Discover what makes the University of Hull's online MSc Dementia unique. Programme Director Ellie Robinson-Carter explains its person-centred approach, global community and career impact.
Dementia is one of the most pressing issues facing society today. As diagnoses rise and research evolves, there’s an urgent need for compassionate, informed practice.
In this Q&A interview, Ellie Robinson-Carter shares her perspective as Programme Director of the University of Hull's online MSc in Dementia. She's also co-chair of the Only Connect! network, which held its 2025 symposium in Cornwall.
Read on to discover what makes the course distinctive.
Dementia is becoming something we must consider more over time. There's so much new research coming through constantly, and so many more people are being diagnosed. The numbers are set to multiply as time goes on.
So, now is the best time to get a good understanding of what dementia is, and how we can support people to live the best lives they can with dementia.
One unique selling point is the fact that this course is co-written with an advisory board, made up of people living with dementia and their carers. Students will see that they appear most weeks with videos and other resources, which is fantastic.
We move beyond the traditional biomedical model and draw on the work of psychologist Tom Kitwood, whose influential research transformed the way we think about dementia.
Rather than focusing solely on the condition itself, Kitwood's concept of personhood emphasises seeing the individual behind the diagnosis and understanding their unique experiences, relationships and needs.
This perspective encourages us to consider what people living with dementia are trying to communicate to us as practitioners and researchers. We’re always looking at how we can place their lived experience at the heart of everything we do.
We’re also considering the family, friends, support system, and the professionals who support that person. Often, there's a lot of disconnect within that wider network. We emphasise the need for that network to work for everybody.
Our webinars are a space for students to reimagine how dementia care could be and consider what’s possible. We’re creating a community that challenges the norm as the weeks go on.
It's amazing to watch how things evolve for students in their practice and research throughout the course, and how they bring practice and research together.
Often, people with a lot of practical experience might feel that the research side is quite new to them. Being able to give students that confidence, that voice, and those research skills can galvanise change in their future. Everybody finds their niche within the dementia field during the course. We encourage people to reflect on what their unique contribution to the dementia field will be.
You'll leave this course feeling very well-equipped to succeed, and you’ll be part of a strong community of ambitious people in the field.
The online aspect is a real strength, especially for people working in the dementia field, because the hours are often very long. They might be juggling their studies with family life or even caring for loved ones with dementia. So, time can be a real challenge, which is why the flexibility of online learning is amazing for this subject.
If it were an in-person course, we would lose so much of the richness that comes with the online aspect. It offers international perspectives because people can join from all over the world. Currently, we have students from across America and Canada; we've had students in Japan, Africa, all over Europe, and China, too.
You get such rich perspectives in terms of how people see dementia globally. You’ll discover what belief systems exist around it, where the gaps are, and how we can support communities worldwide.
Yes, there are opportunities for people to attend in-person events like the Only Connect! symposium.
The Only Connect! network celebrates the power of creative, intergenerational, and inclusive practice and research. People living with dementia are very central to that. The mission is to shed light on innovative ways we can use creative practice with people living with dementia, and to prove how bringing them together with young people can be really galvanising for everyone involved.
It's about seeing the person in the room with you and taking time to get to know each other. As Peter Daniels, the network's co-chair, says, intergenerational practice is the beginning of an inclusive society. I believe that speaks to what Only Connect!’s mission is.
The possibilities we explore. Students bring their own ideas, and they marry up with the research and modules that we've created. It's slightly different with each cohort because each person has their own perspective.
It never ceases to amaze me how varied the directions of conversations are in webinars. We can only plan discussions to a certain degree, because the whole point is to create space for people to take discussions where they want.
I’m also excited by the level of passion our students show. Everyone who joins the course comes from a place of wanting to believe that things could be better. They’re asking themselves, ‘does it really have to be like this?’.
We all come together and say, ‘no, it doesn't have to be that way. We can change things, and we can change how people view dementia.’ We’re giving people the tools to drive those changes.
Students studying the first module are changing their approach to practice after the first week of study. We recently had a student put her hand up straight away in a team meeting and make suggestions. Previously, she wouldn't have had that confidence or the research to back up her points, and she may have felt that her ideas weren’t right.
We have a fantastic international speaker programme. For example, Takato Takuta from the Run Tomorrow project in Japan spoke to our students about their intergenerational projects. The Sensory Trust also spoke to us about the benefits of bringing people into nature.
We try and tailor the right speaker to the module in the right week, so that it feels embedded in the programme.
One of our students was recently named Admiral Nurse of the Year. Another student created training for optometrists around the world, which she's delivering all over the place.
Some students notice gaps that need to be filled, and many of them publish work. We had a student publish work about the role of exergaming with dementia, for example. And one student has set up a care village in Canada.
I’m always amazed by what our students go on to achieve. The alumni network is very strong. People keep in touch and support each other, which is brilliant.
Always feel free to reach out and have a conversation with our Enrolment Advisers. Ask the team any questions you have, and talk about your concerns. They’re always happy to help shed light on how things are structured.
Thank you to Ellie for speaking to us about the course!
Ellie's reflections show what happens when compassion, co-production, and lived experience shape how we think about dementia. These values sit at the heart of the University of Hull's online MSc Dementia: