PgDip Contemporary Drug & Alcohol Studies at University of the West of Scotland

Programme overview

The PGCert / Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) / MSc in Contemporary Alcohol & Drug Studies adopts a critical social science perspective to explore the interplay between psychoactive substances and society. You will be introduced to a range of cross disciplinary theories, concepts and evidence to analyse: responses to drug and alcohol-related harms from a range of perspectives, such as criminal justice, treatment, harm reduction, public health, and health inclusion

Duration: 1 year full-time, typically 2 years part-time | Study mode: full-time; part-time; online | Intake: Fully online: September | Location: Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

There are three distinct stages to the CDAS programme - Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc: Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) students take three 20-credit modules. Two core and one optional module. Typically, the CDAS Work-based Learning module can be taken at your own workplace, if relevant. Modules include: Understanding Substance Use, Contemporary Responses to Substance Use, Research Methods in Education & Social Sciences, CDAS Work-based Learning, The Politics of Drug & Alcohol Policy, Contemporary Social Issues, MSc Research Dissertation.

Career pathways

If you are already employed in services our course provides specialist knowledge of theory and contemporary evidence-based developments in the field and is useful for career advancement and continuing professional development.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements: You are required to hold an Honours degree (minimum 2:2 classification) within the broad area of the Social Sciences or an Ordinary bachelor’s degree with significant and relevant work experience. If you do not meet these standard entry requirements, you may be admitted to the programme at the discretion of the programme Admissions Officer/Programme Leader to complete the PgCert in the first instance. However, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient relevant professional or practice-based experience. RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL): In particular circumstances you can use evidence of relevant professional experience to support applications. For more information on non-standard or RPL, please contact us on 0800 027 1000 (freephone within UK) / +44(0)141 849 4101 (outwith UK) or at [email protected]; English language: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no sub-test below 5.5.

Domestic applicants: GBP 6,430 for the whole programme (2026/27). Scottish: Total cost for PgDip [Tuition fees for this PgDip course 2026/27] Source

International applicants: GBP 13,950 for the whole programme (2026/27). International (all other EU plus Non-EU): Total cost for PgDip [Tuition fees for this PgDip course 2026/27] Source

Intake: Fully online: September

Duration: 1 year full-time, typically 2 years part-time

Apply through the official page: https://www.uws.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-course-search/contemporary-drug-alcohol-studies

Explore more study programmes

Health Sciences