Dementia Studies

Entry requirements

MPhil - First or Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent award in an appropriate discipline or Appropriate research or professional experience which has resulted in appropriate evidence of achievement.

PhD - A Postgraduate Masters Degree in a discipline which is appropriate to the proposed programme of study or First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent award in an appropriate discipline or the applicant has appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of achievement.

Months of entry

January, October

Course content

We welcome applications to undertake research towards MPhil and PhD degrees in Dementia Studies.

Research at Worcester has grown significantly in the last 10 years as the University has expanded. As a research student you will join a vibrant student community in our Research School and become part of our dynamic research environment.

The Association for Dementia Studies

The Association for Dementia Studies is a multi-professional university research centre with many years of experience in the field of person-centred dementia care and support. We make a cutting edge contribution to developing evidence-based practical ways of working with people living with dementia, their families, friends and carers that enable them to live well. We draw on and contribute to the international evidence base for person-centred dementia care. Using this evidence, we deliver education programmes that empower people to provide skilled, competent and compassionate care.

Our work influences policy change at a local, national and international level and changes practice on the front line. Our research informs practice and policy for people living with dementia, their families, and the professionals who support them. We work in partnership with organisations across the public, private and third sectors.

Supervision areas

The School of Allied Health and Community has a strong mix of academics with a high degree of professional and personal experience, enabling you to get the most out of your programme. Areas of expertise and interest include: Living Well with Dementia, Supporting Choice and Control at Home and in Supported Housing, Excellence in Person-Centred Care in Care Homes, Dementia-Friendly Hospital Care, and Environments to Enhance Wellbeing for People Living with Dementia.

In early 2015 the Alzheimer’s Society funded eight Doctoral Training Centres (DTC) in various aspects of dementia to help to increase research knowledge and capacity in this vital area. One of the successful centres is TAnDem, a partnership between the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester and the Centre for Dementia, University of Nottingham. TAnDem has been funded to focus on studying The Arts and Dementia.

Some of the topics being researched by our current MPhil/PhD students include:

• How do arts activities engage the individual with dementia in a care home setting?
• Evaluating arts-based activities for people living with dementia: Methodological challenges and possible solutions
• The community leisure centre as a resource for people with dementia: explorations of individual and social identity
• An exploration to enhance understanding of the long-term experiences of personal music playlists for people with dementia and their primary carers

Resources

Access to the University of Worcester’s virtual resources and its state-of-the-art library facilities.