Funeral directors' degree created

Changing attitudes to death have led to the development of the first university degree for funeral directors in the UK.

The foundation course will be offered by the University of Bath's Centre for Death and Society (CDAS).

CDAS director Dr Glennys Howarth said there had been a "cultural revolution" in the way death was being viewed that was sparking greater academic interest."

The two-year foundation degree will complement the Masters programme in Death and Society, launched last October.

The MSc is a multi-disciplinary, social science programme for professionals, pre-doctorate students and anyone interested in studying in the field.