Medical and Health Humanities
Entry requirements
A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in an arts, humanities or social sciences subject.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Months of entry
October
Course content
Why choose this course?
- It is uniquely designed with two different pathways: one which is ideal if you are a medical and healthcare professional; the other if you come from an arts, humanities or social sciences background. You can attend classes for either pathway on campus, online or via a combination of both.
- It is taught by research-active scholars and professionals working in healthcare, policy reform and activism and is enriched by its close connection with Birkbeck’s Centre for Medical and Health Humanities, which hosts events, workshops and panel discussions, and provides funding for student-led initiatives.
- You will be able to tailor the course to your academic interests, career aspirations or personal passions, choosing from a range of modules spanning literature, social sciences, art history, cultural studies, history, philosophy, film and geography.
- You can opt to apply for a museum and heritage work placement during the summer term of this course to help you gain valuable experience and a clearer understanding of your potential career progression.
What you will learn
If you are a doctor, nurse, therapist or healthcare professional, then the Medical and Healthcare Professional Pathway through this course allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the patient experience, medical ethics and cultural perceptions of health and illness. By engaging with literature, visual culture, history and philosophy you will gain critical skills in communication and ethical decision-making, all of which are essential for leadership and innovation in healthcare.
If you have a background in the arts, humanities or social sciences then the Cross-Disciplinary Pathway offers you the opportunity to curate for yourself a truly interdisciplinary degree. For example, you could follow your interests in analysing the history of medical institutions, evaluating contemporary debates on AI and medicine, or exploring the philosophical dimensions of climate and health.
How you will learn
You will learn on this course through lectures, seminars and workshops. You will also engage with a range of materials from academic criticism to narratives of lived experience and explore archives and a diversity of literary and artistic works.
This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening.This course is part of our Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.
- This course grows out of Birkbeck’s Centre for Medical and Health Humanities, an interdisciplinary and cross-College research group that brings together academics and students of all levels to work on issues both critical and clinical. We host visiting speakers, give talks, run a regular reading group and provide a hub for the College’s diverse research in the field.
- You will have the opportunity to take part in our Medicine and Health Humanities Film Festival held in our in-house cinema during Birkbeck’s annual Arts Week.
- Our central London location places you close to the British Library and Wellcome Collection, both major hubs for medical and health humanities research.
- All Master’s students are eligible to apply for our prestigious Eric Hobsbawm Scholarships, subject to availability. One of the most influential historians of the twentieth century, Eric Hobsbawm taught at Birkbeck for over five decades and embodied what is central to our teaching and research: a continued commitment to critical enquiry and public engagement. We also offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.
- Birkbeck has a number of institutes specifically designed to foster work across disciplines: Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, Birkbeck Institute for Social Research, Birkbeck Gender and Sexuality and Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism. These institutes are driven by the work of world-class scholars including Laura Mulvey, Slavoj Žižek, Lynne Segal and David Feldman.
On successfully graduating from this MA Medical and Health Humanities, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
- a sophisticated use of written and spoken English
- an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
- facility and precision in the use of analytical tools
- strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments.
Graduates can pursue career paths in a wide range of different fields. including in:
- medicine
- academia
- research
- publishing
- journalism
- healthcare education or administration
- community health
- education
- law.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Please note, if you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700