Global Ethical Challenges MA

Course overview

As a global population, we face pressing ethical challenges and problems: concerning for example, climate change, public health, freedom of expression, religious freedom, reparations, global justice, the value of democracy, immigration, and terrorism. The MA Global Ethical Challenges enables you to think through these challenges rigorously and consider potential solutions in depth by analysing current policies and ways of thinking.

This postgraduate course is designed to appeal to you if you have an interest in the ethical challenges affecting us globally, or perhaps if you're thinking of undertaking PhD work in moral philosophy, political philosophy, and political and social theory with an international slant. It is also a great foundation if you have ambitions to enter international policy fields and related careers.

Our staff are active researchers in their fields and you’ll be part of a stimulating environment based around our research centres.

You’ll find plenty of resources at Leeds to inspire and inform your studies. The Special Collections housed in our Brotherton Library include extensive collections of archive and early printed material, and you’ll also have access to a wide range of journals, recordings, books and digital resources to assist you during your course.

This course is also available to study part-time over 24 months.

Scholarships

The University offers a range of Postgraduate funding opportunities to help support you during your time studying with us.

Across our Faculty, we also have a number of generous awards and scholarships.

Course details

The course’s two core modules – Moral and Political Philosophy in a Global Context I and Moral and Political Philosophy in a Global Context II – are suitable for you, whether you've studied philosophy before, or have philosophical interests and prior qualifications (or relevant professional experience) in religious studies, politics, sociology, history, global studies, international relations, PPE, liberal arts, business and finance, or economics. These modules, delivered by expert moral and political philosophers, discuss key concepts and theories, such as human welfare, political legitimacy, liberty, justice, and the value of equality. You'll then go on to build on this theoretical basis to address a range of global ethical challenges.

You'll also have a wide choice of more specialist modules, enabling you to follow your own interests throughout your course. You'll be taught by philosophers, religious studies scholars, and social scientists on topics such as:

• War, Terror and Justice

• Religion, Gender and Sexuality

• Religions and Global Development

• Global Environmental Ethics

• Global Politics of Health

• Gender, Globalisation and Development

• International Political Economy

• Conflict, Complex Emergencies and Global Governance

• Global Justice; and Racism, Decoloniality and Migration

You'll also write a dissertation on a topic of your choice related to the course content.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Global Ethical Challenges MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Global Ethical Challenges MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

Most of our modules are taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, where you can discuss the issues arising from your reading with fellow students and your tutor.

You’ll also have one-to-one supervisions while you work on your dissertation. Independent study is also an important element of the course, allowing you to develop your skills and pursue your own interests more closely.

Watch our MA Philosophy and MA Global Ethical Challenges subject talk to get a flavour of what it’s like to study at Leeds.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline, such as philosophy, religious studies, theology, sociology or politics. Relevant professional experience will also be taken into consideration.

A personal statement in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form.

Our admissions team are experienced in considering a wide range of international qualifications. If you wish to discuss whether your qualifications will meet the necessary entry criteria, contact the School’s admissions team. You can also check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures receives very large numbers of high-quality applications and regrets that it cannot make offers to all of its applicants. Some particularly popular schools may have to reject many that hold the necessary academic qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Please see our How to Apply page for information about application deadlines.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Contact us

Postgraduate Administration Office

Email: prhs_pgenquiries@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £11,500 (Total)

International: £24,500 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

You may be eligible for scholarships or other financial support. Please see our funding and scholarships page for more information.

Career opportunities

This course will equip you with a range of in-depth subject knowledge, but it will also allow you to develop high-level skills in research, analysis, interpretation and communication.

All of these qualities are valuable to a range of employers across sectors and industries, and we’re proud of our record in preparing postgraduates for their careers after graduation. They’ve gone into roles such as teaching, consultancy, business management, administration, accountancy, law, journalism and the civil service among others.

Many of our graduates also progress to further study, and ultimately pursue academic careers.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.