Professional master’s degree programme „Well-Being oriented Healthcare”

At a time of rapid demographic change and growing demand for person-centred care, this master’s programme places well-being at the core of healthcare. It brings together healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, professional backgrounds, and healthcare systems within a unique European learning environment.

The programme equips participants with the knowledge, practical skills, and ethical foundations needed to deliver compassionate, comprehensive, and sustainable healthcare that supports not only patients, but also caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals themselves.

Developed by EUniWell, this innovative programme is specifically tailored to professionals navigating the increasing complexity of modern healthcare systems. It encourages participants to move beyond a narrow focus on isolated diseases and molecular medicine towards a holistic understanding of health and well-being, aligned with the World Health Organization’s definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.”

Drawing on expertise from medicine, nursing science, psychology, philosophy, and the social sciences, the interdisciplinary programme represents a transformative approach to healthcare education in Europe. It fosters an interdisciplinary understanding of well-being across the lifespan – an especially important perspective in ageing societies. Through integrated project work, participants are encouraged to apply and reflect on their learning from the very beginning of the programme.

The programme will enable participants to:

• develop a person- and well-being-oriented perspective and integrate it into their professional healthcare practice through evidence-based models, theories, methods, and practical experience; 
• address future social and demographic challenges by providing high-quality, comprehensive care that promotes well-being and quality of life; 
• adopt an integrated perspective on healthcare that spans biological, psychological, social, mental, and spiritual dimensions, including the needs of patients and those who care for them; 
• engage in European and comparative perspectives on healthcare systems, policies, and international best practices; 
• experience the diversity of European healthcare and educational contexts through an integrated curriculum and mandatory short-term mobility opportunities.

The programme appeals to healthcare professionals with at least 12 months of professional experience who want to develop a broader, more holistic approach to healthcare.

This includes for example:

• physicians
• nurses
• psychologists
• physiotherapists
• healthcare managers
• medical educators
• care professionals
• public health professionals
• professionals in palliative care, gerontology, mental health, rehabilitation, or community health

In particular, the prerequisites are:

• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent degree, level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework) with at least 240 ECTS in a discipline of relevance to medicine, health sciences or healthcare, such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, healthcare management.
• Professional experience in a relevant field (clinical and research) of at least 12 months in total after receiving a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.
• English language skills on CEFR level B2.

The curriculum consists of eight interconnected modules studied collaboratively within each cohort, creating a shared learning journey that strengthens professional exchange and international peer networks. Designed specifically for working professionals, the programme offers a reduced workload of 15 ECTS credits per semester, allowing participants to balance their studies with ongoing professional responsibilities. Each semester combines a six-day on-site learning experience with interactive virtual teaching and guided self-study phases.

Key features of the curriculum include:

• a strong foundation in the biopsychosocial model of health and disease; 
• practice-oriented learning based on real-life healthcare challenges and case scenarios; 
• peer learning and interdisciplinary exchange with healthcare professionals from diverse international contexts; 
• a blended learning format that combines flexible online learning with immersive on-site experiences.

At the heart of the curriculum is the biopsychosocial model of disease (Engel, 1977), which provides a comprehensive framework for understanding health, well-being, and the multiple factors that shape them. The model guides students in exploring the biological, psychological, social, and broader determinants of well-being through four core modules that include on-site learning and short-term international mobility experiences. Three modules focus on specific dimensions of the model, while the final module integrates these perspectives into a holistic and person-centred approach to healthcare.

Preparatory virtual sessions and reflective learning activities support students in applying these concepts to their own professional and personal contexts. Additional online courses, including Identity and Belonging and Economics of Healthcare, further broaden participants’ understanding of well-being within healthcare systems and society.

A defining element of the programme is its strong practice-oriented focus. Throughout the first two semesters, students design and implement an individual project that applies person-centred and well-being-oriented approaches directly within their own professional environment. The curriculum culminates in a master’s thesis, enabling participants to deepen their theoretical understanding while contributing to innovation and transformation in healthcare practice.

The programme’s dedicated intended learning outcomes show the concrete knowledge, skills, and attitudes which students acquire.

The master’s programme is a jointly developed educational offer by partner universities collaborating within the European University Alliance “European University for Well-Being”. The five partners have been cooperating in medicine and healthcare for the past five years, sharing complementary strengths.

All five partners are experienced in offering healthcare education, with strong medical and/or healthcare faculties, and they have joined forces in advancing education and healthcare by providing this innovative, international and interdisciplinary integrated curriculum. Each partner brings unique foci and complementary expertise to the consortium and the partners complement each other along the biopsychosocial model and the analysis of determinants of well-being.

Short Representation of partners:

The first cohort will start in October 2026. Please apply until 3 September for the programme.

For your planning and preparation, find below the dates of the modules (including the on-site session).

Graduates of the programme will be well prepared to advance their careers in healthcare environments that increasingly value person-centred, interdisciplinary, and sustainable approaches to care. The programme strengthens professional expertise, leadership competencies, and practical skills, enabling graduates to take on roles in clinical practice, healthcare management, quality improvement, organisational development, education, and public health. With a strong focus on holistic well-being, graduates will be equipped to develop and implement innovative healthcare practices that improve quality of life for patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike.

Through its international and interdisciplinary learning environment, the programme also opens opportunities in healthcare policy, advocacy, research, and doctoral studies. Graduates gain valuable intercultural competencies, European perspectives on healthcare systems, and a strong international professional network. Overall, the programme prepares healthcare professionals to become change agents who can lead innovation, foster collaboration, and contribute to more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable healthcare systems.

Application management takes place at the University of Murcia.

The application process includes a screening of applicants’ eligibility (i.e. document check) followed by a virtual (group) interview with the academic programme leads to learn about the applicant’s motivation to join the programme.

Applicants are required to hand in the following documents:

• Application form
• Outline of a project to be pursued in the degree programme
• Certificate(s) of degree(s)
• Proof of professional experience of at least 12 months (in form of e.g. confirmation/certification by an employer, letter of recommendation etc.)
• Proof of English language skills (in form of an official certificate not older than 2 years at the date of application)

Selection will be based on a weighted assessment of the grade of the bachelor’s degree and the interview (40% each) and the project sketch (20%).

The tuition fees for the entire programme are €5.000 (for all students, both from the European Higher Education Area and beyond, excluding costs for travel and accommodation during the short-term mobilities). Additionally, some administrative fees apply based on institutional policies. These will be:

• Initial enrolment fee in the first semester: ca. €250–350 for students from the European Higher Education Area
• For students from non-EHEA countries: additionally €55 for admission
• Semester fee for enrolment at the University of Cologne in semester 2, 3 and 4: ca. €200–300 each semester

The exact amounts will be communicated shortly. 

Please check for national scholarships in your countries.