Medical and Health Humanities MA

Our MA Medical and Health Humanities offers you a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to the study of health, illness and medicine through cultural, historical and philosophical perspectives. Whether you are a healthcare professional or someone with cross-disciplinary interests in medicine and health, this course gives you the chance to explore the fascinating intersections of medicine, culture and ethics.<br/><br/><strong>Why choose this course?</strong><br/><br/><br/>• It is designed with two different pathways: one for medical and healthcare professionals, the other for students with an arts, humanities or social sciences background.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• It is taught by research-active scholars and professionals working in healthcare, policy reform and activism.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• You will be able to tailor the course to your interests, choosing from modules spanning literature, social sciences, art history, cultural studies, history, philosophy, film and geography.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• You can opt to apply for a museum and heritage work placement during the summer term.<br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>What you will learn</strong><br/><br/>If you are a doctor, nurse, therapist or healthcare professional, the <strong>Medical and Healthcare Professional Pathway</strong> allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the patient experience, medical ethics and cultural perceptions of health and illness. <br/><br/>If you have a background in the arts, humanities or social sciences, the <strong>Cross-Disciplinary Pathway</strong> offers you the opportunity to curate for yourself a truly interdisciplinary degree. <br/><br/><strong>How you will learn</strong><br/><br/>You will learn through lectures, seminars and workshops and engage with materials from academic criticism to narratives of lived experience, and explore archives and a diversity of literary and artistic works.<br/><br/>This course is available to study full- or part-time with <strong>classes taking place in the evening. It is available to study on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.</strong><br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/><strong>Highlights</strong><br/><br/><br/>• This course grows out of Birkbeck’s Centre for Medical and Health Humanities, where we host visiting speakers, give talks and run a regular reading group.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• You will have the opportunity to take part in our Medicine and Health Humanities Film Festival held during Birkbeck’s annual Arts Week.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Our central London location places you close to the British Library and Wellcome Collection, both major hubs for medical and health humanities research.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• All Master’s students are eligible to apply for our prestigious Eric Hobsbawm Scholarships, subject to availability.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• 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.<br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>Careers and employability</strong><br/><br/>On graduating from this course, you will have gained transferable skills including:<br/><br/><br/>- a sophisticated use of written and spoken English<br/><br/><br/>- an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives<br/><br/><br/>- facility and precision in the use of analytical tools<br/><br/><br/>- collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments.<br/><br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in a range of different fields, including in:<br/><br/><br/>- medicine<br/><br/><br/>- academia<br/><br/><br/>- research<br/><br/><br/>- publishing<br/><br/><br/>- journalism<br/><br/><br/>- healthcare education or administration<br/><br/><br/>- community health<br/><br/><br/>- education<br/><br/><br/>- law.<br/>