End of Life Studies

Overview

• We 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. We explore new patterns of ageing and dying, and the implications of these for policy and practice.
• We 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.
• We will explore some of the diverse cultural beliefs surrounding what makes a ‘good death’ and consider global attempts to improve end of life care.
• We 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.

Career

The End of Life Studies programme from University of Glasgow 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. We envisage a rich online learning community on the degree, made up not only of practitioners, but also social activists, those working in artistic and cultural media, as well as people pursuing their own personal development on a matter of pressing human interest.

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.