MSC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
WELCOME TO THE MSC HEALTH AND WELLBEING AT LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY Develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to take the next step in your health and wellbeing career. Our MSc Health and Wellbeing course has been designed to support both the broadening of your existing knowledge and the specialisation of your expertise. By doing this, we hope that by the end of the MSc, you will feel confident in taking the next step towards leading others in their health and wellbeing journey – either on projects or strategically. This well-established course was one of the first in the country to recognise the need for a workforce with expertise in individual and population health and wellbeing management. Successful graduates from the course have gone on to take leading roles in health and wellbeing provision across the country, and we are proud that the alumni of this programme are making a real difference to health and wellbeing both nationally and internationally. If you have a desire to make a real and practical difference to people’s health and wellbeing, then this course could be the one for you. We hope to welcome you to Leeds Trinity University. Nicola Arjomandkhah Programme Leader for MSc Health and Wellbeing
About Leeds Trinity University A small university with a big reputation, Leeds Trinity University is renowned for teaching excellence and producing highly employable graduates. We’re proud to be known as the University where you’re a name, not a number, thanks to our commitment to ensuring everyone in our community, whatever their faith, feels supported and valued. Leeds Trinity has always been characterised by this sense of community spirit, offering a truly personalised university experience that enables students to flourish. Our reputation for teaching quality and excellence has been developed thanks to a commitment to delivering outstanding teaching, led by research, scholarship and practice. Our teaching staff have extensive professional experience in their fields and many are active researchers, contributing to our increasing reputation for research excellence.
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COURSE OVERVIEW Health and wellbeing is a rapidly changing and challenging area – both nationally and internationally. This course aims to equip future senior leaders and strategic thinkers in health and wellbeing with the knowledge, skills and expertise to enable them to take a leading role in responding to these complex issues. 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 developing 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.
“The MSc is underpinning my practitioner knowledge with theory and an academic qualification, which will help me further my career and demonstrate credibility. I enjoy my current organisational wellbeing role and feel that I can develop this further as I learn through the programme. I want to make a difference, do something meaningful and this MSc is enabling that.” Karen Dick MSc Health and Wellbeing 3
COURSE STRUCTURE This programme is a distance-learning course delivered online, on a part-time basis over two or two and a half years. 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 online introductory learning weekends, one at the beginning of each semester (September and January). The rest of the study is completed through a range of online asynchronous learning material, 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. 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 four modules, followed by an independently studied MSc Dissertation or an alternative Work-based Project. This will comprise two core modules along with two modules, from a choice of six options.
Core modules Leading and Managing Change in Health and Wellbeing This module will discuss policy agenda and strategies used in wellbeing. The module considers how individuals can work in organisations to lead and manage change. This will include concepts associated with preparing for change (consideration of the policy), implementing change (leading) and evaluating the change (sustaining the change that has been implemented). Sociology and psychology of health and wellbeing will be explored, taking into consideration a range of national and international perspectives. Various definitions of wellbeing, and social explanations for health inequalities based on social class, ethnicity, gender and age will be discussed. You will reflect on your role in leading change and consider what skills are required. 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. Dissertation or Work-based Project You can choose between completing a traditional research dissertation or a negotiated work-based research project. This provides you with the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge developed during your course to a topic of particular interest and importance in the area of health and wellbeing.
“I’ve always been interested in health and wellbeing and decided that I wanted to make a difference within health research. I couldn’t have a picked a more relevant course for my future aspirations. The support from my module tutor has been amazing, and she has given me excellent support for my future goals.” Hannah Smee Secondary school teacher MSc Health and Wellbeing 4
Option modules You will be required to choose one option module from: 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. 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. 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. You will be also be required to choose one option module from: 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. Healthy Ageing By 2020, 50% of the UK population were aged over 50. Maintaining independence and quality of life are 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 underused resource. 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.
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LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT The modules on this programme are taught through an online, distance learning approach. This involves live introductory webinars, engagement with asynchronous online learning tasks such as reading, data collection, analysis and synthesis of reports, problem-solving and discussion. The online activities will help you to understand and transform information for yourself, relate your ideas to your own and others’ prior knowledge and experiences and relate conclusions to evidence. There is no specific timetable for this programme as the content can be studied in your own time around work, family and other commitments. However, there is the opportunity to engage in some live webinars during the programme with your module tutors and peers, which are arranged at times negotiated with you. Individualised support will be provided through tutorials via telephone or online meetings.
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 typical entry requirement is an undergraduate degree (2:2 or above) in a related area. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated area, but with subsequent work-related experience in health and wellbeing, are encouraged to apply. For further information on entry requirements, including Prior Learning criteria and applicants with significant relevant work experience but who do not have a formal academic background, visit our website.
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 and development plans. You’ll also be assessed by writing journal articles, delivering video presentations, 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 communications skills, preparing you well for career advancement.
How to apply Applications for the MSc Health and Wellbeing are made online via our website. Please visit leedstrinity.ac.uk/postgraduate for the latest course information, including tuition fees, and to access the online application form. For more information about applying, contact our Admissions team at admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk or on 0113 283 7123.
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WHY STUDY WITH US? A broad study of health and wellbeing
A flexible curriculum that responds to contemporary issues
Unlike many postgraduate courses that focus on public health and health promotion, our course has been designed to explore health and wellbeing more broadly. You’ll look at the drivers for health and wellbeing and the factors that influence behaviour, and you’ll strategically analyse health and wellbeing policies and interventions, as well as focusing on the health and wellbeing needs and issues of marginalised groups. By doing this, you’ll develop a broad range of health and wellbeing knowledge and experience, which will keep your options open at the end of the degree.
Health and wellbeing is constantly changing, so we make sure our course reflects this by responding to emerging issues and challenges. In the past, we’ve adapted our course to explore the rapid spread of Ebola in West Africa, the effects of the 2011 UK riots on health and wellbeing and mental health issues such as loneliness and social isolation. We also include a specific module on contemporary issues which focuses on cutting-edge health and wellbeing issues such as end-of-life care for homeless people, resistance training for elderly people and responses to the health and wellbeing of economic and social migrants.
The opportunity to specialise Our broad approach means that you’ll not only keep your career options open, but you’ll also be able to specialise in your target groups of interest. Every module has been carefully designed to reflect on health and wellbeing causes, drivers and future trajectories, so that you can apply this to specific areas and groups.
You’ll learn from the experts Our course is designed and delivered by active researchers at the forefront of their fields, highly skilled health and wellbeing practitioners and experienced academics. Their research specialisms range from ageing populations and applied workplace health and wellbeing, to the effects of the work environment on health and wellbeing outcomes. They also work closely with public health bodies, delivering consultancy on health and wellbeing initiatives.
Your choice of final project Unusually for an MSc, we offer you two options for the final dissertation you complete. You can choose between a traditional dissertation, which is a sustained piece of research on a specialist topic, or a negotiated work-based research project. If you choose this option, you’ll work closely with an employer to identify a need for a health and wellbeing intervention or service, which you’ll subsequently negotiate, deliver and design. This could be your existing employer, or a new employer. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be well-prepared for career progression or further study at PhD-level, should you wish to pursue that. We’ll also actively seek opportunities to publish your research findings, further enhancing your employability.
Receive an alumni discount If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your MSc tuition fees. Visit leedstrinity.ac.uk/student-finance to find out more. 7
Leeds Trinity University Horsforth Leeds, LS18 5HD 0113 283 7150 hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk Information correct at time of publication, August 2022. Please visit leedstrinity.ac.uk/postgraduate to review our latest course information before you make your application. The information in this booklet is available in alternative formats. Please call 0113 283 7150 or email hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk
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