Advanced Dementia Studies (distance learning) MSc

The modules for this course can be found in the latest programme specification.

The MSc Advanced Dementia Studies (3 years) includes two embedded exit awards; Postgraduate Certificate Dementia Studies (One year, 60 credits); Postgraduate Diploma Advanced Dementia Studies (Two Years, 120 credits); MSc Advanced Dementia Studies (Three Years, 180 credits).

The programme offers all students the same core modules (each worth 30 credits):

Critical Perspectives on Dementia: A rights based approach (Year 1, Semester 1)

This module will provide you with a critical appreciation of a human rights perspective for understanding the experience of people with dementia. It also enables you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the lived experience of dementia (sociological, psychological, biological). You will develop your ability to apply principles of social inclusion and citizenship in practice, in order to promote the rights of people with dementia, including those whose voices are seldom heard.

Advanced Evidence Appraisal and Synthesis (Year 1, Semester 2)

The module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to bring about evidence-based changes within your field of dementia care practice. It fosters your ability to critically examine literature, helping you to influence practice development based on the best available evidence. The module promotes the values of service user input, multidisciplinary working, inclusion and diversity and takes a global perspective on interpreting the value of evidence.

Advancing Practice: skills and research methods (Year 2, Semester 2)

This module provides you with the advanced critical skills to evaluate examples of dementia care practice, a critical appreciation of the role of a leader as a proponent of practice based change, the ability to independently develop and propose evidence-based solutions for practice change and a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and facilitators to practice change, acknowledging and evaluating multi-disciplinarily and its role in practice development.

Optionality within these modules enables students to focus on their own preferred area of practice.

In year 2, semester 1 there are option modules (each worth 30 credits) from which you choose one:

Post-diagnostic Support Pathways

This module helps you to gain a critical appreciation of holistic assessment of the needs of people with dementia and their families after diagnosis. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the range of post diagnostic support interventions available, including social, cognitive, psychological and technological approaches. You will develop your ability to evaluate these approaches to service provision.

Enhanced Communication Methods

You will gain enhanced insight into the complex nature of communication between people with dementia, their families and practitioners. You will be provided with tools to critically interpret communication and make recommendations to enhance communication and social inclusion for people with dementia in your own field of practice.

Arts and Activities in Dementia Care

This module is designed to enable you to develop skills and knowledge in conducting arts-based activities, psychosocial interventions, or other meaningful activities for people with dementia. It will help you to develop, implement and evaluate personally-meaningful activities for people with dementia, on a one-to-one or group basis. You will critically appraise a range of evidence to support the development of a specific arts project or activity group for one or more people with dementia and make recommendations for disseminating the outcomes in ways that challenge stigma and stereotypical views.

The final year dissertation offers students the chance to undertake either original research or an implementation and evaluation dissertation (60 credits) that facilitates the application of learning into practice.

Please note not all option modules may be available for each intake.