Overview
The MA in Ethics (Corporate Responsibility) is a specialist pathway within the MA in Ethics run by the DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music and the Institute of Ethics. No philosophy or ethics background is required to apply for this course.
You’ll obtain the knowledge and skills needed to design and manage the ethical, social and governance aspects of business decision-making and operation. You’ll also learn how to apply business ethics concepts and frameworks to the responsible management of organisations.
This interdisciplinary course draws on the expertise of lecturers from the School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music, Institute of Ethics, DCU Business School and practitioners in the field of Business Ethics. The MA in Ethics (Corporate Responsibility) is part of a professional development framework for the Compliance Institute.
After graduation you can join our MA in Ethics (Corporate Responsibility) Alumni and be part of a network of expertise and support in the field of ethics.
Lectures are scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 10pm over the two academic years. Lectures are also on two Saturdays during the first year.
DCU People
I chose the MA in Ethics (Corporate Responsibility) to increase my knowledge and confidence and to grow as a person.
Read more about Emma Horgan
My name is Alan Kearns and I’m one of the lecturers in ethics at DCU.
Read more about Alan Kearns
Careers & Further Options
Careers
The programme is part of a professional development framework for Compliance Institute members and for individuals within the wider business community who wish to develop their leadership skills for Business Ethics & Corporate Responsibility roles within organisations.
The pathway has been designed to appeal to individuals carrying out roles in or related to:
- Ethics & Compliance
- Corporate Responsibility/Citizenship
- Stakeholder Relations
- Organisational or Board Governance or Risk Management
- Social Accounting/Reporting
- Socially Responsible Investment
- Ethics, Audit, Risk or Compliance Committees
- Regulatory and public sector bodies
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff
Entry Requirements
• Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree or equivalent (H2.2) but appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may be accepted as equivalent to an honours degree, in accordance with the relevant regulations of the University. Interviews may be held.
• Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here.
• International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. More information about DCU's English language requirements can be found here.
Programme Structure
The MA in Ethics (Corporate Responsibility) specifically expands on the theoretical perspective of business ethics as well as its practical management tools.
Upon successful completion of the course of study for this award, a graduate will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of a broad range of ethical theories and principles that are at the forefront of general and applied ethics.
Demonstrate a systematic understanding of a broad range of business ethics concepts and theories including corporate responsibility, corporate governance and stakeholder accountability.
Apply a range of business ethics theories and practical tools to address ethics issues in business organisations.
You’ll undertake the course part-time over two years, completing six taught modules:
Introduction to Ethics: This module provides a comprehensive introduction to ethics to enable course participants to further explore key contemporary ethical issues. The module explores how ethical theories influence ethical decision-making and provide frameworks for ethical reasoning and analysis.
Readings in Ethics: The purpose of this module is to introduce students to a selection of classic texts in the field of ethics thereby providing a more in-depth examination of the texts that are at the source of the major ethical theories.
Human Rights & Social Justice: This module will explore human rights in the context of global and social justice. It will offer a historical outline of the tradition of thinking about justice and the development of natural and human rights within this tradition.
Business Ethics: This module is designed to provide course participants with the necessary conceptual tools to analyse ethical dilemmas in the world of business at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It will train and enhance students' skills in applying ethical theories to a wide range of business ethics topics.
Finance and Corporate Governance: This module addresses ethical challenges in finance, including financial markets and financial management in corporations. This module reviews corporate governance structures and discusses both the legal and ethical duties of board members. It examines key requirements for effective corporate governance and the issues that may hinder this.
Implementing an Effective Ethics Culture: This module provides a self-reflective and systematic approach to the design and implementation of an effective ethics corporate culture, underpinned by appropriate codes, procedures, training and review.
Lectures take place on Tuesday evenings.
You’ll also complete a minor thesis (15,000 words) from within the perspective of the discipline of ethics.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
To apply for this programme:
All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
Please submit:
- Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
- If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml.
Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:
- Closing date for non EU applicants is 1st July 2025
- Closing date for EU applicants is 30th August 2025
Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in September 2025
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.
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