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 seeking to deepen your understanding of the human experience in healthcare, or someone with cross-disciplinary interests in medicine and health, this course has been developed to give you the chance to explore the fascinating intersections of medicine, culture and ethics.

Why choose this course?

• It is uniquely designed with two different pathways: one which is ideal if you are a medical and healthcare professional; the other if you come from an arts, humanities or social sciences background. You can attend classes for either pathway on campus, online or via a combination of both.
• It is taught by research-active scholars and professionals working in healthcare, policy reform and activism and is enriched by its close connection with Birkbeck’s Centre for Medical and Health Humanities, which hosts events, workshops and panel discussions, and provides funding for student-led initiatives.
• You will be able to tailor the course to your academic interests, career aspirations or personal passions, choosing from a range of modules spanning literature, social sciences, art history, cultural studies, history, philosophy, film and geography.
• You can opt to apply for a museum and heritage work placement during the summer term of this course to help you gain valuable experience and a clearer understanding of your potential career progression.

What you will learn

If you are a doctor, nurse, therapist or healthcare professional, then the Medical and Healthcare Professional Pathway through this course allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the patient experience, medical ethics and cultural perceptions of health and illness. By engaging with literature, visual culture, history and philosophy you will gain critical skills in communication and ethical decision-making, all of which are essential for leadership and innovation in healthcare.

If you have a background in the arts, humanities or social sciences then the Cross-Disciplinary Pathway offers you the opportunity to curate for yourself a truly interdisciplinary degree. For example, you could follow your interests in analysing the history of medical institutions, evaluating contemporary debates on AI and medicine, or exploring the philosophical dimensions of climate and health.

How you will learn

You will learn on this course through lectures, seminars and workshops. You will also engage with a range of materials from academic criticism to narratives of lived experience and explore archives and a diversity of literary and artistic works.

This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening.

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.

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.