Advanced Dementia Studies MSc/PGDip/PGCert

Attendance mode

Entry year

Duration: Up to 3 years; Up to 3 years
Start date: September; September
Location: Distance Learning; Distance Learning

Suitable for UK and internationalUK and international applications.

Overview

Advanced Dementia Studies is a part-time distance learning programme. By studying online, you will have the flexibility to fit your studies around your working life and learn from, and with, students from around the world.

MSc Advanced Dementia Studies - 3 years
PGDip Advanced Dementia Studies - 2 years
PGCert Dementia Studies - 1 year

We adopt a human rights perspective to understanding the experience of people living with dementia and encourage multidisciplinary team-working and service user engagement. Our programme is underpinned by cutting-edge research and it has been designed to be directly applicable to the workplace and to help you develop your own and your colleagues' practice. 

We work closely with Experts by Experience (people living with dementia and carers) to create, inform, develop and evaluate the curriculum and teach relevant subjects.

This programme is intended for UK and international students who are:

Health and social care professionals who want to gain a specific qualification in working with people who have dementia
Voluntary workers who already have contact with people with dementia

You do not need to attend the University at any point during your studies. However, this does not mean you need to study alone - you will be part of a group of fellow national and international students passionate about improving dementia care.

2024 marks a significant milestone for our Master's in Advanced Dementia Studies programme, as we celebrate its 20th anniversary.

From its inception, our Master's - the first postgraduate programme of its kind in England, has been dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of dementia and equipping social and healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those caring and living with the condition.

Be part of the Department of Applied Dementia Studies history.

MSc Advanced Dementia Studies - 3 years
PGDip Advanced Dementia Studies - 2 years
PGCert Dementia Studies - 1 year

We work closely with Experts by Experience (people living with dementia and carers) to create, inform, develop and evaluate the curriculum and teach relevant subjects.

This programme is intended for UK and international students who are:

Health and social care professionals who want to gain a specific qualification in working with people who have dementia
Voluntary workers who already have contact with people with dementia

2024 marks a significant milestone for our Master's in Advanced Dementia Studies programme, as we celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Be part of the Department of Applied Dementia Studies history.

Entry requirements

Candidates should have a first degree with 2:2 or above in a relevant subject area, an equivalent professional NVQ Level 6 award, or a relevant postgraduate qualification..

However, if you have had any prior experience of successful study at undergraduate or postgraduate level you may apply, providing evidence such as certificates and transcripts.  The programme team will make a decision based the overall quality of your application.

If you are applying for an award and you do not have a first degree or equivalent, you may be asked to complete a portfolio of evidence to support your application for which you will need to achieve a mark of at least 60%.  If this is the case, please ensure you apply in a timely manner as this will need to be approved before you can start the course.

Candidates should have a first degree with 2:2 or above in a relevant subject area, an equivalent professional NVQ Level 6 award, or a relevant postgraduate qualification..

Additional entry requirements

Practice entry requirements

You must already have a work role, or voluntary placement, which regularly brings you into contact with people who have dementia. The minimum contact requirement is 2 hours a week during the academic year (September to June). This contact must be regular, direct and ongoing throughout your studies. It is not enough merely to work in an environment or service that provides dementia care; you must have regular opportunities to interact with a range of people who have dementia in the course of your day-to-day employment or voluntary role. It will be your responsibility to ensure that this contact is maintained if your employer or work role changes during the course of your studies.

You must also have access to a computer with Internet connection and be prepared to spend on average 15 hours a week on your studies.

Due to the applied nature of the teaching and learning activities on the programme and its direct implications on practice, for example through seeking stakeholder involvement and opinion in projects, and appraising, planning and evaluating practice development initiatives, applicants will be required to seek approval for studying within their work or voluntary setting from a manager prior to commencing the course.

English language requirements

Students for whom English is not a first language must have IELTS 6.5 with no sub-tests less than 5.5 or equivalent.

Practice entry requirements

You must also have access to a computer with Internet connection and be prepared to spend on average 15 hours a week on your studies.

Additional entry requirements

Practice entry requirements

You must also have access to a computer with Internet connection and be prepared to spend on average 15 hours a week on your studies.

English language requirements

Students for whom English is not a first language must have IELTS 6.5 with no sub-tests less than 5.5 or equivalent.

Practice entry requirements

You must also have access to a computer with Internet connection and be prepared to spend on average 15 hours a week on your studies.

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2026/27 entry and is subject to change.

First year

Core

Understanding the me in dementia

This module aims to provide students with

1. An understanding of dementia from the experiences of people who live with dementia.

2. The ability to challenge the stigma and common stereotypes of dementia to realise that once you've met one person with dementia, you've met one person with dementia.

3. The ability to value people with dementia as individuals and understand their unique skills, abilities, needs, wishes, personal preferences and aspirations.

4. The skills and knowledge to identify and critically appraise a range of strategies for enhancing language and communication with and about people living with dementia to support inclusion.

Postdiagnostic support and living well with dementia

To provide students with

1. A critical appreciation of a holistic assessment of need for people living with dementia and their supporters.

2. A comprehensive understanding of the range of post diagnostic support available to enable people to live well with dementia including social, cognitive, emotional/psychological and technological approaches.

3. An understanding of factors that precipitate, limit and enhance access to and use of post diagnostic support.

4. The ability to engage in complex evaluation of post diagnostic support for people living with dementia.

Second year

Core

Evaluating Dementia Practice

The broad aims of this module are to provide you with:

1. Advanced critical skills to evaluate examples of dementia care practice.

2. A comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in the evaluation of an area of practice.

3. A critical appreciation of the role of a leader in evaluating service provision.

4. The ability to forefront the involvement of a range of stakeholders in evaluating practice.

5. A comprehensive understanding and critical appreciation of a range of evaluation methods and their application in practice-based evaluation.

Final year

Core

Leading Change in Practice

To enable students to build on learning from previous modules, to apply this learning in practice and acquire new knowledge in order to implement and evaluate a small-scale practice development project relating to a specific area of concern or development need.

All module information is for 2026/27 entry and is subject to change.

First year

Core

Understanding the me in dementia

This module aims to provide students with

1. An understanding of dementia from the experiences of people who live with dementia.

2. The ability to challenge the stigma and common stereotypes of dementia to realise that once you've met one person with dementia, you've met one person with dementia.

3. The ability to value people with dementia as individuals and understand their unique skills, abilities, needs, wishes, personal preferences and aspirations.

4. The skills and knowledge to identify and critically appraise a range of strategies for enhancing language and communication with and about people living with dementia to support inclusion.

Postdiagnostic support and living well with dementia

To provide students with

1. A critical appreciation of a holistic assessment of need for people living with dementia and their supporters.

3. An understanding of factors that precipitate, limit and enhance access to and use of post diagnostic support.

4. The ability to engage in complex evaluation of post diagnostic support for people living with dementia.

Second year

Core

Evaluating Dementia Practice

The broad aims of this module are to provide you with:

1. Advanced critical skills to evaluate examples of dementia care practice.

2. A comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in the evaluation of an area of practice.

3. A critical appreciation of the role of a leader in evaluating service provision.

4. The ability to forefront the involvement of a range of stakeholders in evaluating practice.

5. A comprehensive understanding and critical appreciation of a range of evaluation methods and their application in practice-based evaluation.

Final year

Core

Leading Change in Practice

Teaching, learning and assessment

This distance learning part-time programme is delivered through digitally enhanced learning and teaching methods, including real-time tutorials, inter-professional discussion groups, practice-based exercises, directed and self-directed study.

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Our VLE is a system called Canvas. You will use Canvas to access the course materials, participate in interactive exercises and online discussion groups, attend real-time tutorials and get feedback on your coursework.

The course is designed to make your study as versatile as possible. You can access the course material anytime and anywhere with good internet access, from your PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Learning materials

Learning materials consist of:

An interactive study guide for each module

Online supplementary resources including podcasts, videos and readings
Online real-time tutorials
Online discussion groups and opportunity for networking with peers
A study planner for each module including key dates and timeline for completing the module activities

The interactive study guide provides:

An overview explaining the aims of the module
The learning outcomes students are expected to achieve
Guidance for the on-line exercises
Details of assignments
Details of readings

Each module will include a: i) formative assessment (i.e. tutor feedback on written work in progress); this work is not graded and you are able to make changes your tutor recommends before you submit your final assignments; ii) summative assessment (i.e. final); this will be by means of one or two pieces of work for each module which are graded and count towards your final mark for the award. There will be a variety of types of assessment that include case studies, written reports on practice-based work and critical reflections on evidence.

Teaching, learning and assessment

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

The course is designed to make your study as versatile as possible. You can access the course material anytime and anywhere with good internet access, from your PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Learning materials

Learning materials consist of:

An interactive study guide for each module

Online supplementary resources including podcasts, videos and readings
Online real-time tutorials
Online discussion groups and opportunity for networking with peers
A study planner for each module including key dates and timeline for completing the module activities

The interactive study guide provides:

An overview explaining the aims of the module
The learning outcomes students are expected to achieve
Guidance for the on-line exercises
Details of assignments
Details of readings

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

Home: Fees are currently under review and will be confirmed soon
International: Fees are currently under review and will be confirmed soon

Tuition fee

This course is charged at a modular rate:

£1,926 per 30 credits
£2,782 for the Dissertation module – “Leading Change in Practice” (Year 3)

Students usually complete 60 credits per year. Fees are subject to an annual increase.

Additional course costs

While there are no compulsory additional costs associated with this course, there may be general additional costs that you may incur as a student. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Funding your studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Health Education England may fund some health courses/modules at the University of Bradford for healthcare staff providing NHS services working within West Yorkshire and Harrogate, against organisational training priorities identified through the organisations training needs analysis.

You are therefore advised to contact the SSPRD Signatory within your organisation regarding their organisational training priorities.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

A Dementia Studies award may be a good career development move for you if you are already working in the dementia field and wish to specialise in this area of practice. Expectations are increasing about the quality of care people with dementia should receive. This means that there will be many opportunities for you to progress in your career having studied successfully at this advanced level.

Many of our students receive promotions or are successful in applying for new posts. The postgraduate programmes in Dementia Studies do not, however, lead to a professional qualification or registration.

Career opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers section.

Support for your studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions. We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment. In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Got a question?

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Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published 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 publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.