12 monthsProgramme duration
18 Aug, 2027Application Deadline
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Public Health
Degree
Other
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Course summary
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how does an ageing population reshape families, communities, healthcare, work and public policy?
If you want to understand ageing from both an individual and societal perspective, PGCert Gerontology is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing as a fundamentally interdisciplinary subject. Draw on perspectives from social policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to understand the changes people experience across later life and the wider consequences of population ageing.
You’ll investigate how growing numbers of older people affect social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems and families. Explore relationships between generations and consider how our experiences earlier in life connect with health, wellbeing and circumstances in older age.
Your studies will also take a global view. You’ll engage with contemporary debates around the lives of older people, their families and societies, and develop the ability to evaluate policies and initiatives addressing population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
Southampton is the only UK department dedicated to Gerontology, giving you the opportunity to study ageing within a specialist academic community.
Find your place in a subject that brings different disciplines together to understand one of the biggest demographic changes facing societies today.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to develop a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore the bigger demographic picture.** Examine population ageing at local and global levels and investigate what changing populations mean for families, welfare systems, labour markets and social institutions.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different theories can help explain ageing across the life course.
**Question how policy responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to issues such as population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your programme around your interests.** The PGCert combines core gerontology study with module choices that allow you to explore particular aspects of ageing in greater depth.
**Develop transferable skills.** Build your critical thinking and communication alongside specialist knowledge of ageing, preparing you to analyse evidence and engage with complex social and policy questions.
Your future career
Ageing populations are changing the demands placed on healthcare, social services, policy and communities around the world.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge that can support careers working with older people or addressing the wider challenges and opportunities associated with ageing societies.
Graduates can work across areas including local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Roles directly related to gerontology can include gerontologist, academic researcher, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The interdisciplinary nature of the course can also complement existing professional experience in areas such as healthcare, social work and policy.
Wherever your career takes you, you’ll leave Southampton with a deeper understanding of ageing and the ability to consider its implications for individuals, families and societies.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology can be studied full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The course is based at Highfield Campus.
The programme is made up of 4 modules. Full-time students complete 2 modules in each semester, while part-time students normally complete 2 modules in each year.
Learning includes lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, discussions, library sessions, supervised independent research and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews and oral presentations.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Preferred subjects include sociology, demography, psychology, social work, nursing, medicine, allied health sciences, anthropology, marketing, economics, business studies and engineering. Relevant professional experience may also be considered where standard entry requirements are not met.
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how does an ageing population reshape families, communities, healthcare, work and public policy?
If you want to understand ageing from both an individual and societal perspective, PGCert Gerontology is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing as a fundamentally interdisciplinary subject. Draw on perspectives from social policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to understand the changes people experience across later life and the wider consequences of population ageing.
You’ll investigate how growing numbers of older people affect social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems and families. Explore relationships between generations and consider how our experiences earlier in life connect with health, wellbeing and circumstances in older age.
Your studies will also take a global view. You’ll engage with contemporary debates around the lives of older people, their families and societies, and develop the ability to evaluate policies and initiatives addressing population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
Southampton is the only UK department dedicated to Gerontology, giving you the opportunity to study ageing within a specialist academic community.
Find your place in a subject that brings different disciplines together to understand one of the biggest demographic changes facing societies today.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to develop a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore the bigger demographic picture.** Examine population ageing at local and global levels and investigate what changing populations mean for families, welfare systems, labour markets and social institutions.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different theories can help explain ageing across the life course.
**Question how policy responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to issues such as population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your programme around your interests.** The PGCert combines core gerontology study with module choices that allow you to explore particular aspects of ageing in greater depth.
**Develop transferable skills.** Build your critical thinking and communication alongside specialist knowledge of ageing, preparing you to analyse evidence and engage with complex social and policy questions.
Your future career
Ageing populations are changing the demands placed on healthcare, social services, policy and communities around the world.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge that can support careers working with older people or addressing the wider challenges and opportunities associated with ageing societies.
Graduates can work across areas including local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Roles directly related to gerontology can include gerontologist, academic researcher, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The interdisciplinary nature of the course can also complement existing professional experience in areas such as healthcare, social work and policy.
Wherever your career takes you, you’ll leave Southampton with a deeper understanding of ageing and the ability to consider its implications for individuals, families and societies.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology can be studied full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The course is based at Highfield Campus.
The programme is made up of 4 modules. Full-time students complete 2 modules in each semester, while part-time students normally complete 2 modules in each year.
Learning includes lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, discussions, library sessions, supervised independent research and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews and oral presentations.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Preferred subjects include sociology, demography, psychology, social work, nursing, medicine, allied health sciences, anthropology, marketing, economics, business studies and engineering. Relevant professional experience may also be considered where standard entry requirements are not met.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Public Health
Degree
Other
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Course summary
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how does an ageing population reshape families, communities, healthcare, work and public policy?
If you want to understand ageing from both an individual and societal perspective, PGCert Gerontology is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing as a fundamentally interdisciplinary subject. Draw on perspectives from social policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to understand the changes people experience across later life and the wider consequences of population ageing.
You’ll investigate how growing numbers of older people affect social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems and families. Explore relationships between generations and consider how our experiences earlier in life connect with health, wellbeing and circumstances in older age.
Your studies will also take a global view. You’ll engage with contemporary debates around the lives of older people, their families and societies, and develop the ability to evaluate policies and initiatives addressing population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
Southampton is the only UK department dedicated to Gerontology, giving you the opportunity to study ageing within a specialist academic community.
Find your place in a subject that brings different disciplines together to understand one of the biggest demographic changes facing societies today.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to develop a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore the bigger demographic picture.** Examine population ageing at local and global levels and investigate what changing populations mean for families, welfare systems, labour markets and social institutions.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different theories can help explain ageing across the life course.
**Question how policy responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to issues such as population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your programme around your interests.** The PGCert combines core gerontology study with module choices that allow you to explore particular aspects of ageing in greater depth.
**Develop transferable skills.** Build your critical thinking and communication alongside specialist knowledge of ageing, preparing you to analyse evidence and engage with complex social and policy questions.
Your future career
Ageing populations are changing the demands placed on healthcare, social services, policy and communities around the world.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge that can support careers working with older people or addressing the wider challenges and opportunities associated with ageing societies.
Graduates can work across areas including local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Roles directly related to gerontology can include gerontologist, academic researcher, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The interdisciplinary nature of the course can also complement existing professional experience in areas such as healthcare, social work and policy.
Wherever your career takes you, you’ll leave Southampton with a deeper understanding of ageing and the ability to consider its implications for individuals, families and societies.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology can be studied full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The course is based at Highfield Campus.
The programme is made up of 4 modules. Full-time students complete 2 modules in each semester, while part-time students normally complete 2 modules in each year.
Learning includes lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, discussions, library sessions, supervised independent research and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews and oral presentations.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Preferred subjects include sociology, demography, psychology, social work, nursing, medicine, allied health sciences, anthropology, marketing, economics, business studies and engineering. Relevant professional experience may also be considered where standard entry requirements are not met.
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how does an ageing population reshape families, communities, healthcare, work and public policy?
If you want to understand ageing from both an individual and societal perspective, PGCert Gerontology is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing as a fundamentally interdisciplinary subject. Draw on perspectives from social policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to understand the changes people experience across later life and the wider consequences of population ageing.
You’ll investigate how growing numbers of older people affect social institutions, labour markets, welfare systems and families. Explore relationships between generations and consider how our experiences earlier in life connect with health, wellbeing and circumstances in older age.
Your studies will also take a global view. You’ll engage with contemporary debates around the lives of older people, their families and societies, and develop the ability to evaluate policies and initiatives addressing population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
Southampton is the only UK department dedicated to Gerontology, giving you the opportunity to study ageing within a specialist academic community.
Find your place in a subject that brings different disciplines together to understand one of the biggest demographic changes facing societies today.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to develop a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore the bigger demographic picture.** Examine population ageing at local and global levels and investigate what changing populations mean for families, welfare systems, labour markets and social institutions.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different theories can help explain ageing across the life course.
**Question how policy responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to issues such as population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your programme around your interests.** The PGCert combines core gerontology study with module choices that allow you to explore particular aspects of ageing in greater depth.
**Develop transferable skills.** Build your critical thinking and communication alongside specialist knowledge of ageing, preparing you to analyse evidence and engage with complex social and policy questions.
Your future career
Ageing populations are changing the demands placed on healthcare, social services, policy and communities around the world.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge that can support careers working with older people or addressing the wider challenges and opportunities associated with ageing societies.
Graduates can work across areas including local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Roles directly related to gerontology can include gerontologist, academic researcher, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The interdisciplinary nature of the course can also complement existing professional experience in areas such as healthcare, social work and policy.
Wherever your career takes you, you’ll leave Southampton with a deeper understanding of ageing and the ability to consider its implications for individuals, families and societies.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology can be studied full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The course is based at Highfield Campus.
The programme is made up of 4 modules. Full-time students complete 2 modules in each semester, while part-time students normally complete 2 modules in each year.
Learning includes lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, discussions, library sessions, supervised independent research and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews and oral presentations.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Preferred subjects include sociology, demography, psychology, social work, nursing, medicine, allied health sciences, anthropology, marketing, economics, business studies and engineering. Relevant professional experience may also be considered where standard entry requirements are not met.
Admission Requirements
67+
92+
6.5+
120+
You'll need a 2.1 bachelor's degree in a social science subject or a subject related to ageing. Applicants without formal qualifications but with relevant work experience may be considered on a case by case basis.
18 Aug 2027
1 Year
Sep
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
How to get a full scholarship
Looking for a fully-funded scholarship to see you into university? Find out how to boost your chances of getting one.
By Sabrina Collier
Updated Aug 27, 2026
1.0M
2256
Scholarships to study abroad
Find scholarships to study abroad with our lists of international scholarships – categorized by country, by subject, and by type of student.
By Staff Writer
Updated Aug 21, 2024
518.5K
791
Scholarship Applications: Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all your questions about scholarship applications, including tips on how to find scholarships and chances of success.
By Laura Tucker
Updated Aug 14, 2021
230.1K
338
More programmes from the university
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can do part-time studies for a duration of 2 years.
Postgrad Programmes
567
Get closer to your dream programme
Your consent preferences have been set.
Time to start exploring.
Your account has been removed.
You can still browse the site or sign up again once you have parental consent.
Get closer to your dream programme