Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion (online) MSc

The University of Leeds offers a fully online MSc in Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion, designed for learners worldwide. This innovative program equips students with the knowledge and skills to address complex challenges facing disabled people globally.

Course Overview

The study of disability has never been more important, with around 1 billion disabled people worldwide. Disability is a critical equality and human rights issue, with disabled people more likely to experience higher rates of poverty and fewer education and employment opportunities. This online MSc offers students the chance to explore these global challenges critically, empowering them to promote the rights of disabled people and contribute to building more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable societies.

Why Study Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion?

• The program provides a comprehensive understanding of disability studies and the skills to make a meaningful impact in the field.
• It is designed for learners who want to develop a deep understanding of disability rights, inclusion, and social justice.
• The course is suitable for policy makers, public sector professionals, service providers, NGOs, community organization workers, and those new to disability studies.

Course Structure

• The program begins with a two-week induction, preparing students for successful online study.
• There are nine 15-credit taught online modules, each running for eight weeks, with a mix of tutor-guided and self-guided learning.
• Students can take breaks between modules if needed, with up to four years to complete the course.
• The applied project enables students to choose their own topic, applying knowledge and skills to an area that supports or promotes meaningful change.

Foundation Carousel

• Disability and Inequality (15 credits): Introduces the nature and lived experience of disability inequalities in contemporary global contexts.
• Understanding Disability (15 credits): Provides foundational knowledge and understanding about how disability has been conceptualized and theorized.
• Disability and Inclusion (15 credits): Introduces the nature and lived experience of exclusion and principles and practices of inclusion in contemporary global contexts.

Development Carousel

• Building Enabling Futures (15 credits): Engages critically with the ways governments and civil society actors have sought to meet the needs of disabled people.
• A Human Rights Approach to Disability (15 credits): Explores disability as a human rights issue, considering the development and influence of the human rights approach.
• Realising Disability Equality Through Policy (15 credits): Provides knowledge and skills to engage critically with public policy reforms in the field of disability equality.
• Disability and Global Challenges (15 credits): Considers how disability intersects with key global challenges and the implications for disabled people globally.
• Doing Disability Research (15 credits): Engages with a rights-based approach to disability research, discovering key approaches and debates in the field.
• Becoming Disability Change Makers (15 credits): Designed for those who are or strive to be activists, advocates, or allies, exploring what it means to be an effective human-rights defender or disability-inclusion change-maker.

Applied Project

• Disability Studies Applied Project (45 credits): Provides an opportunity to follow up on individual interests in the context of disability rights and inclusion, exploring this in more depth with a strong focus on producing knowledge or evidence to effect positive change.

Learning and Teaching

• Taught by expert academics with contributions from activists, policy makers, and practitioners working in the disability space globally.
• Flexible learning allows students to take the course at their own pace, adapting studies to fit around work and life commitments.
• The online learning environment, Minerva, delivers learning via live online sessions, with a mixture of structured and open-ended learning techniques.

Assessment

• Assessments provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills developed in the module.
• Methods include case studies, reports, inclusive design plans, briefing papers, human rights bulletins, research proposals, and presentations.

Entry Requirements

• A 2.1 (hons) bachelor degree, ideally in a social science or humanities-related subject.
• Alternatively, a 2.1 (hons) bachelor degree in any other subject plus relevant experience, or a 2.2 (hons) degree in any subject with at least three years of relevant experience.
• Applications will be individually assessed.
• International equivalent admissions qualifications are accepted; contact the admissions team for further information.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.
• Alternative English language qualifications are accepted; contact the Enrolment Advisors for details.

Fees

• UK: £12,750 (Total)
• International: £12,750 (Total)
• The fee is composed of nine taught modules (£1,170 per module) and a project module fee (£2,220).

Scholarships and Financial Support

• Commonwealth Distance Learning Master's Scholarships 2026: Available for applications from eligible Commonwealth countries wishing to pursue the two-year part-time fully online MSc in Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion.
• University Bursary: Graduates of the University of Leeds are entitled to a 10% bursary towards tuition fees.
• Government Loans: UK students may be able to apply for a UK government-backed loan.
• External Funding: Various external funding and scholarships are available for students with disabilities.

Career Opportunities

• The program prepares graduates for careers in governments, organizations, health and social support services, activism, education, arts, statutory and voluntary agencies, legal services, NGOs, human resources, business environments, and charities.
• Graduates are also well-prepared for further research at PhD level and careers in disability research or academia.

Related Courses

• Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion (online) PGCert (Part time): Duration of 8 months.
• Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion (online) PGDip (Part time): Duration of 16 months.

University of Leeds

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Overview:

The University of Leeds is a public research university located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a large and prestigious institution with a strong reputation for academic excellence and a vibrant campus life.

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Academic Programs:

The University of Leeds offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various faculties, including:

• Arts, Humanities and Cultures
• Biological Sciences
• Business School
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Environment
• Medicine and Health
• Social Sciences