Celebrating 20 years of excellence

From its inception, our MSc has been dedicated to deepening understanding of dementia. Among social and health care professionals who studied with us, we have fostered the skills and confidence needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those caring and living with the condition.

Students on the programme are well equipped to:

• represent the views of marginalised groups,
• be an evidence-based practitioner,
• apply a human rights-based approach,
• be able to evaluate and improve dementia care practice.

Our MSc course is delivered fully online. This has afforded opportunities for intercultural awareness and encouraged a global perspective on dementia.

Many of our students have gone on to become leaders in their care settings. Some have pioneered innovative approaches to support dementia care, research that has raised awareness or taken up posts in higher education.

Claire Shanahan, an alumni of our MSc in Advanced Dementia Studies told us that she gained unique insight into how the human rights act linked directly to working with patients. This improved her ability to advocate for them when they are struggling with others not listening to them or understanding their needs and wants.

Claire studied during the COVID pandemic, when describing her experience, she said “I found the tutors to be understanding of the fundamental changes we went through in older people’s dementia and mental health services as demand for our support grew during this time and their support was unparalleled and excellent, couldn’t have asked for better.”

For Claire’s dissertation, she completed a valued training needs analysis in the trust she worked in. Her work allowed staff to access tier two level dementia training which helped us to supply subjects relevant to their needs.

Since leaving the course I have been promoted and moved to working in Bradford where my confidence has grown and where I have developed a Young onset dementia steering group. I am currently working with the steering group (including other clinicians and staff from the University of Bradford) to develop young onset memory services.”

Claire Shanahan, MSc in Advanced Dementia alumni

The success of our education would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of many people. Over the years, several influential names in dementia care and research have been involved in the programme.

• Dr Andrea Capstick,
• Professor Claire Surr,
• Professor Murna Downs,
• Professor Sarah Smith,

Each of these have contributed with their wealth of experience and passion for person-centred dementia care.

Our current team includes Dr. Ana Barbosa, Dr. Catherine Quinn, Dr. Danielle Jones, Dr. Felicity Slocombe, and Dr. Ian Davies- Abbott. We all remain committed to continue a legacy of excellence.

Importantly, experts by experience (people living with dementia and carers) support us. With the help of experts such as Dr Trevor Jarvis, Dr Wendy Mitchell and Dr Michael Andrews, we create, inform, develop, and evaluate the curriculum and teach relevant subjects. These three experts have even been awarded honorary doctorates for their work with us.

Studying with the Centre for Applied Dementia Studies means joining a team with a range of experience and multidisciplinary expertise and whose efforts in ensuring the Centre stays at the forefront of developments in dementia care are recognised by Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Learn more about the Centre for Applied Dementia Studies and find out more about our Advanced Dementia Studies MSc.