Degree in Funeral Services to be launched for the first time in UK at University of Bath
A degree in Funeral Services is being launched at the University of Bath later this year - making it the first university in the UK to offer the course.
Up to 20 students will be enrolled on the FDSc Foundation Degree in Funeral Services in September.
The course, which has been developed in conjunction with the National Association of Funeral Directors, is aimed at people who already work in the Funeral Service industry.
The degree is a work-place learning programme which combines theory with practice. Students can take the course over two years full time, or three years part time.
Subjects covered on the degree range from funeral rituals, bereavement and ethics, to practices issues such as how to market a business and understand and respond to changes in the law.
Most of the study will take place at a distance and there will be periods of block teaching held at the University of Bath. Students will be taught by tutors from the Centre for Death & Society at the University of Bath, as well as academics and experts from other universities and professions (including the funeral industry.)
The Manager of the University’s Centre for Death and Society, Caron Staley, said the qualification will enhance the career opportunities of the students.
She said: “This course will give people in the industry the opportunity to acquire a degree level qualification. This is the first time that study for a higher educational qualification has been available for people working within the funeral services. The majority of the applicants for the programme will be mature students who left school with few qualifications and this is an opportunity for them to get back into education for them.”
Caron said there had been an excellent response to the introduction of the course. She said: “We have received applications from people throughout the UK as well as internationally. The course promises to have a really interesting mix of enthusiastic students. We are all very excited and looking forward to welcoming the first cohort of students at their induction in September of this year.”
There are currently a limited number of places still available for students wishing to begin the course this year. Anyone who is interested should contact the Centre for Death & Society at cdas@bath.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1225 386949
