Study
King’s College London offers a number of opportunities to study topics related to philosophy and medicine in the pursuit of a degree. See below for information on relevant programmes in the Philosophy Department and elsewhere.
Programmes in the
Philosophy Department
MPhil/PhD in Philosophy
“King’s College London offers the possibility of completing a MPhil/PhD in Philosophy with a research specialism in Philosophy of Medicine. There are opportunities for collaboration with the Sowerby Philosophy and Medicine Project throughout, including teaching philosophy to medical students.”
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MA in Philosophy of Medicine and Psychiatry
“The course provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the Philosophy of Medicine and Psychiatry as well as studying other fascinating areas of Philosophy, selected from a broad range of modules and covering all areas of the subject. Geared to philosophy graduates, medical and other graduates, the course introduces them to key concepts, arguments, texts and techniques in the Philosophy of Medicine and Psychiatry.”
Funding for Doctoral Degrees
Harold Moody Studentship
“King’s College London and the Centre for Doctoral Studies is launching four new studentships to support underrepresented communities within postgraduate research students in two faculties: Arts & Humanities and Social Science & Public Policy. UK-permanent residents from the following groups can apply: Black British, Black or Black British African, Black or Black British Caribbean, Black or Black British other or Mixed Black.”
Peter Sowerby Studentship 2021-2022
“King’s College London invites applications for one funded, three-year PhD in Philosophy, in association with Philosophy & Medicine Project, which is generously supported by the Peter Sowerby Foundation and chaired by Professor Elselijn Kingma. The studentship is open to students proposing a research project in any research area in philosophy with impact, application, and significance in relation to medicine, nursing or midwifery. ”
British Society for the Philosophy of Science (BSPS) Scholarship
“The British Society for the Philosophy of Science offers scholarships for doctoral work in the philosophy of science at a UK university, subject to a candidate of sufficient merit presenting themselves. Scholarships are only available to students applying to degree programmes in philosophy or in philosophy of science.”
London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) Studentships
“LAHP is a Doctoral Training Partnership co-funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and eight Higher Education Institution (HEI) partners. LAHP funds up to 90 PhD studentships each year at these HEIs in subjects across the Arts & Humanities. Of these studentships, 10% are Collaborative Doctoral Awards with a cultural or other external partner. There are separate competitions for CDA and open studentships.”
Joint PhD Scholarships
“Three scholarships are available for the 2020/21 academic year for students applying to joint PhD programmes run in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore or the University of Sao Paulo, with King's as their home institution. The King's Joint PhD Scholarship provides full tuition fees, stipend and an annual research grant.”
Wellcome Trust Doctoral Studentships
“This scheme enables researchers to undertake humanities or social science doctoral degrees in any area of health. You can apply for a Doctoral Studentship if you want to complete a 3 year PhD in any humanities or social science area on a topic related to health. At the point of applying, you should hold, or expect to hold, a relevant Master's degree, or have equivalent research experience.”
Programmes in
Other Departments
MSc in Bioethics and Society
“Advances in biomedicine, neuroscience, and public health raise some of the most difficult ethical and societal questions today. The Bioethics & Society course allows you to study these questions through a unique interdisciplinary approach drawing on concepts, theories, and methods from philosophy and the social sciences, in a global health context. This will enable you to understand how bioethics influences the world, and how you can make an impact in the world.”
Find out more here
MSc in Global Health and Social Justice
“Our Global Health & Social Justice course is a unique study pathway that combines anthropology, philosophy, sociology and science technology studies. Covering topics such as inequalities in preventable mortality, disability, climate change, reproductive rights, pandemic preparedness and access to health care across countries, it will help you to develop advanced skills in the critical analysis and possible solutions for global health inequalities.”
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MA in Medical Ethics and Law
“Our MA in Medical Ethics and Law focuses on the legal and ethical questions raised in the context of medicine. These include debates about: consent and those who lack capacity; duties of care relating to treatment and to information disclosure; the treatment of children and adolescents; assisted reproduction and abortion; assisted suicide, euthanasia and end of life decisions; psychiatric ethics and mental health law; organ donation; autonomy and public health; and the allocation of scarce resources.”
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MSc in Mental Health, Ethics and Law
“Our Mental Health, Ethics and Law MSc course is delivered by two internationally recognised centres of excellence and provides an integrated, strongly interdisciplinary, education in mental health, ethics and law. It equips graduates to become leaders in healthcare, mental health law or policy.
You will have the unique opportunity to study alongside others from a wide range of academic and professional disciplines at the heart of London’s legal and psychiatric world.”
Medicine MBBS
The medical curriculum at King’s is exceptional in many areas. As a medical student, you will have access to renowned teaching hospitals, world-leading experts, a campus in the heart of London, excellent anatomy teaching including dissection, clinical skills training and patient contact from early on, a vibrant student society scene, and much more.
King’s is also a great choice for those wanting to integrate humanities and social sciences in their studies, offering perhaps more opportunities to do so than any other medical school. Check out our resources for medics page for more information about how philosophy features in the medical curriculum at King’s.