Medical Ethics and Palliative Care

Medical Ethics and Palliative Care - MA

This programme provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth study of healthcare ethics and law relating to palliative and end-of-life care. Students develop the ability to think systematically and critically about the moral and legal issues encountered by healthcare professionals, managers and policymakers in this field. Ideal for working professionals or recent graduates with interests in palliative care, 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.

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.

Month of entry

October

Mode of study

Full time, Part time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Ethics, Law

Fees for 2025/26 academic year

UK - Full time: £10,100 per year
UK - Part time: Year 1: £7,100, Year 2: £3,100
International - Full time: £17,700 per year

Duration of study

Full time - 1 year, Part time - 2 years, Modular - Up to 5 years

Apply now

Why study Medical Ethics and Palliative Care at Keele University?

A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programmes are among the longest running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987.

Block teaching delivery (typically three days per module) allows you to combine part-time study with work full-time – ideal for healthcare professionals.

Enjoy rich ethical debates, share experiences, and learn about different practices and perspectives with a diverse student cohort.

Taught by staff with expertise in both law and philosophy, and with experience in delivering courses for professionals.

This programme is available to intercalating medical students.

Course summary

Nowhere is healthcare ethics more relevant than the difficult decisions taken during palliative care. The combination of advances in medical technology, increased expectations, and changing moral attitudes has given rise to a host of complex ethical and legal issues for those involved in the delivery of end-of-life healthcare. For example, who should make medical decisions for patients who are too ill to decide for themselves? What should the response be to patients who refuse treatments likely to be beneficial or demand treatments that are unlikely to succeed?

The reality of these situations is rarely straightforward, especially when decision-making not only affects patients and their loved ones, but also involves a large, interdisciplinary support team, which can include physicians, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and dietitians. Care itself can also be provided in a variety of contexts, including in hospice, hospital, and home settings. Since multiple values lie at the heart of care giving decisions, it’s no surprise that conflict can arise.

This unique programme provides an opportunity to explore and understand the moral dilemmas confronting those involved in all aspects of end-of-life care, and the ethical, legal and policy issues that arise in palliative care and related fields.

You’ll gain a solid grounding in a wide range of ethical frameworks which cover actions, consequences and character, from consequentialism and deontology to virtue or ethics of care. These will give you the tools to compare and contrast different approaches, and experience of applying ethical concepts, so you will be better able to articulate them in a professional setting.

Course content is regularly updated to reflect current developments and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to discuss, debate and apply your findings to real-life and fictionalised case studies.
For example, students have recently considered the Assisted Dying Bill when it was under consideration by the House of Lords, and a case in which a Dutch doctor was prosecuted for administering euthanasia on the basis of an advance directive that the patient had written while in the early stages of dementia.

Of particular interest to those working in hospice, hospital or community palliative care settings, this MA has previously attracted a broad range of professionals, recent graduates and intercalating medical students. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds and report that meeting and exchanging ideas with others who work in different fields and in different parts of the country is one of the major benefits of the course.

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Course structure

The programme is purposefully structured in a way that allows you to maintain full-time employment whilst studying, particularly important for students seeking continuing professional development or looking to switch careers.

Starting in October, it can be studied over one year full-time, two years part-time or up to five years if you choose to study on a modular basis. Teaching is delivered in short, intense blocks of typically three days’ duration. The part-time programme requires only 13 days attendance in Year 1 and two days in Year 2.

On the MA, you will complete 180 credits, which comprises four 30-credit taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation, which is studied over the course of a year on a topic of your choice.

The first two modules, which are studied alongside students on the MA in Medical Ethics and Law, provide a solid introduction to medical ethics and medical law. You’ll also develop your understanding of the language, norms and conventions used when writing or preparing academic arguments in these disciplines.

The third and fourth modules apply the skills developed in the first two modules to the analysis of ethical and legal issues arising within the doctor-patient relationship and the broader policy context.

Students may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma after successful completion of two or four taught modules.

The information below outlines a one-year full-time study schedule. When taken part-time, the four taught modules are taken in the first year, with the dissertation being completed in the second year. If you opt for modular study, you will take one or more taught modules per year for a period of up to four years, followed by the dissertation in your final year.

Modules

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Core modules

Moral Theory and Medical Ethics (30 credits, Semester 1)

This module provides an overview of the key ethical theories, frameworks and principles that underpin decisions and action by doctors, health providers, patients and policy-makers. You’ll learn to use these tools to analyse practical moral problems in medical and healthcare ethics. Topics covered typically include: consequentialism; deontology; virtue ethics; the ethics of care; principlism; autonomy and paternalism; the ethical foundations of consent; confidentiality and truth-telling.

Principles of Medical Law (30 credits, Semester 1)

Developing your knowledge of the key principles, cases and statutes in medical law, you’ll learn to critique aspects of medical law and apply your knowledge of the law to practices in medicine and healthcare. Topics covered typically include: introduction to law; use of cases and statutes; law and consent; capacity; professional negligence; mental health law; confidentiality and the law; the relationship between law and morality; adolescent competence; parental responsibility and child decision-making; and human rights.

Life, Death and the Human Body (30 credits, Semester 2)

Ranging from abortion and regulation of reproduction to selective reproduction, euthanasia and living organ donation, this module focuses on the often controversial issues surrounding the moral and legal status of humans and human bodies, and their implications for interventions at the beginning and end-of-life, as well as modifications to the human body. Indicative topics include disability, advance decisions, and terminal sedation, suicide and mental health.

Policy, Resources and Research Ethics in Palliative Care (30 credits, Semester 2)

Controversies surrounding palliative care are often issues of policy, resource allocation or research. While the content of this module varies from year to year to reflect current issues of particular concern in the field, you will explore contemporary debates concerning health care resource allocation, health policy and public health, related to palliative care, such as funding based on quality adjusted life years (QALYs). In recent years, seminars have covered issues relating to the care of children, the role of religious belief in ethical debate, and differing conceptions of palliative care including public health approaches.

Medical Ethics and Law Dissertation (60 credits, studied throughout the year)

The production of a 15,000 to 20,000-word dissertation provides an exciting opportunity to work under the supervision of an expert in your chosen field of interest, demonstrating a level of knowledge and understanding far beyond what you have learned in class. You’ll be supported to develop the research skills needed to conduct an extended piece of work on a topic of your choice, analysing existing relevant research. While your dissertation must relate to an ethical issue within the broad field of palliative care, you can choose your own topic to reflect your personal or professional interest. Some students start the course with a clear idea about what they want to write about – often an ethical issue from within their own practice – but others find and develop particular interests as the course progresses. Examples of recent dissertation topics which reflect the breadth of the subject include: ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ orders; withdrawal of life-prolonging treatment; terminal sedation; euthanasia and assisting in bringing about death; concepts of a good death; and ethical issues in considering faith and spirituality.

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MA Medical Ethics and Palliative Care (MEPC) at Keele University

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Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.

Typical offer

Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

Typical offer: 2:2 degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject Additional criteria apply

Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

UK

2:2 degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Bangladesh

60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject from a public university
or
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject from a private university
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Canada

70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

China

70% in a degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject or 65% in a degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject from a '211' university
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Ghana

Second class degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

India

55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Kenya

Second class degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Nepal

60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities, or social sciences subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities, or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Nigeria

Second class degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Pakistan

We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information

or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need an English language qualification (see below)

South Africa

Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities, or social sciences subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities, or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Sri Lanka

55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Uganda

Second class degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

Zimbabwe

Second class degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience

You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

INTERCALATING MEDICAL STUDENTS

We welcome applications from undergraduate medical students who have the option to take an intercalated year. To take the MA in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care as an intercalated year, you must normally have completed the fourth year of a medical degree. To ensure the course is completed within one year, you must study the MA in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care as a full time student.

English language requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.

References

Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.

Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose

Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.

RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.

Professional qualifications and work experience

The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.

Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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Your career

This course provides a fascinating opportunity to explore the ethical dilemmas facing palliative care professionals on a daily basis, drawing on the latest research and real-life issues making the headlines.

In addition to the specialist knowledge you’ll gain, you’ll develop a range of essential transferrable skills in analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and communications. This can broaden your career options in a wide variety of roles in medical, legal and ethical fields, ranging from clinical or medical practice to policy-making, teaching or research.

For those working in palliative care or related fields, it can build your confidence in handling workplace decisions that have ethical implications, enhancing your knowledge, skills and practice in developing and delivering end-of-life care strategies. It will be especially beneficial if you are, for example, seeking to obtain a position on an ethics committee or direct your career towards strategy development, risk management, research or work in medical defence.

Many of our working students study this course out of interest and with a desire to gain specialist knowledge and skills to help them progress within their existing careers. For example, previous students have included junior doctors seeking to become consultants, or bioscience graduates keen to demonstrate their commitment and engagement in pursuit of a medical career.

The specialist research skills you learn also provide a strong foundation for pursuing further study at doctoral level for those interested in doing so. At Keele, we can offer supervision for PhDs in both medical ethics and law.

Positions may include:

Academic
Barrister
Chaplain
Consultant
Doctor
Hospice director
Newspaper journalist
Nurse
Philosopher
Policy officer
Social worker
Solicitor
Teacher

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Teaching, learning and assessment

How you'll be taught

Run by the School of Law at Keele University, this course is taught by a team of ethicists and legal academics who are both active researchers and experienced in delivering postgraduate medical ethics education.

Interactive and practical teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work and case studies. Ethics is not a spectator sport and you’ll be encouraged to engage in discussion and debate from the outset.

From time to time, experts from outside Keele may be invited to speak on the course, providing alternative academic and professional perspectives. Past speakers have included, for example, the CEO of St Giles Hospice.

Students frequently tell us that what they value most from this course is being exposed to a range of contrasting viewpoints, meeting and exchanging ideas with peers who work in different fields and specialities and in other parts of the country, sometimes the world. This is helped by the fact the first two modules of the course are studied together with students on the MA in Medical Ethics and Law.

Teaching takes place in three-day blocks and we often organise an informal meal during the first block so you can get to know your staff and fellow students. You are welcome to come to Keele between blocks to meet with your academic mentor or supervisor, attend talks by visiting speakers, and use other university facilities, though you can keep in touch via email, phone or videoconferencing if you live further away.

As part of the course, you will receive lots of academic training and support, for example, in how to write essays and construct arguments in ethical issues. On the Moral Theory and Medical Ethics module, you’ll be introduced to the norms and conventions of academic argument and writing in applied ethics, while the Principles of Medical Law module covers writing law essays, preparing legal arguments and referencing. You will be allocated an academic mentor, who can provide pastoral and academic support. You also have the option of 1:1 appointments with learning development advisors.

Teaching schedule

The 2024 in-person teaching schedule for the taught modules is outlined below. Please note, we reserve the right to changes these dates in exceptional circumstances.

Outside of the taught elements, you will be able to consult with supervisors and will have access to the University’s learning and teaching facilities, and support services.

Induction day

Tuesday 1 October 2024.

Core modules

Moral Theory and Medical Ethics: Wednesday 2 - Friday 4 October 2024.
Principles of Medical Law: Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 November 2024.
Life, Death and the Human Body: Wednesday 29 - Friday 30 January 2025.
Policy, Resources and Research Ethics in Palliative Care: Wednesday 26 - Friday 28 March 2025.
Dissertation: Monday 14 October 2024 and Tuesday 25 March 2025.

How you’ll be assessed

There are no exams on this course. Instead, at the end of each module, you will be required to write a 5,000-word essay, as well as your final dissertation. For each module you will have a choice of questions reflecting the topics covered in the teaching. You will receive feedback on your essay during the next teaching block, enabling continuous improvement over the duration of the course.

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Keele Postgraduate Association

KPA interior

Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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Our expertise

Teaching staff

For 35 years, Keele School of Law has been at the forefront of medical ethics and law education, having first delivered the MA in Medical Ethics and Law back in 1987, followed shortly by the MA Medical Ethics and Palliative Care. You’ll be taught by staff with a broad range of expertise in the three distinct disciplines of philosophy and law.

Teaching team includes:

Dr Kevin De Sabbata, Lecturer in Law with research interests in healthcare law and ethics, mental health law, global health law, and disability rights.

Dr Jonathan Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Ethics – a philosopher with research interests in the ethics relating to conscientious objection in healthcare, autism and neurodiversity, resource allocation, risk and the precautionary principle, end of life issues.

Dr Abigail Pearson, Lecturer in Law with research interests in disability, equality, human rights and legal education.

Dr Laura Pritchard-Jones, Senior Lecturer in Law with research interests in mental disability law, adult safeguarding, and the legal framework around social care provision for adults.

Dr Sotirios Santatzoglou, Lecturer in Law with interests in medical negligence and end-of-life criminal law.

Professor Anthony Wrigley, Professor of Ethics – a philosopher whose research focuses on ethical and policy issues, including new genetic and reproductive technologies, consent for those who have lost capacity, and end-of-life care.

Dr Dunja Begović, Lecturer in Medical Law and Ethics - Research interests include ethico-legal aspects of reproduction and the end of life.

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Facilities

With a critical and inter-disciplinary approach to law and social justice, the School of Law is an internationally recognised centre for legal research with a longstanding tradition of excellence in moral philosophy, applied ethics, doctrinal, and socio-legal scholarship.

Supported by a specialist Law Librarian, the Law library in the main University library has an extensive range of electronic resources and online legal databases, and stocks a range of law journals, professional resources, case reports, statutes, text books and research monographs.

Based in the main Chancellor’s Building, right at the heart of campus, we offer a range of additional student learning resources and facilities. This includes our Moot Room, a model courtroom used for extra-curricular mooting activities, and a refurbished room dedicated for postgraduate taught students on the second floor. Equipped with networked pcs, an adjustable workstation and a meeting table, it’s great place to continue your discussions or chat between classes.

Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele. Hugely popular, The KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, develop your skills and networks.

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