The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2024/2025 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2025 or after, you can find the details of your programme: MA Biomedical and Health Care Ethics Part-time (Online)(For students entering from September 2025 onwards)
The nature of the fields of health care and medicine are such that their day-to-day operations necessarily raise a myriad of ethical questions and issues and, as science progresses, new ethical challenges emerge. Through studying this programme, you will be better able to engage thoughtfully in debates around these questions which is a benefit to you but also to wider societal and professional deliberation and understanding.
In this programme, through the study and application of relevant theories and principles, you will gain a critical understanding of ethical issues in the context of medicine and health care such as, for example, those at the beginning and end of patient lives, health inequalities and just resource allocation, professional issues relating to trust, confidentiality, consent and respect for autonomy, and emerging ethical issues. You’ll apply your theoretical understanding to realistic scenarios in the practice of medicine and healthcare.
All taught modules are delivered through asynchronous teaching materials and tutor-facilitated online discussion boards that explore such issues with reference to the latest in academic research. This supports you to develop the tools to analyse, challenge, or defend different arguments and accounts, including your own, and you’ll be able to showcase these abilities in a dissertation under the one-to-one supervision of an academic with expertise in medical ethics.
The course equips students with many transferrable skills. You will learn how to engage with multiple perspectives, to interpret viewpoints charitably, to communicate your ideas clearly, and to form strong arguments for your views and decisions. You will develop your independent research skills, and you will be able to apply specialist knowledge in new contexts. Many graduates from this programme resume careers in medical, nursing or health related professions, and take up roles in teaching or on committees involved in health policy issues. There is increasing call for ethics training for health professionals and ethics committee members, and graduates are sought after. Several graduates from the course proceed on to further degrees in the field.
Our diverse community includes people from a variety of countries, backgrounds and professions, with many opportunities to network and connect during your time studying with us, including various events and activities we run as an active and thriving applied ethics research centre. Several of our students have achieved the publication of a paper as a result of their time studying with us or appeared on podcasts where they have been interviewed about an ethical issue they worked on. Whether you’re looking for a career progression, a change of direction, or knowledge of a new subject area, you’ll receive the support you need to succeed.
Part-time (Online)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates are required to study 90 credits in year 1. They must pass all pass for progression modules to progress to the next year of study.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA5210M | Introduction to Ethics: Reasons, Motivation, Obligations and Happiness | 15 | 1 Sep to 30 Nov | |
| IDEA5322M | Ethical Issues at the Beginning of Life (Online) | 15 | 1 Nov to 31 Jan | |
| IDEA5333M | Ethical Issues at the End of Life (Online) | 15 | 1 Jan to 28 Feb | |
| IDEA5344M | Conscience, Codes and Professional Issues (Online) | 15 | 1 Feb to 30 Apr | |
| IDEA5355M | Autonomy, Rationality, and Psychiatric Issues (Online) | 15 | 1 Mar to 30 Jun | |
| IDEA5366M | Distributive Justice and Scarce Medical Resources (Online) | 15 | 1 May to 31 July |
Part-time (Online)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA5308M | Health Care Ethics: Dissertation | 60 | 1 Nov to 30 Sep | |
| IDEA5377M | Current Developments in Health Care Ethics (Online) | 30 | 1 Oct to 31 Jan |
Last updated: 05/02/2025 14:40:27
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