MA Design for Health and Wellbeing

The MA Design for Health and Wellbeing is a masters that offers those working in - or interested in developing their skills in - design, health and wellbeing the chance to engage in real-life opportunities to address social and societal challenges related to health and wellbeing. It encourages those from both creative and scientific backgrounds to learn from and become leaders in the field in research and practice.

Mental and physical health and wellbeing are an essential foundation for all people, from childhood into old age. However, much of mental and physical health provision still relies on a treatment perspective. By contrast, this MA/MSc will promote holistic, salutogenic and preventive strategies that recognise and respond to people’s needs, wants, wishes and rights to further health, wellbeing, and equality.

Students on the programme will hold the critical belief that creativity and design have a significant part to play in designing interventions to further health and wellbeing, and they will hold a conviction that through its co-creative and collective approaches, design offers new ways of reimagining public and community health.

Covering the three key areas of context and policy, co-design and design outcomes and interventions, this comprehensive programme will enable individuals to gain the knowledge and experience needed to propel their careers in a fast-developing field.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Explore current understandings of health and wellbeing and their social and cultural implications to inform the development of prevention and support interventions.
Benefit from transdisciplinary partnerships with fellow postgraduate students across the University.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates of Design for Health and Wellbeing will possess the skills and characteristics needed for a variety of career paths, including product designer, design researcher/strategist, UX designer and design consultant. Beyond design fields, graduates will also be equipped to pursue careers as workshop managers, community art and outreach co-ordinators, wellbeing support workers and more.

Applicants will have a 2:2 or above at degree level, with experience in the field of design and/or health (or international equivalent); or a degree equivalent postgraduate diploma, or a professional qualification or relevant professional experience will be considered. Alternatively, applicants may be admitted without the above, if they can demonstrate exceptional experience within the field.