MA Medical and Health Humanities

Course Overview

How do the arts improve health and wellbeing? How do patients and clinicians use stories to make sense of illness and pain? What is social prescribing, and how can we take creative and inclusive approaches to health and care?

Whether you’re a health practitioner, intercalating medical student, humanities graduate, or creative professional, this versatile interdisciplinary MA is for you.

The MA is embedded in Norwich Medical School and co-taught with the innovative Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities. The course also offers exciting opportunities to connect with researchers across the University and Norwich Research Park. You’ll be part of a diverse cohort from around the globe, sharing good practice. You’ll meet experts in inclusive practice as well as arts and health practitioners. You’ll learn about policy developments like place-based healthcare and gain skills for working in the health or cultural sectors.

Taught by specialists in subjects from narrative medicine to disability studies, you'll analyse contemporary and historical aspects of illness and care and consider the power of writing for improving wellbeing.

The programme offers creative and practice-based learning, drawing on UEA’s unique strengths in these areas, including in partnership with the world-famous Sainsbury Centre. You’ll enjoy sessions with external experts, who have previously included leading figures in the local arts and health sector, from social prescribers to art therapists to museum and heritage specialists. You'll develop clinical skills for patient-centred care, deepening your understanding of the psychosocial and cultural dimensions of health.

During this course, you’ll build sound research skills that could lead onto a PhD, into the policy sector, or to research and evaluation roles in the arts and health field.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine or Professional Health related subject areas. Degrees in other subjects may be considered if your application can evidence relevant clinical or professional experience (usually at least 1 year) which could include Social Work, work in the Care sector, Clinical Psychology or Psychological Therapies, Health Policy work (e.g. for a governmental or non-governmental organisation), Public Health.

English Foreign Language

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in Listening & Reading and minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

By the end of your MA, you'll understand more deeply key debates in the medical and health humanities. You'll have developed analytical as well as practical skills, for example advanced listening skills and a deeper understanding of narrative, including your own. You'll have developed skills in research methods that could lead you onto a PhD, into the policy sector, or into research and evaluation roles in the arts and health field. You'll have built a portfolio of work that could lead to a career as a writer or elsewhere in the creative industries. Existing healthcare practitioners will have enhanced their skillset and be ready to apply this to current practice or new roles.

Examples of careers that you could enter include:

• Policy and research roles
• Public sector roles, eg. social prescribing link worker
• Consultancy roles
• Third sector and NGO roles, including in arts and health
• Careers in writing or other creative industries

Discover more on our Careers webpages.