Join this year’s cohort of MSt in Practical Ethics students – apply by 28th January to take advantage of funding opportunities.
The MSt in Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford is designed for those who want to think carefully and rigorously about important ethical questions, while remaining firmly engaged with the real world.
Ethics, Practically Understood
The course offers high-quality, part-time training in practical ethics, combining philosophical depth with real-world relevance. It is run jointly by the Uehiro Oxford Institute and Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education (Oxford Lifelong Learning), drawing on the internationally recognised research strengths of the Uehiro Institute, Ethox Centre and other world specialists.
Although the programme is highly interdisciplinary, its foundation is in philosophy, and students are trained in applying ethical theory to concrete, real-world problems.
Who Is the Course For?
One of the strengths of the MSt is the diversity of its students. Participants come from backgrounds including philosophy and bioethics, medicine and healthcare, technology, law, and public policy.
How the Course Works
Students complete six taught modules and a dissertation. One module is compulsory, while the remaining five are chosen from a range of options, allowing students to tailor the course to their interests.
Each module is taught during an intensive, week-long residential block in Oxford, with lectures, seminars, and discussion groups providing around 25 contact hours.
Independent study is a central part of the programme. While the exact workload varies, students typically spend around 16 hours per week on reading, research, and writing during teaching periods.
Studying in Oxford
As graduate students, those on the MSt have access to Oxford’s extensive academic resources. This includes the Bodleian Libraries, one of the largest library systems in the UK, with millions of printed items, vast digital holdings, and remarkable special collections.
Students also benefit from the University’s IT services, online learning tools, and access to facilities ranging from careers advice to counselling and sport. During teaching weeks, they have physical access to university buildings; beyond these periods, many resources remain available online.
The Uehiro Oxford Institute itself hosts a vibrant international community of scholars in practical ethics. Students are welcomed into this community, with access to shared workspace, seminars, and events that place their studies within a wider, ongoing conversation about ethics and public life.
Apply Before 28 January
Join this exceptional community of scholars from a wide range of backgrounds – including from medicine, law, business, environmental science, the military, government and policy makers – to develop your knowledge and skills, supported by researchers from the Oxford Uehiro Institute, the Ethox Centre, and a variety of world-class specialists.
The MSt gives you the tools to apply rigorous philosophical analysis to real-life ethical problems and provides a grounding in ethical concepts and methods, as well as in major debates in practical ethics.
Deadline for a September 2025 start: 12:00 midday UK time, 28 January 2026.