MA Medical and Health Humanities

Course Overview

How do the arts improve health and wellbeing? How do patients and clinicians use stories to make sense of illness and pain? What is social prescribing, and how can we take creative and inclusive approaches to health and care?

Whether you’re a health practitioner, intercalating medical student, humanities graduate, or creative professional, this versatile interdisciplinary MA is for you.

The MA is embedded in Norwich Medical School and co-taught with the innovative Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities. The course also offers exciting opportunities to connect with researchers across the University and Norwich Research Park. You’ll be part of a diverse cohort from around the globe, sharing good practice. You’ll meet experts in inclusive practice as well as arts and health practitioners. You’ll learn about policy developments like place-based healthcare and gain skills for working in the health or cultural sectors.

Taught by specialists in subjects from narrative medicine to disability studies, you'll analyse contemporary and historical aspects of illness and care and consider the power of writing for improving wellbeing.

The programme offers creative and practice-based learning, drawing on UEA’s unique strengths in these areas, including in partnership with the world-famous Sainsbury Centre. You’ll enjoy sessions with external experts, who have previously included leading figures in the local arts and health sector, from social prescribers to art therapists to museum and heritage specialists. You'll develop clinical skills for patient-centred care, deepening your understanding of the psychosocial and cultural dimensions of health.

During this course, you’ll build sound research skills that could lead onto a PhD, into the policy sector, or to research and evaluation roles in the arts and health field.

Students need to have Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent in Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine or Professional Health related subject areas. Degrees in other subjects may be considered if your application can evidence relevant clinical or professional experience (usually at least 1 year) which could include Social Work, work in the Care sector, Clinical Psychology or Psychological Therapies, Health Policy work (e.g. for a governmental or non-governmental organisation), Public Health.