Course summary

The MPhil in Health, Medicine and Society is a full-time 9 month course run jointly by the Departments of History and Philosophy of Science, Sociology and Social Anthropology. It introduces students from a range of backgrounds to research skills and specialist knowledge relevant to their research interests, and provides them with the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision by senior members of the University. Students will develop a critical and well-informed understanding of discourses of history, philosophy, sociology and anthropology of health and medicine, and those intending to go on to doctoral work will learn the skills needed to help them prepare a well-planned and focused PhD proposal. During the course, students attend lectures, supervisions and research seminars in a range of technical and specialist subjects central to research in the different areas of history, philosophy, sociology and anthropology of health and medicine. These include core and optional modules covering each of these areas, as well as opportunities to attend research seminars across the Departments and the wider University. Students complete three essays over the course of 9 months, working closely with supervisors to address a range of topics covered by the core and optional modules. They will also write a dissertation on a topic of their choice, refined in consultation with their supervisor. Dissertation seminars give students the opportunity to gain experience in presenting their own work and discussing the issues that arise from it with an audience of their peers and senior members of staff.