The new Dementia MSc is offered jointly by the UCL Division of Psychiatry and Institute of Neurology and tackles one of the biggest global health problems facing society today. It provides research-oriented and cutting-edge training in the study of dementia and its scientific basis, led by international leaders in the science and practice of dementia. Two specialised pathways, in mental health and in neuroscience, are offered.
The mental health pathway focuses on equipping students with advanced knowledge of the prevention, detection and management of the dementias using epidemiological, psychosocial and clinical trial approaches, and is aimed at graduates wishing to explore or begin a research career in dementia. More information about the neuroscience pathway is also available.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists five or six core modules (90 or 120 credits), one or two optional modules (if only five core modules are taken) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a report of up to 8,000 words, presented as a paper ready to submit to a medical, psychiatric or dementia-specialist journal.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered though a combination of lecture/seminar series and practical interactive workshops, with supportive online learning material. Assessment methods include two unseen examinations, coursework including designing questionnaires and protocols and analysing data in dementia research, writing a critical literature review, giving talks and presentations, and a final report in the format of a journal paper.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Dementia: Causes, Treatments and Research (Mental Health) MSc
This is a new programme and no information on graduate destinations is therefore available. Previous MSc-level graduates of the Division have had a strong track record of publishing papers based on their dementia research projects in peer reviewed journals, and have moved on to academic posts and PhD studies. For clinicians, the course will allow them to participate fully in collaborative studies and begin their research career as independent investigators in dementia research.
Employability
This unique and exciting programme will equip graduates with advanced knowledge of the prevention and treatment of dementia, and strong practical research skills in order to undertake doctoral research in the field. They will acquire in-depth understanding of the current status and direction of research for the treatment and care of people with dementia and their families, providing them with a strong foundation for doctoral studies, and applications for nationally funded fellowships. They will complete original research in their specific field of interest, learning about dementia research directly from experts working in clinical and research areas in dementia.
UCL has exceptional research strength in dementia, from laboratory to the community, including genetics, neuroscience of neurodegeneration, prevention and treatment. Students will be taught by leading international dementia researchers at the cutting-edge of their fields; more details are available at UCL Dementia Strategy. Optional modules give students access to other renowned departments at UCL e.g. the UCL Institute of Neurology, and the UCL Medical School.
The programme is strongly focused on active student participation, encouraging learning through participating in research and enquiry and developing the practical skills needed to embark on a research career in dementia. The wide range of research interests within our division and the UCL Institute of Neurology allows us to offer a programme that integrates biological and psychological approaches of dementia.
Students will be offered opportunities to get involved in the work of internationally significant research groups in dementia in a stimulating, friendly and supportive environment.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Division of Psychiatry
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
The new Dementia MSc is offered jointly by the UCL Division of Psychiatry and Institute of Neurology and tackles one of the biggest global health problems facing society today. It provides research-oriented and cutting-edge training in the study of dementia and its scientific basis, led by international leaders in the science and practice of dementia. Two specialised pathways, in mental health and in neuroscience, are offered.
The mental health pathway focuses on equipping students with advanced knowledge of the prevention, detection and management of the dementias using epidemiological, psychosocial and clinical trial approaches, and is aimed at graduates wishing to explore or begin a research career in dementia. More information about the neuroscience pathway is also available.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists five or six core modules (90 or 120 credits), one or two optional modules (if only five core modules are taken) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
Core modules
-Current Research in Dementia (15 credits)
-Advanced Treatment and Management of Dementia (15 credits)
-Core Principles of Mental Health Research (30 credits)
-Statistical Methods in Mental Health (15 credits)
-Clinical Neuroscience of Neurodegenerative Diseases (15 credits)
-Clinical Mental Health (30 credits - core for students who do not have either research or clinical experience in the field of dementia)
Optional modules - students who take five core modules will select 30 further credits of optional modules. Students who take six core modules will select 15 further credits of an optional module. Optional modules have either a neuroscience, research methods, or quality improvement in health care component and are the following:
-Practical Neuroscience of Dementia (15 credits, Institute of Neurology)
-Higher Functions of the Brain (15 credits, Institute of Neurology)
-Epidemiological and Social Methods in Mental Health (30 credits)
-Introduction to Biological Research in Mental Health (15 credits)
-Quality Improvement in Health Care (15 credits, UCL Medical School)
-Other optional modules may be selected from any available in the UCL Division of Psychiatry or elsewhere at UCL, with permission from the Programme Director
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a report of up to 8,000 words, presented as a paper ready to submit to a medical, psychiatric or dementia-specialist journal.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered though a combination of lecture/seminar series and practical interactive workshops, with supportive online learning material. Assessment methods include two unseen examinations, coursework including designing questionnaires and protocols and analysing data in dementia research, writing a critical literature review, giving talks and presentations, and a final report in the format of a journal paper.
This is a new programme and no information on graduate destinations is therefore available. Previous MSc-level graduates of the Division have had a strong track record of publishing papers based on their dementia research projects in peer reviewed journals, and have moved on to academic posts and PhD studies. For clinicians, the course will allow them to participate fully in collaborative studies and begin their research career as independent investigators in dementia research.
Employability
This unique and exciting programme will equip graduates with advanced knowledge of the prevention and treatment of dementia, and strong practical research skills in order to undertake doctoral research in the field. They will acquire in-depth understanding of the current status and direction of research for the treatment and care of people with dementia and their families, providing them with a strong foundation for doctoral studies, and applications for nationally funded fellowships. They will complete original research in their specific field of interest, learning about dementia research directly from experts working in clinical and research areas in dementia.
UCL has exceptional research strength in dementia, from laboratory to the community, including genetics, neuroscience of neurodegeneration, prevention and treatment. Students will be taught by leading international dementia researchers at the cutting-edge of their fields; more details are available at UCL Dementia Strategy. Optional modules give students access to other renowned departments at UCL e.g. the UCL Institute of Neurology, and the UCL Medical School.
The programme is strongly focused on active student participation, encouraging learning through participating in research and enquiry and developing the practical skills needed to embark on a research career in dementia. The wide range of research interests within our division and the UCL Institute of Neurology allows us to offer a programme that integrates biological and psychological approaches of dementia.
Students will be offered opportunities to get involved in the work of internationally significant research groups in dementia in a stimulating, friendly and supportive environment.
The new Dementia MSc is offered jointly by the UCL Institute of Neurology and the Division of Psychiatry and tackles one of the biggest global health problems facing society today. It provides research-oriented and cutting-edge training in the study of dementia and its scientific basis, led by international leaders in the science and practice of dementia. Two specialised pathways, in neuroscience and in mental health, are offered.
The neuroscience pathway brings the latest bench-top research findings to the bedside, develops and integrates basic and clinical neuroscience skills, and equips students for future careers in the clinical practice or basic neuroscience of dementia. A Mental Health pathway is also available.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), one or two optional modules (up to the value of 30 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Students can choose one or two of the following, up to the value of 30 credits:
Students can also choose one elective module from across UCL, subject to approval by the Programme Director.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which may take the form of a critical literature synthesis or collection and analysis of original data, depending on project availability and student background. The project culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000 words and a viva voce examination.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, journal clubs, workshops, masterclasses and patient-based teaching sessions supplemented by self-directed learning. Assessment is through ongoing formative assessments, for example interactive discussions and timetabled summative assessments (including short-answer and multiple-choice unseen examinations), essays, posters, oral presentations, and a research project and a final report in the format of a journal paper.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Dementia: Causes, Treatments and Research (Neuroscience) MSc
For scientists and psychologists, the programme can lead to future placements in clinically oriented research environments or clinical training. For clinicians, this is an excellent opportunity to gain a higher qualification at a world-leading centre of excellence in neurodegeneration research, which could be tailored to a variety of future roles in clinical, research and management fields. Many students will go on to pursue PhDs and research careers in the fields of dementia and neurodegeneration.
Employability
This unique programme will equip graduates with in-depth knowledge of dementia diseases and their treatments; strong, practical research skills that could facilitate doctoral or postdoctoral research in the field; and transferable scientific communication skills. Students will harness the expertise of scientists and clinicians who are currently setting the neuroscience research agenda in dementia internationally. This experience could support further doctoral studies and applications for nationally funded fellowships. For clinicians, the programme will provide research perspectives and practical skills that could inform subspecialty practice in dementia. We aim to train the next generation of neuroscientific and clinical leaders in dementia.
This programme is unique in linking neuroscientific foundations with specialist clinical skills and knowledge in dementia.
The programme integrates the expertise of UCL Institute of Neurology with affiliated departments at the forefront of the global mission to defeat dementia, and is taught by international leaders working closely together to link bench and bedside as part of UCL's Dementia Strategy.
The programme builds on UCL's global perspective, targeting students in developing as well as developed countries to drive future training opportunities. The programme emphasises active student participation and enquiry, develops practical skills, and offers unparalleled exposure to laboratories and patients.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Institute of Neurology
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Dementia is a growing problem globally. There are over 800,000 sufferers in the UK and 44 million world-wide, posing a major challenge for treatment and care.
The Dementia Studies course is aimed at all those involved in the health and care of people with dementia.
The course comprises a new and unique set of educational initiatives designed to enable healthcare professionals to improve the quality of life of dementia sufferers by building expertise in generating and delivering better care. It provides a comprehensive and holistic theoretical and practical framework for understanding dementia and enables a broad understanding of the impact of dementia on the individual and society. Clinical knowledge is blended with developing skills in communication for health and social care, research and leadership learning.
Most modules are assessed by means of a 3,000 word in-depth evaluation of a topic agreed by the student and module leader.
PGCert
Two modules from the following clinical module options PLUS one module from the PGDip professional module list
PGDip
All three clinical modules PLUS three modules from the following professional module options:
MSc
PGDip modules PLUS
Successful completion of the course will provide specialised knowledge and expertise which will be invaluable in improving the prospect of employment in the field and will enhance the likelihood of career progression.
Ultimately, students will be empowered to deliver significant improvements in the quality of services provided to people living with dementia.
With more than one million individuals in the UK estimated to be living with dementia by 2025, there is an urgent need for solutions that help people live well with the condition.
This course will equip students with a unique range of skills and experiences providing sought-after expertise to work flexibly and effectively with people living with dementia. You will gain specialist skills enabling you to lead in the field of dementia care.
If you would be interested in the use of co-creation for research and development, working with artists and designers alongside scientists to help people with dementia and their carers then this course is for you.
The Dementia Care Centre is a transdiscplinary training provider and benefits from input from a range of staff from across UWL, including psychology, nursing, hospitality, design and music. The Centre will offer expertise in transdisciplinary approaches to dementia care and opportunities to get involved in innovative projects and placements at progressive care homes. Through this course you can develop innovative solutions and design unique settings and services to help people with dementia.
On this course you will explore contemporary thinking while investigating and analysing current dementia care and services to build an evidence base for best practice. Our aim is to create ambitious, innovative and evidence-based solutions of high quality and high aesthetic value that make lives better for people with dementia. We seek to empower you to be a leader in best dementia care practice and service management.
This course is run by the School of Human and Social Sciences to provide you with both the high-quality teaching and the personal attention you need to make the most of your University education.
The staff team within the school are committed to providing an engaging and exciting learning experience in all areas of study, and the level of student support is outstanding.
The School of Human and Social Sciences teaching staff includes:
Victoria Tischler, who has worked in clinical, cultural, charity and academic sectors. She was Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham for 12 years where she retains an honorary position. Her research interests focus on creativity and health, specifically in the area of dementia care. She has worked as a curator and art workshop facilitator, particularly with untrained artists who have experience of mental health problems.
She is executive editor of Arts and Health. She sits on the scientific advisory board for the Boots UK archive. She is a Trustee for Paintings in Hospitals. She joined UWL as Professor in January 2017.
Your postgraduate qualification can take you anywhere, but some of the most popular paths for graduates include direct management of dementia care and delivery.
Click the following link for information on how to apply to this course.
Information about scholarships and bursaries can be found here.
The new Dementia MSc is offered jointly by the UCL Institute of Neurology and the Division of Psychiatry and tackles one of the biggest global health problems facing society today. It provides research-oriented and cutting-edge training in the study of dementia and its scientific basis, led by international leaders in the science and practice of dementia. Two specialised pathways, in neuroscience and in mental health, are offered.
The neuroscience pathway brings the latest bench-top research findings to the bedside, develops and integrates basic and clinical neuroscience skills, and equips students for future careers in the clinical practice or basic neuroscience of dementia. More information about the Mental Health pathway is also available.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
Core modules
-Clinical Neuroscience of Neurodegenerative Diseases
-Current Research in Dementia
-Neurobiology of Degeneration and Repair
-Higher Functions of the Brain
-Research Methods and Critical Appraisal
-Practical Neuroscience of Dementia
Optional modules
-Advanced Neuroimaging
-Advanced Treatment and Management of Dementia
-Statistical Methods in Mental Health
-Introduction to Biological Research in Mental Health
-Quality Improvement in Health Care
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which may take the form of a critical literature synthesis or collection and analysis of original data, depending on project availability and student background. The project culminates in a dissertation of approximately 10,000 words and a viva voce examination.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, journal clubs, workshops, masterclasses and patient-based teaching sessions supplemented by self-directed learning. Assessment is through ongoing formative assessments, for example interactive discussions and timetabled summative assessments (including short-answer and multiple-choice unseen examinations), essays, posters, oral presentations, and a research project and a final report in the format of a journal paper.
This is a new programme and no information on graduate destinations is currently available. For scientists and psychologists, the programme can lead to future placements in clinically oriented research environments or clinical training. For clinicians, this is an excellent opportunity to gain a higher qualification at a world-leading centre of excellence in neurodegeneration research, which could be tailored to a variety of future roles in clinical, research and management fields. Many students will go on to pursue PhDs and research careers in the fields of dementia and neurodegeneration.
Employability
This unique programme will equip graduates with in-depth knowledge of dementia diseases and their treatments; strong, practical research skills that could facilitate doctoral or postdoctoral research in the field; and transferable scientific communication skills. Students will harness the expertise of scientists and clinicians who are currently setting the neuroscience research agenda in dementia internationally. This experience could support further doctoral studies and applications for nationally funded fellowships. For clinicians, the programme will provide research perspectives and practical skills that could inform subspecialty practice in dementia. We aim to train the next generation of neuroscientific and clinical leaders in dementia.
This programme is unique in linking neuroscientific foundations with specialist clinical skills and knowledge in dementia.
The programme integrates the expertise of UCL Institute of Neurology with affiliated departments at the forefront of the global mission to defeat dementia, and is taught by international leaders working closely together to link bench and bedside as part of UCL's Dementia Strategy.
The programme builds on UCL's global perspective, targeting students in developing as well as developed countries to drive future training opportunities. The programme emphasises active student participation and enquiry, develops practical skills, and offers unparalleled exposure to laboratories and patients.
Our Dementia Care course is a pathway of our MSc in Advanced Practice Interventions for Mental Health (APIMH) and has been designed to respond and contribute to the modernisation of mental healthcare delivery and service design. It is aimed at existing health and social care professionals and others involved in dementia care.
Service development and evidence-based guidelines continuously highlight the need for multidisciplinary, multi-agency dementia care services that are accessible, flexible, inclusive and enabling, and are driven by the needs of clients and their families.
It is vital that these services are developed and delivered by staff appropriately prepared with relevant expertise, knowledge and skills.
Our part-time multidisciplinary and practice-focused course will equip you with the advanced knowledge and skills you need to provide high-quality, evidence-based interventions that promote the wellbeing, personhood and empowerment of people living with dementia and their significant others.
It will also enable you to act as an agent of change by contributing to research, service development and leadership in dementia care.
Learn from the experts
You will learn from internationally renowned experts in the field, as well as experienced dementia care practitioners, people living with dementia and former students, many of whom now operate at senior levels within dementia care services.
Flexible learning
The part-time nature of this course enables you to fit learning around your other commitments, with one day a week to be spent on campus.
You will participate in a range of teaching and learning methods including lectures, small-group work, student-led seminars, group-work, problem-based learning scenarios and online learning.
You will undertake independent study to further develop and consolidate your learning. We aim to involve people with dementia and their families in the delivery of sessions where possible.
A variety of assessments are used within each course unit and across the course as a whole. All assessments require you to integrate knowledge and understanding and apply this to your own area of practice as relevant to the outcomes of each unit and the focus of each pathway.
Assessment methods may include essays, case studies, assessed seminar presentations and literature reviews.
The dissertation for the MSc requires you to undertake an extended written piece of work (12,000-15,000 words) that focuses on a specific aspect of mental health practice in the form of an extended literature-based review/proposal for practice development.
The course consists of pathway-specific and core/compulsory course units. Pathway-specific units focus on the following themes:
Year 1
Year 2
Core course units are shared with students studying other pathways and courses, but retain a pathway-specific focus through group work and assessments. Core course units focus on the following themes:
On completion of the taught units of the course (PGDip), successful students who meet progression requirements are able to continue onto their research dissertation for the MSc.
The dissertation enables students, with the support of an individual supervisor, to undertake an extended written piece of work which focuses on a specific aspect of Mental Health Practice in the form of an extended literature based review/proposal for practice development.
You will be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service
This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to enhance your own and others' practice, as well as contribute to innovations and developments in dementia care and service delivery.
This course will equip you with the knowledge to develop enabling and life engagement focussed services and interventions for people living with dementia, and their carers.
The course is inter-disciplinary, exploring different approaches to enhancing life engagement for people who have dementia and their carers. The course is not limited to a health and social care perspective. The design focus looks at ways in which the environment (buildings, urban spaces, transport) can be designed or modified to provide meaningful activity and support for people with dementia and their carers.
This pioneering course has strong links with the Institute for Dementia at the University of Salford, an international centre of excellence in research, education and innovation. You will enjoy opportunities for involvement with the Institute, supporting your learning and future career progression.
FULL-TIME
PART-TIME
The course employs a range of online teaching and learning strategies aimed at providing a framework of knowledge through which academic skills and expertise will be developed. The strategies will capitalise on the interdisciplinary expertise of the teaching team, and will include:
All coursework has a dementia focus and comprises of:
There is a current focus nationally and internationally on enhancing life engagement, support and environments for people living with dementia.
The course is suitable for professionals and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds whose current role or future role relate to these areas.
The course has strong links with the Salford Institute for Dementia, which works together with local, regional, national and international partners to make a positive difference to living with dementia. Students on the course will be able to interact with the Institute, thereby enhancing opportunities for learning, and for career progression.
Upon completion of the MSc, graduates would be eligible to apply for a research degree, either a PhD or a Professional Doctorate, both of which can be studied either part-time or full-time.
About 800,000 people in the UK are living with dementia. It’s estimated that dementia costs the economy £23 billion a year.
There is a growing demand for practitioners and decision-makers with the insight to tackle what is a major social challenge. This new MA helps to meet that demand.
The course was developed by staff from the School of Nursing and Midwifery with colleagues from the departments of sociological studies and human communication sciences.
The teaching team are academics and practitioners from dementia education, research and clinical practice.
And we’re dedicated to educating them. We have strong links with other health departments at the University, including the School for Health and Related Research (ScHARR), the Department of Sociological Studies, the Medical School and the Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth.
The school is close to the central University campus, opposite the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. You’ll be at the heart of student life with West Street, Broomhill and the best students’ union in the country on your doorstep.
Because we work closely with our partners in health and social care, your course will equip you with the skills employers are looking for. All our courses are research-led, shaped by local, national and international policy. They’re designed to be flexible, to meet the demands of a rapidly changing work environment.
We teach the skills you need to establish research and education initiatives in health and social care wherever in the world you are needed. Through our partnerships with other organisations, you’ll get the chance to network and make useful contacts.
If you already work with NHS patients in Yorkshire and the Humber or in the East Midlands, funding might be available. Contact us for more information.
Part-time students complete two of the compulsory modules per semester and attend one day per week during term time. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, and practice-based experience. Each module is assessed by a range of methods including written assignments and presentations.
The MSc in Gerontology and MSc in Gerontology with Dementia Care cater for a range of professionals with relevant experience and interest in working with older people. They will have particular appeal if you are a health and social care professional and also if you are working in the third sector (e.g. charities, voluntary organisations, social enterprises, etc.).
The MSc in Gerontology aims to develop knowledge, skills and confidence by introducing debate around our understanding of ageing, the impact of shifting demographics and the integration and globalisation of health and social care.
The MSc in Gerontology with Dementia Care focuses on the care of people living with dementia particularly changing care priorities as it advances.
Both courses are designed to equip students with an in-depth knowledge in order to allow them to utilise leadership and planning skills to promote evidence informed approaches to meeting the needs of our ageing population.
The Future of Dementia Care
Here at UWS our nursing students and staff are playing a key role in developing the future of dementia care.
There are currently 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia and this figure is expected to rise to over 1 million by 2025.
By focusing on experimental learning, we make sure that you will be rights focused, confident and compassionate when dealing with this condition.
Our ongoing national and international collaborations and cross-sector partnerships ensure that we are at the forefront of issues affecting individuals and populations as they age. This makes these courses attractive options for both employers and students. They combine wider learning about the issues affecting those in later life in a range of national and international settings with specialist study of key issues like frailty, pain control, and many others. The emphasis is on developing critical evaluation skills and evidence-based knowledge that encompasses holistic care. This will widen understanding of global issues of concern in gerontology and dementia care, whilst developing a greater appreciation of the need to challenge assumptions and stereotypes.
These part-time postgraduate courses are aimed at health, social care and social work professionals and others involved in the care and support of the older person either professionally or personally.
Our course comprises of three stages:
Our MSc course will usually take three years to complete on a part-time basis. However, each stage is recognised as a respected qualification and you may choose, if necessary, to take a break between stages. In such cases you are required to complete the course within five years.
Teaching & Assessment
The University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Moodle will be used for additional learning, teaching and assessment.
Online learning approaches include:
Jobs
The courses aim to develop experienced professionals and others to take on the challenges of autonomous practice, decision-making, leadership and research roles now required in this important sector of health and social care. It is recognised that advanced and specialised knowledge is needed to support the increasingly blended and integrated roles that professionals now adopt in supporting older people and people living with dementia across a range of settings.
Current students include occupational therapists, integrated discharge facilitators, care home and assistant care home managers and charge nurses.
Further Study
Following successful completion of our MSc Gerontology / MSc Gerontology with Dementia Care you may wish to start a PhD. These opportunities are offered by the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice and the School's Institute of Healthcare Policy and Practice.
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