Overview
Globally, over 55 million people are living with dementia. In the UK, that figure is estimated to reach 1.4 million by 2040 (Dementia Statistics Hub).
Our online MSc Dementia Studies course equips you with the skills you need to improve the lives of people living with dementia. You’ll learn about the latest innovations and best practice in dementia care from experts whose research has a global impact.
Dementia Services Development Centre
The University of Stirling is home to the Dementia Services Development Centre. The Centre is renowned worldwide for its expertise and helps to advise governments and academic institutions in the UK, Europe, China and Australia on dementia-related issues. Additionally, training and consultancy is provided for the private, voluntary and statutory sectors.
Study online
Our online Dementia Studies course can be studied from anywhere in the world. The course is designed for professionals already working in the field, volunteers supporting people with dementia or people wishing to develop a career in dementia care. You will:
- become part of an international community of learners and study around your schedule;
- work with experts and leaders across a range of professions relevant to dementia care, including health and social workers, psychologists and architects;
- gain an overview of dementia care policy drivers and initiatives, and a grounding in academic and research skills;
- learn from an advisory group of people with dementia who support course development.
The course has been developed to provide you with an in-depth, research-based knowledge of dementia. This includes theory, innovation and best practice, policy drivers and initiatives, and a grounding in academic and research skills. You will:
- develop an advanced understanding of multidisciplinary perspectives about dementia and approaches to supporting people with dementia;
- address critical issues in dementia practice and service delivery;
- encourage improved collaboration across areas of practice;
- compare and contrast national and international research;
- identify and debate current practice developments;
- develop critical thinking to promote reflective practice;
- develop knowledge and skills of social research processes.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Our Dementia Studies (Online) course is delivered by expert staff from the Faculty of Social Sciences. Underpinning the expertise of our staff, the University of Stirling scored highly in the most recent Research Excellence Framework 2021 – a UK-wide assessment of universities’ research output. In the Social Work and Social Policy unit of assessment, we ranked 3rd in Scotland and top 25 in the UK – with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our research deemed world leading or internationally excellent.
Our team of experts advise governments and academic institutions in the UK, Europe, China and Australia on dementia-related issues, and provide training and consultancy for the private, voluntary and statutory sectors.
The University of Stirling is home to the Dementia Services Development Centre – an international centre of knowledge and expertise dedicated to improving the lives of people with dementia.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a second-class honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
This course is suitable for individuals who may have experience of working with, or come into contact with individuals living with dementia in their professional or personal life. This may include:
- Health care professionals working with people with dementia (e.g. Doctors, Nurses, allied health professionals).
- Social care staff (e.g social workers, people working in residential or nursing care settings, people working in local authority or private social care services).
- People working with voluntary associations or charities working with people with dementia.
- Family members providing care or support to a person with dementia in their family.
- Individuals hoping to enter a career which may involve working with people with dementia.
Entry route via undergraduate modules
Our undergraduate modules on Dementia and the Environment (DEMU9C2) and Huntington’s disease: an enabling approach to supporting families (DEMU9D5) offer an entry route for applicants who do not meet the entry requirements to study this MSc Dementia Studies course. They also provide an introduction to online learning and the approach taken by the team here at Stirling.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Course details
Our Dementia Studies (Online) course features nine individual modules, and three possible qualifications – an MSc, Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) or Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert). This modular structure extends across all three years of
To earn your Masters, you’ll need to complete all nine modules, while you can attain a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) by completing six modules, or the Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) by completing three modules. We also offer selected modules on a standalone basis.
Each semester starts with an online introductory session. You will then join an online tutorial group of fellow students and teaching staff. Academic learning is subsequently undertaken through a
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
Our online learning allows you to interact and get support from your tutors, as well as providing access to the course materials and reading material. Flexibility is offered, recognising that some students work shifts or are in different time zones so teaching allows you to fit study around your work commitments. Special emphasis is placed on a collaborative and problem-solving approach to learning and on encouraging reflective practice.
How you'll learn online
All teaching uses text- and web-based distance-learning materials. A specially designed online learning platform is available for students to access course information and recorded lectures, take
You’ll require access to a computer with an internet connection.
All modules are assessed through coursework such as essays, evaluation reports, research proposals and literature reviews.
Each module on our Dementia Studies course consists of 200 hours study.
Dr Grant Gibson (Course Director) is a Lecturer in Dementia Studies and has been an academic researcher in the fields of dementia care and chronic illnesses in old age for over 12 years. Over this period he has worked on projects evaluating satisfaction with memory services among people with dementia and their carers, the design and implementation of assistive technology for people with dementia, and the provision of health and social care services for people with dementia and their carers in primary care. Grant also has experience of carrying out research with people with Parkinson's disease.
Dr Richard Ward is a Senior Lecturer in Dementia Studies. He is a registered social worker with a background in older people's services and has specialised in dementia care. As a researcher, Richard's work emphasises participatory approaches aimed at supporting people living with dementia to make a meaningful contribution to research. His current research interests lie particularly in the area of dementia, place and space.
Professor Louise McCabe (Chief Examiner) has worked in the field of dementia studies in both practice and academia for over twenty years, starting her career as a care worker in residential homes for older people. Louise has been at the University since 2000 and has built a significant portfolio of ageing and dementia research with a focus on the potential of services to improve the lives of families with dementia including user-focused evaluations and cross-national studies of ageing and dementia care services in the UK, Europe and India.
Fees and funding
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
|
|
UK and Republic of Ireland students |
International (including EU) students |
|---|---|---|
|
Cost for each 20-credit module |
£888 | £1,400 |
|
Total cost for PGCert (3 modules) |
£2,666 | £4,200 |
|
Total cost for PGDip (6 modules) |
£5,333 | £8,400 |
|
Total cost for MSc (9 modules) |
£8,000 | £12,600 |
|
|
UK and Republic of Ireland students |
International (including EU) students |
|---|---|---|
|
Cost for each 20-credit module |
£TBC | £TBC |
|
Total cost for PGCert (3 modules) |
£2,933 | £4,400 |
|
Total cost for PGDip (6 modules) |
£5,867 | £8,800 |
|
Total cost for MSc (9 modules) |
£8,800 | £13,200 |
You will be liable to pay tuition fees for every module you enrol on.
Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course. If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
This fee is charged as a module fee. Details of the tuition fee policy relating to module fees can be found in our tuition fees policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
This course is designed for professionals or volunteers already involved in dementia care, for people who are or have been family carers, or for anyone with an interest in developing a career in dementia care. Fort those in employment, the flexible nature of the course lets you study while continuing to work in your existing post. After graduating, you will be qualified to progress to specialised posts in your sector, helping you to develop as a leader in your organisation or sector.
The average salary for an experienced dementia carer in the UK is £36,000 (talent.com) and salaries for dementia researchers in the UK can range up to £77,000 (Glassdoor). There are a broad range of different roles available, and our course can boost career opportunities to move to specialised posts.
Our graduates have progressed their careers by:
- moving on to senior, specialised posts within dementia care;
- developing their career as dementia specialists and leaders in the wider professional sector (e.g. design, architecture, law);
- moving to posts in the third sector or local national government;
- securing promotion to more senior leadership positions in Health and Social Care;
- building successful academic and scientific research careers;
- starting or expanding their own dementia care organisations.
Organisations our graduates have gone on to work in include:
- Scottish Care;
- Local and National Government Agencies (e.g Scottish Government, Care Quality Commission, Care Inspectorate);
- Local, UK and International Dementia Charities (e.g Alzheimer Scotland, Dementia NI, Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Society);
- NHS Trusts and NHS Health and Social Care Partnerships;
- Local Authorities;
- Housing Associations;
- Dementia Friendly Communities Organisations;
- Higher and Further Education Institutions (e.g. Universities, FE Colleges).
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