About this course
Enhance your knowledge of issues in business and organisational ethics. Explore fundamental concepts in the philosophy of value and management. You’ll examine issues in current management practices and a range of modern ethical and political challenges.
Our rapidly changing world raises difficult ethical questions for businesses. These include debates surrounding the treatment of employees and customers, and concerns about advancing technologies like artificial intelligence. This course will prepare you to engage critically with this evolving world of work and the ethical questions it poses.
You’ll have the opportunity to:
- examine philosophical questions surrounding markets and trade
- delve into the ethics of relationships between parties, including employers, employees, and customers
- learn to think critically about practical ethical questions and offer solutions
- graduate with skills well suited for the modern workplace, particularly positions of management
You'll also have the option to take modules that explore the creative and cultural industries. This could include the literary world, film, or the music industry.
When you complete this course, you'll have a strong understanding of core topics surrounding ethics in business and more general ethical theory.
Beyond preparing you for a wide variety of careers, you'll be ideally positioned to pursue leadership roles across most domains.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
Course lead
Your course leader is Dr. Brian McElwee, Lecturer in Philosophy. His research interests include normative ethics, applied ethics, and the history of moral philosophy. Read Dr. McElwee's staff profile to find out more about his work.
Learn more about this subject area
Southampton allowed me to tailor my degree to the things that I care about- so I can leave University knowing that I spent my time on things that were relevant to me!
Course location
This course is based at Avenue.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the Course Description Document
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
A 2:2 degree or equivalent in a business, humanities, or social sciences subject.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 6.0
- writing
- 6.0
- speaking
- 6.0
- listening
- 6.0
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before you start your course.
Pre-masters
If you don’t meet direct entry requirements, you can apply to complete a Pre-Master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the programme. Find out more about Pre-Master's programmes for international students.
Got a question?
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
This course is normally studied over 1 year full-time but may also be taken on a part-time basis for a period of 2 years.
Your studies will be split into two parts.
In part 1 (semesters 1 and 2), you'll study the taught part of the course. You'll choose:
- one module in general ethical theory, either 'Fundamentals of Ethical Theory' or 'Philosophy of Value'
- at least two modules in business ethics, from: 'Business, Morality, and Markets'; 'Ethics at Work: Customers, Companies, and Cooperation'; and 'Organisational Ethics and the Philosophy of Management'
You'll also take a module in 'Research Skills in Philosophy', and tailor your degree to your interests with further optional modules.
In part 2, you’ll undertake a dissertation in philosophical issues regarding business and/or management.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
For entry in academic year 2026 to 2027
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules :
Philosophy Dissertation
Research Skills in Philosophy
You must also choose from the following modules :
Business, Morality, and Markets
Classical Chinese Philosophy
Classical Indian Philosophy: Self, Knowledge, and Liberation
Communicating the Cultural Industries
Contemporary Theories of Justice
Corporate Finance and Investment
Crime and Punishment
Current Issues in Film Distribution and Exhibition
Data Management for Humanities Research
Ethics at Work: Customers, Companies, and Cooperation
Fundamentals of Ethical Theory
Global Challenges in Context: Conflict and Security
Global Challenges in Context: Energy and Environment
Global Challenges in Historical Context: Identity and Rights
Global Challenges in Historical Context: Migration and Asylum
Global Entrepreneurship
Global Music Industries
Green Political Thought: Humans and other stories
Happiness and Wellbeing
Islamic Philosophy
Literature, Publishing and New Media
Managing within a Global Context
Methods in Humanities Data Science
Music Management Fundamentals
Organisational Ethics and Philosophy of Management
Philosophical Pessimism
Philosophy and Ethics in Psychology and AI
Philosophy of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender
Placement Module
Public Ethics and Public Policy
Strategic Operations Management
Text as Data
The Ethics of Belief: Evidence, Truth, and Ideology
The Ethics of Climate Change
The Philosophy of Value
Learning and assessment
Learning
The learning activities for this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Assessment
We’ll assess you through:
- essays
- presentations
- a dissertation
Academic Support
We'll assign you a personal academic tutor, and you'll have access to a senior tutor.
Careers and employability
Employability skills
This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.
The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:
- Research
- Critical thinking
- Self-management
- Communication
- Creativity
- Problem solving
The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
Download skills overview
Career pathways
Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:
financial services,
Professional and Consultancy Services,
Local government,
national government bodies,
regional councils,
museums,
universities,
schools,
colleges,
tourism,
heritage service providers,
charitable organisations.
- Consultant
- Corporate social responsibility manager
- Financial risk analyst
- Social researcher
- Policy officer
- Business analyst
- University lecturer
- Academic researcher
- Secondary school teacher
- Project manager
- Recruitment consultant
- Careers adviser
- Human resources officer
- Intelligence analyst
- Marketing executive
- Account manager
- Local government officer
- Management consultant
- Political assistant
- Assistant economist
- Senior audit associate
- Business analyst
- Business development manager
- Data analyst
- IT resourcer
- Research Advisor
- Business development manager
- Trainee accountant
- Market analyst
Job prospects for MA Global Business Ethics And Philosophy Of Management graduates
*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.
Work experience opportunities
Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.
Careers services and support
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV and interview skills and workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £11,500.
- EU and international students pay £26,200.
Deposit
If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.
Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.
Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.
Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
10% alumni discount
If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.
Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship
There are 40 scholarships available to international students applying to study an undergraduate or postgraduate master's degree in an arts or humanities subject. Successful applicants will get £10,000 towards their tuition fees.
Find out more about the Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship, including eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.
Southampton Philosophy David Humphris-Norman Scholarship
Up to 3 scholarships of £3,000 are available to UK students studying for a postgraduate master’s degree in Global Business Ethics and the Philosophy of Management.
Find out more about the Southampton Philosophy David Humphris-Norman Scholarship, including eligibility and conditions.
There is 1 scholarship of £9250 available to UK students studying an eligible Philosophy postgraduate master’s degree.
Learn more about eligibility and the terms and conditions of our Philosophy MA Scholarship.
Other postgraduate funding options
A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
- Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
- Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal.
- Search for the course you want to apply for.
- Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
- Submit your application.
For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.
Application deadlines
UK students
The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 2 September 2026, midday UK time.
We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.
International students
The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 19 August 2026, midday UK time.
We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.
Application assessment fee
There is no application assessment fee for postgraduate courses starting in 2026.
Supporting information
When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.
You’ll need to include information about:
- your knowledge of the subject area
- why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
- how you intend to use your qualification
You'll also need to submit two academic references.
Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.
What happens after you apply
You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.
We will aim to send you a decision 6 weeks after you have submitted your application.
If we offer you a place, you will need to accept the offer within 30 working days. If you do not meet this deadline, we will offer your place to another applicant.
Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour Policy.
Got a question?
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000