MSc Health and Wellbeing

About this course

This course offers a full or part-time route to develop understanding, knowledge and expertise across a broad range of health and wellbeing subjects including mental health, weight management, the healthy environment, workplace wellbeing, healthy ageing, and contemporary issues.

The course considers national and international trends and challenges in enabling sustainable population health and wellbeing, alongside developing students’ academic and professional skills to support both future career advancement and further research.

Health and wellbeing practitioners work alongside active researchers and experienced lecturers to help you follow your passion for improving the health and wellbeing of others. You will develop the skills and knowledge to understand the bigger picture in health and wellbeing strategy, policy and intervention planning, as well as focusing on the challenges to maintaining health and wellbeing for marginalised groups. 

Inequalities in health and wellbeing persist despite action being taken at multiple levels. You will develop the ability to analyse the complexity of responding to diverse needs, and develop solutions that are grounded in theory, based in evidence and are pragmatic and workable. This will enhance your employment prospects as you will be building your own problem-solving expertise within this field.

By the time you graduate, you will be able to apply your expertise and demonstrate that you are able to become a leader in this area going forwards.

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Course structure

The course is delivered over two or two and a half years, on a part-time basis, using blended learning. A full-time study option is also available, delivering the course over one or one and a half years. Both options begin in September and involve attendance at two intensive learning weekends, one at the beginning of each semester (September and January).

The rest of the study is completed at home, online, via webinars and with the support of course tutors and peer networks. One-to-one tutor support is available through a range of distance learning technologies and frequent feedback is given on contributions to learning forums.

Modules

The module details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

You will study six modules, followed by an independently studied MSc dissertation or an alternative work-based project. This will include four compulsory modules along with two modules, from a choice of four options.

Compulsory module: Mental health and wellbeing in contemporary society

This module critically explores reasons for patterns and trends in mental health, along with strategies and responses to address this growing issue. Your studies will focus on positive mental health, taking account of positive psychology, as well as mental ill-health, from a national,  European and global viewpoint. 

Compulsory module: Weight management: social and behavioural aspects 

In this module, you’ll explore the breadth of social and behavioural factors influencing weight. You will consider the impact of the obesigenic environment, the role of cultural, social and psychological factors in eating and exercise behaviours, and the causes and effects of disordered eating behaviour. You’ll also examine and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Compulsory module: Context, consensus and controversy in health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing can and do mean different things to different people. This module explores the impact of differing understandings and perspectives on health and wellbeing, within a context of social and health inequalities. You’ll unpack some of the key health issues in contemporary society and critique policy responses to population health and wellbeing management – nationally and internationally.

Compulsory module: Research practice

In preparation for your extended research project, this module develops your understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods in relation to research in health. You will explore contemporary debates in research methodology and ethics, and develop the skills to be able to select and use an appropriate method for your extended study.

Option module: Workplace wellbeing

The workplace is increasingly being positioned as central to managing the health of the working age population. In this module, you will explore the reasons why the workplace has moved more to centre stage, and will develop the knowledge and skills to be able to create a business case for a workplace wellbeing intervention.

Option module: Healthy ageing

By 2020, 50% of the UK population will be aged over 50. Maintaining independence and quality of life will be important objectives not just individually, but also for governments who are facing a crisis in medical and social care costs. This module will explore global ageing, attitudes, policies and practices, questioning whether our ageing population is an economic burden or an under-used resource.

Option module: Contemporary issues for specific populations

This module responds to the challenging and emerging nature of health and wellbeing issues, by focusing on the complexity of health and wellbeing needs for diverse, and often marginalised populations. Through guest lectures and drawing on contemporary topics in health and wellbeing, you will explore experiences and responses to health#and wellbeing challenges that are outside of the mainstream.

Option module: The healthy environment

In this module, you will consider what is meant by the term ‘environment’ to develop your understanding of the role of the social and built environment in contemporary health. The role of culture in nutrition and health-related practices will bring a real-life focus to the module, and your own role as an activist for promoting a healthy environment will be brought into focus.

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and a personal approach to helping you achieve your academic and professional potential. We have a strong tradition of supporting student employability, with relevant skills embedded in the curriculum.

The key themes of our strategy are:

• student confidence
• professionalism
• social responsibility.

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

For over 50 years, we have developed a strong reputation for the quality of our teaching.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• The right tools and technology

Assessment

We use a range of assessment methods across the course, in recognition that communication in the arena of health and wellbeing needs to be diverse in order to reach diverse audiences.

These include developing academic and practitioner posters, writing journal articles, delivering video presentations and writing extended essays and critical literature reviews.

We don’t use exams as a form of assessment but our assessment methods do challenge you to extend your range of communication skills, preparing you well for career advancement.

Entry Requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

Usual entry requirements are an undergraduate degree in a related area at 2:2 classification or above. Alternatively, applicants with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated area, but with subsequent work-related experience in health and wellbeing, are encouraged to apply.

We are able to consider applications from people who do not have a formal academic background, but who have significant and substantial work experience in an area relevant to health and wellbeing, through an application and assessment process. Additionally, applicants who have studied similar areas at postgraduate level can apply for accreditation of their prior certificated learning, where the learning outcomes for their former study can be mapped to the learning outcomes for this course.

Student Finance

UK & EU Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you are eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your MA tuition fees.

International Students:

Visit our web page for international students.

Part-time study is not available for international students on a Tier 4 Student Visa.

Additional costs

We advise students to budget for the following in addition to annual tuition fees:

• Recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
• Field trips may occur during this course and they will be either fully or partly subsidised by the University. More details will be provided at the start of the course.
• You'll need to include placement/s travel and associated costs too, however the University will contribute a standard amount towards your total expenditure.
• The University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online

How to apply

Download the application form below.

Return the completed form to our admissions team:

admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk 

Admissions Team
Leeds Trinity University
Horsforth
Leeds
LS18 5HD

What happens next?

They will acknowledge receipt of your application by email, process it, and forward to the relevant Programme Leader within three days.

The programme leader will either make a decision based on your application or invite you to attend an interview day.

If you're selected for an interview, you'll be contacted with details within ten days of your application being processed.

The admissions team will notify you of your interview outcome in writing within five working days of receiving a decision from the Programme Leader.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

This will usually be by presenting the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student administration office (AM36) on campus.

Download msc-health-wellbeing-application-form.docx