EUniWell places well-being at the centre of healthcare with a new study programme
EUniWell has officially begun the accreditation process for its new joint master’s programme in “Well-Being oriented Healthcare”, marking a transformative step in reimagining healthcare education across Europe. Led by the University of Cologne and developed collaboratively by five EUniWell partner institutions – Universities of Cologne (Germany), Semmelweis (Hungary), Murcia (Spain), Florence (Italy), and Santiago de Compostela (Spain) – the programme is set to launch in the winter term 2026/27, pending successful accreditation.
The accreditation will review the programme against the criteria of the “European Approach for the Quality of Joint Programmes”, thereby ensuring that the educational offer aligns with European quality standards for an interdisciplinary and internationally recognised education.
A paradigm shift in healthcare education
At a time of rapid demographic change and increasing demand for person-centred care, this innovative master’s programme places well-being at the heart of healthcare. It equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills, and ethical framework to deliver comprehensive, compassionate, and sustainable care that supports not only patients but also caregivers, families, and healthcare providers.
The curriculum integrates biomedical science with psychosocial, mental, spiritual, and ethical dimensions of well-being, reflecting the complexity of human experience. Drawing on disciplines including medicine, nursing science, psychology, philosophy, and social sciences, the programme fosters an interdisciplinary understanding of well-being across the lifespan – especially critical in an ageing society.
EUniWell’s Chief Development Officer Professor Dr. Beatrix Busse is thrilled about the new programme: “This master’s programme is a pioneering initiative – specifically designed for healthcare professionals leading a paradigm shift in care. It combines deep scientific grounding with practical innovation, supporting lifelong learning and systemic change. EUniWell’s expertise in well-being and health research makes this programme a vital contribution to the future of European healthcare”.
Prof. Dr. Cristina Polidori, Academic Coordinator of the programme, emphasises its global relevance: “Well-being is a multifaceted concept: it is mainly shaped by health together with culture, context, and lived experience. By bringing together professionals from diverse backgrounds, this programme becomes a dynamic space for co-creation, mutual learning, and the exchange of best practices across borders”.
The programme will bring not only an important added value to its students and their professional environment, but also help healthcare systems become more resilient and sustainable. It will prepare graduates to face future challenges by providing high-quality comprehensive and global treatment that fosters well-being and quality of life.
Global, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented
The programme is tailored for healthcare practitioners worldwide who hold a bachelor’s degree and have at least 12 months of professional experience. It is designed as a part-time programme covering 2 years, with mainly virtual delivery to enable professionals to continue working while studying in their home country.
Key features include:
- Four mandatory short-term mobility periods (6 days each) in Cologne, Budapest, Murcia, and Florence, offering immersive experiences in diverse European healthcare systems and research environments.
- A comparative European perspective, enabling students to critically reflect on national healthcare models and best practices.
- A strong focus on practical application, with students developing real-world strategies to implement person-centred, well-being-oriented care in their own settings.
- A wide international network of peers sharing a joint vision for future healthcare practices.
Upon successful completion, graduates will receive a joint degree awarded by the partner universities.
Investment in the future
The total tuition fee for the entire programme is €5,000. It is designed to be both affordable and transformative – investing in professionals who will drive change in their communities and institutions.
Academic background
Contemporary health sciences largely focus on disease. However, the interconnected determinants of diseases call, in the 21st century, for a “forward to yesterday” approach rooted in the 1948 World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Within the wealth of studies, initiatives and literature on longevity and healthy ageing, actions aimed at growing older in health and well-being, while preserving the environment and avoiding unnecessary resource use, are a public health priority. Indeed, the WHO, the United Nations (see e.g. the Sustainable Development Goal “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”) as well as several national institutions and associations worldwide, call for a societal paradigm shift towards person-centred, sustainable healthcare that goes beyond the treatment of single diseases.
While the disease-focused medical model of the mid-20th century contributed to a dramatic increase in life expectancy, it has also coincided with population growth and a rising burden of chronic, age- and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (non-communicable diseases, NCDs). European societies in particular face increasing strain from health systems that are insufficiently prepared for these challenges. Educational levers are therefore essential to enable and accelerate this paradigm shift by training professionals and empowering citizens on current challenges and solutions.
Although models such as the biopsychosocial approach and fields including psychosomatic, ageing and palliative medicine have long emphasised patients’ needs, values and resources, the Western health-insurance systems (based on ICD-10, DSM-V) do not code for a lack of patients’ well-being – or quality of and satisfaction with life – and treating it cannot be reimbursed. As a result, healthcare often prioritises depersonalised, high-tech or pharmacological interventions, while comprehensive person-centred approaches remain underrepresented in medical education.
Higher education institutions need to train professionals to face the challenges within the healthcare systems and focus on patients’ well-being and quality of life. This requires a comprehensive, truly interdisciplinary and person-oriented approach in healthcare education. The proposed professional Master’s programme in “Well-Being oriented Healthcare” responds to this need by offering an innovative, international and interdisciplinary educational framework that equips professionals to place well-being at the centre of healthcare decision-making.
Further information
Further information will soon be provided on these websites.
Contact
If you are interested in the programme, either as a potential student or an employer looking for career support for your staff, please contact Dr. Dorothee Groeger (Programme Coordinator) or Prof. Dr. Cristina Polidori (Academic Coordinator).
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