MSc Science and Health Communication

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2027, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MSc (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £15,400
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £34,700

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

International student CAS deposit

Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Some sources of funding are available. For current possibilities, please see the funding page on the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine website. Please note that funding application deadlines are usually significantly earlier than the course application deadline.

International scholarships

Scholarships for international students are available through the Global Futures scheme. Visit the scholarship page to find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

This assessed unit introduces students to a variety of skills needed to effectively communicate their research to a wide range of audiences, from academic conferences to school children. The unit is required on both the MA History of Science, Technology and Medicine and MSc Science and Health Communication programmes, and the case coverage will be drawn from across the disciplinary approaches covered by these programmes, with an emphasis on the shared themes of expertise and communication in science and medicine. The course will begin with a focus on how to read academic work effectively and critically, before going on to cover how to develop and strengthen your own academic writing. We focus particularly on writing academic essays, articles and presentations as a developmental and iterative process. The unit also highlights the need to consider and engage with multiple audiences outside of academia and covers approaches to communicating science and health research through broadcast media, journalism, podcasts, fiction, and social media.

The unit aims to: 

• introduce students to key research methodologies relating to history, policy and communication in science, technology and medicine
• enable students to analyse critically key methods and techniques used by researchers
• provide students with practical insights into writing, through the experience of current researchers
• build awareness and skill in writing and adapting material for different audiences and formats
• develop skills in drafting and editing of texts
• develop skills in oral presentation.

Multiple staff members will join the unit convenors to give short interactive lectures, lead large-group discussions, and encourage practical interaction via small-group activities.

• Understand key approaches to effective communication in science, technology and medicine 

• Critically and comparatively appraise source texts
• Identify and analyse critically a variety of different approaches to communicating research and argument
• Select and apply appropriate approaches to particular research questions 

• Understand and begin to apply the practical skills required in professional research, from question formulation to publication
• Read for research, including skim-reading, source prioritisation, and following up references
• Compose and edit texts presenting the same content for different audiences and reflect critically on the editing process and audience engagement
• Give an oral presentation based on a specific case study and respond to questions or comments from others

• Summarise and critically interpret the results of research
• Contribute to group discussion
• Present findings orally in a group session  

Written assignment based on a research finding relevant to the student's core programme/pathway (2250 – 2500 words): 100%

Individual comments on submissions delivered electronically. Standard turnaround time applies.