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Health Humanities MA

London, Bloomsbury

Health and illness in society is one of the key concerns that underpins our modern existence. The Health Humanities MA enables you to gain a detailed understanding of how methods from the humanities can influence biomedicine, clinical practice and the politics of healthcare. An interdisciplinary degree taught at UCL, you’ll graduate ready to apply your expertise to careers in the medical field, science organisations, academic research, and more.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
£7,550
Pathways include:
Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health (TMAPHISPEH01)

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£31,100
£15,550
Pathways include:
Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health (TMAPHISPEH01)

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The programme enables students to approach issues relating to health and illness from both a historical and contemporary perspective and from a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, science and technology studies, global health, literature and film studies. Students will also learn to work in an interdisciplinary manner.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who wish to gain a training and qualification in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches in the health humanities as a foundation for higher research and professional work, and for graduates from other fields or careers wishing to supplement their existing knowledge and experience.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The Health Humanities MA is based in UCL's Health Humanities Centre, which draws together world-leading researchers from different disciplines including medicine and health in history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and cultural and film studies. With 83% of SELCS-CMII research activity being graded 4* ‘world leading’ and 3* ‘internationally excellent’ in the REF 2021.

Leading clinicians at UCL's acclaimed Medical School and Division of Psychiatry, who are engaged in humanities and social science research, are also actively involved with the centre.

UCL Health Humanities Centre forms part of the UCL Institute of Advanced Studies, which showcases and fosters multidisciplinary research within the humanities and the social sciences, with an active programme of events and visiting international scholars.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This MA provides an exceptional foundation for those hoping to undertake PhD research and pursue an academic career, ranging from interdisciplinary work in the health humanities to a broad spectrum of more specialised disciplines, such as medicine, the philosophy of medicine, history of medicine, medical sociology or medical anthropology, among others. 

Our graduates go on to work in varied roles across the public, private and charitable sectors. The programme is also suitable preparation for a range of careers including science and medical journalism, bioethics, healthcare policy, consultancy, education, NGOs and museum and heritage.

Employability

The MA Health Humanities programme provides students with opportunities to work in an interdisciplinary manner, and to engage in debate and develop presentation skills. Students will gain experience of writing essays and training in conducting original research and applying the appropriate methodology.

Our graduates are highly valued by employers for their interdisciplinary skills and linguistic and cultural knowledge. There are many additional activities available, both within the UCL Health Humanities Centre and the UCL Institute of Advanced Studies, along with the wider community including UCL Careers, to help students develop employability skills.

Networking

You will have the opportunity to meet with researchers working on health related topics in the humanities and social sciences as well as in health related fields. Our location offers students access to special collections at UCL and other world-class libraries nearby such as Senate House and the British Library. These resources, besides their collections of books, articles, videos, sound recordings and non-public online resources, offer a wide range of seminars, lecture series and other opportunities to exchange ideas.

Other libraries and research centres within walking distance of campus include the British Museum, Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies and the Institute of Historical Research.

Teaching and learning

The course will enable students to:

1. Gain knowledge and understanding of the field of Health Humanities
2. Communicate complex ideas effectively, orally and in writing
3. Develop analytical skills to use subject-specific theories and approaches,
evaluate their validity and reach coherent and original conclusions
4. Develop theoretical skills relating to critical thinking, integrating new concepts and ideas into existing knowledge
5. Understand how to approach a literary, theoretical or qualitative research project in the health humanities

Teaching sessions are interactive, with a limited amount of lecturer presentation and an emphasis on student participation and critical discussion.

Students are assessed by a variety of methods, which may include coursework, presentations, written essays and the research dissertation.

For a full-time postgraduate course, we recommend around 20-25 hours of independent study per week. Contact hours may vary depending on module choices, but full-time students will have approximately 8-10 contact hours each week during term time, spent in lectures and seminars.

For a part-time postgraduate course, contact hours would usually be 4-6 hours per week across 2-3 days and we recommend around 10-12 hours of independent study per week.

Those undertaking language modules may have additional contact hours. There is minimal teaching during Term 3, as students focus on the dissertation and assessments.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), two core modules (60 credits) and two electives (60 credits) is also offered.

Modules

The Health Humanities Route comprises three core modules on Illness Madness and Approaching the Health Humanities: Skills and Methods optional modules and a dissertation. During the academic year, you will take these compulsory modules which are designed to work as a postgraduate-level foundation and provide you with the specific skills and knowledge to research and write essays.

During Term 2, in addition to your taught modules, you will start formulating your dissertation proposal. All students undertake this independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10-12,000 words. You will develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You will give a presentation to your peers and tutors on your dissertation to help cement your argument and subject area to cover. This is a non-assessed compulsory element of the MA. You will then spend the summer researching and writing your 12,000 word dissertation (or 18,000 word dissertation, if you are on the research track) on a topic to be determined in discussion with your academic supervisor.

In Year 1, you will take compulsory modules, which are designed to provide you with the specific skills to research, write essays and the dissertation. These modules set the foundation for the whole MA, preparing you for further learning and for your dissertation.

In Year 2, you will take optional modules to develop your broader understanding of health and illness and to develop key concepts learnt in Year 1. You will also formulate and develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You will give a presentation to your peers and tutors on your dissertation proposal to help cement your argument and subject areas to cover. This is a non-assessed compulsory element of your MA. You will then spend the summer of Year 2 researching and writing your 12,000 word dissertation (or 18,000 word dissertation, if you are on the research track) on a topic to be determined in discussion with your supervisor.

In Year 1 and Year 2, you will take compulsory modules, which are designed to work as a postgraduate-level foundation module and to provide you with the specific skills to research and write essays and the dissertation. These modules set the foundation for the whole MA, preparing you for further learning and for your dissertation.

From Year 1 onwards, you will take optional modules to develop your broader understanding of health and illness, from historical and contemporary perspectives and to develop key concepts learnt in Year 1 and 2.

From Year 2 onwards, you will also formulate and develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You will give a presentation to your peers and tutors on your dissertation proposal to help cement your argument and subject areas to cover. This is a non-assessed compulsory element of your MA. You will then spend the rest of your time researching and writing your 12,000 word dissertation (or 18,000 word dissertation, if you are on the research track) on a topic to be determined in discussion with your supervisor.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules

Politics and Ethics

Multidisciplinary Social Research



Gender and Ageing: A Feminist Gerentology






Migration and Health







Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health









Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Health Humanities. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Health Humanities.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100 £7,550
Tuition fees (2024/25) £31,100 £15,550

Pathways include:
Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health (TMAPHISPEH01)

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying, or conference registration fees and associated travel costs.

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Various external sources of funding for postgraduate study are listed on the gov.uk site.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

ANS Dutch Studies Bursary

Deadline: 1 November
Value: £1,250 (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we access your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Health Humanities at graduate level
  • why you want to study Health Humanities at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry
Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry

selcs-cmii.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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