Our iBSc in Global Medical Humanities will examine critical questions and illuminate the assumptions, cultural norms, and political judgements inherent within medicine and healthcare.
Questions students will be asked to consider throughout the programme will include: What is illness? How does Western medicine define disease and wellness? Are these definitions universal? What happens when different cultural understandings of life, health, wellbeing and death come into conflict with one another? How are medicine and healthcare shaped by different social, historical, and cultural contexts?
Housed within the Department of Comparative Literature and Culture, our iBSc will give you a global perspective on key debates in medicine and healthcare (e.g., COVID-19, transplants, disasters, mental health, disability) across a range of cultural contexts. Our Global Medical Humanities programme explores global literary and cultural objects (including fiction and non-fiction, film, visual art) and urges us to rethink our understanding of care, health, risk and vulnerability. You will be challenged to reflect on the complex relationship between medicine and healthcare and social inequalities, human rights, environmental and humanitarian crises, and questions of ethics.
What makes our programme unique?
You will get the chance to explore modules on themes such as Madness Past and Present, Film and Disability, World Literature and Ethics, and Language and Communication. You will also have the opportunity to pursue independent research on a topic of your choice, guided by a supervisor.
In addition, students take five further modules (3 in Semester A and 2 in Semester B) from the following:
Together, these modules emphasise and foster an interdisciplinary and global perspective on key issues in medicine and healthcare. As a student on the programme, you will be provided with a comprehensive introduction to the field of global medical humanities. You will foster essential academic skills and professional attitudes, including: cross-cultural communication; analytical skills; team-work and independence.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The curriculum consists of specially devised modules introducing you to the discipline of global medical humanities. In addition, you will take a range of thematically-focused modules that will help you understand the complex relationships between medicine, healthcare and the humanities. Finally, all students will undertake an independent research project, giving you the opportunity to explore and write on your chosen areas of interest, under expert supervision.
Find out more about intercalated degrees
Delivered by the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, students pursuing the iBSc in Global Medical Humanities will give you a rigorous and comprehensive introduction to Global Medical Humanities while giving you the opportunity to pursue your specialised interests in a stimulating and supporting academic environment. Weekly seminars will encourage discussion and in-depth reflection, helping you to develop a self-reflexive medical practice.
The teaching and learning on the programme will consist of a mix of lectures, small group seminars, small group workshops, coursework, and independent study. These varied methods ensure the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of key issues in global medical humanities as well as the development of academic skills and personal attitudes essential to both the programme and professional practice in medicine and healthcare.
The assessment structure of the programme aims to nurture the development of well-rounded medical and healthcare professionals creating independent and self-reflexive thinkers who can communicate effectively across cultural contexts.
Across the modules, assessment methods include: essay assignments, in-course assessments, and an independent research project.
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
Students from the UK and overseas are welcome to apply for our intercalated degrees.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
Find out more about our intercalated degrees.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Medical and dental students from Barts and The London will be considered for various bursaries based on research interests, financial need or academic merit.
These bursaries are not available to students from other medical schools, or to Barts and The London students who choose to intercalate externally.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Our programme will provide you with a critical introduction to key issues in the medical humanities, raising questions that can help you shape your medical practice.
The School of the Arts combines innovation, discovery and excellence in education and research in Drama, Film, Modern Languages, English & Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, Linguistics and Liberal Arts. We rank in the top 100 worldwide for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
With our commitment to social justice, inclusivity and social mobility, our collaborations with external organisations, prominent writers and performers, and our facilities that support both academic and practice-based learning, an education in the School of the Arts equips our students with critical thinking and practical skills, unleashes their imagination and enables them to reach the levels of excellence needed in today’s industries.
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