Mad Studies - MSc

Mad studies is an emerging academic discipline that explores the global knowledge that has emerged from the mad movement. This body of knowledge includes the exploration of the dominant understandings of madness. It examines individual and collective experiences of madness. It offers a critique of the mental health service landscape and the cultural and socio-political responses experienced by the mad community. It evaluates activist responses and the creation of mad knowledge and action.

What is central to the philosophy of this MSc Mad Studies course is the importance of the mad community critiquing the dominant discourses on madness by creating its own discourses, spaces, partnerships, alternatives and organisations. At its analytic core mad studies should have mad people, mad issues and mad culture.

As a student on this course you will be part of a diverse and intersecting community of learners that include people with lived experience and members of the mad community, public sociology students and professionals from the public and third sector. You will explore the potential impact of mad studies in diverse contexts.

This course offers you the opportunity to engage with diverse public groups and to reflect critically on how mad studies can contribute to work for social justice and change. You will study what is distinctive about Mad Studies and Public Sociology and the methods of engagement and research of the disciplines.

The course draws on the experiences of mad studies scholars and activists throughout the world and involves teaching by academics from a range of disciplines in which mad studies is relevant. Lecturers are engaged in research, education and activism with various communities within society.

Structure and exit awards

You can opt to study for the full MSc (180 credits), a PgDip (120 credits) or a PgCert (60 credits).

You can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. Contact Dr Elaine Ballantyne for more information.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will attend lectures and seminars, work in groups on campus and online as well as carry out independent learning. There is a blended learning approach that will involve you engaging in online modules and sessions. You will be expected to participate in discussions, collaboratively develop ideas and engage with experiential learning. It is particularly expected that you will be engaged with a community either through personal experiences, employment or voluntary commitment, to reflect on the mad studies potential contribution to that context.

We offer a range of stimulating assessment methods, including blogs, reflections on practice, live debates, group work essays and presentations, posters as well as individual presentations, essays and a research project that reflect your experiences, interests and and contexts.

Teaching hours and attendance

Each module will require you to attend classes and carry out independent work. Most modules consist of three to six hours of class time each week of the semester and will involve input, critical reading, debate and reflection on experience. Where possible, all teaching takes place over two days per week. Your specific timetable will depend on whether you study full-time or part-time. All modules are also available by distance learning.

Class sizes

Some of the modules are shared with other courses; however class size is not expected to exceed 16.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

• Mad Studies (20 credits): An introduction to Mad studies that critiques the history of how madness has been constructed – religious, medical, social, ‘common sense’ constructions and explores the construction of knowledge and social movement activism 
• Interrogating Mad Studies (20 credits): To critically engage with current issues and debates in Mad Studies and to identify spaces for effective activism and professional practice 
• Theory & Practice of Person-Centred Health & Wellbeing (20 credits): A shared module within the PCPF that critique different philosophical perspectives of personhood, and the concepts, principles and theories underpinning person-centred practice 
• Principles of Public Sociology(20 credits): an introduction to social analysis 
• Public Sociology Practice (20 credits): how social analysis contributes to a range of professional, community action and social movement practices 
• Elective module (20 credits): You will also complete at least 20 credits as an elective from a range of options or by self-study
• Dissertation (60 credits): Identify a relevant topic related to Mad Studies with potential for change, innovation, development or for systematic inquiry 

NB The modules listed are correct at time of posting (October 2022) but are subject to change. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students.

Graduates may be suitably qualified for a range of careers involving public engagement in the public or third sector organisations.

Entry requirements

Normally, an honours degree or equivalent.

Degree and/or relevant experience of engagement with communities or public groups.

We will consider applications from people without a degree but with significant experience of community work or similar, and who can show that they are able to study at postgraduate level.

International: You will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 6.5 with no individual component score below 6.0.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.

Please contact Dr Elaine Ballantyne (Programme Leader) before submitting your application.

Application deadline

Deadline is the 30 September 2023.

This course has limited places. We advise applicants to apply early in order to be considered.

Terms and Conditions

The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2023/24 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).

Please Contact Dr Elaine Ballantyne (Programme Leader) or Contact Admissions.

There are four scholarships attached to this course.

They include:  

• Kathryn Church Scholarship
• David Reville Scholarship and
• two Thrive Scholarships.

The Scholarships are available for full time on campus students with lived experience of mental health issues who are unemployed and do not have a master’s degree. The Scholarships cover fees and are only available to Home and UK students at this time Scholarships will not be awarded/ confirmed to applicants until after the course application closing date.

For more information contact Dr Elaine Ballantyne (eballantyne@qmu.ac.uk).

Click for information on our forthcoming open events