Course overview
- Pursue a flexible and interdisciplinary course which covers both healthcare ethics and law.
- Develop your interest in healthcare ethics and law – both from a UK and a global perspective.
- Flexible, online programme with no requirement to attend classes on campus.
Institutional Accreditation
University of Newcastle is accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission (DETC), www.detc.org.uk Since , University of Newcastle has been continually accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.
Course Level:
Master of Arts (MA)
Course
CODE 12014
How long it takes:
2 years (part-time)
Study Mode:
Distance learning/ Campus
Entry requirements
Find out more about
Department:
Newcastle Law School
Course unit details
You will be required to complete 180 credits: 120 credits comprised of taught course units (each of 15 or 30 credits value) and the independent research element (dissertation) worth 60 credits. On the distance learning course, you complete 60 credits of taught course units in the first year and 60 credits in the second year, together with a dissertation of between 12,000 – 15,000 words, which is undertaken over the summer months in Year 2.
The core course units are:
- Philosophical Bioethics (30 credits)
- Medico-Legal Problems (30 credits)
- International Issues in Healthcare Ethics and Law (30 credits)
You must choose optional course units to a total value of 30 credits from the following list:
Law-based: Medicine, Law and Society (15 credits); Mental Health Law and Policy (15 credits)
Ethics-based: Research Ethics (15 credits); Ethics Genetics and Genomics (15 credits)
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophical Bioethics (Distance-Learning) | CSEP60103 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Medico-Legal Problems (Distance Learning) | CSEP60113 | 30 | Mandatory |
| International Issues in Health Care Law and Ethics (Distance Learning) | CSEP60293 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Research Ethics | CSEP60033 | 15 | Optional |
| Ethics, Genetics and Genomics | CSEP60043 | 15 | Optional |
| Mental Health Law and Policy | CSEP60243 | 15 | Optional |
| Medicine, Law & Society | CSEP60253 | 15 | Optional |
Academic entry qualification overview
MA applicants must hold a minimum Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject (eg medicine, law, philosophy, nursing, religious studies).
If you hold a relevant degree but do not reach the entry qualification for the MA, you may apply for the Postgraduate Diploma .
If you initially enrolled on the Postgraduate Diploma, you will be considered for transfer to the MA course. A decision as to whether transfer can take place will be made once marks for all taught components are available. Transfer is dependent upon you reaching master’s level in the taught course units.
English language
- IELTS – overall score of 7, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5;
- TOEFL IBT 103 with 28 in writing and no further score below 25 in each section. TOEFL code for Newcastle is 0757.
- Pearson – overall 73 with 73 in writing and no further score below 66
Scores are valid for 2 years.
Please note that CAS statements are issued only when all conditions of the offer have been satisfied, PDF copy of passport received and the offer accepted.
- MA (part-time distance learning)
UK/EU students (per annum): £4,750 per annum
International students (per annum): £9,500 per annum - PGDip (part-time distance learning)
UK/EU students (per annum): £3,167 per annum
International students (per annum): £6,334 per annum
Assessment
You’ll show your progress through a combination of written essays, problem-solving assignments and presentations.
All students take our core modules, but please note that the availability of optional modules is subject to demand.
Career opportunities
Successful graduates of the MA are able to progress within a wide variety of roles in the medical, legal and ethical fields.
Graduates from previous years have, for example, proceeded to specialise in medico-legal practice and academic careers, and the degrees have enhanced the careers of health care professionals.