Postgraduate Certificate in Gerontology (Distance Learning)
Southampton, United Kingdom
Postgraduate Certificate
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 8,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* for EU and international students | £6,400 for UK students
Key Summary
About: This Postgraduate Certificate in Gerontology (Distance Learning) from the University of Southampton examines ageing through policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics. You'll learn gerontology theories and apply them to population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life. Study full-time over 1 year or part-time over 2 years, with all teaching online via the university virtual learning environment. Assessment includes literature reviews, oral presentations and research reports; resources include recordings, slides and discussion boards. The university offers a wide range of merit and competitive scholarships.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter health and social care, research and policy roles.
This Postgraduate Certificate in Gerontology (Distance Learning) is delivered by the University of Southampton, the only department in the UK dedicated entirely to gerontology. The course explores ageing and its profound impact on individuals and society, examining the subject through multiple lenses: policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics.
You'll develop a deep understanding of key theories in gerontology and their real-world applications. You'll engage with modern global debates about the lives of older people, their families and communities. You'll gain the ability to evaluate policies and initiatives addressing population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life. This knowledge benefits careers in health and social care, research, and local and national policy.
The course is designed for flexibility. You can study full-time over one year or part-time over two years, with all teaching delivered online via the university's virtual learning environment. You'll access lecture recordings, slides, discussion boards and supervised independent research whenever suits your schedule. Assessment includes literature reviews, oral presentations and research reports, giving you varied ways to demonstrate your learning.
Qualification awarded by the University of Southampton.
Four modules total. All students must study Perspectives in Gerontology (DL).
You choose three additional modules from: Ageing, Health & Well-Being (DL), Demographic Change, Ageing & Globalisation (DL), Ageing in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia (DL), Mental Health and Ageing (DL), Poverty and Social Protection Around The World (DL), and Researching Ageing Societies (DL).
Full-time students take four modules in one year (two per semester). Part-time students take two modules per year over two years. No separate thesis or dissertation mentioned.
You'll be qualified to work in health and social care, research, and local and national policy roles related to ageing populations. You'll have developed understanding of key gerontology theories and their application, knowledge of global debates affecting older people and their families, and the ability to evaluate policies and initiatives concerning population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
This qualification benefits careers in health and social care, research, and local and national policy roles focused on ageing populations. Your knowledge of gerontology, demographic change and social policy can open doors in health and social care organisations, research institutions, government policy agencies and related sectors.
You're ideal for this course if you hold at least a 2:1 degree in sociology, demography, psychology, social work, nursing, medicine, allied health sciences, anthropology, marketing, economics, business studies or engineering. You may also be considered with significant professional experience in health and social care, research or policy sectors even if your degree isn't in a preferred subject. You need flexibility to balance work with postgraduate study, and you're ready to engage with an interdisciplinary, research-led programme. You're interested in understanding ageing populations and their policy implications at local, national and global levels.
The University of Southampton is the only institution in the UK with a department dedicated entirely to gerontology. You'll learn from leading experts and access research-informed teaching. The flexible distance learning format lets you combine study with work. As a research-led university, Southampton continuously reviews and enhances its courses to ensure current, high-quality content. The interdisciplinary approach draws on policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics, giving you a comprehensive understanding of ageing.
Online distance learning via the university's virtual learning environment. Delivered through recorded live lectures, lecture slides, supervised independent research, independent study, online exercises and quizzes, and discussion boards. All learning resources accessible at any time. Asynchronous delivery allowing full schedule flexibility.