MSc Dementia Studies

The course is two years part-time or one year full-time and comprises of six modules.
The first three modules provide a grounding in dementia through a critical analysis of current issues, research approaches and an exploration of what it is like for people living with dementia.

YEAR ONE

In the first year, you will study the following modules:

Current Issues in Dementia Practice

The aims of this module are to enhance greater understanding of current issues and professional development in the field of dementia practice. It will also enable students to develop and extend existing knowledge and skill base around contemporary advances in the support of a person affected by dementia and identified carers.

Research Methods

The aims of this module are to provide a comprehensive grounding in research paradigms and methods. It will also critically consider the relationship between the research context, research question, methods and knowledge development.

Living with Dementia

The aims of this module are to critically explore the lived experience of dementia from diagnosis to end of life care and death. The module will also critically reflect on the biopsychosocial, spiritual and political factors influencing the lived experience of dementia

YEAR TWO

The second year critically examines how care should be delivered to improve the health and well-being of people living with dementia and their carers. During this year, you will study the following modules:

Professional, Legal and Ethical Issues in Dementia Practice

The aims of this module are to enable the student to analyse contemporary professional, legal and ethical issues in dementia practice. It will also enable the student to develop and extend knowledge and skills base around relevant professional, legal and ethical issues in the care and support of a person affected by dementia and their carers.

Complexities in Dementia Practice: Interventions and Helping Approaches in Dementia

The aims of this module are to enable students to develop a thorough knowledge and critical understanding of a range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions and helping approaches to work effectively with people living with dementia and their carers. The module will equip students when working with people living with dementia when faced with complexity and change.

Practice Project

This module aims to enable the student to critically explore a key issue identified through their own experience and practice, developing on knowledge and skills acquired through concurrent modules, and making recommendations based on critical evaluation of literature and the student’s own experience

The course is designed to have three exit points:

PGCert - Current issues in Dementia Practice plus one other module in Year One

PGDip - All modules except the Practice Project

MSc - All six modules

The MSc Dementia is an intensive course which is delivered over two years (part-time) or one year (full-time).

The modules vary in the ways they are taught. A blended approach includes on-line activity/distance learning in conjunction with face-to-face/on-campus activity. International students can expect to be in university at least one day a week for the duration of the academic year.

However, it is expected that student will be studying independently for the duration of the course – either through directed online tasks and activities or through independent study for their various assignments.

Taught sessions will be delivered by academics, clinicians and service users. The course is designed so that learning can also occur through the students themselves (via in class discussions and group work). For each module, students will be given the contact details of both the module manager and an allocated academic supervisor. They will also have the contact details of the course leader at the outset of their studies.

This university prides itself on supporting students and there are various support systems in place which any of the students can access (details are listed in the course handbook and readily available from module managers/course leader).

The majority of the modules on this course are assessed by written assignments and presentations relating to the students specific area of practice or interest. There will be a variety of assessments including case studies, literature reviews, research proposals, practice-based project and presentation which give the opportunity of applying the learning to the students specific area of interests and practice.