Women's Health MSc

This foundational module examines women's health through social, cultural, and structural lenses, moving beyond purely clinical perspectives to establish a critical understanding of how social determinants shape health experiences and outcomes across diverse populations.
You will explore the social determinants of women's health, analysing how poverty, education, housing, and employment intersect to influence health outcomes. The module investigates cultural constructions of menstruation, including menstrual taboos, stigma, and rituals across different societies, and examines how shame and silence impact health-seeking behaviours. You will critically examine period poverty and menstrual equity, exploring economic barriers to menstrual products, global policy responses, and grassroots activism.
Through studying structural inequalities in women’s healthcare access, you will analyse how race, ethnicity, class, disability, sexuality, gender identity and immigration status shape women's experiences of and access to healthcare services. The module engages with medicalisation and de-medicalisation debates, introducing feminist critiques of gynaecological medicine, patient activism, and the role of embodied knowledge in challenging dominant medical narratives.
You will gain understanding of the geopolitics of women’s health, examining international development agendas, reproductive rights movements, and the impact of conflict and displacement on women's health. The module addresses workplace and educational policy, covering recognition, provision, co-creation, and advocacy for systemic change to support women's health needs in professional and educational settings.
You will examine health literacy and communication, exploring barriers to information and the role of media and social movements in shaping public understanding. The module centres patient narratives and lived experience, emphasising co-production of knowledge with service users and marginalised communities.
By the end of this module, you will be able to critically analyse how social, economic, political, and cultural factors shape menstrual and reproductive health experiences; evaluate structural barriers to healthcare access with attention to intersectionality; demonstrate understanding of global variations in women’s health practices, beliefs, and policies; apply sociological frameworks to assess reproductive health interventions; and advocate for inclusive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed approaches to women’s health.
This module is designed for both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals, providing essential foundations for anyone working with or advocating for women across sectors including health, social care, education, criminal justice, and community services.

This module takes you on a comprehensive journey through reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth, exploring the full spectrum of experiences that shape this critical period in women's lives. Whether you're a healthcare professional seeking to deepen your understanding, a social care worker supporting families, an educator, a policy maker, or simply someone passionate about women's health, this module provides essential knowledge to understand and improve reproductive healthcare across diverse contexts.

The module will begin by critically examining the social construction of motherhood and experiences of childlessness, both voluntary and involuntary. You will explore how societal expectations, cultural narratives, and pronatalist ideologies shape women's reproductive choices and experiences. This includes analysing the pressures and assumptions placed on women to become mothers, the stigma faced by childfree women who choose not to have children, and the often-hidden grief and marginalisation experienced by those facing involuntary childlessness due to infertility, medical conditions, life circumstances, or relationship status. You will consider how these social constructs intersect with identity, fulfilment, and belonging, and examine how healthcare and social systems can better support diverse reproductive paths and choices without judgment or assumption.

You will be examining fertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), exploring both the science and the social implications of conception challenges. This includes understanding current reproductive technologies, access inequalities, and the ethical debates surrounding fertility treatment. You will consider who has access to these technologies, how decisions are made, and the emotional, financial, and social dimensions of fertility journeys.

The module addresses antenatal care and maternal health best practices, examining evidence-based approaches to supporting healthy pregnancies while critically analysing how care systems can better serve diverse populations. You will explore models of maternity care, the principles of continuity of care, and how social determinants—including socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location—influence maternal health outcomes.

A significant focus is placed on pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and ectopic pregnancy. You will develop a sensitive, informed understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of loss, learning how healthcare and support systems can provide compassionate, evidence-based care. This includes understanding bereavement support, communication strategies, and how to challenge the silence and stigma that often surrounds pregnancy loss.

The module engages with abortion from legal and ethical perspectives, examining frameworks across different jurisdictions, the social and political contexts that shape abortion access, and the evidence base for safe, supportive abortion care. You will consider reproductive autonomy, conscientious objection, and how to ensure non-judgmental, person-centred care.

You will explore postnatal care and support services, recognising that care doesn't end at birth. This includes understanding physical recovery, infant feeding support, postnatal mental health, and the transition to parenthood. You will examine gaps in current postnatal provision and innovative approaches to supporting families in the crucial weeks and months following birth.

Throughout the module, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed reproductive care is emphasised. You will learn to recognise how cultural beliefs, practices, and experiences shape reproductive healthcare needs and preferences, and how services can be designed to be truly inclusive and respectful. This includes understanding the impact of previous trauma on reproductive experiences and how trauma-informed principles can be embedded across the care continuum.

By the end of this module, you will have developed a critical understanding of reproductive health policies and service provision, be able to evaluate evidence-based care and support for women experiencing pregnancy and pregnancy loss, and demonstrate awareness of the ethical complexities inherent in reproductive decision-making. You will be equipped to advocate for compassionate, equitable, and evidence-informed reproductive healthcare whether you work in health services, social care, education, policy development, or community advocacy.
This module is designed to be accessible to anyone with an interest in women's health, regardless of your professional background. Whether you bring clinical expertise, lived experience, policy knowledge, or simply a commitment to improving women's reproductive health and rights, you will find this module both intellectually engaging and practically relevant to creating positive change.

This module examines the health needs of women during and after menopause, exploring long-term physical and mental health conditions, workplace support, and the intersectional factors that shape experiences of ageing. Whether you're a healthcare professional, employer, HR specialist, educator, policy maker, or someone interested in women's health across the lifespan, this module provides essential knowledge to understand and improve health and wellbeing for women in midlife and beyond.
You will explore menopause comprehensively, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and alternatives. The module moves beyond clinical management to examine menopause as a social, cultural, and workplace issue. You will critically analyse how menopause is constructed and experienced differently across cultures, socioeconomic groups, and professional contexts, and how this shapes access to information, support, and treatment.
The module addresses long-term mental health conditions affecting women in midlife and later life, including anxiety, depression, and their intersection with hormonal changes and life transitions. You will examine prevalence patterns, treatment gaps, and the impact of mental health conditions on quality of life, relationships, and employment. This includes understanding how mental health experiences differ across diverse populations and how services can better meet women's needs.
You will explore physical long-term conditions that disproportionately affect ageing women, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The module examines risk factors, prevention strategies, screening and diagnostic pathways, and evidence-based management approaches. You will critically evaluate how healthcare systems address these conditions and identify opportunities for earlier intervention and better integrated care.
Cognitive health and dementia in women is examined, including understanding gender differences in dementia prevalence and progression, risk factors specific to women, and the intersection between hormonal changes and cognitive decline. You will explore early detection, preventative approaches, and the particular needs of women living with dementia.
The module addresses urogenital health in later life, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). These often-stigmatised conditions significantly impact quality of life yet are frequently under-discussed and under-treated. You will learn about evidence-based interventions, barriers to help-seeking, and how to create environments where women feel comfortable discussing these issues.
Workplace support and health policy for older women is a critical focus. You will examine how menopause and long-term conditions affect women's workforce participation, career progression, and economic security. The module explores workplace adjustments, menopause policies, legal frameworks around age and disability discrimination, and best practices for supporting women to remain in and thrive within employment. You will consider the economic implications of women leaving work due to health issues and the business case for better support.
Intersectionality in ageing is embedded throughout, enabling you to understand how ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexuality, and geographic location create different experiences of ageing and health. You will examine how multiple forms of disadvantage compound to affect health outcomes, access to services, and quality of life for older women from marginalised communities.
The module critically analyses health and social care service provision for ageing women, identifying gaps, barriers, and innovations. You will evaluate integrated care models, community-based interventions, and the role of third sector organisations in supporting older women's health and wellbeing.
By the end of this module, you will demonstrate awareness of the impact of long-term conditions on women's lived experiences from midlife through later life, understand the complex health needs during and after menopause, critically appraise approaches to long-term condition management in ageing populations, and be equipped to advocate for inclusive, age-appropriate care and support services. You will be able to contribute to policy development, service design, workplace initiatives, and community programmes that improve health, wellbeing, and quality of life for ageing women.
This module is designed for diverse learners including healthcare professionals, HR and workplace wellbeing specialists, occupational health practitioners, social care workers, educators, policy makers, third sector workers, and anyone with an interest in supporting women's health across the lifespan.