
cause all sorts of problems, including deportation or even jail – this has actually happened to LSHTM
students in recent years. Different countries may classify project work as requiring a student visa, or a work
visa, or only a tourist visa, or perhaps something else. This may also differ depending on your nationality –
so a fellow student might be coming to do a very similar project in the same country, but need a different type
of visa.
Please don’t simply rely on advice from a local supervisor, though it’s good to get such advice. Always check
directly with the embassy of the country concerned, and get very clear guidance from them – in writing if
possible – to confirm that your arrangements will be appropriate.
Validity/expiry dates for passports and other documents
It is likely that to be granted a visa, you will need to have a passport which will remain valid for a set
period of time after your intended trip (e.g. 3 months beyond). If you get delayed in the destination
country for any reason and your passport expires in that time, it is likely to cause problems. It may therefore
be advisable to renew your passport in good time before you get a visa and travel.
Getting a visa for project travel may also potentially depend on the expiry date of other documents. As an
example of the kind of things to be aware of: if you are an international student who has come to the UK from
outside the European Economic Area (EEA) but want a shorter-term visa to visit an EEA country for your
project, this is likely to depend on your UK student visa being valid for at least 3 months (for some countries,
perhaps even 6 months) longer than your proposed project trip. Most international MSc students at LSHTM
will have UK visas valid till mid-November, hence your project travel might need to finish by mid-August at
the latest.
Finally, if you required a visa to study in the UK and intend to come back after your project trip, be careful
about the timing. It may be inadvisable to try to re-enter the UK after your School registration has finished
(from mid-September), even if your UK visa has a little more time left on it (e.g. up to mid-November). This is
because UK border officials could decide you are not entering the country for the reason your original visa
was granted, i.e. to study, and could thus refuse you entry at Immigration.
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9. UNDERTAKING RESEARCH FOR YOUR PROJECT REPORT
Every project is different, and approaches to the main work of carrying out a project can vary greatly. Please
see Part 2 of this handbook for more guidance relating to your particular MSc, and speak to your supervisor
regarding specific approaches to the type of project you are undertaking.
The notes below set out some supporting resources and guidance which may be helpful.
9.1 Preparatory project work (before main research work)
 Last preparatory work (after planning and approval, but before commencing main project work) should
be done around April, ahead of main project research commencing from approx. early June.
Having developed your project proposal, you can undertake preparatory work and background research (e.g.
literature searching, desk-based work) ahead of receiving full approval. However, be aware that staff may
require some changes to your approach before approving the proposal, and so be careful about starting
preparatory work if your topic or approach may change later.
Preparatory work is likely to be necessary in parallel to taking your last taught modules; and you will probably
need to stop and put project work on hold for the period where you revise for and take the summer exams.
As noted earlier, you must not commence the substantive work of your project – e.g. field research, lab work,
subject interviews, collection of any data on human subjects – until you have received all necessary
approval. It is your responsibility to ensure that the project is undertaken in accordance with the School’s
policies and procedures.
Structured planning
From as early as possible, it is always a good idea to try to come up with a plan and timetable for carrying
out your main project work. This may not need to be too detailed – but breaking the work down into specific
‘chunks’ may help turn a daunting overall prospect into an achievable set of tasks, while setting yourself
small-but-regular deadlines can help keep everything on track.
LSHTM guidelines on good research practice
The School has “guidelines on good research practice” which apply to all research conducted by staff as well
as students. Please familiarise yourself with these (they are just 12 pages long), and ensure your research is
conducted in accordance with them. The guidelines are available at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/governanceandresearchintegrity/index.html
The guidelines set out the School's expectations with regard to good research practice, and cover relevant
principles as well as information on and links to related policies and procedures. Many of the points
mentioned in the guidelines, such as about ethics & confidentiality or health & safety, are also covered in this
handbook (e.g. if you are collecting human data, please be aware of the guidance on maintaining research
data/samples and records). However certain points, e.g. about financial management and accountability, are
less likely to be relevant to MSc projects.
Literature searching
The Library provide a number of excellent resources to assist with literature searching and finding
information – see www.lshtm.ac.uk/library/guidance/index.html
As you identify useful source information during your literature search, it can be very helpful to store the
details using reference management software (such as EndNote), so that they can easily be referenced later
on when you are writing-up. More guidance about this is given in the separate Academic Writing handbook,
available at www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/academicwritinghandbook.pdf
Past projects in the Library
The Library holds copies of all past MSc project reports for the last seven years. These will give you an idea
of the breadth of topics covered by students in previous years, and if you haven’t already done so it is a good
idea to look through them, to get a better idea of what is expected from you over the summer.
The majority of past projects are available electronically – please see the Library’s Collections and
Resources site at www.lshtm.ac.uk/library/collections/mscprojects.html
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Making arrangements with external institutions
As noted in the earlier section 5.3 “Arrangements with external institutions”, if you plan to carry out your
project at an established site or with a specific organisation away from the School then you should ensure
that suitable support arrangements have been agreed with them beforehand. In general, the earlier you can
do this the better.
It highly recommended that you get advance confirmation of what support or facilities you can expect at the
site – having something agreed in writing, e.g. in an email, is often a wise move. The same applies for
expected support from an external co-supervisor or technical advisor.
9.2 Main project work (Stage 5 of project, after planning & approval)
 After last preparatory work in approx. April, main project work to be done from approx. early June to end
August. Final submission deadline for the project will be at the beginning of September.
You should not normally begin your main research work until after the summer exams. From that time until
the hand-in date you will be undertaking the project. This may include data collection, literature searching,
data analysis and interpretation as appropriate.
Remote access to School resources
If your research requires you to go overseas, you should still be able to access your School email account
and the School’s network resources. Please see the IT Services (ITS) site at www.lshtm.ac.uk/its , which
includes Remote Desktop access software you can install on your home computer or laptop. For further
advice, please contact or call into the IT Services helpdesk, open Monday to Friday, 09.00-17.00, in Room
LG1 (Keppel Street lower ground floor), or e-mail itshelpdesk@lshtm.ac.uk .
When working away from the School, staff and students can gain remote access to the majority of the School
Library’s web-based resources (such as databases and electronic journals) using remote access software
available via the ITS page as above. Further information about library resources is available at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/library . Electronic journals can be accessed via the Library catalogue, or alternatively via
the SFX E-journal portal at http://lshtmsfx.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/lshtm/az . Note that users wishing to
make use of electronic journals are required to read the guidelines for their use and abide by the terms set
out therein.
Employment during project work
Note that full-time students are expected to be able to concentrate fully on project work in the period from
after the summer exams (from early June) until the project hand-in date (start of September). Part-time
students are expected to spend the same amount of time on project work so as to achieve the same
standard; this is likely to require very careful balancing of studies with part-time employment during the
project period, and it may be helpful to have done more preparatory or substantive work from earlier on.
In either case, you as a student are responsible for managing your time commitments and activities; and if
you do take on or continue employed work during the course of project work, it should be within the criteria
set out by the School – see note on ‘Employment and Studies’ in your MSc course handbook.
9.3 Seeking further assistance
If you are ever faced with a problem, do not be afraid to ask for help – your tutor, project supervisor and
Course Director are there to help you in any way they can, and student representatives can also provide
support and take up matters on your behalf.
If you have a personal issue, e.g. something affecting the amount of time you can spend on the project, it
may be helpful to let relevant staff know – for example, it may be possible to be granted an extension to the
deadline by which you need to hand in your project report. The Student Advisor is also available to help with
personal matters.
If you are experiencing difficulties with academic aspects of the project, you should consult your supervisor in
the first instance. While the project is intended to be a piece of independent research, this does not mean
you have to do everything yourself – in many cases it may be fully appropriate for someone else (be they
your supervisor, another member of staff, a research assistant, a doctoral student or an external advisor) to
give assistance with work such as lab preparation and techniques, advanced statistical methods, etc. What is
vital in such cases is that you cite their assistance appropriately in your final project report, and that the time
you have ‘saved’ through their assistance can then be invested in taking your own work a stage further than
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you could otherwise have gone. Section 12 of this handbook, “Recognising the contribution of others”, has
further guidance on this.
If your ‘main’ project (co-)supervisor, i.e. the person on whose guidance you are most reliant, is not a
member of LSHTM staff, then it can be challenging if you feel they are not giving you all the support you feel
you require. In such a case, always let a member of School staff, such as your Course Director or personal
tutor, know that you are experiencing difficulties. They may be able to arrange additional support.
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10. COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Copyright and intellectual property rights are important issues to be aware of when utilising the work of
others in your project report. This is not just about ensuring that you correctly reference everything you make
use of (see separate guidance in Section 12 of this handbook on referencing, citing and avoiding plagiarism);
but you also need to be sure that you are allowed to make use of this work. You should be certain about
whether any restrictions may apply in the way you communicate, disseminate or even publish work that you
have produced based on the work of others.


Copyright subsists in any original work (or part of that work) from the moment it is created. The rights
holder (usually the author, but in some cases the employer) is granted certain rights which are protected
by law over how the work may be used – this includes copying.
Intellectual property (IP) is an intangible asset whose broadest scope covers all types of knowledge,
but which is generally focused on patents, know-how, copyright, trademarks, brand names, designs &
secrets. Most forms of IP can be protected legally (with the exception of know-how and secrets) and the
resulting proprietary rights are referred to as intellectual property rights (IPR).
The copyright of your final project report, and related IPR, will normally legally belong to you as the author of
the work. There may be exceptions to this however – usually where your research is subject to the terms and
conditions of a specific agreement which covers these matters. Note that the School’s standard registration
form, signed by all students when registering, authorises the School (and the School Library) to make copies
of student projects publicly available.
If you are making use of the work of others in your project report (e.g. using data collected by a third party),
their copyrights and intellectual property rights also need to be carefully respected.
Especially if you are unfamiliar with these issues, please look through the guidance on the Library’s
web pages at www.lshtm.ac.uk/library/guidance/copyright/index.HTML. An expanded version of the
guidance presented here is also given in the Academic Writing handbook, at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/academicwritinghandbook.pdf
10.1 Copyright and IPR agreements
You should ensure that you talk to your supervisor about copyright and IPR as part of the proposal
development stage of your project, i.e. when filling out the CARE form. You should also review these issues
again around the point of submitting your final project report, when you know what work and data you have
ended up using in your project, and whether any specific agreements may now apply or be needed.
Copyright or IPR agreements won't be necessary for the majority of LSHTM projects, but may be appropriate
in some cases – particularly:
 To clearly assign and specify ownership of IPR for data collected during the course of the project (e.g. in
the lab with help from LSHTM staff; or in the field, working with an external organisation).
 To clarify permissions given for use of data or other copyrighted materials provided by the School or an
outside party – which will usually remain the copyright property of the original party even where
incorporated in your project report.
Where research funding is provided by an external sponsor, a specific contract will normally apply; contract
terms may often assign ownership of copyright or IPR to the sponsor, or impose specific restrictions such as
on publication. Similarly, where your work is to be undertaken in collaboration with an external organisation
(e.g. working with their staff or at their facilities), it is very helpful to reach a clear agreement with them before
you begin about the copyright and IPR of the results. This can avoid problems later on, e.g. if you or they
want to do something specific with the work.
Likewise, where LSHTM staff (such as your supervisor) have supplied data or other key elements of your
project and own the corresponding copyright or intellectual property rights, the position of both parties should
be set out in a specific agreement.
 Standard forms are available for this (available on Moodle), which provide a template for formal
agreements between student and supervisor.
 These template forms may be edited as appropriate to create a specific agreement for each individual
piece of work.
 Once agreed, a copy of the final signed statement should be lodged with the Teaching Support Office, to
be kept in your student file. You should also keep a copy for yourself.
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Note that all students must notify the School, through their supervisor, of any invention, device, material,
product, method or process, computer software or other potentially valuable result which it is considered
might have industrial or technical significance, whether patentable or not, developed or invented during the
course of a students' research or study whilst a registered student of the School and make assignment of
their rights to the School. However, it would be unusual for MSc projects to generate significant new
intellectual property meriting such notification.
10.2 Setting restrictions on access to your work
The School’s standard policy, as described on the registration declaration form, sets a standard right of
access to student project reports for purposes of study and research. In rare cases, you (or external
organisations or funders you are working with) may wish to restrict such access by others, e.g. not wishing to
have your final project report placed in the School Library.
A restriction of access might typically be requested in relation to exploitation of the research or pending a
patent application. It may only be granted by special permission of the School up to a maximum period of 2
years, as further outlined on the registration form. Restrictions will not normally be granted except where the
thesis is said to contain sensitive or confidential material or material that would infringe the rights of thirdparty holders of copyright.
10.3 Data Protection principles
As a registered data user, the School must comply with the Data Protection Principles of the Data Protection
Act in relation to any “personal data” held by staff or students – i.e. anything which relates to living individuals
who can be identified from the data. Work involving personal data will almost invariably require approval via
the LSHTM MSc Research Ethics Committee.
Broadly, the Data Protection Principles state that personal data shall be:
 fairly and lawfully processed;
 processed for limited purposes;
 adequate, relevant and not excessive;
 accurate;
 not kept longer than necessary;
 processed in accordance with the data subject's rights;
 secure, and
 not transferred to countries without adequate protection.
Students needing to use personal data in connection with their academic studies or research must abide by
the Data Protection Principles, and should seek the advice of their supervisor before constructing or
maintaining files of personal data. Further information is available on the School's Data Protection webpage
at http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/policies/foi/dpguide/index.html. Guidance on maintaining research
data/samples and records is also given in the School’s guidelines on good research practice, at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/about/guidelines_on_good_research_practice.pdf
10.4 Publication of project reports
MSc student project reports may sometimes result in papers published in peer reviewed journals. As you
prepare for submission, your supervisor will often be in a position to suggest whether your report is likely to
be of publishable standard; or your supervisor, Course Director or personal tutor may advise you about this
after the project has been marked.
Normally, MSc project work should not be submitted for publication until after it has been marked. Further
editing would then be required (e.g. adjusting to the house style of the journal concerned, revising to meet a
different word limit, incorporating feedback from staff and further changes you yourself want to make),
making the published paper different to the original project report.
Before a project report is submitted for publication, you should also resolve any issues of authorship and
obtain any relevant copyright/IPR permissions. Your Acknowledgements section should help answer
questions about how primary and secondary authorship may apply for you and your supervisor/s. More
detailed guidance is given in the Academic Writing handbook, at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/academicwritinghandbook.pdf
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11. WRITING UP YOUR PROJECT REPORT
Project reports take a wide variety of forms, depending on the type of project undertaken. However, there are
a number of elements common to all project reports, and these appear below. Additional information relating
to your MSc may be given in Part 2 of this handbook.
It is highly advisable to take a ‘write as you go’ approach throughout your project work – meaning that as you
undertake preparation and then main research, you should write up what you’re doing in roughly the form
you want it to appear in your final report. This is likely to make your life much easier as you approach the
submission date, and lead to a better-quality project. Writing the final report should ideally be a case of just
drawing together notes you have already written, rather than trying to piece together what you had or had not
done three months previously. Remember that the project report is what gets assessed and needs to be
right; no matter how good the on-the-ground research work has been, if it’s badly written-up you will get a
poorer mark.
11.1 Length of project report
The recommended and maximum length of project report are prescribed by the School’s formal Examination
Procedures and Regulations, agreed by the Senate. This also covers submission deadlines, and penalties
for breaching the word limit or deadlines. The relevant paragraphs run as follows – please pay close
attention to them:
2.9.3 The recommended minimum length for the Standard Length project is 7,000 words, with an absolute
maximum of 10,000 words. The recommended length for the Extended Project is 10,000 words, with an
absolute maximum of 12,000 words. The word count should be stated on the front cover of the project. The
electronic version of the submitted project should include all substantive content and numeric data in a form
electronically recognisable as text (e.g. as paragraphs or tables) which can be word-counted by standard
software packages. Numbers in tables should be counted as corresponding to one word each, as per
standard software packages.
2.9.4 All the main content of the project (from the Introduction to the Conclusions) should be included in the
word count or page count – this also covers any tables or footnotes. Preliminary pages such as the Cover
sheet, Title page, Acknowledgements, Abstract and Contents may be excluded. The Reference list is
excluded. Appendices are excluded and should only include material which the examiners are not required
to read in order to examine the project, but to which they may refer if they wish.
The recommended word count for a standard length project report is about 8,500 words. The recommended
minimum is 7,000 words; it can be perfectly appropriate to write only 7,000 words, especially if you can
present substantive work succinctly, but less is not generally recommended (although there is no specific
penalty for writing less). However you absolutely must not exceed the maximum limit of 10,000 words – any
projects submitted that go over this length will not be marked, and will need to be revised and re-submitted
the following year.
MSc Immunology of Infectious Diseases are the only course which offer the ‘extended project’ option
(maximum length 12,000 words) mentioned in paragraph 2.9.3 above.
MSc Medical Statistics (only) set a ‘page limit’ (50 pages with prescribed formatting) rather than a word limit
for project reports. Med Stats students should see Part 2 of this handbook for details, which replace the
above paragraph 2.9.3. This option cannot be chosen by students on other courses.
11.2 Format of project report
Certain MSc courses may set specific requirements on presentation and may penalise poor, unclear or
confusing presentation. Any such criteria that apply for your MSc will be described in Part 2 of this handbook.
Otherwise, the following formatting criteria are suggested as good standard practice for the presentation of
all project reports:
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
Use A4 paper size (210x297mm) – set your electronic copy up as if it were going to be
printed (to ensure the report is as readable as possible by any markers who may wish to print a
copy for ease of marking).

Use standard Arial 11-point font for your main text. You may wish to put specific
headings in larger font sizes; and could potentially use ‘different’ fonts (e.g. Calibri) for specific
elements of text – for example to help distinguish verbatim quotes, which should also usually be
indented and surrounded by quote marks.

Set line spacing at 1.5, and leave a one-line gap between separate paragraphs.

Use margins of 2.54cm (1 inch) all round the page.

Number all pages, with numbers to be included in footer. Page numbers may
appear outside the 1-inch margin. You can set your own numbering scheme, e.g. starting from
the title page as page 1; but make sure it is consistent. If you want to label the first page of the
Introduction as page 1, then preceding pages (such as the Contents and Abstract) should be
numbered in Roman numerals.

Tables may be presented in an alternative font, of no less than 8-point
size, and single-linespaced – to help improve visual appearance or fit to the page.
Remember that attractive presentation is no substitute for good quality content. You should aim to present
your work in a clear, readable and consistent way. Don’t spend undue time formatting your report that might
be better spent improving your descriptions of the work or analysis undertaken. For example, there is unlikely
to be substantial benefit from going to the trouble of providing colour photographs in a project report about a
literature review; but on the other hand it may be helpful for markers to see colour photographs of
microscopy samples in lab projects.
The following points about how to present aspects of your report are worth specifically noting.
Headings
It is helpful to break up your text with headings and sub-headings at appropriate points, to assist the reader
to grasp the subject matter and structure of the text. Such headings should be short and relevant,
encapsulating the content of the text under them. If different levels of headings and sub-headings are
required, work out a hierarchy of heading styles in advance using capitals, bold, italics and underlining as
desired.
Abbreviations
You should ensure that any abbreviations or acronyms are defined in full the first time they appear in
your project report. This is good practice, even if you think the term is so obvious or well-known in the
discipline that it can simply be given as an abbreviation and doesn't need an explanation. While your
markers will be qualified experts, their background may be from a different part of the world or a slightly
different strand of the subject area. Spelling things out should remove any risk of ambiguity or
misunderstanding.
Tables and figures
Within your work, you may have a variety of non-text items such as tables (grids of data) or figures (such as
photographs, diagrams, graphs and maps). These should be set out distinct from the text; numbered
separately and consecutively, e.g. ‘Table 1’ for the first table and ‘Figure 1’ for the first figure; and referred to
by these numbers in the text – do not use phrases like “Table above" or "Figure below".
When presenting tables:
 Each table should have: a table number; a table heading; column headings; data in columns; and a
legend making the table understandable without having to read the text
 Immediately beneath column headings put the units of measurement of the data, where applicable (e.g.
% or years). If there is no room for complicated units (e.g. "number of infant deaths per 1000 live births
and stillbirths"), put these details in a footnote to the table.
 If possible keep the column headings concise so that they can be written horizontally. They may contain
obvious abbreviations.
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
Tables with adequate headings and captions should be self-explanatory, but they usually need
comments in the text.
As a rule, tables should be presented vertically on the page; but if a table is too wide for this, it may be
presented sideways. If a vertical table is too long to fit onto one page, put "continued..." at the bottom of
the first page, and at the top of the second put "Table XYZ continued:" then repeat the column headings.
If the table has been reproduced from another document, the source should be cited.


When presenting figures:
 Each figure should have: a figure number; a concise title; the figure itself with appropriate labelling; and a
legend and explanatory notes so that the figure can be understood without reference to the text.
 Graphs may only indicate approximate values. If precision is required, exact numbers should be given,
either at annotated at points on a curve, or in the text or associated tables.
 Graphs, diagrams and maps will usually be produced in appropriate computer software packages and
“copied and pasted” into the electronic version of your project report.
 Photomicrographs must include a scale bar or indicate magnification.
 Figures with appropriate labels and notes should be self-explanatory, but they usually need comments in
the text.
 If you reproduce a figure from another document, always give a reference to the source.
11.3 Structure of project report – named sections
All project reports need to be properly organised with appropriate section headings. Although there is likely to
be considerable variation between MScs regarding the specific recommended approach, (please check Part
2 of this handbook) a number of general principles apply and are set out below. As a minimum, all projects
reports should normally include the following –
 Title page
 Contents
 Abstract
 Acknowledgements
 Introduction
 Aims and objectives
 Materials and methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Recommendations
 Reference list
Further annexes or appendices may also be supplied; but note that markers are expected to be able to
assess the project based on the main content, without having to read any appendices.
Title page
TSO will provide a template file for the title page, covering the following:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
MSc PROJECT REPORT: >Title<

Give the full title of the project report (see further note about this below).
Candidate number: >Candidate number<

Give your candidate number, but not your name.
Supervisor: >Supervisor<

Optional – you do not have to give the name of your supervisor on the title
page; they may be named in the acknowledgements.
Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
MSc in >Course name<

Give the full name of the MSc on which you are registered.
Academic Year: 2015-2016
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Date of submission: >Date<

You only need to give the month and year of submission – TSO will
record the precise date the final version is received
Word count: >Word count<

Should be based on the main content of the project only (see further note
about this below). Where a page limit applies, a Page count should be
given instead of a Word count.
Project length: >Standard/ Extended<

The vast majority of MSc projects will be Standard length. Extended
projects may only be undertaken on MSc IID.
Note that the project report title should convey the key features of the project – typically saying what
type of project it was, in what subject area, and in relation to which specific locations or data sources.
 You will have come up with a draft project title for the purposes of the CARE form. This can be amended
during the writing-up process to better reflect the approach your final report takes.
 The final title should be agreed with the supervisor before you submit your project report, and should not
exceed 30 words.
The word count should cover the main content of your report, i.e. from the Introduction to the
Conclusions (including any tables or footnotes in these sections). It does not need to include preliminary
pages such as the Title page, Contents, Abstract or Acknowledgements; and it does not need to include the
Reference list or any Appendices.
 Standard word-processing packages will allow you to highlight the text you want, and check how many
words this specific text contains.
 All the substantive content and numeric data in your main report should be electronically recognisable as
text – so paragraphs or tables should not be included in the form of ‘pictures’.
 For courses where a page limit rather than a word limit applies (MSc Medical Statistics only – described
further in Part 2 of this handbook), a page count should be given rather than a word count. Only pages
from the Introduction to the Conclusions will need to be counted.
Contents
A Contents list should be included, clearly indicating the page number of each major section and the
headings used within each major section.
It may be helpful to make use of the features provided in most standard word-processing packages to create
a “table of contents” automatically.
 To do this, you will usually need to ensure that you apply specific built-in 'heading styles' for chapter and
section headings as you write your document.
 After you've specified the headings to include, the software should be able to automatically create a
contents page at a point you indicate, which displays those headings in a format of your choosing, and
automatically inserts the page numbers they relate to.
 The contents list and page numbering will be updatable at the click of a button if you make any further
edits to the main content.
Structured Abstract
All project reports should include a structured Abstract, not exceeding 300 words, on a single standalone
page. This should appear before the main body of the project report (which will start with the introduction) –
typically just after the Title page or the Contents, as you see fit.
The Abstract may usually be structured into four key sections:
 Background – summarising the problem being considered.
 Methods – describing how the study was performed.
 Results – listing the salient results.
 Conclusions – stating the principal conclusions.
An example of an abstract for a lab-based project (taken from a published paper) is given below:
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COLON CANCER: Increased expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is associated with an elevated level of
the antiapoptotic c-IAP2 protein in human colon carcinomas
ABSTRACT
Background: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a non-histone chromosomal protein implicated in a variety of
biologically important processes, including transcription, DNA repair, V(D)J recombination, differentiation, and
development. Overexpression of HMGB1 inhibits apoptosis, arguing that the molecule may act as an antiapoptotic
oncoprotein. Indeed, increased expression of HMGB1 has been reported for several different tumour types. In this
study, we analysed human colon carcinoma for HMGB1 as well as for c-IAP2 expression levels. c-IAP2 is an
antiapoptotic protein which may be upregulated as a consequence of nuclear factor B (NF B) activation via HMGB1.
Methods: A comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) database comprising 1645 cases from different human tumour
types was screened to detect cytogenetic changes at the HMGB1 locus. Immunohistochemical staining of human colon
tissue microarrays and tumour biopsies, as well as western blot analysis of tumour lysates, were performed to detect
elevated HMGB1 and c-IAP2 expression in colon carcinomas. The antiapoptotic potential of HMGB1 was analysed by
measuring caspase activities, and luciferase reporter assays and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis were
employed to confirm NF B activation and c-IAP2 mRNA upregulation on HMGB1 overexpression.
Results: According to CGH analysis, the genomic locus containing the HMGB1 gene was overrepresented in one third
(35/96) of colon cancers. Correspondingly, HMGB1 protein levels were significantly elevated in 90% of the 60 colon
carcinomas tested compared with corresponding normal tissues evaluable from the same patients. HMGB1 increased
NF B activity and led to co-overexpression of the antiapoptotic NF B target gene product c-IAP2 in vitro.
Furthermore, increased HMGB1 levels correlated with enhanced amounts of c-IAP2 in colon tumours analysed by us.
Finally, we demonstrated that HMGB1 overexpression suppressed caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity, suggesting that
HMGB1 interferes with the apoptotic machinery at the level of apoptosomal caspase-9 activation.
Conclusions: We identified in vitro a molecular pathway triggered by HMGB1 to inhibit apoptosis via c-IAP2 induction.
Our data indicate a strong correlation between upregulation of the apoptosis repressing HMGB1 and c-IAP2 proteins in
the pathogenesis of colon carcinoma.
(Volp et al, Gut 2006 55: 234-242)
Acknowledgements
Your project report should include an Acknowledgements section, normally placed towards the beginning
(before the Introduction to your work proper – i.e. it should not be included in the word count for your project).
This should have two main elements:
 A formal ‘acknowledgement of academic support’ that describes the amount of interaction you have
had with your supervisor or other experts in developing your project.
 An additional ‘acknowledgement of other support’ to recognise other assistance you have received,
including practical, administrative and personal matters.
Detailed guidance on what to put in the Acknowledgements section is given in Section 12.1, along with an
example.
Main Report – Introduction
The start of the main content of your project report should be presented as a formal introductory section –
which might typically account for between 10% and 30% of the overall word count.
 This should give a detailed background of the work which has led up to the project, including a review of
the literature if appropriate. As throughout your entire project report, every piece of published work you
mention should be specifically referenced.
 The Introduction should finish by describing the gap in knowledge that your aims and objectives will
address.
Main Report – Aims and Objectives
You should include a concise statement of your project report’s Aims (the overall goal of the work) and
Objectives (what you hoped to be achieved during the project work itself). This section should normally
consist of just a few lines. If your project has involved primary research then it will normally be appropriate to
indicate the specific research question or hypothesis addressed.
Main Report – Materials and Methods
This section should contain a detailed description of all the methods used during the project.
 If your project is a lab-based study, you must also describe the materials used and their origin. However
detailed protocols are not usually required.
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
If you had practical assistance in the collection of the data (e.g. if you were provided with samples by the
project supervisor or if you were part of a team carrying out field work), then this must be clearly stated
along with the role you played in generating the data specified.
Main Report – Results
The results (either positive or negative) of the study should be explained in a logical order.
 Tables and figures should be included where appropriate, with explanatory legends.
 In the case of laboratory studies, not every experiment or piece of work undertaken needs to be
included.
Main Report – Discussion
This section should be a summary of what the results show, along with an explanation of their meaning. The
results should be analysed in the context of other published work, for which the references must of course be
cited; and the reason(s) for any negative results (or unsuccessful experiments) should be considered.
Main Report – Recommendations
The discussion should end with a paragraph linking the current findings with recommendations for further
work. However, it may be appropriate to present the recommendations as a separate section. Your
recommendations must follow from your findings and your analysis of them, and not simply be a list of
unrelated ‘good ideas’.
Reference list
At the end of your project report, you must always give a full list (presented in a recognised style) of all
references that appear earlier in the report. This is mentioned in Section 12.1 below, with comprehensive
guidance provided in the Academic Writing handbook.
Annexes or Appendices
Further information may also be supplied as appendices to your main report. This should be supplementary
material that does not form part of the main academic content of your report, but is perhaps felt to provide
helpful further context or details. Project markers are not expected to read any appendices and this material
will not be taken into account in marking the project.
11.4 Referencing
A reference or citation is a way of properly acknowledging where you make use of the work of others, and
the proper presentation of citations and references is an important part of any piece of academic writing.
LSHTM MSc graduates are expected to be able to cite and reference correctly, and you should demonstrate
this through your project report. The key requirements are that you should (i) take care to acknowledge the
work of others wherever you make use of it; (ii) reference such items in a consistent manner using a
recognised citation system; and (iii) give a well-presented reference list at the end of your work.
Extensive further guidance on this is given in the separate Academic Writing handbook, which covers
referencing and citing, avoiding plagiarism or assessment irregularities, and other more general useful points
about writing skills and styles. This is available at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/academicwritinghandbook.pdf
You are strongly advised to read the Academic Writing handbook and ensure you fully understand
LSHTM’s expectations about referencing. The following guidance represents only a brief introduction to
this topic.
Referencing systems
You should always use a recognised citation system. This will determine how you present references in the
main body of your work, and how you present the bibliography or reference list at the end. Whichever system
you use should be used consistently throughout your piece of work – do not ‘mix and match’ different
referencing styles. The two most commonly-used and recognised citation systems are known as Harvard
and Vancouver, and work as follows:

Author/date (Harvard) system: In this style of referencing, the author's name and date of publication
should be quoted in the text, e.g. "as confirmed by Abrams (1969)" or "as confirmed by another study
(Abrams 1969)". If there are two authors then both should be named, e.g. (Sewell and Foster 1976). If
there are more than two authors use et al., e.g. "(Gillespie et al. 1983)". The reference list or bibliography
should be arranged by alphabetical order of the author's name – an example (for a Journal Article) would
be:
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Ganapati R, Naik S S, Acharekar M Y and Pade S S (1976) Leprosy endemicity in Bombay: an
assessment through surveys of municipal schools, Leprosy Review 47: 127 - 31.

Numbering (Vancouver) system: In this style, references should be numbered sequentially in the text,
either in brackets, e.g. "as confirmed by Abrams (3)", "as confirmed by other studies (3)" or as a
superscript, e.g. "as confirmed by Abrams.3 " (note that it is usual to place superscripts after
punctuation). Both the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and the Lancet describe the use of this system for
references in their instructions to authors. The reference list or bibliography should list the references in
numerical order, i.e. the order in which they appear in the text – an example (for a Journal Article) would
be:
2. Ganapati R, Naik SS, Acharekar MY and Pade SS. Leprosy endemicity in Bombay: an
assessment through surveys of municipal schools. Leprosy Review 1976; 47: 127-31.
Your MSc course may specify a particular citation system to use – please check if so in Part 2 of this
handbook. Otherwise, the best system to use is likely to depend on the type of project you are doing and the
conventions of the field you are working in. It may be helpful to note that –
 The Harvard system is commonly used in the social sciences, and tends to be a good system to use for
more discursive work.
 The Vancouver system may aid clarity and readability where the same item is cited many times, since
you just need to give the same numeric reference in each case rather than cluttering up your work with
repetitions of the same author-and-date details. This tends to be a good system to use for more technical
work, e.g. in relation to lab-based experiments. It is also well respected in medical writing, being the
house style of the BMJ and the Lancet. While a potential drawback is that insertion of an extra reference
will require the renumbering of all subsequent references, using reference manager software like
EndNote (see below) will take care of this automatically.
Referencing tables and figures:
Most tables and figures are likely to be your own work, but it is also perfectly reasonable to include items that
are the work of others – e.g. tables of published demographic data, anatomical diagrams, photographs from
field sites, etc. However these must be referenced as clearly as you would any direct text quotation.
The reference list
All references or citations given in the main body of your text should be compiled in a specific reference list
at the end. This should be clearly and consistently presented, and follow a prescribed format. It should give
sufficient details about each reference, above and beyond the citation given in the main text, enabling
readers to look up the original source material if desired.
Different types of source material will need to be referred to in different ways in the reference list. The citation
system you use will also affect how the list is ordered and the types of details that need to be given in it.
Comprehensive guidance on how to do this is given in the Academic Writing handbook; but be aware that
different information and presentation will be required when referencing different types of source material,
e.g. –








Journal articles
Books
Part of an edited volume
PhD theses
Conference papers (where proceedings have otherwise been published)
Official reports and other forms of ‘grey literature’ or non-authored works
Material from websites
Material from other media – e.g. film/television/radio documentaries
The Academic Writing handbook also gives guidance on sources which you should not normally include in a
reference list – such as personal communications, encyclopaedias (including open-content collaborative
resources like Wikipedia, which are definitely not considered a reliable source of information for academic
work), or other secondary sources.
Using a reference manager
You are strongly encouraged to use some form of reference management software when preparing your
project report, and should aim to learn to use one (if you have not previously done so) by at least the time
you come to start your literature search. The application recommended by the School is called EndNote,
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although there are other alternatives, described in the Academic Writing handbook, which will do broadly the
same thing.
 EndNote stores and manages bibliographic data, linking in to word processing packages like Microsoft
Word. It will allow you to easily insert correctly-formatted citations throughout your report, and
automatically prepare a reference list at the end.
 EndNote will present references in whichever format you desire (e.g. Harvard or Vancouver – with the
option to re-format from one to the other with a single button-click); and can automatically adjust for any
later edits or alterations, for example renumbering in Vancouver style if an extra reference is added.
 EndNote can retrieve comprehensive reference information directly from many online databases, saving
you the time of manually reproducing them.
 Once inputted, your references can be sorted and grouped, and you can add your own notes, tags and
comments – e.g. so when writing up a particular section of your report, you can easily review sources
you had earmarked during your literature search as being relevant to that topic.
Using EndNote can greatly simplify your referencing – maintaining accuracy while reducing the amount of
timing you need to spend in inserting or updating references. The IT Training Unit provide guides to using the
software (see http://intra.lshtm.ac.uk/its/ittraining , then follow the link for ‘Learning Materials’), and run a
standard workshop covering the basic features of EndNote.
11.5 Plagiarism and assessment irregularities
When writing up MSc project reports, it is vital that you are aware of the School’s rules on plagiarism and
related issues, and understand how to avoid breaching these rules. Please ensure you are familiar with this
guidance on plagiarism, cheating and other assessment irregularities given in both your MSc student
handbook and in the Academic Writing handbook – these both include a worked example on how to use and
cite sources correctly.
The following notes recap key guidance about plagiarism. For specific issues where you are unsure about
what is permissible, please ask your supervisor, tutor or Course Director for advice.
LSHTM definition of plagiarism
Plagiarism is the copying or use of the work of others, whether intentionally or unintentionally, as if it were
your own. Such work may come from any source whether published or unpublished, in print or online –
including words, images, audio recordings, diagrams, formulae, computer code, performances, ideas,
judgements, discoveries and results.
To avoid plagiarism:
 Where any use or mention is made of the work of others, it should be acknowledged.
 A recognised citation system should be used.
 Quotations must accurately refer to and acknowledge the originator(s) of the work.
 Direct quotations, whether extended or short, must always be clearly identified.
 Paraphrasing – using other words to express the ideas or judgements of others – must be clearly
acknowledged.
 Work done in collaboration with others must appropriately refer to their involvement and input.
 Use of your own past work should be referenced as clearly as the work of others.
Based on this definition, you should apply the following principles in your work:
 Sources: You must acknowledge all sources from which you have drawn – whether published works
such as journal articles or books; grey literature such as conference proceedings, reports from
organisations and government agencies etc.; material from the internet, whether or not it has a named
author; unpublished materials such as lecture/tutorial notes or other students’ work; and even exchanges
such as emails or conversations with other people – be they staff, students, friends or others. If you wish
to make use of any of your own previous work, e.g. elements of essays done for other assessments, you
should indicate and cite this as clearly as any other source.
 Quotations: You must always clearly identify any directly copied quotations (such as sentences,
phrases or even striking expressions), e.g. by placing them inside quotation marks. A series of short
quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as
much as does a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source.
 Paraphrasing: You must equally clearly indicate where you have paraphrased or summarised another
person’s words, ideas or judgments – referring to that person in your text (e.g. by giving a reference in a
footnote or bracket after the paraphrasing) and including the work referred to in your reference list.
 Referencing: You should use a recognised citation system throughout your project report and provide a
full reference list at the end.
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Note that failure to observe the rules, even unintentionally, may constitute plagiarism and be penalised. Most
cases of plagiarism are not due to students deliberately copying the work of others and trying to pass it off as
their own, but because information they used was not appropriately acknowledged or referenced. The
School recognises that occasional slips in attribution or similarity of text may happen with even the most
diligent student, and all relevant factors will be taken into account in consideration of any case. However,
please do not be tempted to copy material; plagiarism is easy to detect (the School checks all student project
reports using the plagiarism detection service Turnitin UK), and the risks are very high. It is not unusual for
one or two students a year to fail their project report due to plagiarism.
Other forms of potential assessment irregularities are described in the Academic Writing handbook. You
should also be very careful to avoid any possibility of research misconduct – this means things like not
following appropriate research protocols/procedures for avoiding unreasonable risk or harm to humans,
animals or the environment; or not exercising due care in handling of privileged/private information collected
about individuals. Please see further details in the School’s Guidelines on Good Research Practice, at
www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/about/guidelines_on_good_research_practice.pdf
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12. RECOGNISING THE CONTRIBUTION OF OTHERS
LSHTM MSc project reports should always be the work of the student submitting them; but it is normal for
support and input to be received from a range of other sources. The project supervisor, in particular, should
always have provided meaningful support. Other individuals may also be involved, whether from within or
outside the School, such as co-supervisors, technical advisors, and technicians involved in the compilation of
data, support with analysing statistics, etc. In some cases, students may be working as part of a team when
undertaking their project.
In addition to correctly citing and giving references for all source material you have used (as described in the
preceding two Sections, 11.4 and 11.5), your project report should also clearly indicate where you have
received direct assistance from others. Project assessors must always be made aware of any such support
or input, to be able to mark all work fairly.

You should always include an Acknowledgements section at the start of your work, indicating both (i)
academic support you have received from your supervisor(s), technical advisors etc., and (ii) any other
support you have received, e.g. to note practical help or personal thanks.

Acknowledgements can (and generally should) be given anonymously, referring to people by
role/relationship rather than by name – for example Supervisor, Research Assistant, fellow-student,
friend or family member.

The contribution of others should also be clearly indicated at relevant points throughout your project
report – to make clear if and where you received help with aspects such as laboratory procedures,
statistical analysis, literature review, etc.

Project data does not necessarily have to be collected by you as a student. It is expected that many
projects will use existing datasets (subject to required permissions having been given). Use of provided
data or other material should also be made clear in your report.
The important point is that all support or input you receive during the project should be specified, to
distinguish the main body of work done by yourself from any other supporting/enabling work where you had
help from others. Levels of support may vary from student to student, and depending on the type of work
involved – some projects will naturally require closer hands-on supervision. It may be entirely appropriate to
receive additional support in a particular area, provided your supervisor agrees and feels this is in line with
the project marking criteria for the MSc; but it is important that you give a clear acknowledgement of where
and how much help you have received, so that you can be marked on the work that you yourself have done.
For example: if a project is done as part of a larger research initiative and elements are designed by the
Principal Investigator, this should be made clear and less detail will need be given on those elements.
However if this is not made clear (i.e. if information about support or input received is incorrect or omitted),
then be aware that such work might be marked down or subject to penalties under the School’s assessment
irregularity procedures.
12.1 Writing the Acknowledgements section
As mentioned under Section 11.3 on structuring your project report, you should always give a specific
Acknowledgements section that clearly indicates the contribution of others to your work. This should have
two main elements:
(i) An ‘acknowledgement of academic support’ that describes the amount of interaction you have had
with your supervisor or other experts (e.g. co-supervisors or technical advisors) in developing your
project – e.g. specific advice or ideas, aspects undertaken collaboratively, statistical support, etc.
Typically this should consist of four short structured paragraphs covering the following:
Project development: Describe the roles of you, your supervisor and anyone else in –
 Identifying the area for investigation and/or initiating the project.
 Developing the project study design – e.g. whether this was done wholly independently by you, or
incorporated suggestions/constraints/criteria from the supervisor (recap if so), or whether the nature
of the project gave you limited opportunity to contribute to the design.
Contact, input and support: Describe general levels of input and support given by –
 Your supervisor (including how often you discussed or worked on the project with them).
 Individuals other than your main supervisor, such as co-supervisors or technical advisors (including
how often you discussed or worked on the project with them).
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Main research work: Describe any more specific academic input or assistance you received from the
supervisor or others whilst doing your research –
 Extent to which you worked alone or collaboratively (and for the latter, which specific project
elements required more direct support or assistance from the supervisor or others).
 Extent of any help given by the supervisor or others in finding appropriate references, background
literature or key readings.
 Extent of any assistance in analysing and interpreting results (including results having been checked
by others, or advice given on how to proceed with analysis).
Writing-up: Describe any assistance received from your supervisor in writing-up your report –
 Whether the supervisor has read or advised on drafts of the report (and if so, how many drafts; or if
not, why it was not possible for them to read a draft).
 Extent of advice given on the structure and content of the report, any material provided, and/or
corrections given after reading drafts.
(ii) An ‘acknowledgement of other support’ to recognise any other assistance you have received,
including practical, administrative and personal matters. Typically this should be about one or two
paragraphs long, specifying and thanking those responsible for –
 Practical assistance that has enabled but not specifically altered the academic content of your work
– e.g. assistance with collecting data in the field or in a lab, support in respect of a specific disability,
translation services, editing & proofreading, etc.
 Any specific permissions you were granted for your work – e.g. for use of copyrighted material,
use of a specific dataset, use of a patented process, etc.
 Any assistance with finance and resources or similar – especially any funding or grants which
have supported the work done, but also support such as access to facilities or resources which might
not have been automatically available.
 Any personal acknowledgements to recognise and express appreciation for other people who
have supported your work, but in ways which didn’t directly change what you covered or how you
wrote it up. These might be family, friends, staff or others – e.g. to thank them for encouragement,
support, motivation, inspiration or similar. Who and what you may choose to mention is completely
up to you.
You should also briefly indicate where you have received such ‘other support’ at appropriate points
throughout your main project report – e.g. mentioning translation services at the point where you
describe or make use of the translated work.
Anonymity
Note that while MSc project reports are intended to be anonymous (you are not allowed to give your name
and should only identify yourself by candidate number), it may sometimes be appropriate to name particular
staff such as your supervisor or co-supervisors or technical advisors in the acknowledgements section.
However for personal acknowledgements it is generally better to express thanks to ‘my family’ or to friends
using first names only, to help retain anonymity.
Example of an Acknowledgements section
Acknowledgements should be clear and simple, specifying input/assistance received with general thanks to
the individuals or groups involved. The following example is intended to illustrate typical good practice.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Acknowledgement of academic support
I would like to sincerely thank all those who have helped shape this project and make it successful.
Project development: The project idea arose from my past experience working in malaria control in Zambia,
although the specific focus was worked out following discussions with my supervisor – particularly to
concentrate on incidence among children and on the specific geographical areas selected. The local
placement was identified by my supervisor. My supervisor also provided the baseline dataset which
influenced what I did or did not ask about in my additional data collection. I sourced the further demographic
projection datasets myself.
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Contact, input and support: I had three planning meetings with my supervisor, each about half an hour
long, while developing my original proposal and getting it approved; plus further email exchanges. Two
meetings in May and June helped refine my questionnaire, sketch out an analysis plan, and agree the travel
and fieldwork plans. Once in Zambia I was based in the office of my local co-supervisor, who provided
regular practical advice; I was also intermittently in contact with my LSHTM supervisor by email. After
returning to London I had two meetings with my supervisor, to discuss initial findings and then a first-draft
report.
Main research work: As preparatory reading, my supervisor suggested I read two specific papers by
Zurovac and Ndhlovu, but otherwise all references cited were identified through my own literature search. In
Zambia, while I worked alone on the data analysis, aspects of the project design and data collection
elements were further refined with advice from my local co-supervisor Martin Situmbeko. Translation
assistance was provided by Mubiana Macwan'gi. Data collection was carried out primarily by the community
health workers involved. On returning to London I received statistical advice and help with Stata from Alex
Johnson, my supervisor’s Research Assistant, who also helped cross-check my analysis.
Writing-up: My supervisor read and commented on some rough initial findings from my fieldwork, and then
my first full draft of this report. These did not require any major revisions.
Acknowledgement of other support
I am very grateful to Martin Situmbeko and Mubiana Macwan'gi for all their help with arrangements for my
visit as well as providing office space and computer facilities; and to Christine Katango and her team of
community health workers for all their data collection work. I also received an LSHTM ‘trust funds’ grant for
my travel, without which the project would not have been possible. My supervisor gave me full permission to
use the baseline dataset against which comparisons have been made. My fellow-student Aldene McCarthy
kindly proof-read this report before submission.
Finally, I would like to thank my family for their support and encouragement during all this work.
Agreeing the Acknowledgements section
It is important to allow your supervisor to see a draft of the Acknowledgements section before you submit
your final project report. Normally this should be provided as part of the full draft of the project that you send
your supervisor to read in the run-up to project submission. The report need not have been finalised by then,
but it should be clear whether you are set to receive any last input.
Your supervisor may suggest revising elements of the statement in line with their perspective on the amount
of support you have received. Please consider their suggestions carefully. In the unlikely event that you and
your supervisor fundamentally disagree about how to record the level of support you have received, the
matter should be referred to your MSc Course Director.
12.2 Proof-reading and help with writing or language
The report you submit should be your own work – i.e. consisting of your own ideas and judgments,
expressed in your own words. However, many students will wish to seek some further assistance with use of
language.
It is entirely appropriate to ask a fellow student, family member or friend to 'proof-read' a final draft to help
identify any spelling or grammatical mistakes or similar, or give comments on your choice of words. You may
also ask a peer (e.g. a fellow-student) who knows the academic subject area to give comments on the
content of the project. However, you must always make the final decision about what is included and how it
is expressed; and you should give appropriate acknowledgement to the assistance you have received in
producing your final report.
You should not have anyone else extensively edit or rewrite your project for you – e.g. in such a way that the
language used no longer represents your own expression of the work done, or such that another person has
made decisions about the content or presentation of the work put forward. In particular, you should be aware
that the use of 'professional' (paid) editors is strongly discouraged by the School.
If English is not your first language, please be reassured that you will not be marked down for minor
imperfections. You are simply being asked to produce a readable scientific report that puts your points
across clearly. Well-structured organisation (such as distinct main sections), clear presentation (such as
uncluttered short paragraphs and sensible use of lists, bullet points or tables) and unambiguous phrasing
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(e.g. using short descriptive sentences) are more important than attempting to write in complicated or ‘wordy’
English.
However, whatever your standard of English, you should make sure you proof-read your report before
submission and correct any obvious errors. If markers see evidence of unnecessarily poor writing that
demonstrates insufficient attention to accuracy in reporting your work or checking what you have written, this
may result in you being marked down.
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13. SUBMITTING YOUR PROJECT REPORT
You are required to submit just one copy of your project report (an electronic copy) to the Teaching Support
Office by a strict deadline. This copy will be sent on to markers, will be used in plagiarism checking, and will
constitute the file copy stored by the School’s Library.
NB: this file must be received by the deadline. Multiple electronic copies of a submission will not be
accepted – only the first copy will be accepted.
Deadlines and file format requirements have been set based on the School’s formal Examination Procedures
and Regulations, agreed by the Senate. These also set out the potential penalties for late submission or
breach of criteria – which you should aware of, as follows:
Deadlines and other submission criteria
10.7 An electronic file of the project report is required to be submitted, with the file format requirements set
by the Teaching Support Office on the advice of Taught Course Directors, and highlighted to students. The
deadline for submission will be set by the Faculty Course Director.
10.8 Students should submit their project report giving only their candidate number. The School cannot
guarantee anonymity; however, every attempt should be made to keep project reports anonymous during
initial marking.
Breach of criteria
10.9 Projects which are over the required length should not be marked and should be automatically given a
null (zero) grade. The student may submit a revised version for consideration at the final Board of Examiners
meeting of the following year, i.e. as a re-sit.
10.10 Projects which are submitted after the notified deadline without having been granted an extension
should not be marked, and should be automatically given a null (zero) grade. The student may submit a
revised version for consideration at the final Board of Examiners meeting of the following year, ie as a re-sit.
Extension of deadlines
10.11 Extension of an assessment deadline may only be granted by a Faculty Taught Course Director. This
applies to all types of assessment (in-course, projects etc). To facilitate ensuring consistency across
Department and to aid new Taught Course Directors, a central record of extension requests and agreements
is kept by Registry.
13.1 Deadlines
Having written up your project report, there will be a set deadline by which it must be submitted. For the
2015-16 academic year, the hand-in deadlines for courses across the School’s three Faculties is by 12 noon
on Wednesday 07 September 2016.
You may of course submit your project report ahead of this deadline. However, if you anticipate any
problems in being able to complete your report by the deadline, you should contact your Taught Course
Director.
For reasons of equity with other students, deadline extensions cannot be given simply if you are running late;
but illness, bereavement or other compassionate reasons will be treated with due seriousness.
Advice for part-time students on when to undertake and submit the project
For all part-time MSc students, it is strongly advisable to undertake your project at the end of year 2. Doing
the project after you have completed all your modules, rather than only half of them, will mean that you can
consolidate a wider and deeper volume of learning and achieve a better-quality final project.
The project should be expected to entail more intensive work than other parts of the MSc, and you should
plan for this from well in advance – setting appropriate time aside (and quite possibly booking time off work)
during summer of year 2.
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Part-time students are also welcome to start preparatory work in year 1, e.g. mapping out potential avenues
of work and doing literature searching – particularly if you are certain about the topic you want to cover and
approach you want to take.
If your personal circumstances are such that it would be more helpful for you to start substantive project
work/research from the summer of year 1 (e.g. due to external work commitments/changes, childcare
arrangements etc.), this is also entirely permissible and you can get your CARE form approved in Year 1 in
order to do so.
Normally students who start their project in year 1 would not be expected to complete and submit until the
standard deadline in year 2. If you anticipate major problems in finding sufficient time for project work in year
2, then you can potentially complete the project in year 1 – handing it in for that year’s standard project
deadline, to be marked after that. However, it should be stressed that this is much less academically
desirable than waiting until summer of year 2 to do the project.
If you don’t submit for the standard deadline in year 1, you will be expected to hand in for the standard
deadline in year 2 – projects will not be marked outside of that standard schedule.
13.2 Required format
You will need to ensure that your main project report is presented in the manner required; that you attach all
additional required forms and documentation; and that it is formatted in an appropriate file type and has a
clear filename.
Presentation requirements
Please check that the electronic copy of your project report is presented like so:
 The Title page should give all the specific information set out earlier in this handbook (see under
section 11.3, “Structure of project report – named sections”), including project title, candidate number,
MSc course, academic year, date of submission, word count, and whether Standard Length or Extended.
 The main content of the report should be formatted and presented as described earlier in this
handbook (see under section 11.2, “Format of project report”).
 Your submission should be anonymous, identifying you by candidate number only – do NOT include
your name anywhere in the project report. Note that while you may need to acknowledge supervisors,
co-supervisors or institutions/establishments/off-site locations which you worked at during the project
and this could potentially make you ‘identifiable’, please be reassured that all project markers are
required to act with strict objectivity in all cases.
Other forms and documentation
You must also submit the following forms and documentation as created during your project.
 Approved CARE form (always required) – but without your name appearing on the cover sheet. You can
either save a version of the file with the first page removed, or just with your name and email address
blanked out (you can put your candidate number in instead). You may also wish to anonymise
information such as supervisor contact details.
 Evidence of local ethics approval received (where this was required). Again you should anonymise
this, i.e. blanking out your name.
 Any other relevant documentation – for instance, where you have produced documents such as
information sheets and consent forms for study participants, copies should normally be included as part
of either the main project report or appendices. You may need to anonymise such documents, i.e.
blanking out your name if it appears.
These documents should be included to give markers full visibility of proposals made, approvals received
and materials used in developing and undertaking your project.
File requirements for electronic submission
Your project report submission should be presented as follows:
 The main project report (from the title page through to the reference list and all appendices) should be
provided as one file, named in the format [Candidate Number]_[MSc]_[Year of Submission]_Project,
e.g. “1234_PublicHealth_2014_Project”.
 The CARE form plus any other relevant documentation (as set out above) should be compiled together
as a second file, named in the format [Candidate Number]_[MSc]_[Year of
Submission]_FurtherDocs, e.g. “1234_PublicHealth_2014_Project_FurtherDocs”.
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

The recommended file format for submission is Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), which is fully supported
by software on the School’s network. If you are working on your own computer and do not have
Microsoft Word or cannot access the School network, you may alternatively submit your file in Rich Text
Format (.rtf), which is supported by almost all PC and Apple Mac word-processing packages, or as an
OpenDocument Text file (.odt). Certain courses may specific particular file formats to be used in
submissions – please check if so in Part 2 of this handbook.
All text in your files must be electronically recognisable as text, i.e. highlightable and copyable in
whatever package it opens in. If scanning material in, be careful to check that the file does not treat text
as a ‘picture’ (other than for items such as graphs and charts where labels etc. may form part of a
picture-object).
Further guidance and advice
The Teaching Support Office can give you further advice or guidance on how to supply documents in the
correct format. However, please let them know in good time before the submission deadline if you have any
queries, concerns or problems.
Staff will do their best to help students who have late-breaking problems on the day of the deadline, but TSO
tends to be extremely busy on those days. It is always better to raise your query as far ahead of the deadline
as possible – otherwise if you leave it to the day of the deadline, TSO staff may be unable to help you as fully
as might be desired.
13.3 Submission
The required electronic copy of your project report, presented and formatted as described above, should be
submitted on your MSc Moodle page by the deadline of 12 noon on Wednesday 07 September 2016.



The documents should give the initials of your MSc (as per the table below) followed by your student
candidate number – for example “CID 123456”.
You should upload two attachments – the main ‘Project’, and the additional ‘Further documents’ such as
your CARE form.
The files should be identified by your candidate number only.
MSc
Initials
Control of Infectious Diseases
CID
Demography & Health
D&H
Epidemiology
EPI
Global Mental Health
GMH
Immunology of Infectious Diseases
IID
Medical Entomology for Disease Control
MEDiC
Medical Microbiology
MM
Medical Parasitology
MP
Medical Statistics
MS
Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases
MBID
Nutrition for Global Health
NGH
Public Health – all streams
PH
Public Health in Developing Countries
PHDC
Public Health Eye Care
PHEC
Reproductive & Sexual Health Research
RSHR
Tropical Medicine in International Health
TMIH
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14. PROJECT ASSESSMENT
When carrying out and writing up your project report, it is very important to understand how it will later be
assessed. Please see Part 2 of this handbook for the specific marking criteria that apply for your
course.
14.1 General marking criteria
Project requirements will differ considerably from MSc to MSc; but the School uses a standard grading scale
to ensure comparability of standards across all students. The final mark for your project report will be
reported either as a numeric gradepoint or a gradepoint average (GPA) on this standard grading scale, which
runs from 0 – 5.
The particular system that applies for your MSc course is set out in Part 2 of this handbook.
 Most MScs use marking schemes under which markers agree a single overall grade.
 However certain MScs use component-based marking schemes, allowing the award of a project GPA
rather than an integer gradepoint. In these cases, it should have been made clear to you in advance
what proportion of the marks are awarded for particular sections of the project report, such as the
introduction, aims and objectives, materials and methods, results, discussion and recommendations.
The following table indicates the qualitative descriptors which relate to each gradepoint, ranging from 5
(Excellent) through to 0 (Very poor); and broadly describes the kind of factors that work at each level is
expected to achieve –although please be aware that the specific criteria for your course in Part 2 of this
handbook will be more definitive.
Grade
point
Descriptor
Typical work should include evidence of…
5
Excellent
Excellent engagement with the topic, excellent depth of understanding &
insight, excellent argument & analysis. Generally, this work will be
‘distinction standard’.
4
Very good
Very good engagement with the topic, very good depth of understanding &
insight, very good argument & analysis. This work may be ‘borderline
distinction standard’.
3
Good
Good (but not necessarily comprehensive) engagement with the topic,
clear understanding & insight, reasonable argument & analysis.
2
Satisfactory
Adequate evidence of engagement with the topic but some gaps in
understanding or insight, routine argument & analysis.
1
Unsatisfactory
/ poor (fail)
Inadequate engagement with the topic, gaps in understanding, poor
argument & analysis.
0
Very poor
(fail)
Poor engagement with the topic, limited understanding, very poor argument
& analysis.
0
Not submitted
(null)
Null mark may be given where work has not been submitted, or is in
serious breach of assessment criteria/regulations.
The project is worth 45 credits under the LSHTM credit system, and must be passed (with at least a grade 2
or above) in order to pass the MSc.
14.2 What the examiners will be looking for
The specific criteria which will apply for marking project reports on your MSc are set out in Part 2 of this
handbook. This should describe the scientific, academic and critical skills being assessed, and identify which
elements of the project you will be expected to demonstrate them in. A typical example would be as follows –
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Element
Student Skills
Background, literature and theory
elements
Critical thinking
Data analysis and conclusion sections*
Ability to analyse data and draw conclusions*
Data collection and findings sections
Independent research skills
The entire written report
Clear coherent writing
Style, presentation and referencing of the
project
Familiarity with writing conventions
* Data may be either qualitative or quantitative and may include the literature identified as part of your
review
In all cases (unless specifically stated to the contrary), examiners will be looking to see:

Evidence of learning: Your project report should be your own work, and include original thinking,
though you should discuss and review your ideas with your tutor. If you make use of any work conducted
by others, this should be appropriately referenced (see Section 11.4 on Referencing, earlier in this
handbook).

Evidence of scientific and academic standards: Including –
 Whether the main project report is structured in an appropriate way;
 How well you make the case for your study design in the light of your research question;
 Whether the project meets the stated aims and objectives set out in the project report;
 Appropriate and competent use of methods for data collection or generation and analysis;
 Convincing well-argued conclusions; and
 A full reference list of all sources of knowledge, data and ideas in the project report, whether these
were published in paper form or obtained via the internet.

Evidence of critical skills: Your project report should demonstrate your ability to integrate your skills in
conducting an independent piece of research, including –
 Critical thinking;
 Analysing data and drawing conclusions;
 Clear and coherent writing; and
 Presenting your findings in an appropriate way.
14.3 What happens next?
A little after the project hand-in deadline, you may be emailed and asked for your feedback about the
project experience. Projects are a hugely important part of MSc study at LSHTM, and feedback about any
areas where the School has scope to make improvements or enhancements is very helpful for future
students. Your comments will be much appreciated.
After your project report has been marked, your LSHTM supervisor will be sent a copy. You may also wish to
send copies to others who assisted you, e.g. co-supervisors or technical advisors at external sites. The
Library will make all projects of pass standard or above available to future students.
Where you have achieved a good mark and your project report has particularly interesting or original
features, you may be encouraged to consider submitting it for publication in a peer-reviewed journal (see
notes about this earlier on in this handbook, under Section 10 on Copyright). Your supervisor, Course
Director or personal tutor may be able to offer you further advice on this.
14.4 Project re-sits
A small proportion of students each year will fail their project and be required to re-sit. Such cases will be
followed up in line with the School’s re-sits policy,
(www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/taughtcourses/exams_assmt_staff/resits_policy.pdf). There are three types of re-sit
which Exam Boards can require students to undertake:

‘Revision and re-submission’: to make corrections and submit a revised project (based on the same core
material) within two months of the student being notified of this. An extension or deferral beyond two
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months may be requested if necessary. Written feedback and guidance about the corrections required
will be provided.

‘Further data collection’: to collect new data and revise/update the project (based on the same basic
topic) for the following year’s deadline. This may be most common where data previously collected has
been insufficient or flawed.

‘New project’: to do a new project on an entirely new topic – where there are fundamental problems in
the original submission that cannot simply be revised. This should be submitted for the following year’s
deadline.
For ‘revise and re-submit’ projects, students are allowed one further meeting with either their supervisor or
Course Director (up to 2 hours further staff support time in total) to help clarify how to address markers’
feedback; but supervisors should not be expected to read a revised draft.
For ‘further data collection’ and ‘new’ projects, the School will endeavour to provide the same level of
supervision as for original projects – namely 15 hours contact time maximum, across a single period of no
longer than 12 weeks (period to be agreed between the supervisor and student). Students may request a
different supervisor for such re-sit work.
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PART TWO: COURSE-SPECIFIC PROJECT INFORMATION
Course Directors, please complete and number applicable sections below. The course-specific details you
provide will be published along with the standard School-wide information and guidance in Part One, as the
specific Project Handbook for your course.
Objectives of the project report
List course-specific objectives here [to be added by Course Director]. Note that generic ‘MSc project learning
objectives’ are detailed in standard School-wide information about projects.
Identifying a project topic – how the process works for this MSc
Give details here [to be added by Course Director] – noting whether students must come up with their own
topic and who they might wish to speak to in deciding this (e.g. tutor, Course Director); or whether a list of set
project topics will be provided (e.g. in labs, with a pre-assigned supervisor) and if so how these will be
allocated; or details of any other guidance or arrangements.
 May wish to give further guidance on how the proposal development and approval process (using CARE
etc) should work for the course – link in to key dates and deadlines later.
Types of project report permitted for this MSc
List and describe here [to be added by Course Director] – give clear criteria for what each different type of
project permitted involves.
 Also describe options for extended projects where these are permitted (MSc IID only).
 Courses with a page limit rather than a word limit should re-iterate this here (currently Med Stats only).
 Some courses may wish to set specific restrictions – e.g. that project work overseas may not be allowed.
Expected time commitment of projects
Describe here [to be added by Course Director] at whatever level of detail is felt appropriate – may be very
brief. The standard School expectation is 450 hours of learning time for a standard length project, with a
typical split of 50 hours planning/preparation, 300 hours active project work, and 100 hours writing up; but
this may vary by course and by project type, e.g. lab projects and literature reviews would require a different
split of time.
Identifying a supervisor – how the process works for this MSc
Give details here [to be added by Course Director] – noting whether students will be assigned a
supervisor, or have one attached with a set topic once selected, or must find their own supervisor.
Supervisor support
Give details here [to be added by Course Director] about any specific supervision practices that apply.
 May wish to give further details about how the School’s quota of “max. 10 hours supervisory guidance” is
expected to work.
Key dates and deadlines
Give details here [to be added by Course Director] about specific deadlines that apply – including for
academic approval (from supervisor and Course Director), ethics approval (if a course-specific deadline has
been agreed with the MSc Research Ethics Committee), and final submission (latest possible submission
date, which will be in the first week of September 2014).
 Set out any further specific stages, milestones and deadlines that may apply for the course – following
on from guidance in Part One about how proposal development and approval should operate (using
CARE etc).
Project marking criteria
Marking scheme must be included [to be added by Course Director].
 Describe any differences in marking criteria for different permitted types of project – may be appropriate
to provide full marking criteria as given to markers.
 If a component marking scheme is to be used, make clear what the components are and their respective
weightings.
Further course-specific information
Provide here [to be added by Course Director].
 Where appropriate, give any further course-specific guidance on writing-up the project – including about
the specific sections to include (e.g. Introduction, Aims & Objectives, Materials and methods, Results,
Discussion, Recommendations), recommended referencing systems (e.g. Harvard or Vancouver), etc.
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
May also wish to give further course-specific guidance on requirements for the final report submission –
e.g. presentation requirements, file formats to be used, a checklist of forms or other documentation to be
appended to the main project report, etc.
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