This programme introduces you to many questions asked about medicine from within the humanities. For example, you examine the history of Western medicine and consider how medical practice is presented in, and shaped by, literature. You have the chance to reflect on what is involved in classifying something as a disease or an abnormal mental state, and to explore various ethical and legal problems that arise within medicine. The programme encourages you to think hard about the place of medicine in society and some of medicine's presuppositions. Medicine is one of the great human activities. The changes that medicine has undergone, and the problems and opportunities it raises, should be of interest to everyone.

The programme is aimed primarily at people with a Humanities background, but we also welcome people with medical backgrounds and current medical practitioners.

The programme is taught by scholars from many different disciplines around the University.

Course content

All students take one core module in the autumn, and then three option modules, within streamed options. Current streams include: history, law and ethics, and literature.

Once the four coursework modules are passed, you proceed to the dissertation. This can be focused within one subject stream or be interdisciplinary.

Assessment

Assessments vary across the modules. Typically the main assessment is a 5-6,000 word essay and a dissertation of 12-20,000 words.

T: +44 (0)1227 827272
E: information@kent.ac.uk

Professor Sean Sayers
Philosophy Section,
School of European Culture and Languages,
University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF, UK
T: +44 (0)1227 827785
E: s.p.sayers@kent.ac.uk

Before applying, please read our ‘How to apply’ section.

You can then go straight to the online application form by clicking the programme below:

• MA

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