Is this MSc your next step? See who it’s designed for and where it can take you in ageing population care and policy.
Explore who this MSc is designed for, the diverse backgrounds of its students, and the career opportunities it can unlock.
Welcoming a diverse range of students
The King’s online MSc in Health and Care Strategies for Ageing Populations is designed to bring together a rich mix of students who share a common aim — to improve the lives of older adults. Participants often work in healthcare or social care, in roles such as nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, psychology or other allied health professions.
Others come from policy, commissioning or service leadership, shaping how care is planned, funded and delivered. Some work outside of the health sector entirely, in areas like housing, technology, education or community services, but play a vital role in influencing the wellbeing of ageing populations.
This diversity creates an environment where students can explore challenges from different angles, learn from each other’s perspectives and build collaborative approaches to care.
No healthcare background? You can still apply
While many students have clinical or social care experience, professional training is not required to join this MSc. The programme has been deliberately designed to be accessible for people without formal health qualifications who still have a strong interest in ageing care.
Older people are supported by more than just healthcare professionals. Family members, volunteers, community organisers, entrepreneurs, service designers and policymakers all contribute to what might be called the “care force.” Their insight and leadership can have just as much impact on shaping the systems and services that older adults rely on.
The course materials are introduced in a staged and accessible way, without assuming specialist knowledge. Learning builds progressively from one module to the next, allowing students from non-clinical backgrounds to develop confidence and competence as they go. Typically, around a quarter to a third of each cohort join without healthcare training, bringing valuable diversity of thought and experience.
What makes a strong application
The admissions team is looking for more than academic qualifications. They want to see a clear passion for the subject and an understanding of how the MSc will benefit both you and the systems you work in or plan to influence.
A strong personal statement should connect your background, experiences and goals to the programme’s themes. Be specific about the challenges you see in ageing care, why you have chosen this course at King’s and how you plan to apply your learning.
While an undergraduate degree is part of the entry requirements, it does not need to be in a health-related discipline. What matters most is your motivation, commitment and readiness to contribute to the programme’s collaborative environment. Writing clearly and directly will help your application stand out.
If you’re applying from outside the health professions, the most important thing is to explain your interest in the subject and how you hope to create positive change in your own country or community.
Career pathways and opportunities
Earning a master’s degree in Health and Care Strategies for Ageing Populations can open doors to a variety of career paths.
For those already in healthcare or social care, it can support progression into leadership, advanced clinical practice, service development or policy-making roles. In many countries, a master’s-level qualification is recognised as evidence of advanced expertise and can help with promotion, salary progression or eligibility for specialist positions.
The programme also supports career change or diversification. Some graduates use it as a stepping stone into research, consultancy or roles in non-profit and international organisations working on ageing policy and care innovation. Others move into system-level planning, integrating health and social care services for ageing populations.
It can also be a pathway into further academic study. The research skills you develop will prepare you for doctoral programmes or collaborative projects with universities, research institutes and policy bodies.
Building a global network
One of the unique benefits of the MSc is the chance to connect with peers from around the world. Students join from multiple countries, bringing a wide variety of cultural and professional perspectives.
This global network enriches the learning experience in two ways. First, the curriculum itself includes case studies and examples from different health systems, allowing you to see how challenges are approached in other contexts. Second, your peers become an ongoing source of support, collaboration and inspiration — often long after graduation.
Alongside your fellow students, you’ll also have opportunities to connect with researchers and academics at King’s who are leaders in ageing, rehabilitation and palliative care. These connections can be invaluable if you are looking to collaborate on projects, explore new career directions or enter the research community.
Learning with real-world impact
From the beginning, the programme is designed to be practical and applied. You’ll be encouraged to connect your studies to real challenges in your professional or community context.
Assignments might include designing a new service, developing a care plan for a person with a specific condition or building a case for policy change. This applied approach ensures you are not just learning about best practice but actively developing the skills to implement it.
The final dissertation gives you the opportunity to focus on a topic of real significance. Many students choose to investigate issues from their own work, creating solutions that can be implemented immediately. Others collaborate on research within King’s or partner organisations. Whatever path you choose, the aim is the same: to produce work that makes a tangible difference in the world.
Why this MSc could be right for you
If you’re passionate about improving health and care for ageing populations, whether as a practitioner, policymaker, entrepreneur or community leader, this MSc offers the tools, knowledge and connections to help you make an impact.
It will challenge you to think critically, see problems from multiple perspectives and apply evidence to complex, real-world situations. You’ll graduate with the confidence to lead change — and the network to make it happen.
Find out how this MSc can help you take the next step in your career and make a lasting impact on the lives of older people:
