Current Issues in Health 20 credits

Contemporaneous issues, from a global perspective, will be critically evaluated and initiatives to tackle these health determinants will be analysed through a series of lectures, seminars and journal clubs during the module delivery. Content may include changes in the health of society, including global pandemics, changes within healthcare delivery systems, partnerships in healthcare, or developments in professional healthcare practice such as sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

By the end of the course students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical awareness and understanding of contemporaneous issues which impact on the health of modern society;
• Critically evaluate factors which combine to affect the health of individuals and communities, in the context of your current area of practice/area of interest.
• Critically analyse the impact of national or global initiatives and/or policies in health care on healthcare challenges;
• Develop a theoretical exploration and critical awareness of the issues underpinning health in society or health care delivery through the review and evaluation of information from a wide range of policy documents and professional and academic journals.

Course dates

• 19th, 20th and 26th January 2026
• 16th, 17th and 23rd February 2026

Assessment

20 minute individual presentation with 10 minute question and answer (100%)

Teaching staff

Lorna Hollowood

Please contact the programme administrator at acp@contacts.bham.ac.uk  

Fees for 2026 entry

Microcredential (Home): £1,211

Non-credit: £1,011.20

Please note the Microcredential is not open to International students.

Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?

• Microcredentials offer the perfect opportunity to boost your CV without the commitment of a full degree
• Usually taken from existing modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
• Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
• Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
• Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
• Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.

Please note the deadline for submitting an application:

• Applicants eligible for Home fees are to apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date.
• Applicants eligible for Overseas fees are to apply a minimum of 3 months before the module start date.

Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit short course version.

Non-credit short course

The microcredential and the non-credit short course follow the same course structure, the difference between them both is with the non-credit short course you do not take the assessment at the end therefore you will not receive credits but will receive a certificate of completion, this certificate cannot be converted to credits.

Please note if you apply for the non-credit short course, you cannot swap to the microcredential version once registered.

Places on the non-credit short course are limited so please enquire before if spaces are available.