MA Health & Society

Integrated Masters with deeper specialization and research focus
Taught in English
Duration 1 Years
Mode On Campus
Level Postgraduate
Degree Masters Degree
Next Intake TBA

Course Overview

The MA Health & Society at University College Cork offers you an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex factors influencing health and wellbeing. This postgraduate programme is ideal for those seeking to critically examine contemporary health issues from social, policy, and economic perspectives. You will explore health not just as a medical concern, but as a deeply social phenomenon, engaging with diverse viewpoints from philosophy, public health, and economics. This Masters degree provides a unique foundation for analysing health challenges from individual, societal, and global viewpoints.

This full-time, on-campus Masters degree is studied over one year, immersing you in core modules such as Principles and Practice of Public Health and Healthcare Economics, alongside specialist pathways. You will develop advanced research skills, potentially undertaking a dissertation in Philosophy and Health, Public Health and Epidemiology, or Economics and Health, allowing for focused study on a topic of your choice. You will graduate with a Masters Degree from University College Cork, prepared for diverse career paths in public health, policy analysis, health advocacy, or further academic research.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This Master's program explores the multifaceted relationship between health and society through interdisciplinary lenses. Students will engage with core principles of public health, healthcare economics, and philosophical approaches to health. The curriculum offers specialized pathways in philosophy, public health, and economics, allowing for in-depth study in chosen areas, complemented by a range of postgraduate electives and culminating in a dissertation.

1 Core Modules

Principles and practice of public health
Philosophy and health
Healthcare economics

2 Philosophy Pathway

Professional ethics: Advanced
Measuring society: Growth, poverty, inequality, and human capital
Philosophy and the biological health sciences
Reasoning and argument
Philosophy of science
Applied ethics

3 Public Health Pathway

Applied research for public health

4 Economics Pathway

Microeconomics: Behaviour and organisations
Applied econometrics
Microeconomics: Behaviour and organisations
Quantitative methods for economic investigation: Empirical econometrics

5 Postgraduate Elective Modules

Health psychology
Applied research for public health
Juvenile justice
International children's rights
Mental capacity law
Human rights I
The philosophy of death and dying
Advanced moral psychology
Professional ethics: Advanced
Measuring society: Growth, poverty, inequality, and human capital
Philosophy and the biological health sciences
Critical public health
Economic decision making in healthcare
Scenario planning for strategic decision making

6 Undergraduate

Health psychology: Models and applications
Health services
Reasoning and argument
Philosophy of science
Applied ethics
Philosophy of biology
Evidence
Sociology of health, public health and health promotion
Health and scientific deviance
Social perspectives in mental health
Social movements and health
Science, technology and public controversy
Public finance projects
Economics journey through life decisions

7 Dissertation Modules

Dissertation in philosophy and health
Work-based dissertation in philosophy and health
Dissertation in public health and epidemiology
Dissertation in economics and health

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 21,762.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 21,762.00

Currency note: Program costs shown in USD based on the available tuition breakdown.

Living Costs

Accommodation
USD 777.00 - USD 1,595.00
Food & Groceries USD 2,807.00 - USD 4,491.00
Transport USD 702.00 - USD 1,684.00
Utilities & Bills USD 1,404.00 - USD 2,105.00
Estimated Total USD 4,913.00 - USD 8,280.00

Living cost estimates are based on Cork Campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

93%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Biotechnology & GenomicsClinical Trials & DevelopmentDrug Discovery & ResearchEducational Support ServicesFamily & Civil LawHealth Technology & Digital HealthMental Health & CounselingPharmaceutical ManufacturingRehabilitation & PhysiotherapySpecial & Inclusive Education

Top Employers Hiring for this course

Cork University Hospital

Department of Education and Youth

Eli Lilly and Company

Health Service Executive

Mercy University Hospital

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Stryker

Tusla - Child and Family Agency

Why Study MA Health & Society at University College Cork

What makes this program stand out

Moderate Application response time

University College Cork typically responds to applications within 1 - 2 weeks, giving you clarity on your options quickly.

Life at University College Cork in Ireland

What daily life looks like for international students

Language

English

Primary language everywhere

Climate

Mild & Rainy

10-20°C average, pack layers

Safety (Numbeo Safety Index)

Very Safe

Exeter is one of UK's safest cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MA Health & Society at University College Cork

Can I work while studying?

International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours during breaks. No separate work permit is needed, provided you are enrolled in a full-time programme.

What English language score do I need for this course?

To meet the English language requirements, you can submit scores from tests like Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Specific score thresholds vary by test, so ensure you check these details carefully.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Potential job titles include health policy analyst, public health researcher, social policy advisor, epidemiologist, and health services manager.

What will I actually study in this course?

This innovative joint programme explores health and its social and policy determinants through an interdisciplinary lens. Topics include the critical analysis of health discourses and the relationship between health and social issues.

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The MA in Health & Society has a September intake. Make sure to prepare your application in advance to meet any deadlines.
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