Venues

Central Campus

Content

Year 1
You will explore the social causes of health and illness and their often equal impact on different communities and social groups, drawing upon examples from around the world.

This leads on to the study of individual and cultural understandings of health and illness and associated beliefs and behaviours, alongside the related concepts of deviance and stigma.

Optional courses
You will select four courses from a wide range of options, including the programme's own option that enables you to engage in volunteer work for a community organisation and reflect on it from the perspective of what you are learning about health in society.

Year 2
You will study current key health issues of local and global importance, with expert researchers in the fields. Gain an understanding of how knowledge is produced and used in real-life situations.

You will also be introduced to how language shapes societies and individuals. Focus on the role of language in communicating about health in society (such as through the media and health promotion literature) and in healthcare settings. Gain hands-on experience in developing your own communication skills.

Again, a wide range of option courses are available, from which you'll choose four.

Year 3
You will learn research skills; explore compassion, empathy and ethics as critical to care; examine care alongside consideration of the concept of the person, spirituality, individuality and dignity. You will also study mental health problems and the therapeutic alliance.

You'll also choose three option courses from a wide range.

Year 4
In your final year, you will examine: critical challenges in interdisciplinary work; effective health and social care partnerships; leadership and change management; public health initiatives; community collaborations for enhancing health at individual and community scales. You will also undertake an individual research project (dissertation) supported by a member of teaching staff.

The year will be completed with two option courses chosen from a wide range. This will include our own option provisions which places the body at the centre of a sociological exploration of wellbeing.

Entry Requirements

2026 entry requirements

Standard entry:
4 Highers at ABBB (first sitting) or 4 or 5 Highers at AABB/ABBBB (two sittings) plus English at National 5.

Widening access entry:
4 Highers at ABBB (two sittings) plus English at National 5. Highers at BBB must be achieved in one sitting.