Health Communication by Web-based Distance Learning MA

The University of Nottingham has an international reputation for research and teaching in the field of professional communication. The study of health communication is a rapidly expanding field and the distance learning programme has been designed to reflect the growing interest in and importance of health care communication. 

Communication is increasingly recognised as a vital part of the health care environment. From clinical consultations to health care policy, language plays a key role in promoting health, facilitating understanding and managing the emotional climate of health care.

The MA programme in Health Communication provides a unique opportunity to investigate language and communication in various health care contexts. The course gives students a thorough grounding in the concepts, theories and research methods used in this area. It will be of interest for those wishing to develop careers in the area of health communication: health promotion officers, health information managers, hospital administrators, medical and allied health practitioners (such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists), workers in the voluntary sector, workers based in health or lifestyle charities, healthcare communication professionals and those with an interest, though not necessarily a background, in this growing field. 

The course is run by the University’s Health Language Research Group, with its rich membership of clinical practitioners and scholars, and is affiliated to the schools of Health Sciences, Sociology and Social Policy, and English Studies, all of which look to communication as a way of making sense of health care. The University of Nottingham has an international reputation for research and teaching in the field of professional communication. The study of health communication is a rapidly expanding field and the distance learning programme has been designed to reflect the growing interest in and importance of health care communication.

The MA has intakes in September and February.

Key facts

• The MA Health Communication is a distance learning programme and includes the option of voluntary day schools held for participants in Nottingham.
• The course is taught using a course tool software called Moodle.
• As well as completing this course at a pace that suits you and your other commitments, you have the flexibility to study towards a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) or an MA (180 credits, including dissertation). 

Please Note:

This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies.  Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.

The MA Health Communication provides you with a unique and exciting opportunity to investigate language and communication in health care contexts. 

The course content offers a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the main areas of health care communication, with the opportunity to specialise in areas according to your own interests and research. 

The course examines the role of language in a comprehensive and diverse range of health care settings and focuses on established approaches used to analyse and interrogate health care interaction, ranging from narratology and corpus linguistics to conversation and discourse analysis. 

With such a particular focus on research methodology, this programme also offers a unique opportunity for investigating language and communication from interdisciplinary perspectives. 

The following modules currently make up the taught component of the programme: 

• Research Methodologies for Health Care Communication 
• The Language of Compliance 
• Health Care Narratives 
• Health Care Documentation 
• Dissertation 

The first module - Research Methodologies for Health Care Communication - is compulsory and must be completed before undertaking further modules. This core research module is designed to provide you with the necessary research and methodological skills to pursue further postgraduate research in this area. 

Please note that all module details are subject to change.

The MA is completed by distance learning, part-time over 24 to 48 months. You can commence the programme in either September or February. 

The course is made up of two components – the taught component and the research component. You need to complete 120 credits – ie all four core modules - before proceeding to the dissertation. 

The dissertation is a major piece of advanced independent research, which you complete under the supervision of a specialist in your chosen area. We will provide you with advice and guidance while you select and refine your area of study, and offer close supervision and support as you complete your research and your MA.

The dissertation module is assessed by written work of 14,000 words.

You will have access to many online resources, as well as your own personal tutor for each module that you take. Particular features of the programme include:

• a theoretical grounding in research methodology and linguistic description
• one-to-one tuition with expert members of staff
• innovative and engaging teaching methods 
• access to many online resources
• great flexibility in course content, optionality, and changes in direction.

All MA students in the School of English join a lively and thriving postgraduate community. As such, you will be invited to attend a voluntary `Summer School` each year, giving you a chance to meet other students in the school face-to-face. 

Instead of completing the entire MA programme, students who have less time for study may wish to take fewer modules, leading to the awards of: Advanced Certificate (60 credits) and Advanced Diploma (120 credits). 

Details of course fees and other costs are available on the school's web pages. Further information about the structure of the course can be found in the student handbook.

 

The following is a sample of typical modules that we offer, not a definitive list. Due to the passage of time between commencement of the course and subsequent years of the course, modules may change, for example due to curriculum developments.

More information on the above modules is available in the Module Catalogue.

Back to top

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result may change for reasons of, for example, research developments or legislation changes. This list is an example of typical modules we offer, not a definitive list.

 

UK/EU Students

Please note that distance learning students are charged a standard fee with no differentiation between UK/EU and international students. Fees are paid on a module by module basis.

The majority of postgraduate students in the UK fund their own studies, often from a package made up of personal savings, parental loans or contributions, bank loans and support from a trust or charity.

Every year, a number of students are successful in the AHRC, ESRC or other competitions for funding (including ORS funding). The school also provides a number of bursaries and scholarships for MA students. 

See the latest information about the main sources of funding open to postgraduate students who wish to study in the school. 

The Graduate School website at The University of Nottingham provides more information on internal and external sources of postgraduate funding. 

Government loans for masters courses

The Government offers postgraduate student loans for students studying a taught or research masters course. Applicants must ordinarily live in England or the EU. Student loans are also available for students from Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

International and EU students

Masters scholarships are available for international students from a wide variety of countries and areas of study. You must already have an offer to study at Nottingham to apply. Please note closing dates to ensure your course application is submitted in good time.

Information and advice on funding your degree, living costs and working while you study is available on our website, as well as country-specific resources.

 

Because of its strong emphasis on the analysis and discussion of real-life settings and practical health care contexts, the course is particularly suitable for health care professionals who wish to further their career and professional development, as well as students who wish to continue their studies to PhD level or want to enter an environmental where Health Communication plays a central role. 

Our postgraduate students move into an extraordinarily wide range of careers following their time in the school. 

According to The Times, “English graduates have almost any career path open to them ... All of the big graduate recruiters look for communication skills.” (Clare Dight, ‘Degree Doctor…English’, The Times, 6 April 2006). 

Conducting postgraduate work in the School of English fosters many vital skills and may give you a head start in the job market. Studying at this level allows you to develop qualities of self-discipline and self-motivation that are essential to employment in a wide range of different fields. 

We will help you develop your ability to research and process a large amount of information quickly, and to present the results of your research in an articulate and effective way. 

A postgraduate degree in English Studies from an institution like The University of Nottingham shows potential employers that you are an intelligent, hard-working individual who is bright and flexible enough to undertake any form of specific career training. 

Our applicants are among the best in the country, and employers expect the best from our graduates.

Average starting salary

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers.*

Consequently – and owing to our reputation for excellence – more than 84% of postgraduates from the School of English enter employment or further study during the first six months after graduation. The average starting salary for postgraduates from the Faculty of Arts was £20,250 with the highest being £33,000.**

* The Graduate Market 2013-2016, High Fliers Research. **Known destinations of full-time home postgraduates 2014/15. Salaries are calculated based on those in full-time paid employment within the UK. 

Career Prospects and Employability

The acquisition of a masters degree demonstrates a high level of knowledge in a specific field. Whether you are using it to enhance your employability, as preparation for further academic research or as a means of vocational training, you may benefit from  careers advice as to how you can use your new found skills to their full potential. 

Our Careers and Employability Service will help you do this, working with you to explore your options and inviting you to attend recruitment events where you can meet potential employers, as well as suggesting further development opportunities, such as relevant work experience placements and skills workshops.