MSc in Dementia

Critically challenge common perceptions of dementia as a diagnosis solely of loss and despair

Overview

Designed to give you a critical understanding of dementia, this course will provide you with a deep insight into the experience of those living with dementia and their families. You will develop new critical thinking, giving you practical tools and mindset to lead positive change.

  • Study the effects of social exclusion, the relevance of participation and diversity. Critically challenge taken for granted models of care in order to promote a holistic, relationship-centred approach
  • Explore biological, psychological and sociological frameworks which seek to explain the experience of dementia and develop a multi-disciplinary research perspective
  • Create care plans focusing on the human rights and specific needs of people with dementia and put your new knowledge to practical use in real life situations
  • Discover and share global perspectives which underpin the diagnosis with your peers online. Join a network of likeminded professionals shaping change around the world.

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Course Details

Also available as a PGDip and a PGCert

Three start dates per year: January, May and September

Next course start date: 25 September 2023

Next welcome week: 18 September 2023

Duration: two years (part-time)

Format: online, with optional face-to-face events

Total fees: MSc – £10,300; PGDip – £6,900; PGCert – £3,450 (payment by instalment and funding options available)

Additional costs: due to the nature of the subject, and copyright restrictions placed on institutional libraries by some publishers, students will need to purchase some core texts.

Support with your application: Contact our course adviser team today for application advice.

Why this course?

Dementia is a condition which is taking centre stage in all our lives but continues to be understood primarily as one of deficit and dysfunction.

Taking a person-centred approach, informed by experiences of people with dementia, their families and supporters, this multi-disciplinary masters degree critically challenges common perceptions of dementia as a diagnosis solely of loss and despair.

Taught by experts and focusing on a human rights approach, you will learn how to maintain the wellbeing and dignity of people living with dementia, while promoting the philosophy and practice of living, as well as possible, with dementia.

Our Dying Well with Dementia module was developed in collaboration with end of life specialists from Dove House Hospice in Hull, to give you practical insights into how people with life-limiting illnesses are cared for in the community.

Apply your learning to your current profession to create a positive impact within the field of dementia today.

Modules

This course takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the study of dementia. Providing you with a relationship-centred insight, it focuses on experience, quality of care and how to live and die well with dementia. You will study the following modules.
Module 1 - Dementia: Critical Starting Points (30 credits)

A critical approach to historical and contemporary understandings of dementia. Throughout this module you will explore the multi-disciplinary frameworks and discourses which seek to explain the experience of dementia.

Module 2 - Living Well with Dementia (30 credits)

Develop strategies and plans to create meaningful activities which support life enhancement and wellness. You will also develop a critical understanding of what it means to ‘live well’.

Module 3 - Systems and Ecologies (30 credits)

This module takes account of the wider social systems and ecologies which can both support and undermine the experience of living well with dementia. It will provide you with a systems-based appreciation of the experience of living well with dementia. The module examines the relationships of people diagnosed with the condition exploring interactions and perceptions of family, care-givers, community and society in general. You will focus on methods and approaches which enable partnerships and collaboration within wider social systems.

Module 4 - Dying Well with Dementia (30 credits)

Gain an understanding of palliative and supportive care in dementia. This module has been developed in collaboration with end of life care specialists from Dove House Hospice in Hull.

Dove House Hospice is a charity providing excellent care for people in the local community with life limiting illnesses. They are specialists in palliative care, which is the total care of patients whose illness is no longer curable and for whom the goal must be quality of life. The patient - not the illness - is the focus of Dove House’s care.

Topics covered during this module include defining a palliative care approach, relationship centered care, comfort care at the end of life, and loss and bereavement. At the end of the module, students will understand the legal and ethical issues, advanced care planning and the professional interventions which mitigate for and against a good death in the context of dementia.

Module 5 - Dissertation (60 credits)

Your dissertation (15,000 words) will help you to develop arguments which demonstrate alternative perspectives, challenge common perception and pave the way for new areas of enquiry in the dementia field.

How you will learn

Benefits of learning online with us

Your virtual classroom
Everything you need to complete your studies can be accessed on Canvas, our easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE). From reading academic feedback to engaging with fellow students, you can turn to Canvas whenever you have some free time for your course. Access it via your browser or through the Canvas Student mobile app for a convenient way to learn while on the move.
How online studying works
-Engage while you learn
Your studies include an interactive mix of online discussion boards, on-demand lectures and live webinars. -Get help from your tutors when you need it
Through our online learning platform, you have easy access to support and feedback from your tutor. -Submit your assignments online
There's no need to worry about travel costs, visas, or time off work. All assignments are submitted and graded online. -Get started with basic hardware and software requirements
We make your online learning experience as hassle-free as possible. Visit our FAQs page for basic requirements. -Pay as you go or pay upfront
We offer flexible payment options so you can manage your finances.
Planning for your course
We know that many of our students are managing a number of personal and professional commitments while studying with us. While it can be a challenge to adapt to the added demands of a postgraduate programme, planning out times to study can help ensure you find your course enjoyable and rewarding. As with most part-time master’s courses, you’ll need to dedicate around 20 hours a week to studying, but the extra flexibility of online learning means you can choose the times that suit you best.

How students study with us

• No visas or moving costs
• Access course from anywhere in the world
• Spend approx. 20-25 hours studying each week
• All course materials are available on demand
• Revise on the days and times that suit you best
• Course modules broken down into weekly segments
• Fit studies around work, family and social life
• Support with non-academic queries from a student adviser team

Additional Support

As one of our students, you’ll have access to a range of services designed to support your studies and make your time with us as enjoyable as possible. -Our comprehensive online library of books, journals, and resources -A Student Advisor team to answer non-academic queries -Online software tutorials via LinkedIn Learning -The Students’ Union community -Career advice, CV creation, practice interviews, and more via our careers platform

Career prospects and opportunities

Successful completion of this distance learning degree offers health, social work and social care professionals the potential to specialise in the field of dementia. We are also keen to help develop specialist knowledge and skills in people who currently volunteer in the field.

Gaining an insight into care provision and policy-making, from an explicitly ethical and human-rights perspective, will equip you with the knowledge you need to lead positive change and improve existing services for those living with dementia in your community.

Future career prospects

“The course has helped me help my patients. I plan to use this experience in influencing other clinicians in the NHS.” 

-Dr Megha Samuel, NHS Consultant and MSc student

How to apply

Benefits of learning online with us

  • A minimum 2.2 Honours degree or international equivalent in a related subject (such as nursing, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, or similar)
  • If you don’t have a 2.2 Honours degree or international equivalent in a related subject, equivalent professional qualifications/personal experience (such as a Diploma in Nursing) may be considered, along with a portfolio of evidence and a 1,000 word essay to support your application.
  • CV including a current professional or voluntary role which requires regular direct contact with people with dementia
  • A personal statement of around 300-500 words
  • One professional or academic reference
  • An IELTS 6.0 score (with minimum 5.5 in each skill) if your first language isn’t English (or other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull)

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible to apply, please get in touch with our course adviser team for advice.

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Share your details in order to receive information about this high quality online masters course.

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