Welcome to The Centre for Applied Ethics and Legal Philosophy.

For more than 300 years the University of Glasgow has played a major role in developing ethical theory and practice.  This newly established centre draws on the legacy of  the Institute of Law and Ethics in Medicine and aims to continue this tradition.  It pulls together expertise from across the university into a world-class centre for research, practice and innovation in ethics and legal philosophy. 

We want to:

• be engaged in the most innovative research and thinking in applied ethics and legal philosophy.  If you would like to commission or discuss a research project then please get in touch
• engage with governments, corporations, professional bodies, charities and NGO's, schools, policy makers and prisons on issues of applied ethics and legal philosophy.
• apply our research and develop new systems and products for a wide range of professional, policy, educational and corporate groups.
• promote the teaching of applied ethics and legal philosophy at all levels of educational practice, from primary school to continuing professional development.

The Institute of Law & Ethics in Medicine

The Institute of Law and Ethics in Medicine

The Institute of Law and Ethics in Medicine was established in 1985.  The Institute was a cross-Faculty organisation with representation from every Faculty within the University.  In recent years, under the directorship of Professor McLean, it has been focussed in the School of law in collaboration with individuals from other Faculties.  

The Institute primarily has a research remit and staff have been successful in obtaining significant research funding in areas as disparate as assisted dying and xenotransplantation.   In addition, affiliated members of staff have published extensively in the area of medical law and ethics.   For many years, the Institute offered a part-time Masters Degree in Medical Law and Ethics, which attracted candidates from medicine, law, nursing, dentistry and beyond.   Since 1998, the Institute has offered a Distance Learning Masters Degree in Medical Law, more details of which can be found on the Law School’s website.   Several hundreds of students have undertaken these programmes.   In addition, there are presently some 10 PhD students attached to the Institute.