MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
St Mary's University Twickenham, London, offers a highly regarded MSc Applied Sport...
MSc Chronic Disease Management
Twickenham
INTAKE: Jan & Sept
Program Overview
St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London, offers a highly relevant MSc Chronic Disease Management program designed for professionals seeking to specialize in the prevention, assessment, and management of long-term health conditions. This postgraduate degree emphasizes tackling the complex barriers to behavior change, a critical component in effective chronic disease management. The program provides a hands-on approach, covering the roles of nutrition and physical activity, self-care strategies, engaging with hard-to-reach groups, and working at individual, group, and population levels. It uniquely integrates an integral work placement component, allowing students to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience, often within their existing workplaces or through the university's extensive local networks. The program aims to produce highly skilled, autonomous, and analytical graduates to address the growing need for specialized professionals in clinical, healthcare, social care, and public health departments.
Curriculum: The curriculum for the MSc Chronic Disease Management is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the field's complexities. Core modules typically include "Public Health and Prevention of Chronic Disease," "Behaviour Change," "Nutrition and Physical Activity for Chronic Disease," "Self-care Approaches for Chronic Disease," 1 and "Chronic Disease Management in Practice." These modules equip students with skills and knowledge in areas such as understanding the epidemiology of chronic diseases, applying theoretical and practical approaches to facilitate lifestyle changes, and appreciating the role of nutrition and physical activity in prevention and management. A mandatory "Research Methods and Statistics" module underpins the program, culminating in a "Research Dissertation," allowing students to conduct an independent project on a chosen area within chronic disease management.
Research Focus: The research focus within the MSc Chronic Disease Management program at St. Mary's University is directly aligned with current public health priorities and the practical challenges of managing chronic conditions. The curriculum itself is underpinned by a detailed understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to behavior change, a key area of research within public health and health psychology. The program highlights the importance of tackling emerging conditions early and engaging hard-to-reach groups, including males, ethnic minorities, pregnant women, the elderly, and those from low socioeconomic groups, in the prevention and management of chronic disease. Students are encouraged to develop their research expertise through the "Research Methods and Statistics" module and their final dissertation, often contributing to project planning, implementation, or evaluation in real-world settings.
Industry Engagement: St. Mary's University demonstrates strong industry engagement within the MSc Chronic Disease Management program, recognizing the crucial need for skilled professionals in this sector. The program benefits from "fantastic links with local organisations within healthcare, education, social care, and the charity sector" through the Centre for Workplace Learning and the University's own Health and Wellbeing Service. A key feature is the integral work placement component, where students can gain hands-on experience, potentially at their current place of work or within one of the university's partner organizations. This placement allows students to develop project management and public health skills, directly addressing the reported challenge for employers in finding candidates with the necessary experience and skill set to tackle chronic disease.
Global Perspective: The MSc Chronic Disease Management program at St. Mary's University inherently incorporates a global perspective by addressing a health challenge that is pervasive worldwide. Chronic diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, and the principles of prevention, assessment, and management, including behavior change strategies and the roles of nutrition and physical activity, are universally applicable. While the program is rooted in the UK context, particularly drawing on priorities highlighted by Public Health England, the knowledge and skills acquired are highly transferable. Understanding how to overcome complex barriers to behavior change and engage diverse populations in health improvements is a global imperative, preparing graduates to contribute to chronic disease management efforts in various international healthcare and public health settings.
Location
Twickenham
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
£ 18450
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a minimum overall score of 60% or equivalent.
English language proficiency:
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7.0 with no individual component below 6.0.
- TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 88.
- PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 60.
- Some postgraduate programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.
St. Mary’s University Twickenham offers a variety of scholarships to support international students in financing their education and rewarding academic achievement. These scholarships are designed to ease the financial burden and recognize the talents and hard work of students coming from all over the world.
International Student Scholarships: St. Mary’s provides International Student Scholarships for students from a range of countries. These scholarships are typically partial fee reductions, aimed at making education more affordable. Eligible students are selected based on academic merit, financial need, and their potential to contribute to the university community. The scholarships are open to both undergraduate and postgraduate international students.
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship: The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards available to international students at St. Mary’s University. This scholarship offers a significant reduction in tuition fees for high-achieving students, with eligibility determined by academic performance and specific course requirements. Students from a variety of regions, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are encouraged to apply for this highly competitive scholarship.
Country-Specific Scholarships: In addition to general international scholarships, St. Mary’s offers country-specific scholarships for students from certain regions. These scholarships provide additional financial assistance and are designed to support students from areas where educational opportunities may be limited. International students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas are often eligible for these specialized scholarships.
Sports Scholarships: For students excelling in sports, St. Mary’s University provides Sports Scholarships. These awards are available to talented athletes who demonstrate the potential to represent the university in competitive sports. Sports scholars benefit from personalized coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and financial support to help balance academic and athletic commitments.
An MSc in Chronic Disease Management from St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London, is a highly sought-after qualification in an era where long-term health conditions pose significant global health challenges. This postgraduate degree uniquely focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to prevent, assess, and effectively manage chronic diseases by tackling the complex barriers to behaviour change. The program's emphasis on a hands-on approach, including an integral work placement, ensures graduates possess both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in areas like nutrition, physical activity, and self-care strategies. Graduates are prepared for impactful roles in diverse settings, addressing the growing demand for highly skilled and analytical individuals capable of making a tangible difference in public health and healthcare delivery.
Chronic Disease Management Coordinator/Specialist: Working in hospitals, clinics, or community health organizations to develop, implement, and oversee programs that support patients with chronic conditions, focusing on self-management, education, and care coordination. This often involves working with multidisciplinary teams.
Public Health Specialist/Analyst: Working for local authorities, national health bodies (e.g., NHS Public Health), or international health organizations to design, implement, and evaluate public health interventions aimed at preventing chronic diseases and promoting healthier lifestyles at a population level.
Health Promotion Officer: Developing and delivering health education programs and campaigns in community settings, workplaces, or schools to raise awareness about chronic disease prevention and encourage positive health behaviors.
Behaviour Change Specialist/Health Coach: Providing individualized or group coaching and support to help individuals adopt and maintain lifestyle changes necessary for managing or preventing chronic diseases, often in wellness clinics, private practice, or corporate wellness programs.
Research Assistant/Associate: Contributing to research projects in universities, research institutes, or pharmaceutical companies, focusing on chronic disease epidemiology, intervention effectiveness, or health outcomes.
NHS Commissioning/Service Development Manager: Working within the National Health Service to plan, commission, and improve services for patients with chronic diseases, ensuring effective resource allocation and patient pathways.
Patient Education Specialist: Developing educational materials and delivering programs for patients and their families on managing chronic conditions, medication adherence, and navigating the healthcare system.
Charity and Non-Profit Sector Professional: Working for organizations focused on specific chronic diseases (e.g., Diabetes UK, British Heart Foundation) in roles such as patient support, advocacy, policy development, or program management.
Occupational Health Specialist: Focusing on chronic disease management within workplace settings, designing programs to support employees with long-term conditions and promote overall workplace health and well-being.
Community Health Worker/Outreach Coordinator: Engaging directly with communities, particularly hard-to-reach groups, to connect them with health resources, provide education on chronic disease prevention, and facilitate access to care.
