We have developed a strongly interdisciplinary course designed to investigate the interface between mental health, law and ethics at a theoretical level and to engage directly with the dilemmas and experience of illness encountered in practice. Our Mental Health, Ethics and Law course will expand your understanding both within and beyond your own disciplines, and will provide you with the skills necessary to analyse and critique current law, practice and policy in relation to mental health.
Our course is for anyone concerned with mental health who wishes to study the clinical, ethical and legal thinking behind current law, policy and clinical practice. It has been designed for health professionals, lawyers, policy makers and all those with a relevant first degree who are keen to consider the difficult questions raised by mental health and society’s response.
You will be taught mostly through lectures and seminar-style teaching.
The following information will give you an idea of what a typical academic week might look like.
Full time
There will be 6-8 hours per week of lectures, seminars and feedback. Students are expected to spend 32-34 hours per week engaged in self-study.
Part time
There will be 4-6 hours per week of lectures, seminars and feedback. Students are expected to spend 14-16 hours per week engaged in self-study.
Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks (1 reading week per semester may apply depending on module choices), whereas self-study time is based on 31 academic weeks.
The total notional study hours for the MSc are 1800 (typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work). Notional study hours comprise formal teaching and learning activities, such as lectures and tutorials, as well as assessments and independent research and study.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of examinations and coursework.
About half of the modules offered will be assessed by a two- or three-hour exam. The other modules are assessed through coursework. In addition to coursework and exams, a percentage of your final mark may be based on assignments (such as presentations or reaction papers) given in-class.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.
Regulating Body
King's College is regulated by the HIgher Education Funding Council for England.