University College Dublin

Medicine, illness and welfare occupy a central place in all our lives. The MA in the History of Welfare and Medicine in Society is designed to enable you to understand the place of medicine and welfare in society and history (c1750-1980) and engage with critical debates through various media including film, literature, and art, amongst others.


The programme explores the main trends within welfare and medical history from social history, gender history, post-colonial history to individual experiences of poverty, and of illness throughout history. You will explore how medicine and welfare regimes and policies overlapped with culturally constructed conceptions of femininity and masculinity, and race and ethnicity.

The MA has a reputation for excellence taught by lecturers with international profiles.

Modules are taught through seminars. You will develop expertise in presenting, analytical thinking, effective communication, and writing with clarity and precision.

The dissertation, at the core of the MA, allows you to engage your own research-based interests.



Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes


Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No


The MA is popular among health-care professionals keen to understand historical contexts in their profession, but also invites students from a range of academic backgrounds.


Your fellow students will be from diverse academic backgrounds including, but not confined to, those with a humanities degree. Students come from Irish, European and North American universities. The MA is popular among health-care professionals keen to understand historical contexts that shaped current practices and systems.


Course Description

Medicine, illness and welfare occupies a central place in all our lives. The MA is designed to enable students who want to understand the place of medicine and welfare in society and history (c1750-1980) and to engage with some critical debates. Students will have the opportunity to explore themes through various media including film, literature, and art, amongst others.


-How did culture and society respond to disease, health campaigns, new medical theories and innovations? Is there a relationship between medicine, welfare, ethnicity and identity?


-How is medical and lay knowledge of sickness and therapeutics formed?


-Can an understanding of these questions help in the development of current public health policy?


-The MA provides a comprehensive understanding of historical methodologies and their potential application to current debates about disease and welfare.


-The practical skills – project-management, writing with clarity and precision, and communication skills – garnered are essential for a range of careers including teaching, all forms of media, politics and academia.