End Of Life Studies (Online Distance Learning) (Taught)

Across the globe, there is increasing attention on end-of-life care, assisted dying, and the cultural values that shape our understanding of death and bereavement. This postgraduate programme provides fresh and critical insights into end-of-life practice and policy, palliative care, cultural representations of death and dying, and the complex ethical issues that accompany them.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• You will examine new theories, key concepts and a variety of research methods relating to end of life issues.

• As the global population ages and grows, so too does the number of deaths in the world each year. You will explore new patterns of ageing and dying, and the implications of these for policy and practice.

• You will examine the specific challenges of delivering optimal end of life care in the global context, examining diverse models of care, their implementation in differing cultural settings and the global spread of palliative care approaches.

• Courses will explore some of the diverse cultural beliefs surrounding what makes a ‘good death’ and consider global attempts to improve end of life care.

• You will consider the expanding debate surrounding the legalisation of assisted dying, and examine the implications for policy and practice in different settings.

• Designed for and delivered on the FutureLearn platform.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

You will take six core courses, and a submit dissertation project to complete the MSc programme (180 credits).

You will take three courses (60 credits) to complete the PgCert, and six courses to complete the PgDip, (120 credits), up to a maximum period of four years of study.

Core courses

September - December
Assisted Dying: Rhetorics and Reality
Global Challenges and Dilemmas in End of Life Care

January - April
Public Health Approaches to the End of Life
The Continuum of Ageing and Dying

April - July
Cultural Representations of Death and Dying
Theory, Methods, and Ethics in End of Life Research

CAREER PROSPECTS

The programme is extremely well fitted to the needs of people already engaged in some way in matters relating to death, dying, bereavement, palliative care, and end of life care: as well as those who seek to move into these fields.

Graduates are likely to find employment in:

• Non-government organisations concerned with end of life care policy, service design and management.

• International health organisations, particularly those with a focus on ageing and end of life care.

• Government agencies and departments that take responsibility for end of life care strategies and provision.

• Creative industries that focus on matters of death and dying in film, literature, public engagement, exhibitions and installations.

• Emerging new professional groups: such as Death Doulas and other end of life practitioners.