Important information This course has not yet been assigned a course code for 2027 entry, so applications are not currently open. Please check this webpage regularly for updates, including confirmation of the course code and details of when applications will open.
This interdisciplinary MA gives you a comprehensive engagement with questions of ethics, morality, public policy and law.
On our MA you will harness the University of Warwick’s excellence in moral, political, and legal philosophy across three departments (Warwick Law School, Philosophy, and Politics and International Studies). You will explore prominent normative conceptions of ethics, morality, political philosophy, and the law, and how they apply to problems and concerns in modern societies. You’ll develop an advanced ability to evaluate laws, policies, social norms, and institutional rules from normative and moral points of view; develop your analytical skills, supported by world-leading academics and research; and build a platform for successful careers in politics, law, the public sector, and business - or to pursue a PhD in philosophy, law, and political theory. The course will draw upon Warwick’s research excellence in normative enquiry conducted through the Centre for Ethics, Law and Public Affairs whose activities will be available to you.
Studying Political and Legal Theory has been an amazing experience which has allowed me to fully explore the topics I am passionate about within an incredible academic environment. Whether that has been being a part of the Centre for Ethics, Law and Public Affairs, attending well taught modules or grabbing a pint with my fellow students, studying at post-graduate level at Warwick has provided me with the tools and the space to push myself to be the best I can be.
Darcy
Political and Legal Theory MA Student (will be changing to Ethics, Law and Public Affairs MA)
Important information
We are planning to make some changes to our for 2027 entry. Changes are currently undergoing approval through the University's rigorous academic processes. As any changes are confirmed, they will be included on this webpage. It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer.
Modules
Build a deep understanding of Ethics, Law and Public Affairs by exploring key theoretical approaches and applying them to contemporary situations. You will study 3 one-term 20 credits Required Core modules in moral philosophy (taught by Philosophy), legal philosophy (Warwick Law School), and political philosophy (Politics and International Studies). You can also focus your optional modules on your degree specialism or choose options from across any of the master’s degree programmes in the three departments.
Moral Philosophy: How should we live? What does it mean to live a good life? What do we owe to each other? You will gain an advanced understanding and capacity to engage critically with the central theories of ethics and interpersonal morality, and how they might be applied to specific moral questions.
Political Philosophy: How should we live together in society and across the world? Develop your own conception of the central philosophical normative issues, such as justice and democracy, as they pertain to the political domain.
Legal Philosophy: Explore the law as a set of distinctive instruments created by governments for the regulation of people’s conduct. Consider the reasons to have a legal system and particular branches of law, and how different laws can be subject to moral evaluation.
Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.
Dissertation 60 credits In addition to the three core taught modules, another core element of the course is the MA dissertation.
In addition to the core elements of the course, students will take 3 one-term optional modules selected from those offered by the three participating departments in the particular year in question, or suitable modules from other departments.
Law has several master’s courses and offers modules that address moral and legal issues concerning human rights, gender, climate change, humanitarian law, Islamic law, and activism.
Philosophy has three MA courses and offers modules in moral and political philosophy, continental philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, the philosophy of mind, and philosophy and the arts.
PAIS has several master’s courses and offers modules in political philosophy, climate change, public policy, international development, international political economy, security, and international relations .
Teaching and learning
You’ll learn through cutting-edge insight in seminars and lectures. Plus, you’ll shape your own learning experience, working closely with leading academics offering expertise from across the three departments of Philosophy, Politics and International Studies and Warwick Law School.
Student-led seminars: develop ideas through discussion and critical debate
Research-led teaching: learn from a leading interdisciplinary academic community
Normally a maximum of 18 per seminar group in PAIS delivered modules.
6 hours of Seminars per week for 9 weeks in Terms One and Two plus advice and feedback hours when requested and Dissertation supervision in Terms Two and Three. Part-time students attend an average of 3 hours per week for 9 weeks in terms 1 and 2, plus advice and feedback hours. Dissertation supervision takes place in terms two and three of year 2. Teaching hours are spread over the two years as evenly as possible , and considering personal extra-academic constraints.
Assessment methods include research essays and other (written) assignments throughout the year, culminating in a 10,000 word dissertation at the end.
Entry requirements
2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in law, philosophy, politics, or a related subject. The term 'related subject' is a subject that provides students with some of the skills necessary to study ethics, law and politics at a master’s level. (It should be interpreted flexibly. A related subject can include, among other things, study of the social sciences or the humanities (such as international relations, development, sociology, history, geography, or economics.)
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and assessment and some student amenities.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2026/27 year of study).
Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Challenge assumptions, debate ideas and examine political issues from multiple perspectives at a department of over 80 leading academics, ranked first in the UK for ‘Research Environment’ in Politics (REF Rankings 2014, 2021). Our pluralist intellectual environment offers a wide range of MA modules delivering research-led teaching in key political questions, such as global economic governance, military conflict, and the politics of our everyday lives.
As a global Top 50 Politics department (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026), we combine academic excellence with a strong focus on employability. Through our alumni networks, career development opportunities and Warwick's outstanding reputation as the 4th most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (Graduate Market 2026), you'll be well placed for careers in government, international organisations, policy, research, communications and beyond.
Weekly guest lectures, seminars and public debates connect you with leading academics, policymakers and practitioners, while our supportive, student-focused approach helps you become a confident, independent researcher.
As a PAIS MA student you will have your own facilities, with a dedicated common room acting as a hub for students to collaborate and debate. The globally renowned PAIS academic staff are located in the Social Sciences building, right in the heart of campus next to the Library, Arts Centre, and near to our modern teaching spaces and collaborative study areas – uniting students, researchers and staff in a vibrant academic community.
Careers
Our degrees equip you with the skills and experiences needed to excel in your career. With access to exceptional career services, industry connections, and global opportunities, we’ll inspire and help you to aim high and achieve your goals. Our guidance ensures you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready for lifelong success.
Previous graduates from the Department of Politics and International Studies have gone on to work for employers such as*:
Action Aid
World Bank
UN agencies; UK and other universities
Deloitte
Office for National Statistics
Japan Ministry of Defence
Nationwide Building Society
Reddit
European Social Survey
The European Central Bank
The UK Cabinet Office
Bank of England
Church of England
Cisco
Citigroup
Department for International Trade
Department for Work and Pensions
They have pursued occupations such as the following*:
Actuaries, economists and statisticians
Business and related research professionals
Charted and certified accountants
Data analysts
Legal associate professionals
National government administrative occupations
Natural and social science professionals
Public relations professionals
Public services associate professionals
Communications officer for major NGOs
Business and financial project managers
Economist
Finance officer
Policy advisor
Compliance analyst
Advisor in human rights
Local council officer
Union campaigner
Research and development (R&D) managers
Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey, view details
*Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey, 2021/22, carried out approximately 15 months after completion of studies.
Conducted annually, Graduate Outcomes collects information on the activities and perspectives of graduates. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2024. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Your career path is unique to you. Our university careers team offer personalised support to help you develop your skills, plan your career path, and get experience at any point during your time at Warwick, and after graduation.
Our department also has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant. They offer impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
Your future awaits – the many things you can do after your degree in the PAIS department
Careers in Government and Politics
Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
Careers Q&A sessions
Assessment Centres and Interviews: an overview of what to expect for PAIS students
While this course does not offer a formal work placement, postgraduate taught students at Warwick can self-source internships and work experience to complete alongside their studies, subject to visa conditions and the 20‑hour weekly limit for full‑time students.
Opportunities can vary in length and location, including in the UK, online and internationally. Postgraduate students find that shorter, remote and/or flexible opportunities work best around their studies, often seeking opportunities over the summer when teaching decreases and the focus moves to final dissertations and projects - although this can vary depending on the nature of the course and personal preference.
Support available:
The Internships, Placements and Work Experience team provide workshops to help you to source and prepare for work opportunities, and organise peer-to-peer support so you can hear about other students’ placement experiences.
The WorkReady Toolkit guides you through the whole process, from sourcing to completing work placements.
Our Work Experience Bursary can help you cover costs if undertaking unpaid work experience.
Part-time work allows you to gain experience and additional financial support, with opportunities advertised on Warwick’s careers portal, myAdvantage and Unitemps.
Warwick students worked 286,295 paid hours via Unitemps in 25/26.
Access short-term international study, work or volunteering abroad experiences, without extending the length of your studies (duration is typically between 3 days and 12 weeks), with opportunity to apply for funding.
Students can apply to TeamWork, a four-week part-time online international experience programme, helping them to gain work experience and improve their employability skills.
Volunteer for projects which support the local community through the award-winning Warwick Volunteers.
Getting involved in societies and sports teams, especially on exec teams.
In 25/26 our jobs portal advertised 1577 12-month placements, work experience opportunities, vacation employment and volunteering from 564 employers.
Whilst there is lots of support available at the University to help, students themselves are responsible for finding and securing a suitable internship or work experience. You will also be responsible for ensuring opportunities meet visa requirements, do not exceed the universities advised 20 hours per week for full-time students and for balancing extra-curricular activity with your studies.
Our Alumni
Hear from our Alumni and discover what you could achieve studying with us. Once you graduate you’ll be joining our community of 310,000 making an impact across the globe.
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
68th
Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.
The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.
We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Explore your future university further at an upcoming event, online or in-person. Can't join? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
