Science and Health Communication

Entry requirements

For admission to the MSc in Science and Health Communication programme, successful applicants will have:

• A degree at the level of an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent

• Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.

Months of entry

September

Course content

It has never been more important to have skilled communicators who can explain complex scientific and health information accurately, critically and in an engaging way, helping audiences make sense of evidence, uncertainty and rapid change.

Communicators must be adept at managing and organising the flow of information in contexts shaped by complexity, uncertainty and rapid change.

In addition to addressing concerns about misinformation, effective science and health communication plays a vital role in involving society in research and making science more accessible and inclusive. This can be achieved through a wide range of approaches, including political and community engagement, online platforms, video and digital media, journalism and broadcasting, conferences and seminars, policy briefings, and creative forms such as science fiction.

Students may also have the opportunity to undertake a work placement, gaining practical experience in science or health communication settings.

These approaches help address both the scientific and social dimensions of key global challenges, including climate change, public and global health, emerging technologies and our understanding of the world around us.

Founded in 1996, the postgraduate degree in Science Communication at DCU is well established and internationally recognised. A dedicated health communication strand was introduced in 2018, reflecting the growing importance of communication at the intersection of science, health, policy and society.

The programme attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds, including STEM education and public engagement, scientific, engineering, environmental and medical fields, as well as graduates from the humanities and social sciences interested in science communication as a field and profession. It also welcomes those interested in leadership and communication within the commercial biomedical sector, public health policy, administration and regulation, and environmental communication.

The success of the MSc in Science and Health Communication contributes to DCU's School of Communications ranking in the top 200 communications schools worldwide in the QS World University Rankings.