Medical Ethics and Law MA

This programme provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth study of healthcare ethics and law, and to develop the ability to think systematically and critically about the moral and legal issues that healthcare professionals and those involved in healthcare management and policy may encounter in the course of their work. Ideal for working professionals or recent graduates, the programme comprises four taught modules plus a dissertation on a topic chosen by the student. Teaching takes place in short, intensive blocks to facilitate combining study with full-time work, and the course may be studied flexibly over one, two or five years.<br/><br/>**We are in the process of refreshing our curriculum for the 2025/26 academic year to reflect best practices and the latest advancements in academia. New course content and modules will be available on this course page in due course.**<br/><br/>**Why choose this course?**<br/>- A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programme is one of the longest-running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987.<br/><br/><br/>- Block teaching delivery (typically three days per module) allows you to combine part-time study with full-time work – ideal for healthcare professionals.<br/><br/><br/>- Enjoy rich ethical debates, share experiences, and learn about different practices and perspectives with a diverse student cohort.<br/><br/><br/>- Taught by staff with expertise in both law and philosophy, and with experience in delivering courses for professionals.<br/><br/><br/>- This programme is available to intercalating medical students.<br/><br/><br/>New developments in treatments and technology, coupled with shifting social attitudes, mean that the legal and ethical issues around healthcare and medicine are constantly changing, posing serious challenges for those involved.<br/><br/>Practical in focus and regularly updated to reflect new issues that arise – from COVID-19 to the role of AI in healthcare – our MA aims to help you navigate the complex moral and legal considerations surrounding the planning and delivery of healthcare, and associated activities such as medical research.<br/><br/>Is it acceptable, for example, to disclose a patient’s medical history to protect others from infectious diseases like HIV? At what point should healthcare professionals stop trying to prolong life? Or, to save a life, should doctors ever overrule a refusal of treatment based cultural or religious reasons or an advance directive?<br/><br/>Undertaking a medical ethics course cannot provide all the answers – not least because there are far too many questions to consider, but also because there often is no easy answer. However, it can prepare you to work out answers yourself responsibly, professionally and with integrity.<br/><br/>Drawing on real-life and hypothetical cases, research, news and shared experiences, our MA introduces you to relevant concepts, theories and frameworks – highlighting their pros and cons and providing you with a range of analytical tools with which to assess different ethical and legal claims. You’ll also learn to communicate ethical and legal arguments more clearly to others.<br/><br/>**About Keele**<br/><br/>Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.<br/><br/>We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.<br/><br/>Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.