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Medical and Health Humanities at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

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 gives 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 for medical and healthcare professionals, the other for students with an arts, humanities or social sciences background.
  • It is taught by research-active scholars and professionals working in healthcare, policy reform and activism.
  • 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.
What you will learn If you are a doctor, nurse, therapist or healthcare professional, the Medical and Healthcare Professional Pathway 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, essential for leadership and innovation in healthcare. If you have a background in the arts, humanities or social sciences, the Cross-Disciplinary Pathway offers you the opportunity to curate for yourself a truly interdisciplinary degree. For example, you could analyse the history of medical institutions, evaluate contemporary debates on AI and medicine, or explore the philosophical dimensions of climate and health. How you will learn 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. This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening. It is available to study on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both. Highlights
  • 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.
  • You will have the opportunity to take part in our Medicine and Health Humanities Film Festival held during Birkbeck’s annual Arts Week.
  • Our central London location places you close to the British Library and Wellcome Collection, both major hubs for medical and health humanities research.
  • All Master’s students are eligible to apply for our prestigious Eric Hobsbawm Scholarships, subject to availability.
  • 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.
Careers and employability On graduating from this course, you will have gained transferable skills including:
  • a sophisticated use of written and spoken English
  • an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
  • facility and precision in the use of analytical tools
  • collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments.
Graduates can pursue career paths in a range of different fields, including in:
  • medicine
  • academia
  • research
  • publishing
  • journalism
  • healthcare education or administration
  • community health
  • education
  • law.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Close-reading commentaries, essays, research scrapbooks and a 15,000-word dissertation.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in an arts, humanities or social sciences subject. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £5535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5535 Year 1
Scotland £5535 Year 1
Wales £5535 Year 1
International £10170 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Medical and Health Humanities at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS