MSc Health and Social Policy

Study with us Take a whole-systems, intersectional approach to exploring how societies are shaped and supported by health and social policiesDevelop and extend your knowledge of contemporary health policy challenges such as growing health inequalities, declining healthy life expectancy, debates around health system financing, and work to prevent future pandemicsStudy how these policy areas interact, and how societies influence the development of health and social policiesDevelop knowledge, research and critical appraisal skills highly valued by public, third and private sector employersUndertake a placement with a public sector, third sector organisation or academic research team working in health and social policy Why this course? This programme offers you the opportunity to develop and extend your knowledge and understanding of how key health and social policies and outcomes intersect, while also providing advanced training in research methods. It aims to improve your knowledge and understanding of the factors which shape people’s health and wellbeing, and the ways in which different societies and governments have intervened to shape these relationships. This integrative approach to health and social policy is inspired by recent policy efforts to develop whole-of-government and systems approaches that focus on understanding cross-policy links - efforts that are, in turn, informed by evidence demonstrating such approaches are more cost-effective. There is strong focus on combining postgraduate level research methods training with study of research challenges from a policy perspective. The programme includes opportunities for students to undertake a placement-based dissertation module, examining advocacy and research challenges in partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGO), policy bodies, or academic research teams.

First or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in health or social policy or a related discipline.