Health Medicine and Society

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Health, Medicine and Society at the University of Cambridge offers students a comprehensive interdisciplinary exploration of health-related issues through the lenses of social sciences, humanities, and medical sciences. This innovative programme is designed to provide a deep understanding of the complex factors that influence health and wellbeing, including social determinants, healthcare policies, cultural contexts, and ethical considerations. Students will engage with a wide range of topics such as public health, medical sociology, ethics in medicine, health policy, and global health challenges. The curriculum combines rigorous academic coursework with opportunity for original research, fostering critical analysis and evidence-based reasoning.

Throughout the course, students will develop a nuanced perspective on how health and healthcare systems operate within different societal frameworks and how these systems impact individual and collective health outcomes. The programme emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, preparing graduates for careers in healthcare policy, public health, advocacy, research, or further postgraduate study. Students benefit from Cambridge’s world-class faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and a vibrant academic community. The multidisciplinary approach encourages students to think deeply about the social, ethical, and political dimensions of medicine and health, equipping them with the analytical tools necessary to address contemporary health issues.

The programme typically spans three years, during which students undertake a variety of modules, including core courses, electives, and research projects. Assessment methods often involve essays, presentations, exams, and research dissertations, promoting both academic excellence and practical competence. Graduates of the programme will leave with a sophisticated understanding of the social contexts of medicine and health, as well as critical thinking and communication skills crucial for professional success in diverse health-related fields. Overall, the B.A. in Health, Medicine and Society at Cambridge aims to cultivate knowledgeable, ethically responsible, and socially aware individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to the complex world of health and healthcare policy.

Core courses

1. History of medicine

• Bedside medicine: patients, bodies and medical encounters
• Hospital medicine: charitable care, the Paris Clinic, and the rise of research institutions
• Experimental medicine: reassessing the laboratory revolution
• Biomedicine and biomedicalization

2. Philosophy and ethics of medicine

• Defining health and disease: fact and value
• Measuring health and disease: QALYs, well-being and the limits of the numerical
• Medical ethics: principles, virtues and institutions
• The tangled ethics and epistemology of medical research

3. Medical sociology

• The relationship between human society and human health and illness
• Concepts of health and illness in comparative historical and cross cultural perspective
• The therapeutic arts and sciences in comparative historical and cross cultural perspective
• The political economy of health and illness

4. Medical anthropology

• Learning to practise scientific medicine
• Who is really ill?
• Re-inserting the social, cultural, political and economic
• Affliction and healing beyond biomedicine

 Optional variable modules

5. History of medicine: Public and environmental health
6. History of medicine: Reproduction
7. Philosophy and ethics of medicine: Health justice and inequalities
8. Philosophy and ethics of medicine: Medical epistemologies
9. Medical sociology: Ethnographies of biomedicine
10. Medical sociology: Sex, gender and the body
11. Medical anthropology: Anthropology and epidemics
12. Medical anthropology: Global health 

Teaching

The course is overseen by a Manager who takes responsibility for day-to-day oversight of the course and liaison with staff and students. Students choose a ‘home’ subject (History, Philosophy, Sociology or Social Anthropology), and the Advisor for that subject guides them in formulating a programme of study. Students work with supervisors in writing their essays and dissertation.

The core modules are the main teaching resource for this course. All students attend all core modules which run twice a week during Michaelmas term and are led by different senior members of teaching staff and focus on selected readings. Eight optional modules run during Lent term, and students are advised to attend at least two of these. In Easter term students attend Dissertation seminars which provide opportunities for them to present their own work. Students receive two one-to-one supervisions on the modules on which they choose to write essays and four on their dissertations.

The Advisors assist students in the identification of a topic and a supervisor for their dissertation during Michaelmas term. Students will be expected to start work on their dissertation during Michaelmas and continue working on it throughout the course of the year. Students receive independent reports from two examiners on each of their three essays and the dissertation.

 Assessment

Michaelmas

• Core module 1: ‘Formative’ 3,000 word essay based on a choice of set questions concerning key texts. This essay is assessed but does not contribute to the final mark (there are no consequences for failing this essay).
• Dissertation project approved along with any risk assessments or ethics applications that are required.
• Attendance at 4 x core module seminars.

Lent

• Core module 2: 5,000 word assessed essay on set topics from core modules.
• Core module 3/Optional module: 5,000 word essay either on a different core module from essay 1 or on an optional module.
• Together these two essays count for 40% of the overall mark.
• Attendance at 2 x optional module seminars.

Easter

• Dissertation of between 10,000 and 15,000 words (60%). Presentation at dissertation seminars.

• Magistr (Master's Degree) at Pass level. Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of good or 4/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 4/5 Bologna Bachelor's from other institutions with an overall grade of 5/5, Excellent
• Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
• IELTS (Academic) 7.5
• TOEFL Internet Score 110
• £50 application fee
• First Academic Reference
• Second Academic Reference
• Transcript
• Sample of Work.You should submit one or more examples of your written work, such as essays or a dissertation, in areas relevant to the graduate study you wish to pursue. An essay written specially for the Cambridge application is acceptable, but you should indicate if this is the case. The writing samples must be entirely your own work, fully referenced and in English. There is no word limit.
• Statement of Interests. The statement of interests, of about 600 words, should indicate which subject areas you would pursue in the MPhil. Please tell us about possible essay and dissertation topics you might pursue on the course, why you are interested in them, and some preliminary ideas about how you might carry them out. We will not treat the statement as a formal proposal but it will help us understand your motivations for taking the MPhil and how well prepared you are for graduate-level research. You may also include a preliminary PhD research proposal if you are planning to continue to the PhD after completing the MPhil course.
• Personal Reference. This is only required if you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

The University of Cambridge offers various funding options for students enrolled in the Health, Medicine and Society program. Undergraduate students may apply for government loans such as the UK Student Loan, which provides financial support to UK residents covering tuition fees and living costs. Other funding sources include university scholarships, bursaries, and grants aimed at supporting students from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups. The Cambridge Trust offers numerous scholarships for international students, which can significantly reduce the financial burden of studying abroad. Additionally, students can explore external funding opportunities from health-related charities, funding bodies, and research councils, especially for postgraduate levels. The College-based funding system in Cambridge allows students to receive financial support directly from their respective colleges, which may include fee assistance, maintenance grants, and hardship funds. For those pursuing specialized research or postgraduate studies, it is advisable to seek funding through specific research funding bodies such as the Wellcome Trust or the Medical Research Council, which support research in health and medicine. Work opportunities may also be available on or off campus, including part-time jobs and internships, which can help offset living expenses. Furthermore, Cambridge’s careers service provides guidance and resources on securing scholarships, sponsorships, and other financial aid. Students should also consider planning their finances early and consulting the university’s official financial aid page for detailed and up-to-date information on available funding sources, application procedures, and deadlines. Overall, a combination of government support, university-specific scholarships, college funds, external grants, and personal savings can enable students to fund their studies in the Health, Medicine and Society program at Cambridge effectively.

The Bachelor of Arts in Health, Medicine, and Society at the University of Cambridge is an interdisciplinary program designed to explore the complex relationships between health, medicine, and society. The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how health issues impact societies and how societal factors influence health and medicine. Throughout the course, students examine a wide range of topics, including medical ethics, public health policy, healthcare systems, social determinants of health, medical anthropology, and the history of medicine. The curriculum encourages critical thinking and analysis of contemporary health challenges, preparing graduates for careers in healthcare, policy, research, or further academic study.

Students are introduced to key concepts through lectures, seminars, and practical sessions that may include case studies, debates, and projects. The program emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, such as data analysis, communication, and ethical decision-making. Interdisciplinary in nature, the course draws on insights from sociology, anthropology, history, law, and other fields to provide a well-rounded perspective on health-related issues. The program also offers opportunities for students to engage in research and internships, fostering a connection between academic learning and real-world applications.

Graduates of the program are equipped to critically assess current health policies and practices, contribute to public discourse, and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams. The program often involves collaboration with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community organizations to enrich students' learning experience. Overall, the B.A. in Health, Medicine, and Society aims to produce informed, socially conscious individuals capable of addressing the complex challenges of health and healthcare in the modern world.