Bioethics and Medical Ethics are fields with tremendous dynamic due to the rapid development of biotechnology, genetics, medical technology and, in general, the life sciences. The health care provider nowadays needs to have knowledge and skills that go beyond his / her traditional tasks in order to make decisions about the beginning and the end of life, as well as for the implementation of technological achievements in order to improve the quality of life the protection of their essential inalienable rights of the patients, the protection of their personal data, and much more. Bioethics and Medical Ethics are fields with tremendous dynamic due to the rapid development of biotechnology, genetics, medical technology and, in general, the life sciences. 

To this purpose, the Postgraduate Programme in "Bioethics - Medical Ethics" integrates modules that focus on cutting-edge issues as well as on the theoretical background of Medical Ethics and Bioethics. The Programme is comprehensively structured and aims to the in-depth training of students. The Programme is innovative, on the one hand, in that it will be the only one offered on those two scientific areas in Greece and Cyprus, and on the other hand due to the structure of the curriculum itself that places it in the scientific and academic avant-garde. The Programme offers two academic specializations: a) Bioethics, and b) Medical Ethics.

The Postgraduate Programme “Bioethics – Medical Ethics” is primarily addressed to health professionals (physicians, nurses and researchers), legal professionals, and other related scientists who approach issues of Bioethics and Medical Ethics either from the perspective of the humanities and philosophy or on the basis of medicine, biology and other related disciplines. The Programme aspires to provide students with the aforementioned knowledge and skills, through which they will improve the quality of the services they provide and sharpen their critical thinking skills, enabling them to manage critical situations and make crucial decisions concerning the course and quality of the lives of those who seek their services. At the same time, the knowledge they acquire will make them less vulnerable to misconceptions and professional misconduct, as well as to the resulting accusations and legal claims.

The specific objectives of each of the two offered specializations are defined as follows:

(MA) Bioethics – Medical Ethics, Specialization: “Bioethics”

• To provide specialized knowledge to scientists from all relevant fields (lawyers, geneticists, biologists, experimental physicians, pharmacologists, nurses, etc.) regarding the most important current issues concerning Bioethics at an international level.
• To offer detailed training to individual researchers or research groups on the globally applicable frameworks relating to specific Bioethics issues (established general or specialized protocols, international/federal/local regulations, global declarations).
• To provide the specialized knowledge and training required so that graduates of the specialization are eligible to participate in bioethics committees, research ethics committees, and other related institutional bodies.
• To cultivate critical thinking and promote dialogue related to Bioethics.

(MA) Bioethics – Medical Ethics, Specialization: “Medical Ethics”

• To provide specialized knowledge to scientists from all relevant fields (lawyers, geneticists, biologists, experimental physicians, pharmacologists, nurses, etc.) regarding the most important current issues concerning Medical Ethics at an international level.
• To provide specialized training to members of the medical and paramedical staff of public and private hospitals and clinics (physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, researchers) in relation to Medical Ethics, enabling them to perform their duties safely and effectively.
• To provide in-depth and detailed training to medical and paramedical personnel (physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, researchers) on legal matters related to the practice of their profession, so as to avoid errors that could lead to financial claims against themselves and their institutions.
• To develop highly specialized scientific personnel capable of serving on research ethics committees in public and private healthcare institutions.
• To cultivate critical thinking and promote dialogue related to Medical Ethics.

EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM – ECTS: 120

TEACHING LANGUAGE:  Greek

LEVEL: Postgraduate

DEGREE AWARDED: Magister Artium (MA)

The Postgraduate Programme in “Bioethics - Medical Ethics” is primarily designed to serve the needs of healthcare professionals, physicians, nurses, researchers, and legal professionals (arbitrators, mediators, barristers, solicitors, judges, etc.), as well as paralegals and other related scientists. It aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills in order to improve the quality of the services they provide, sharpen their critical thinking, and enable them to manage critical situations and make key decisions concerning the course and quality of life of those who seek their services. At the same time, the knowledge acquired through the Programme equips students to avoid ethical misconceptions, professional misconduct, and legal liabilities associated with contemporary biomedical and healthcare practice.

The structure of the Postgraduate Programme guarantees a comprehensive familiarization with the full spectrum of bioethical and medical ethics issues, as well as with the principal theoretical and practical approaches proposed for addressing them. The Programme’s modules introduce students to moral philosophy and the major ethical traditions, while exploring classical and contemporary approaches in Applied Ethics, Ethical Theory, and Moral Principles. Particular emphasis is placed on the close relationship between Bioethics and Human Rights, which constitutes a central concern in contemporary international scholarship.

In parallel, the Programme highlights the legal dimensions of bioethical and medical ethics issues, including jurisprudence, personal data protection, professional ethics, and regulatory frameworks governing healthcare and biomedical research. Furthermore, the curriculum addresses highly specialized and emerging fields, such as genetics and genomics, neuroethics, and the ethical implications of advances in biotechnology and medical innovation, thereby attracting students from diverse scientific and professional backgrounds.

The modules are designed with varying degrees of specialization, enabling students to acquire both a solid theoretical foundation and familiarity with more specialized fields of study. Consequently, the interdisciplinary structure of the Programme ensures a multifaceted and integrative approach to Bioethics and Medical Ethics, contributing substantially to the professional development, scientific advancement, and academic distinction of its graduates.

The programme is evaluated and accredited by: 

The Open University of Cyprus (OUC), through its participation in the European project "Liaison Offices with the Labour Market", offers to students of all its programmes of study, the optional and free of charge Thematic Unit (i.e. Module) entitled "Industry Placement". This module provides students opportunities for a placement to gain professional experience in their particular field of study, and the hosting institution can be any public or private organisation operating in the Republic of Cyprus.

Each student has the right to participate in this offering once or twice during his / her studies, provided that s/he meets the required conditions.

Request more information by contacting the OUC Liaison Office here. 

• Holders of an accredited Bachelor’s degree at the time of registration.
• Sufficient command of the English language.
• Adequate computer literacy, including proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and the Internet, in order to meet the educational requirements of the Programme’s distance learning format.

The tuition fees for this programme amount to €5,400. The tuition fees per module are  €450 (10 ects module and Master Thesis I) and  €900 for Master Thesis II.

 The fees for each Module for academic years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 are €360, while the fees for the Master Thesis are €720.

Applications can be submitted exclusively online:

Application dates for the fall semester of the academic year 2026-2027: March 10 - June 8, 2026.

With the aim of developing joint initiatives of mutual benefit and creating opportunities for highly beneficial synergies for the students and graduates of the Programme “Bioethics – Medical Ethics,” the Programme and the Open University of Cyprus have established strategic affiliations with the Laboratory of Applied Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as with the European Research and Educational Centre of Bioethics and Law and the Biopolitics Research Centre of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.

The Programme “Bioethics – Medical Ethics” is also supported by the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (University of Haifa | UNESCO Chair in Bioethics (Haifa)).

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