End of Life Studies

Entry requirements

• A 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, if you are unsure whether your degree is suitable, you can email the programme team to discuss.
• Previous work experience: applications from candidates with relevant and substantial professional and/or industry experience are welcomed even if they do not necessarily hold a relevant qualification.

Depending on your background, you may be asked to provide a personal statement about your interest and/or relevant experience with the program subject.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Around the world there is growing interest in end of life care, assisted dying, and the cultural values that surround death and bereavement. This postgraduate programme will offer you new and critical perspectives on end of life practice and policy, palliative care, cultural representations of death and dying, and related ethical questions.

• 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.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0.
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.