What do current students think about the programme?
The programme admitted its first cohort of students in January 2007. Below are some of comments that past and current students have made about the programme. If you would like to ask our students any questions get in touch with Rebecca.Bennett@manchester.ac.uk who will put you in touch with one of our students. For more information about the students we have here at CSEP, their backgrounds and their research projects click on the following link: CSEP PhD student profiles
"Manchester’s reputation in research is acclaimed the world over. Besides, the quest for excellence has meant a huge investment into research, infrastructure, and the recruiting of the very best of the world’s most renowned academics in almost every discipline. These have acted in combination with my personal experience of the excellence and quality of education in Manchester to make it the only choice for me. No wonder it is the first University I always recommend. One couldn’t ask for more in a University where Noble Prize winners are, arguably, ubiquitous.
The School of Law, Centre for Social Ethics & Policy (CSEP)/ Institute of Science, Ethics and Innovation (ISEI), in particular, is one of the best in the world with some of the world’s most renowned academics in Bioethics and Law including a Nobel Prize Laureate. Also, it has a uniquely structured PhD programme which combines a traditional PhD thesis with publications and provides one the opportunity not only to do a cutting-edge postgraduate research into contemporary and classical issues in Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence but also to be a published academic, an attraction most academics may find difficult to resist."
Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, BSc, LLB, MBChB (Legon- Ghana) 2012 Cohort (Full-time)
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"When I decided to study for a PhD in Bioethics The University of Manchester was my first choice. The staff are not only forerunners in their field but are friendly and approachable, the possibilities for skills enrichment are second to none and the sheer volume of departmental seminars, guest speakers and lectures have served to inspire and motivate me in my own work. The structure of the PhD, with its compulsory taught elements, has also meant that whilst PhD study is a notoriously lonely affair, I have not found this to be the case and support is willingly and often given by both staff members and my peers. Being such a large university as well the opportunities for funding and teaching experience are brilliant. As such I have not regretted my choice to live and study in this vibrant city for one moment."
Nicola Jane Williams 2011 cohort (Full time)
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“I came to do this Ph.D. after 30 years of working in and around the NHS because of my interest in bioethics and law. I have found it very stimulating and enjoyable. One of the best things about it is being in a group with other people doing the same thing. It's very good to have seminars with the other students, and the departmental staff also involve us in their seminars on the publications they are working on. Listening to other people explain their research, and challenge each others’ research, really helps you think about how to argue an ethical or legal case, and makes you feel part of a research community. It also makes a Ph.D. much less lonely! I wasn't sure at first about doing a structured Ph.D. with publications in journals rather than a normal thesis. But now that I've understood how it's still possible to "tell a story" and get published, I think that works really well.”
Malcolm Oswald 2011 cohort (Full-time)
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"I am a Phd student in my first year of the Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence PhD program. The biggest attraction for me to this program was the fact that it relies in publications and collegial integration. You really feel a part of the School and you get to meet other PhD students at monthly events of one sort or another. I really think that the being in such an environment gives you plenty of support and comments in writing your first articles. You are a researcher from the very start, and this is a great benefit for any student to be treated in such a way."
Sam Walker 2011 cohort (Full-time)
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"One aspect of the programme that I am very grateful for is the access we have to a community of people with a wide range of expertise and interests. As a result of this community, we have opportunities to learn and receive feedback in different forums, from conferences, seminars/workshops and cohort meetings to one-on-one guidance. Undertaking a PhD is primarily a solitary endeavour, but this programme ensures that you don't become isolated and stranded.
Another feature of the programme that makes it stand out from others is its structure. I really appreciate the fact that by breaking down a thesis into 3-4 articles, it stands us in good stead for publishing in the future."
Yan Yan Leung 2010 cohort (Full-time)
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"I enjoy the supportive community of peers and staff, and the fact that the programmeis well structured and well run."
Dr Jacques SinFat Tamin TD 2010 cohort (Part-time)
MBChB, MA(Law), MA(Ethics),LLM, FRCP,FFOM, MRCGP, CMIOSH
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"My background is in science, physics & bioinformatics. I took a masters in physics as a student, & later, in mid-career, a part-time masters in bioinformatics, while working in an unrelated field (small business, & I had worked in IT). My intention at that point was to continue on to a PhD in bioinformatics or a related subject, but during the course I became more interested in the ethics of emerging genetic technologies than research in a narrow, highly specialised, scientific area. I found bioethics to be the most interesting subject in my masters.
I applied to this program at Manchester because of its structure. As well as writing a thesis, we are required to present regularly, to write for publication, and to present at at least one international conference - a thorough academic training that goes far beyond the requirements of a normal PhD in the UK.
The course has lived up to my expectations. Many of the staff here are experienced and high-ranking bioethicists.
The student body is very diverse, in terms of academic background, age and nationality. There are doctors (the largest group), lawyers (next largest), scientists, philosophers... among the students. All age groups are represented, the largest being mid-career followed by mid-20s. In terms of nationality, Europe, Asia, North America and Africa are represented. Many of us live outside Manchester and commute to classes. People commute from various parts of England and Scotland; also a few from Ireland (including me). The course structure is flexible enough to allow for this.
There are also weekly seminars;occasionally, famous bioethicists present.
In short, it's an excellent programme, and I have found the experience enriching."
Patrick Heavey, 2008 cohort (Full-Time)
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"Being able to do this PhD programme part-time has allowed me to combine my 'day-job' as a lecturer in nursing with peer support and supervision from world class academics. At the end of the programme I will have adoctorate from a leading Universityand a significant start to my published profile, and the possibility that someone might actually read and engage with my work! Very highly recommended."
Paul Snelling 2008 cohort (Part-time)
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"I am really enjoying the PhD in Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence. The structure of the PhD is well
thought out and organised with interesting lectures on a wide variety of contemporary and classic
issues in bioethics and law. This application of philosophy and law to ‘real world’ questions ensures
that the programme is very relevant to those practising as Health Care Professionals. One of the
most valuable elements of the programme is that there is a cohort of students being taught and
progressing through the course together.
The group consists of doctors, academics with a nursing and midwifery background, philosophers, clinical ethicists and lawyers. The multi-disciplinary aspect to the group has facilitated very interesting discussions as each person is able to give different perspectives, their different experiences and application of theory. It has also meant that there are a variety of strengths in terms of subject knowledge within the group and each person brings different areas of expertise. This has promoted a sharing of information and ideas in a supportive environment.
Another aspect I have valued of being a group progressing through the course together is that we are able to support each other and you are not isolated as a PhD student. I would definitely recommend this PhD programme. It has been an inspiring experience to be taught by the academics leading the programme. I have also had the opportunity to meet my fellow students on the course and develop new friendships. This sharing of ideas and knowledge has been very useful in developing my PhD thesis and my expertise in Bioethics and Medical Jurisprudence."
Kate Hodkinson 2007 cohort
BSc, MSc
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"The five reasons why I would make exactly the same choice if I were to choose again where to do my PhD:
1. The structure of the programme offered a clear setting where to start and how to structure my
research in the first year. This, amongst other things, allowed me to make sense of the massive
amount of literature available.
2. The introductions into moral philosophy and jurisprudence offered another well-considered starting
point for my bioethical thinking.
3. The interaction with my co-students was very helpful for setting out my points and receiving
criticism from them with their field of knowledge, and them not being my supervisors.
4. The structure enabled me to work on my own topic from my own point of view, instead of having to
work on a prefab topic, and was given a framework. It required me being creative, but it gave me a lot
of intellectual freedom.
5. Doing a PhD is quite an individual task, but in this programme I could be a social being as well."
Marleen Eijkholt 2007 cohort
LLB, LLM, PhD
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"This is a thought provoking and self-challenging programme; high quality academically and with excellent support from the academics! The group network enabled both understanding and enjoyment of the experience. Long may it continue."
Ingrid Whiteman 2007 cohort
MB, ChB, MA