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Master of Studies in Practical Ethics

1. The Divisional Board of Humanities, jointly with the Continuing Education Strategic Management Board, shall elect for the supervision of the course a Standing Committee, which shall have the power to arrange lectures and other instruction.

2. Candidates must follow a course of instruction in Practical Ethics. The course is available on a part time basis only.

3. The policy of the Continuing Education Board on variable intensity part-time study shall apply to this award.

4. The minimum period of registration on the MSt shall be four terms and the maximum period of registration shall be twelve terms.

5. Where a candidate undertakes a module under 9. below, the date of registration for the award shall retrospectively be deemed to be the first day of the term in which the module was taken.

6. Every candidate shall be required to satisfy the examiners in the following:

  • (a) Assignments totalling not more than 3,500 words for each of six modules, which must include the module listed in Schedule A and five modules selected from the list in Schedule B; and

  • (b) A dissertation of not more than 15,000 words on a research project selected by the candidate in consultation with the supervisor and approved by the Standing Committee. The dissertation must be submitted within three terms of the date of approval, notwithstanding the maximum permitted period of registration.

7. The assessed work and dissertation set out in clause 6 shall be submitted via the University approved online assessment platform to the examiners for consideration by the dates published in the course handbook at the beginning of each academic year.

8. Candidates who fail to satisfy the examiners in any part of the examination will be permitted to resubmit work in respect of the part or parts of the examination which they have failed on not more than one occasion which shall normally be within one year of the original failure.

9. The Standing Committee shall have the discretion to deem satisfactory completion of a module including the associated assessment prior to registration for the MSt as having met the examination requirements in respect of that module. Such discretion will normally only be exercised if the time elapsed between commencement of the accredited module concerned and registration for the MSt is not more than two years.

10. The maximum number of modules taken prior to registration for the MSt shall be three.

Schedule A

  • 1. Ethical Concepts and Methods (Introductory Module)

Schedule B (not all modules may be available every year)

  • 2. Ethics of Beginning and End of Life
  • 3. Neuroethics  
  • 4. Philosophy, Psychiatry and Mental Health  
  • 5. Well-Being, Disability and Enhancement  
  • 6. Research Ethics and Empirical Ethics
  • 7. Artificial Intelligence Ethics
  • 8. Data Ethics
  • 9. Climate, Environment and Animals