12 monthsProgramme duration
18 Aug, 2027Application Deadline
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Public Health
Degree
Other
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
Online
Course summary
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how can societies respond to population ageing in ways that improve life for individuals, families and communities?
If you want to develop specialist knowledge of ageing while balancing postgraduate study with your professional life, PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing from different perspectives, drawing on policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics. You’ll examine the changes people experience as they age alongside the wider effects of ageing populations on society.
Take a global view of later life as you explore contemporary debates affecting older people, their families and communities. You’ll consider issues including population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life, developing the critical thinking to evaluate different policies and initiatives.
You’ll also strengthen your research and data skills, learning how evidence can help us better understand ageing and its social, economic and political implications.
Designed for distance learning, the course gives you the flexibility to study online alongside work and other commitments. Learning resources are available through the University’s virtual learning environment, so you can engage with the programme wherever you are.
Find your place in a specialist community dedicated to understanding ageing, and build the knowledge to contribute thoughtfully to health, social care, policy and other areas shaped by demographic change.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to build a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore ageing in a global context.** Examine contemporary debates around older people, families and societies, considering how population ageing creates different challenges across countries and communities.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different approaches can help explain ageing and the life course.
**Question how society responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your learning around your interests.** Module choices can include areas such as mental health and ageing, ageing in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, poverty and social protection, and researching ageing societies.
**Study flexibly online.** Learn through recorded lectures, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards, supervised research and independent study, with resources available through the virtual learning environment.
Your future career
As populations age, organisations need people who understand both the experiences of older people and the wider implications of demographic change.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge of gerontology alongside skills in critical thinking and communication.
Graduates commonly work across local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Careers directly related to the course can include gerontologist, academic researcher, academic lecturer, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The PGCert can also provide a foundation for further study in gerontology.
Wherever your next step takes you, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand ageing, evaluate evidence and contribute to the conversations shaping later life.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is delivered entirely online.
You can study full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The programme consists of 4 modules. All students study Perspectives in Gerontology alongside 3 other modules.
Learning includes recorded lectures, lecture slides, supervised independent research, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews, oral presentations and research reports.
You’ll be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor and also have access to a distance learning tutor for support with your induction and studies.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Relevant professional experience may also be considered if you do not meet the standard academic entry requirements.
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how can societies respond to population ageing in ways that improve life for individuals, families and communities?
If you want to develop specialist knowledge of ageing while balancing postgraduate study with your professional life, PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing from different perspectives, drawing on policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics. You’ll examine the changes people experience as they age alongside the wider effects of ageing populations on society.
Take a global view of later life as you explore contemporary debates affecting older people, their families and communities. You’ll consider issues including population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life, developing the critical thinking to evaluate different policies and initiatives.
You’ll also strengthen your research and data skills, learning how evidence can help us better understand ageing and its social, economic and political implications.
Designed for distance learning, the course gives you the flexibility to study online alongside work and other commitments. Learning resources are available through the University’s virtual learning environment, so you can engage with the programme wherever you are.
Find your place in a specialist community dedicated to understanding ageing, and build the knowledge to contribute thoughtfully to health, social care, policy and other areas shaped by demographic change.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to build a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore ageing in a global context.** Examine contemporary debates around older people, families and societies, considering how population ageing creates different challenges across countries and communities.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different approaches can help explain ageing and the life course.
**Question how society responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your learning around your interests.** Module choices can include areas such as mental health and ageing, ageing in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, poverty and social protection, and researching ageing societies.
**Study flexibly online.** Learn through recorded lectures, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards, supervised research and independent study, with resources available through the virtual learning environment.
Your future career
As populations age, organisations need people who understand both the experiences of older people and the wider implications of demographic change.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge of gerontology alongside skills in critical thinking and communication.
Graduates commonly work across local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Careers directly related to the course can include gerontologist, academic researcher, academic lecturer, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The PGCert can also provide a foundation for further study in gerontology.
Wherever your next step takes you, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand ageing, evaluate evidence and contribute to the conversations shaping later life.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is delivered entirely online.
You can study full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The programme consists of 4 modules. All students study Perspectives in Gerontology alongside 3 other modules.
Learning includes recorded lectures, lecture slides, supervised independent research, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews, oral presentations and research reports.
You’ll be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor and also have access to a distance learning tutor for support with your induction and studies.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Relevant professional experience may also be considered if you do not meet the standard academic entry requirements.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Public Health
Degree
Other
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
Online
Course summary
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how can societies respond to population ageing in ways that improve life for individuals, families and communities?
If you want to develop specialist knowledge of ageing while balancing postgraduate study with your professional life, PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing from different perspectives, drawing on policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics. You’ll examine the changes people experience as they age alongside the wider effects of ageing populations on society.
Take a global view of later life as you explore contemporary debates affecting older people, their families and communities. You’ll consider issues including population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life, developing the critical thinking to evaluate different policies and initiatives.
You’ll also strengthen your research and data skills, learning how evidence can help us better understand ageing and its social, economic and political implications.
Designed for distance learning, the course gives you the flexibility to study online alongside work and other commitments. Learning resources are available through the University’s virtual learning environment, so you can engage with the programme wherever you are.
Find your place in a specialist community dedicated to understanding ageing, and build the knowledge to contribute thoughtfully to health, social care, policy and other areas shaped by demographic change.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to build a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore ageing in a global context.** Examine contemporary debates around older people, families and societies, considering how population ageing creates different challenges across countries and communities.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different approaches can help explain ageing and the life course.
**Question how society responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your learning around your interests.** Module choices can include areas such as mental health and ageing, ageing in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, poverty and social protection, and researching ageing societies.
**Study flexibly online.** Learn through recorded lectures, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards, supervised research and independent study, with resources available through the virtual learning environment.
Your future career
As populations age, organisations need people who understand both the experiences of older people and the wider implications of demographic change.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge of gerontology alongside skills in critical thinking and communication.
Graduates commonly work across local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Careers directly related to the course can include gerontologist, academic researcher, academic lecturer, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The PGCert can also provide a foundation for further study in gerontology.
Wherever your next step takes you, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand ageing, evaluate evidence and contribute to the conversations shaping later life.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is delivered entirely online.
You can study full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The programme consists of 4 modules. All students study Perspectives in Gerontology alongside 3 other modules.
Learning includes recorded lectures, lecture slides, supervised independent research, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews, oral presentations and research reports.
You’ll be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor and also have access to a distance learning tutor for support with your induction and studies.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Relevant professional experience may also be considered if you do not meet the standard academic entry requirements.
What does it mean to grow older in a changing world? And how can societies respond to population ageing in ways that improve life for individuals, families and communities?
If you want to develop specialist knowledge of ageing while balancing postgraduate study with your professional life, PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is for you.
At Southampton, you’ll explore ageing from different perspectives, drawing on policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics. You’ll examine the changes people experience as they age alongside the wider effects of ageing populations on society.
Take a global view of later life as you explore contemporary debates affecting older people, their families and communities. You’ll consider issues including population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life, developing the critical thinking to evaluate different policies and initiatives.
You’ll also strengthen your research and data skills, learning how evidence can help us better understand ageing and its social, economic and political implications.
Designed for distance learning, the course gives you the flexibility to study online alongside work and other commitments. Learning resources are available through the University’s virtual learning environment, so you can engage with the programme wherever you are.
Find your place in a specialist community dedicated to understanding ageing, and build the knowledge to contribute thoughtfully to health, social care, policy and other areas shaped by demographic change.
Key features of this course
**Understand ageing from different angles.** Bring together insights from policy, demography, sociology, biology, healthcare sciences, psychology and economics to build a broader understanding of later life.
**Explore ageing in a global context.** Examine contemporary debates around older people, families and societies, considering how population ageing creates different challenges across countries and communities.
**Build your theoretical understanding.** Explore key perspectives in gerontology and learn how different approaches can help explain ageing and the life course.
**Question how society responds to ageing.** Evaluate policies and initiatives relating to population ageing, welfare provision and quality of life.
**Shape part of your learning around your interests.** Module choices can include areas such as mental health and ageing, ageing in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, poverty and social protection, and researching ageing societies.
**Study flexibly online.** Learn through recorded lectures, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards, supervised research and independent study, with resources available through the virtual learning environment.
Your future career
As populations age, organisations need people who understand both the experiences of older people and the wider implications of demographic change.
You’ll develop specialist knowledge of gerontology alongside skills in critical thinking and communication.
Graduates commonly work across local and national government, health and social care, charities, higher education and market research. Careers directly related to the course can include gerontologist, academic researcher, academic lecturer, ageing programme coordinator, public policy adviser and health educator.
The PGCert can also provide a foundation for further study in gerontology.
Wherever your next step takes you, you’ll leave Southampton better equipped to understand ageing, evaluate evidence and contribute to the conversations shaping later life.
Further information
The PGCert Gerontology (Distance Learning) is delivered entirely online.
You can study full-time over 1 year or part-time, usually over 2 years.
The programme consists of 4 modules. All students study Perspectives in Gerontology alongside 3 other modules.
Learning includes recorded lectures, lecture slides, supervised independent research, online exercises and quizzes, discussion boards and independent study.
Assessment includes essays, literature reviews, oral presentations and research reports.
You’ll be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor and also have access to a distance learning tutor for support with your induction and studies.
Applicants normally need a 2:1 degree. Relevant professional experience may also be considered if you do not meet the standard academic entry requirements.
Admission Requirements
6.5+
92+
120+
67+
You'll need a 2.1 bachelor's degree. Applicants without formal qualifications but relevant work experience may be considered on a case by case basis.
18 Aug 2027
1 Year
Sep
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