Program Overview

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MA Medical Ethics & Law

Overview

The MA Medical Ethics & Law, established in 1978, examines in depth the legal and ethical questions raised by medical practice and science. The Medical Law only programme is a pathway under the MA Medical Ethics & Law. Students can decide at the point of module selection which programme they wish to pursue (ethics and law; or law only, with the option of taking two ethics modules).

Key Information

• Study mode: Full time, Part time
• Duration: One year full-time, September to September, two years part-time
• Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 180/ECTS 90
• Application status: Open
• Start date: September 2025

Course Essentials

• The MA Medical Ethics & Law focuses on the legal and ethical questions raised by medical practice and science.
• The Medical Law only programme is a pathway under the MA Medical Ethics & Law.
• Students can decide at the point of module selection which programme they wish to pursue (ethics and law; or law only, with the option of taking two ethics modules).

Base Campuses

• Strand Campus: Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
• Waterloo Campus: Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties.

Regulating Bodies

• King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree.
• Programme-Specific Requirements: 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, e.g. law, medicine, philosophy, theology, social science, one of the life sciences, dentistry or nursing studies.
• Alternative qualifications: Evidence of achievement of an academic level comparable to at least upper second class honours standard through past studies and where previous study, work or experience has made the applicant a suitable candidate, will also be considered.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view equivalent qualifications.

English Language Requirements

• English language band: B
• To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment.
• Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test.

Selection Process

• Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
• Personal statement and supporting information:
  • Personal Statement: Yes, A personal statement is required.
  • Previous Academic Study: Yes, A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained.
  • References: Yes, One academic reference is required.
  • Other: Optional, You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

Teaching & Structure

• Teaching methods: Seminars, Self-Study, Lectures, Tutorials, Independent Research.
• Full-time: You will take 8 semester-long(15 credit) taught modules across the year, which makes an average of 4 taught modules per semester or 8 seminar hours a week (2 hours per module).
• Part-time: You will study Ethics modules in your first year (usually mostly on Thursdays), and Law modules in your second year (usually mostly on Tuesdays).

Assessment

• Coursework
• Exams
• Dissertation

Structure

Required Modules

• Dissertation in Medical Ethics and Law (60 credits)
• Medical Law I: Consent, Refusal and Request (15 credits)
• Moral Theory & Medical Ethics (15 credits)

Optional Modules

• Law modules offered may include:
  • Mental Health and Capacity Law: The Civil Context (15 credits)
  • Law at the End of Life (15 credits)
  • Law and Reproduction (15 credits)
  • Medical Law II: Negligence & Misadventure (15 credits)
  • Criminal Law and Mental Disorder (15 credits)
• Ethics modules for an MA in Medical Ethics & Law may include:
  • Mental Health Ethics (15 credits)
  • Ethics and Politics of the Body (15 credits)
  • Ethics (15 credits)
  • Global Health Ethics (15 credits)
  • Public Health, Autonomy and Resource Allocation (15 credits)
  • Reproductive Ethics (15 credits)

Careers

• Many alumni have gone on to work in policy-related roles including positions at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the Human Tissue Authority, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and the Department of Health and Social Care.
• Several alumni have also worked in the BMA Ethics Department, for the GMC, Progress Educational Trust, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the King’s Fund, and medical defense societies.
• Others have progressed to PhD studies.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK: Full time: £13,500 per year (2025/26), Part time: £6,750 per year (2025/26)
• International: Full time: £31,600 per year (2025/26), Part time: £15,800 per year (2025/26)

Deposit

• If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place.
• The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

Additional Costs

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies and/or binding costs
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Funding

• To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.