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We are proud to be the only department dedicated to Gerontology in the UK. We offer distinctive face-to-face and distance learning programmes in gerontology, global ageing and social policy.
Discover the challenges associated with ageing, and assessing academic and policy evidence on our MSc Global Ageing and Policy course. This distance learning master's degree will teach you how to carry out policy evaluation to improve older people's wellbeing, with a focus on ageing societies.
This course is centred around gerontology - the study of ageing at the individual and societal levels.
On this UK master’s degree you’ll study ageing over a lifetime, focusing on the challenges associated with ageing in specific regions of the world, including:
- China
- South-east Asia and South Asia
- sub-Saharan Africa
You’ll examine the changes humans undergo as they age, as well as the impact of growing proportions of older people on social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems and families. The study of ageing also investigates the relationships between generations and the connections between individuals’ experiences over their lifetimes.
This postgraduate programme draws on a range of disciplines including:
- social policy
- demography
- sociology
- biology
- health sciences
- psychology
- economics
Flexible study
If you prefer, you can apply to study this course as:
a part-time distance learning master's - study the same course content over 2 years and 6 months, or 3 years and 6 months
If you’re not ready to take on a full course, as part of continuing professional development (CPD) you can choose to study a module on its own. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the subject and you can build up to higher level study. Choose campus based study or distance learning.
Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
Course lead
Your course leader is Rosalind Willis, Associate Professor in Gerontology at the University of Southampton. Her research interests are on ethnic diversity and ageing, dementia, and care. Read Dr Willis’s profile to find out more about her research interests and publications.