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. Throughout the course you'll build subject expertise and develop skills in critical inquiry and research. You'll then learn to apply your knowledge to drive innovation and impact in policy, practice, and research related to substance use. 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 spans different disciplines and offers a wide range of options to help you tailor your studies. Connections with public health, social policy, criminology and housing allow students to choose elective modules in these areas. 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 the MSc Substance Use you'll develop advanced expertise in areas such as:
- Practical application: Translate theory into practice through engagement with real-world issues in substance use, harm reduction, and recovery. Graduates are able to use new theoretical knowledge around substance use to better understand and support the people they work with.
- Intervention development: Understand established and emerging substance use interventions in the field. Explore how they have been developed, how they link to policy, and the key components within intervention implementation that will inform practice. Graduates of this course have taken their final project and used this rigorous research to inform new interventions in their practitioner roles.
- Understanding data: Gain confidence in understanding data, evaluating interventions, and using evidence to inform decision-making.
- Policy analysis and advocacy: Build the capacity to interpret and assess policy at local, national and international levels. Students undertake policy briefing work to prepare them for engagement with policy.
- AI literacy and digital skills: Explore how emerging technologies and digital tools can be used in substance use research.
- Intercultural competence: Understand the cultural, social and structural factors that influence substance use. This enables graduates to work effectively with diverse communities.
- Research methods: Learn to apply qualitative and quantitative research approaches to inform policy and practice in substance use.
- Global understanding: Explore substance use at national and international levels, discussing and critiquing policy, best practices, and cross-country comparisons. This is to provide an international lens on substance use and situate it as a global issue.
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 88 overall with 20 in reading, 19 in writing, 19 in listening and 22 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
Each week has a different topic focus.
Recorded lecture materials are provided online for you to watch at a time that suits you. Modules also have five live online seminars lasting 1.5 hours each.
There's live, online drop-in sessions where you can chat with module staff and other students to help consolidate your learning and ask questions.
Each week you'll complete e-activities and contribute to discussion boards to support your learning and help build a feeling of community with your cohort.
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) equips you with skills and knowledge to progress or transitions into many roles in the substance use sector. These skills are highly valued by employers across a variety of fields, including:
- Health and social care - NHS services, community recovery projects, integrated care partnerships
- Local authorities - public health, community safety or wellbeing teams
- Third sector organisations - treatment providers, advocacy groups, charities
- Government and NGOs - policy, programme designs and evaluation roles
- Academic and research settings - research associate and project co-ordinator roles
Former graduates from Stirling have gone on to work in roles such as Alcohol and Drug Partnership Co-ordinator, Recovery Worker, Policy Officer, and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in organisations that include:
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
- Dumfries and Galloway Council
- East Dunbartonshire Council
The average salary for a professional in Scotland working in an addiction-related role, such as Third Sector Link Worker, or NHS-partnered practitioner, is around £30,000. There are opportunities to increase earnings through experience and leadership responsibilities.
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