Do I need an undergraduate philosophy degree to enrol in the MA Ethics and Society?

No. The MA is open to graduates from any discipline (or applicants with significant relevant professional experience). The course is taught with the expectation that some students are coming from outside academic philosophy and needs to build core competence quickly.

Is the MA Ethics and Society applied or academic?

Both. The applied ethics strand is genuinely applied (bioethics, technology, professional contexts) and the core moral philosophy is taught at academic standard. The combination is the point — applied ethics done with academic discipline.

Can the MA Ethics and Society be done part-time?

Yes — over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are designed around working senior professionals, with evening tutorials and a dissertation you can build around your own ethical professional question.

What does the dissertation on the MA Ethics and Society cover?

A 12,000–15,000 word piece on a chosen ethical question — past topics have included algorithmic decision-making in welfare administration, end-of-life decision frameworks in NHS practice, research ethics in low-income settings, and ethical frameworks for environmental regulation.

Does the MA Ethics and Society prepare me for a PhD?

Yes — it is a credible foundation for doctoral study in applied ethics, philosophy or political theory. Dissertation supervisors actively guide students considering PhD applications, including identifying the right doctoral school and constructing competitive applications.

MA Ethics and Society in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Ethics and Society at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for graduates and working professionals who want a research-grade grounding in applied ethics and contemporary moral and political philosophy. You will study current debates in bioethics, technology ethics, professional ethics and political philosophy, and complete a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation on a chosen ethical question.

This is ethics taught for use — for the ethics adviser at a regulator, the compliance officer in a regulated industry, the researcher writing on contested public questions, and the policy analyst trying to defend a decision honestly. By the end you will be able to contribute to applied ethics debate in your own field with academic underpinning.

Key Features

Contemporary moral philosophy core — consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics, and current critical perspectives.
Applied ethics strand covering bioethics, AI and technology ethics, environmental ethics, professional ethics.
Political philosophy module — liberalism, republicanism, current debates on legitimacy and pluralism.
Research methods unit grounded in Royal Institute of Philosophy and Society for Applied Philosophy standards.
Industry-led masterclasses from ethics advisers in healthcare, regulators, technology firms and government.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation on a chosen ethical question, supervised by an active practitioner-academic.

What You Will Learn

The MA Ethics and Society is structured around the analytical work applied ethics actually requires — reading contested arguments closely, defending a position with care, and writing for audiences that include both academics and decision-makers in non-academic settings.

Contemporary moral philosophy — consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics, current critical work.
Bioethics — research ethics, end-of-life debate, public health ethics, allocation of scarce resources.
AI and technology ethics — current debates on algorithmic bias, accountability, autonomy, AI welfare.
Environmental ethics — climate justice, intergenerational obligation, the non-human world.
Professional ethics — medical, legal, journalistic and research ethics in current practice.
Political philosophy — legitimacy, pluralism, justice across borders.
Writing applied ethics — for academic, professional and public audiences.
Dissertation research methods — argument analysis, case-based ethics, applied empirical engagement.

Who This MA Is For

Philosophy graduates wanting an applied postgraduate route into ethics-related professional roles.
Working ethics advisers in healthcare, regulators, technology firms and government seeking academic underpinning.
Compliance, governance and risk professionals wanting structured ethical reasoning to back their judgement.
Researchers and policy staff working on contested public questions wanting research-grade ethical literacy.

Career Pathways

MA Ethics and Society graduates move into ethics-adviser, compliance, research and policy roles across UK and international employers, with many continuing to doctoral study. Typical roles include:

Ethics Adviser (healthcare trust, regulator, technology firm, research council)
Researcher (university applied ethics centre, policy think tank)
Policy Analyst (government department, regulator, NGO)
Compliance Officer (regulated industry, professional services)
Lecturer in Philosophy (further or higher education — entry level)
Research Integrity Officer (university, research funder)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research in applied ethics, philosophy or political theory.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.