Course description
"I love the flexibility of the online course. It means you can fit it in around work and family commitments. I love working through the course material and the tutors are really helpful and supportive if you get stuck."
"Having come from a science background it is a completely different type of studying to what I have been used to, but the material is set out to take into account the fact that some students will not have a philosophy or legal background."
Katy Wilson / Healthcare Ethics and Law MA student
The MA in Healthcare Ethics and Law will provide you with expert knowledge and understanding of ethical and medico-legal theories, and the skills needed to apply them to real-world scenarios, in a diverse range of contexts.
You will study a variety of ethical and legal subjects including:
- autonomy;
- consent;
- refusal of treatment;
- confidentiality;
- the moral status of the foetus;
- resource allocation;
- genetic testing;
- HIV testing;
- medical malpractice;
- clinical negligence;
- organ and tissue transplantation;
- fertility treatment;
- genetic manipulation;
- research ethics;
- stem cell research;
- euthanasia.
Aims
- To offer you the opportunity to gain a comprehensive knowledge and firm understanding of healthcare ethics and healthcare law.
- Provide you with the opportunity to gain the skills needed to apply your understanding to real-world scenarios in a diverse range of contexts.
- Help develop the skills needed for research and academic writing.
Special features
Flexible, online course structure with the ongoing support of dedicated tutors to allow students to study alongside work and other commitments.
Teaching and learning
You will be provided with a comprehensive set of course materials at the beginning of each course unit. These interactive, specially designed materials provide an introduction to the issues and skills central to each unit and direct you to other study components such as further reading.
Each unit is supported by a virtual learning environment where you can access all course materials, online reading lists, podcasts, and the University's extensive online library . You are encouraged to use the virtual learning environment to discuss issues raised in the course materials with your course tutor and fellow students. Tutors are also available to provide one to one support by telephone, zoom and email.
You can also attend an optional study day that is held each year, giving you an opportunity to meet with tutors and students on our Manchester campus. You are also welcome to attend the regular research seminars that take place on campus during term time.
Please review the technical requirements to prepare for a successful learning journey with us.
Find the answers to our frequently asked questions about studying online.
Coursework and assessment
All course units are assessed by written coursework.
MA/LLM students must also submit a supervised 10,000 to 12,000-word dissertation by independent research (60 credits). As a part-time student, you will undertake a dissertation in the summer months of Year 2. If you do not achieve success in the MA/LLM, you may be considered for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits). The award of the MA/LLM is classified according to pass, merit or distinction.
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 10-12,000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation by Independent Research | CSEP60083 | 60 | Mandatory |
| 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 |
Additional fee information
Fees for Sep 26 are:
MA/LLM: £15,200
PGDip: £10,200
PGCert: £5,000
The advertised fee covers your tuition. It does not cover any other expenses that you may incur when attending face-to-face conferences/workshops/masterclasses/field trips.
Alumni discounts:
The University of Manchester provides alumni discounts for further study:
- Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount (10%): If you completed your undergraduate studies at The University of Manchester or Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met), or you’re currently in your final year at either institution, you may be eligible.
In some cases, this discount can be combined with other course-specific discounts. Please check the eligibility criteria onour Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount page .
- Alumni Discount for Online Courses (up to 15%): If you have successfully completed a credit-bearing qualification at The University of Manchester or UMIST, you may be eligible for an alumni discount of up to 15% on tuition fees for online courses. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.
Additionaldiscounts:
- Application discount (10%): Apply on or before 30 June 2026 to receive 10% reduction on your tuition fee. To be eligible, you will need to submit your application on or before 30 June 2026 and if offered a place, you will need to accept your offer within two weeks from the date of the offer.
- NHS employee discount (10%): To receive an NHS discount on your tuition fees you must fit our eligibility criteria and provide evidence to support your discount claim. To process your discount claim, our admissions team must receive a letter from your employer, detailing your employment and contract type. This letter must be sent from a workplace email on official headed paper to verify your employment status. To qualify for the discount you must be employed at the start of the course and evidence must be provided before a discount is granted.
Please note: The Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount can be combined with one of the above discounts, potentially saving you up to 20% on your tuition fees.
Discounts and scholarships policy
Discounts and scholarships are not cumulative. If you qualify for more than one, you will be awarded the one that is the highest amount.
Explore more funding options
Visit our funding pages to learn about financial support for online students, including available funding opportunities, payment plans, and answers to common questions.
Scholarships and bursaries
Find information on master's tuition fees and studying costs, as well as funding and scholarships available to help you plan your finances.
One-discount policy: Discounts and scholarships are not accumulative. If you qualify for more than one, you will be awarded the one that is the highest amount.
Manchester Master's Bursary (UK)
We're committed to helping students access further education.
Explore more funding options
Visit our funding pages to learn about financial support for online students, including available funding opportunities, payment plans, and answers to common questions.
What our students say
Facilities
At The University of Manchester Law School, you are supported by the first-class resources you would expect of a top law school. In addition to the networked study spaces at the Williamson Building, you can access The University of Manchester Library, which houses a substantial collection of law books and periodicals, as well as texts to support all the degrees we offer.
As a distance-learner you will have full access to the virtual learning environment where you can access all course materials, online reading lists, podcasts, and the University's online library, as well as communicate with your classmates and tutors.