Learn how to evaluate and develop policies for some of the most pressing issues in society! You will study and practice ethics and philosophy of science to influence and develop policy on topics such as education, healthcare, risk management, taxation, and research.

Policy design has many different aspects that impact people and society. The world needs individuals like you who can connect facts and values, offering solutions to both common and complex problems. These skills are now more crucial than ever and form the core of our curriculum. By merging ethics, science, and policy, you study policymaking and analyze arguments for and against proposals, strengthening the case for change.

Core Skills Development

Evaluating and developing policies involves absorbing scientific findings for decision-making, applying theoretical insights to practical situations, and understanding the consequences for those affected by policy implementation. The courses are structured to prioritize your development of essential skills in:

• Summarising, critically examining, and evaluating current research literature in areas relevant to policy development.
• Describing and analyzing philosophical concepts, theories, and problems relevant to the evaluation and use of research literature.
• Presenting research findings to a broad audience.
• Developing theoretically informed reasoning in specific problem areas related to philosophical issues in policy work.
• Formulating theory-based policy recommendations and assessments of a normative question in a particular policy area based on new research.

Diverse Policy Challenges

This combination of scientific theory and normative analysis extends to many different issues such as education, healthcare, risk management, the environment, finance, and many others. For example, we examine how to measure school results from a scientific perspective and delve into ethical questions from the philosophy of education and childhood. Another example is when we discuss designing healthcare policies when resources are scarce, which involves balancing values and the latest medical research. We will also deal with questions like what taxes are just, how should research on humans be regulated, and can restrictions on migration be justified. Each course delves into new policy issues and theories in ethics and the philosophy of science.