Ageing, Health and Disease MSc

This MSc aims to offer health and social care professionals, and graduates in related fields, the opportunity to explore the complex health and social needs of older individuals living in today’s society. It provides high quality integrated and multidisciplinary education in the field of ageing, health and disease through the teaching and learning opportunities in the modules.

The teaching draws on the latest thinking and research evidence in the field and the course is open to a range of health and social care professionals, mirroring the multidisciplinary nature of gerontology.

You may exit the course early with a Postgraduate Certificate if you successfully complete 60 credits, including the Foundations of Geriatric Medicine module. Alternatively, you may leave with a Postgraduate Diploma if you successfully complete 120 credits, including the Foundations of Geriatric Medicine module.

Distinctive features:

• The modular nature of the course encourages both application and reflection, and our teaching methods develop participants’ skills in problem-solving and critical analysis.

• Group size and composition helps to create optimal interaction and develop skills of problem solving and critical analysis.

Structure

The course can be completed in one year with full-time study or in three years by part-time study.

Core modules:

Foundations of Geriatric Medicine
Physical and Mental Health
The Organisation and Delivery of Care
Dissertation: Ageing, Health and Disease

Teaching

A wide range of teaching methods will be employed, including but not limited to: lectures, structured tutorials, technology enhanced learning, case-studies, small group discussions, student led seminars and presentations, learning visits, discussions, debates and self-directed learning activities.

As well as formal structured teaching and tutor-guided activities, each module incorporates a period of self-directed study. Within this you will be expected to prepare a presentation based on the taught modular content and/or structured formative assessment exercises.

In addition (depending on the module) you will be expected to undertake: assignment preparation, background reading, literature reviews, development of ideas, critical reflection on the subjects being studied, the completion of personal portfolios demonstrating how you are applying the new knowledge, skills and attitudes in your own practice and your professional setting.

Students completing the MSc stage will conduct an extended project under supervision. The choice of projects available embraces activities that are either research-based or non-research-based and clinical or non-clinical in type. They are undertaken in settings that are appropriate to the nature of the project. You will be allocated an appropriate supervisor for the entire duration of the dissertation phase.

Assessment

Each taught stage module is summatively assessed, including through the completion of a written assignment which can take the form of e.g. an essay, a literature review, a critical evaluation of issues in Gerontology, a Research Protocol etc. All assignments are expected to include critical appraisal of the evidence-based literature.

Formative assessment is conducted through methods such as the oral presentation given in the consolidation block and is peer-assessed by the class. The requirements for formative assessment will vary from module to module, but other formative assessment opportunities include the completion of a portfolio and the completion of structured study exercises based around the modular content.