Our taught MA in Health, Medicine and Society provides a critical understanding of how social, cultural and political factors shape health, illness and healthcare. Drawing on insights from medical sociology, the programme explores how health and illness are influenced not only by biology, but also by social inequalities, cultural beliefs, institutions and everyday lived experiences.
Delivered by the Department of Sociology within the Faculty of Arts, this programme examines health from both local and global perspectives. Lectures are interactive and discussion-based, encouraging critical engagement with real-world health issues from a sociological perspective.
The programme consists of taught study units, delivered in the evenings (17:00–19:00) three times a week. These units cover topics such as:
the lived experience of illness
mental health and illness
inequalities in health
global health
digital health
mental health and illness
place, health and disability
social policy and heath
Students also develop strong research skills, learning how to design and conduct research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Practical training is provided in data analysis software such as NVivo and SPSS.
The programme concludes in the fifth semester (normally completed within two years) with a 15,000-20,000-word dissertation, allowing students to carry out independent research on a topic of their choice.
Teaching is delivered through a blended format, combining:
in-person lectures on campus
live online sessions via Zoom
online learning through the Virtual Learning Environment
Students based in Gozo can attend in-person lectures via a live virtual link from the Gozo Campus.
Is this programme right for you?
This programme may be a good fit if you:
Work in healthcare or health-related fields (such as nursing, allied health professions, social care, or health administration) and want to understand what lies beyond the clinical view
Are considering a career in health policy, research, public health, or health communication.
Want to develop research skills and learn how to design and carry out research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Are interested in the social dimensions of medicine and healthcare, including health inequalities, patient experience, healthcare systems, and medical knowledge.
Enjoy critically analysing health issues and exploring how culture, society, and institutions shape health and illness
Previous dissertations have explored topics such as:
The experiences of physiotherapists on gender-based discrimination and harassment in the workplace
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a Facebook ethnography
Disruptive and a threat to identity? Exploring illness narratives after chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer
Local nurses’ attitudes towards obesity and their impact on the quality of nursing care of obese patients : a quantitative study
The lived experience of nurses caring for end-of-life paediatric oncology patients
Exploring midwives’ views on the influence of the birth environment on the provision of midwifery care.
Beautiful broken bodies: exploring embodiment and risk in boxing
