Course description
Our MSc Science and Health Communication course is ideal if you are interested in science, technology, medicine, health care, mathematics or engineering and want to work in the field of science and health communication.
You will develop the skills required to work in a range of sectors, including science and health-related media, public policy around science and health; engagement, outreach, and PPIE; science and health institutions; cultural institutions; the charity sector; and other related fields.
Developed by the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine and Manchester Institute of Innovation Research , the course features masterclasses and project support from leading professionals in a wide range of sectors, together with experienced science and health communication professionals from across the University.
You will spend time building up practical communication skills, and thinking about the broad range of challenges that science communicators face. Does science communication matter for society? Whose interests are furthered by science news? What are the ethical issues in the communication of health research? When we talk about public engagement, what kind of public do we mean?
You will consider these and other questions through insights drawn from history, innovation and policy research, media studies, and the first-hand experience of long-serving communicators, and link these to practical skills.
PhD with integrated master's
If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.
You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.Special features
Bringing academic and practitioner expertise together
We believe that learning from both theory and practice makes for better science and health communicators. Throughout the course, we bring practitioners into the classroom, and enable you to participate in the various forms of science and health communication that take place in and around Manchester.
Teaching and learning
You will learn through a mixture of lectures, small-group seminars, discussions and practical exercises. Activities will be included in the taught elements for both individual students and groups.
You will engage with primary and secondary academic literatures, professional literatures, and mass media products about science, technology and medicine.
You will also learn at special sites of science and health communication, such as museums, media institutions, and public events.
We encourage participation and volunteering to help you further your own interests alongside the taught curriculum. All students will meet regularly with a student mentor from the Centre's PhD community, with a designated personal tutor from among the staff and academic supervisors for your mentored and research projects.
Applicants may informally request examples of study materials to help you test your ability to engage effectively with the course from the Course Director.
Course unit details
The full-time version of the course runs for 12 months from September. There is also a part-time alternative that runs for two years. Part-time study involves a limited number of days' attendance per week and can be combined with employment.
All students take three course units consisting of weekly lectures and discussion seminars:
- Introduction to Science Communication (30 credits)
- Communicating Ideas in Science, Technology and Medicine (15 credits)
- Introduction to Contemporary Science and Medicine (15 credits)
All students also attend a series of specialised courses focusing on science and health communication practice and science policy, with sessions led by invited contributors including journalists, media creators and producers, museum professionals, policy analysts, outreach officers and other relevant experts. You will choose two of the following four units to specialise in for assessed work (although you can sit in on all these units):
- Science, Media and Journalism (15 credits)
- Museums, Science Centres and Public Events (15 credits)
- Science, Government and Public Policy (15 credits)
- Health Communication (15 credits)
Our course teaches the current trends in science communication, so details of our units may vary from year to year to stay up to date. This type of change is covered within the University's disclaimer , but if you are in doubt about a unit of interest, please contact us before accepting your offer of a place.
The course is completed by two more open-ended elements allowing you to specialise towards your preferred interests.
The practical project (30 credits), completed in Semester 2, involves working with support from a science or health communication professional on developing and analysing an activity close to professional practice, or undertaking a creative project.
Finally, you will write a dissertation (60 credits) over the summer (June-Sept). This is an original piece of research on a science or health communication topic based on your independent investigation. We encourage you to explore your individual interests in your dissertation and you will be assigned an academic supervisor to guide you in your research.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Contemporary Science and Medicine | HSTM60011 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Science Communication Research Project | HSTM60022 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Science Communication | HSTM60561 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Communicating ideas in STM | HSTM60571 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Science Communication Mentored Project | HSTM60622 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Health Communication | HSTM60032 | 15 | Optional |
| Museums, Science Centres and Public Events | HSTM60582 | 15 | Optional |
| Science, Government & Public Policy | HSTM60592 | 15 | Optional |
| Science, Media and Journalism | HSTM60602 | 15 | Optional |
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Facilities
You will have use of a shared office in the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, including networked computer terminals and storage space, and use of a dedicated subject library housed in the PhD office.
You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.