Overview

Medical Humanities at Durham University is an exciting and challenging course that applies the knowledge and insight of the humanities and social sciences to study and understand better what is meant by health and illness outside of a medical context and, in particular, to analyse how our thoughts and physical experiences become recognised as symptoms.

The MA is suitable if you have an undergraduate qualification in an area such as Anthropology, English, Geography, Law, Modern Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Sociology, and related disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. You may also benefit if you have a background in health and social care and are looking to bring humanities and social sciences perspectives to bear in your professional practice.

Employability

Our taught MA degrees provide a strong foundation for a future in research, and many postgraduates stay with us to undertake PhD studies.

Graduates who progress into the workplace take with them a range of professional and transferable skills that are valued in the public and private sectors. As well as advanced communication and analytical skills, they are equipped to understand complex scenarios from multiple perspectives.

An increasing number of employers are incorporating sustainable and wellbeing goals into their organisations, which open up pathways into a wider range of sectors. For Environmental Humanities graduates, career options include government agencies, corporate responsibility and sustainability, sustainability management, policy research, environmental journalism, environmental tourism, conservation work, environmentally oriented NGOs and charities.

The Medical Humanities suite of qualifications opens the door to roles in medicine, non-profit organisations, policy settings, bioethics, and contexts where health inequality and critical medical debates are vital. For those in early career roles in the sector, a postgraduate qualification can also lead to more senior roles and responsibilities.