Overview
The number of people affected by substance use in the UK is rising. Over 300,000 adults were in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services in 2023-2024 – the largest rise in adults in treatment for over a decade. The annual social and economic cost of alcohol harm and harm from illicit drug use in the UK is estimated at over £30billion (gov.uk).
Against this backdrop, there is a need for quality research about substance use. Our online Masters is the perfect next step for anyone looking to further their career in the field.
Enhance your expertise
Our flexible MSc Substance Use course enables you to study online around your schedule. You’ll explore:
- how current policy and practice impacts people who use drugs and/or alcohol;
- how substance use affects families, communities, practitioners and wider society;
- alcohol and drug theory, related policies, and interventions at local, national (Scotland and UK), and international levels;
- addiction, treatment, and harm reduction approaches;
- how social research methods can be applied to inform research in substance use.
Flexible module options
Our MSc Substance Use online degree offers a wide range of options to help you tailor your studies. Choose elective modules spanning housing, public health, rehabilitation and criminal justice, and more. You can also base your final project on a topic especially relevant to your interests.
Build strong relationships and networks
Our staff are members of various international societies as well as having close connections with:
- The Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services, which is on the university campus.
- Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research which includes members of our staff.
These research groups make significant contributions to the understanding of substance use. Access to these groups enhances learning and networking opportunities for our online MSc Substance Use students.
The diversity of the substance use sector is also reflected among our students. You’ll work with fellow students who may include GPs, nurses, recovery workers and professionals from a wide range of other sectors.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to achieve the following objectives.
- Evaluate and criticise theories and concepts expressed to account for substance use and assess how these have informed the development of substance use policies and intervention.
- Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront and current issues of UK and international policy approaches to substance use.
- Appraise and critically evaluate major international and local approaches to practice with a focus on partnership working to address the complexity of substance-related problems.
- Critically review approaches to working with different groups of substance affected individuals and families and the implications these may have on individuals and communities.
- Use up-to-date evidence-based practice and policy research in the field of substance use and appraise information to formulate new understandings and creative solutions to the substance problem.
- Demonstrate independent critical and reflective thinking in relation to the use of evidence in shaping and developing research.
- Assess and reflect on the ethical underpinnings of research, policy and practice.
- Communicate, using appropriate methods, to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge/expertise, including peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
- Demonstrate leadership and/or initiative and make an identifiable contribution to the field of substance use through the critical assessment of evidence to conduct a literature review and/or design research.
- Reflect on personal, professional and societal values and the ways these might impact on the development of drug policy and practice.
- Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in time management and academic activities and take responsibility for own work.
- Adopt the position of active global citizens who are socially, culturally and environmentally aware of the complexities of the substance use problem and its implications for substance affected individuals and families and communities.
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Faculty facilities
The Salvation Army Centre for Addiction Services and Research is hosted at the University, and course staff are part of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, as well as International Societies.
Research overview
When you study for a MSc Substance Use at the University of Stirling, you’ll be introduced to leading-edge empirical and theoretical research in a vibrant, multi-disciplinary environment.
Underpinning the expertise of our staff, the University of Stirling scored highly in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) – a UK-wide assessment of universities’ research output. In the Social Work and Social Policy unit of assessment, University of Stirling was ranked 3rd in Scotland and top 25 in the UK, with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our research deemed world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Course details
Modules
Teaching
The course takes a flexible approach to learning, with all modules delivered online.
How you'll learn online
Recorded lecture materials are provided online for students to view whenever they wish to. Each module has four or five live seminars, delivered online, lasting for between one and two hours each.
Assessment
All modules are assessed through coursework such as essays, evaluation reports, presentations, research proposals and literature reviews.
Course director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Our MSc Substance Use (Online) provides you with skills and knowledge relevant to a range of fields. You may already work in these fields and wish to progress in your current role. Other possible sectors you could work in include:
- health and social care;
- local authorities;
- third sector organisations;
- government and NGOs;
- policy advocacy organisations;
- academic research and teaching.
The average salary for a person in Scotland working in an addiction-related role, such as Third Sector, Link Worker, or NHS partnered role is around £30,000, with wages rising with experience.
Former graduates from Stirling have gone on to work in roles such as Alcohol and Drug Partnership Co-ordinator and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in organisations that include:
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
- Dumfries and Galloway Council
- East Dunbartonshire Council
/filters:format(webp)/filters:no_upscale()/prod01/cdn/media/stirling/testimonials/social-sciences/carol-scott-600X600.jpg)