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MA Ethics: Theory and Practice

MA (NFQ Level 9)
Sustainable Development Goals

This course is available through the following application route(s)

Duration:
1 Year
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Arts
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Duration:
2 Years
Attendance:
Part-Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Arts
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Apply Now

The MA Ethics,Theory and Practice is offered by UCD Centre for Ethics in Public Life (CEPL) in association with UCD School of Philosophy providing philosophical training in Ethics, as well as enabling students to experience a context for professional Ethics through inter-disciplinary elements of the programme. Ethics is understood broadly as the study of how to act well, and includes elements of moral philosophy and political/social theory.

Graduates of this programme will be well-placed to understand and help deal with ethical issues in areas such as government, healthcare, business, agriculture, planning, education, law and journalism. Graduates will also have had the opportunity to develop a theoretical understanding of the nature of Ethics and its place in human life more generally. Having an understanding of Ethics, both at the level of theory and in its practical contexts is of obvious benefit in a very wide variety of career paths.

About This Course

There is one core module entitled:  'Ethics in Public Life' (PHIL41510).  In addition students must select three modules from a list of Philosophy Ethics modules , as well as one other MA Philosophy module and two modules from a list of modules provided by other disciplines.

Graduates of our Philosophy Masters programmes have gone on to pursue successful careers in journalism, the civil service, industry, teaching, AI and technology, politics and consultancy. The MA in Ethics: Theory and Practice may be particularly suited for people wanting to work in regulation agencies and NGOs as well as areas of business and public service that have an ethical component.
Graduates should be well placed to offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training in Ethics themselves. Ethical practice, good ethical judgement and responsibility is a highly significant aspect of all workplaces and in public life more generally.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PHIL41510 Ethics in Public Life: Technology & Human Health Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 PHIL40030 Dissertation Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 20CR:
Philosophical Ethics Options: Students should choose at least two of the modules listed below.
 PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philosophy: Phenomenology, Intersubjectivity & Embodiment Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 20CR:
Philosophical Ethics Options: Students should choose at least two of the modules listed below.
 PHIL41810 Critique, Destruction & Deconstruction Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 20CR:
Philosophical Ethics Options: Students should choose at least two of the modules listed below.
 PHIL40420 The Good Society Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 20CR:
Philosophical Ethics Options: Students should choose at least two of the modules listed below.
 PHIL40840 Autonomy as a Philosophical Problem Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 20CR:
Philosophical Ethics Options: Students should choose at least two of the modules listed below.
 PHIL41970 18th Century Moral Philosophy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 EDUC41520 Children's Rights & Participation Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 EQUL40310 Masculinities, Gender and Equality Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 MKT30150 Responsible Marketing Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 PSY40270 Ethics in Psychological Research Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 EQUL40070 Human Rights Law and Equality Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 IS40970 AI & Ethics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 IS41020 Information Ethics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR:
Interdisciplinary Options: Students should choose 10 credits from the list below.
 POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL40410 Philosophy & Literature Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL40970 Topics in Philosophy of Mind and Cognition Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philosophy: Phenomenology, Intersubjectivity & Embodiment Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL41980 Foundations of Cognitive Science Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL41530 Reading and Research Autumn&Spring&Summer(separate)  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL31230 Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL40250 Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL41240 John Henry Newman - Philosophical Perspectives Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL41950 Philosophy of Religion Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0CR:
Philosophy Option: Students should choose one or two other Philosophy modules if they have taken less than 40 credits from the Philosophical Ethics list. Students must consult their supervisor before taking PHIL41530 Reading and Research, then contact the School Office to be manually registered. You should not register for this module online.
 PHIL42000 Empirical Methods in the Mind Sciences Spring  10

UCD is strongly committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), embedding sustainability in teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Sustainability principles are integrated into this programme, ensuring students graduate equipped to address global challenges. UCD’s leadership in this area is internationally recognised, ranking 47th globally and 27th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026. UCD also leads impactful research in areas such as climate action, clean energy, and social equity, supported by a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy focused on reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable campus culture.

Here are the SDGs which align more visibly with this programme:

 

SDG1 SDG2 SDG3 SDG4 SDG5 SDG8 SDG10 SDG 12 SDG 17

Assistant Professor Danielle Petherbridge
Director, UCD Centre for Ethics in Public Life

We are all likely to face ethical situations in everyday life, at work, and in the various institutions in which we participate. The ethical decisions we make may have an impact that goes beyond our immediate environment, affecting individuals, local communities, society and the environment. Even small decisions may have a significant impact. Being able to act and make decisions in an ethical manner is important from the perspective of personal integrity, but it is also of enormous value to the success and good governance of the organisations for which we work or institutions in which we participate.

In this MA program we explore ethical challenges that arise in a range of situations, professional environments and institutions. You will be introduced to key notions and views in ethics, as well the basis of good decision-making practices, problem-solving and ethical forms of reasoning. You will also develop an understanding of how ethical frameworks are applied in practical contexts.

MA Ethics: Theory and Practice (W398) Full Time
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MA Ethics: Theory and Practice (W399) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5710
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

This programme is intended for students with a primary degree in Philosophy, or in another degree that has significant philosophical components; an upper second class honours, or international equivalent is required.

  • To qualify for a place on the MA in Ethics :Theory and Practice, students must hold a primary degree with at least a 2.1 (or international equivalent ), involving a significant amount of philosophy.

 

  •  Candidates with an upper second class honours in a postgraduate conversion course such as a Higher Diploma in Philosophy may be considered. MA students may be required to attend an interview either via Zoom or in person.

 

  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), orequivalent. University English language requirements apply for students whose first language is not English 
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MA Ethics: Theory and Practice:

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W398
MA Ethics: Theory and Practice
Master of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W399
MA Ethics: Theory and Practice
Master of Arts

Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsApply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W398
MA Ethics: Theory and Practice
Master of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2027
Graduate Taught
Opens 01 Oct 2026
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W399
MA Ethics: Theory and Practice
Master of Arts

Part-Time
Commencing September 2027
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsOpens 01 Oct 2026
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