This programme is the UK’s first Master's in Philanthropic Studies. It is an innovative online course that builds on our expertise and teaching in civil society, fundraising, philanthropy, the third sector and volunteering.
Join academics from the Centre for Philanthropy at our next Virtual Event on Tuesday 21 May, 13:00 (UK time) to learn more about our course.
Gain a high-level understanding of philanthropy to advance your professional development or to gain knowledge and insights that will enable you to pursue a career in the rapidly expanding philanthropy sector. Our programme is designed so you can fit learning around your life and work commitments with a flexible course and a variety of study options (MA, PDip, PCert, and Standalone Modules). So whether your looks to take the first step in your career, or take a step further to reach a new level, our programme is your best way to get to wherever you want to go.
You'll benefit from internationally renowned academic expertise and guest speakers from beyond the University, including teaching contributions from leading philanthropy experts, advisers, consultants, grant-makers, fundraisers, and strategic philanthropists. Tutors include major donor expert Prof Beth Breeze (author of ‘Richer Lives: Why Rich People Give’) and Dr Alison Body (author of the 'Children and Charities: A Decade of Change'). All tutors have a practitioner background and are frequent contributors to charity sector and media debates.
Kent is a real leader in the field, this programme is the first Master's in Philanthropic Studies in the UK, so you can be assured that our experts will help bring you to the very forefront of the field, keeping your up to date with all the latest developments, so you can make a real impact in your career, and in society as a whole.
Join academics from the Centre for Philanthropy as we present our innovative online course that builds on our expertise and teaching in civil society, fundraising, philanthropy, the third sector, and volunteering and offers flexible study to fit around your commitments.
It is possible to study certain individual modules from the MA on a Standalone basis. They provide a taster and introduction to studying Philanthropic Studies, and if you wish to continue studying, you can use the credits from your taster modules to work towards a qualification in Philanthropic Studies (PCert, PDip or MA). Costs for standalone modules can be found on the Kent Online store (please note that you must submit an application (link below) before paying for a module on the online store).
Apply to study a Standalone module
If you work with, or manage, new or junior fundraisers we also offer the Fundraiser apprenticeship to meet their needs for evidence-based training from leaders in the field with extensive practical experience. Find out more here.
Join us as we present our innovative online course offering flexible study to fit around your commitments. Wednesday 20 March, 13:00 (UK time)
As home of the first UK Master's in Philanthropic Studies, Kent is leading the way in research and expertise for Philanthropic Studies.
The Centre for Philanthropy is a vibrant community of like-minded professionals with a wide range of experiences and professional backgrounds.
You can study some modules from the MA on a Standalone basis, and our course is taught part-time through distance learning, to fit around your life and work.
Our alumni go on to do incredible things, we're extremely proud of them. Hear from Adale about how her time on the MA prepared her for success.
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 100% of our Social work and social policy research was classified as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ for impact and environment.
Following the REF 2021, Social work and social policy at Kent was ranked 3rd for research in the UK in the Times Higher Education.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires an Excellent level of English language, equivalent to C1 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in each component
PTE Academic 76 with a minimum of 76 in each sub-test
A degree from the UK
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.
You must study the compulsory modules listed below.
This module gives a comprehensive overview of current academic knowledge about philanthropy. Students will gain an advanced level understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to philanthropy, the various theories and ideologies regarding the existence of philanthropic behaviours and the role of government and policy-makers in shaping the legal, fiscal and cultural context for philanthropy.
The course begins by exploring the different meanings of the concept of 'philanthropy' in relation to related concepts such as 'altruism' and 'charity', then looks at the issues of continuity and change in philanthropic action over different eras, including the influence of varying welfare provision, political context and social impacts such as the declining influence of religion. We will move on to consider how geographic and socio-demographic contexts shape philanthropy, with an exploration of accounts of philanthropic giving across countries as well as in historically different contexts. We will study various different theoretical approaches to understanding philanthropy and giving, before exploring critiques of philanthropic action, the complex interactions between benefactors and beneficiaries, and the relationship between philanthropy and the state. A special focus on institutionalised philanthropy, in the form of charitable foundations and corporate philanthropy will be followed by a focus on key contemporary debates and new concepts for understanding philanthropy, such as the ‘Effective Altruism’ movement, philanthrocapitalism and social investment. By the end of the module, students will have encountered a large breadth and depth of material and will be conversant in key concepts, theories and issues.
Term: Spring Term
This module will give an advanced level overview of the current state of fundraising in the UK, including the evidence-based techniques and strategies endorsed by the professional bodies (the 'science' of fundraising), and the latest research on the personal attributes of fundraisers that are understood to lead to successful outcomes (the 'art' of fundraising). Aimed at those working in - or seeking to work in - careers that involve generating voluntary income, it will cover a range of topics that will facilitate a detailed and critical analysis of the role of fundraising in practice, and in its wider societal context. It will allow students to explore this knowledge through its application in situations that are encountered in professional practice. We will cover academic approaches to fundraising from a range of disciplinary viewpoints and how these help us understand topics such as donor motivation, propensity to give, charitable decision-making in terms of amounts, methods and destinations of donations, as well as why some people/institutions do not give, and the implications for recipient organisations.
To enable this advanced level knowledge to be used in practice, we will explore the current debates in fundraising management, debates on policy relating to fundraising and philanthropy, legal and regulatory requirements and relevant ethical issues. Students will gain from all of this a critical understanding of fundraising and its role in society.
This module will give an advanced level overview of the current state of philanthropy advising in the UK. Aimed at those working in or seeking to work in the voluntary sector, especially in roles that involve working directly with individual philanthropists and institutional donors, it will cover a range of topics that will facilitate a detailed and critical analysis of the role of philanthropy advising. It will allow students to explore this knowledge through its application in real life contexts that are encountered in professional practice. Academic approaches to advising donors from a range of perspectives including structural issues (tax, legal and wealth management) and strategic approaches (theory of change, goal-setting and distributional consequences) will be covered in order to fully understand and reflect on the role of philanthropy advisers.
To enable this advanced level knowledge to be used in practice, we will explore the current debates in advising donors, including the different approaches, outcome-orientations, methods of measurement and impact assessment. Students will gain from all of this a critical understanding of philanthropy advising and its role in society, and the ways in which private philanthropists and institutional donors are, and can be, supported.
This module will give an advanced level overview of the nature and practice of contemporary philanthropy across the world. It will examine how local contexts and processes of globalisation are affecting different forms of philanthropy found around the world. It will cover the comparative analysis of monetary donations, donor motivations, fundraising practices, tax incentives and welfare/market provision across a range of countries, and encourage students to critically assess how and why philanthropic behaviour varies across different political, cultural and socio-economic contexts. Drawing on current academic theory, knowledge and empirical research, students will gain a broader understanding of philanthropy beyond their own culture, and the growing role of philanthropic institutions in eliciting global change.
To enable this advanced level knowledge to be used in practice, cross-cutting thematic issues, such as the role of regulation and the impact of religion, as well as relevant ethical issues will be explored. Students will gain from this a systematic understanding of the role of global philanthropy in society. Experts in geographically-specific areas of philanthropy (for example, Russian Philanthropy) will provide a small number of guest lectures to illuminate these topics further.
This module offers a critical discussion on the logic and methods of social research within the field of philanthropy. It aims to familiarize students with central topics in research design and the ethics of social research so that they can apply this knowledge to their understanding of fields of social and public policy. The module critically explores students different methodological approaches and the debates behind their selection for conducting research. It will invite them to consider how research questions are generated and answered. It will enable students to identify common mistakes in the social research methods used to develop sector relevant policy and how to effectively and systematically address issues. Topics will also include: ethics and informed consent; sampling for qualitative and quantitative research; methods of primary and secondary data collection, methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis. It will give them an opportunity to learn and practise introductory skills in the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
SOCI9980 is compulsory for students on the MA stream only. Students who obtain 120 credits, but excluding the dissertation, will be eligible for the award of postgraduate diploma in Philanthropic Studies (Distance Learning).
The aims of this module are two-fold:
First, to provide students with the opportunity to independently carry out an in-depth inquiry to investigate a research question(s) of their choice, producing a coherent review of the relevant literature, a logical discussion and a clearly communicated set of conclusions in the form of a dissertation. Second, to provide students with an assessed opportunity to apply their skills as 'research-minded' practitioners with a view to being able to undertake future research in practice settings and/or take a lead role in supervising others in such work.
During the spring term, the students will finalise their dissertation proposal with their chosen supervisor (having received prior guidance on the aims, the structure and the process of the dissertation). If the dissertation requires ethical research approval, an application will be submitted to the School research ethics committee by the beginning of the summer term. During the summer term and vacation, students will meet their supervisor regularly to discuss the progress of their dissertation. The supervisors will provide feedback on written work and will set work plans and targets for the students. The dissertation topic will relate to a key question, issue and problem within social science.
Duration: 2 years part-time
This programme is offered as a distance-learning course, with an optional two-day induction at the start of each year, and one study day per term, held at our Canterbury campus. All course work is completed online, where you participate in online discussion forums and have access to journal articles and specialist materials.
We offer a ‘modular’ system so that you can choose whether to study three modules to gain a PG Certificate or five modules to gain a PG Diploma. To obtain the Master's qualification you will complete five taught modules followed by a 60-credit dissertation module. There is also the opportunity to study any one module as a standalone course, or as a taster before committing to a full Certificate, Diploma or Master’s programme.
Each module comprises:
In addition we hold an annual one day conference on the Canterbury campus for all students and alumni, usually on the Friday after Easter Sunday.
Teaching is delivered online and assessment is by coursework with no exams.
You will have access to an online learning platform to watch video lectures, readings, and participate in online forums to discuss ideas with your tutors and fellow students. For those seeking in-person contact you have the option of joining regular live webinars, an annual on-campus conference, and arranging one-on-one meetings with your tutors.
For those taking the MA, you will have one-on-one supervision to conduct an independent research project, written up in a 12,000 word dissertation.
All the texts that you need are available through the university’s digital library so you can read or download them wherever you are. When you accept your offer on the programme we will send you a hard copy of The Philanthropy Reader, co-edited by Beth Breeze in the Kent teaching team, so that you can dive in and start reading straight away, and start to build your bookshelf.
This programme:
You gain a knowledge and understanding of:
You gain the following intellectual skills:
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
You gain the following transferrable skills:
The Graduate School ensures that the academic and social interests of postgraduate students are provided for within the University. It works alongside academic schools to support and develop internationally distinctive, exciting and innovate programmes of study that combine academic excellence with an exceptional student experience and appropriate learning resources through the provision of:
For more details see our Graduate School page.
Tutors on this course are all research-active, publishing regularly in academic journals, writing books and presenting research at international conferences.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
The Centre for Philanthropy is a leading global academic centre for philanthropy research, teaching and public engagement. We conduct robust and relevant research in partnership with nonprofit partners on a range of topics, including fundraising, major donors, how children learn to give, corporate philanthropy, and philanthropy’s relationship with social justice.
This research informs our teaching in which we use innovative methods to engage with our students, many of whom work in the nonprofit sector or have ambitions to do so. Our expertise makes us a regular source of comment and analysis for the media in Britain and beyond, and we are always keen to share our work with diverse audiences. We also regularly speak to local, national and international charities to explore ways in which our research can inform their work and in turn how their experience can guide our future research.
The Centre's research projects include:
Million Pound Donors Report: From 2008 to 2017 researchers in the Centre for Philanthropy compiled annual data on the incidence, size and destination of philanthropic donations worth £1 million or more. Case study interviews with donors giving at this level brought the data to life.
The New Fundraisers: Professor Beth Breeze received funding from the Leverhulme Trust for a three-year project which explored how fundraisers’ personalities interact with their professional skills to affect the amount of money they raise for good causes.
Unleashing Children’s Philanthropic Power: This project critically explore the ways we teach children to give, focusing on how ideas of benevolence and activism are framed within these experiences.
Educating for Social Good: Dr Ali Body received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council to provide the first nationwide, multi-disciplinary critical analysis of how philanthropic behaviours and attitudes are encouraged in primary schools in England.
Moonshot Philanthropy: With support from the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation we are conducting research to underatand the concept and practice of ambitious, bold and collaborative philanthropy, particularly in relation to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Rising to the Challenge - a study of philanthropic support for unpopular causes: this project explored the uphill struggle that some charities face when seeking to fundraise. Such charities may work on issues which are complex to communicate, may have beneficaries who don't easily engage donors' emotions and may not be able to easily identify potential supporters.
Richer Lives: Why Rich People Give: Funded by Pears Foundation, we are conducting the third ten-yearly study based on surveys and interviews with major donors across the UK.
Philanthropy Advising: We conducted the first global study of advisors who support private donors across the world. This research was published in Advising Donors: Principles and Practice which is the core text on our Advising Donors MA module.
You can find out more about these projects and many other past and ongoing studies, on our website. You can also view individual staff research profiles on the Centre for Philanthropy website.
The support is generous, even for North American students in a different time zone. I made particular use of the Student Learning and Advisory Service.
The networking helps so much, I have met brilliant colleagues who have experience and knowledge across so many specialisms. We help each other not just around coursework but also with career issues.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Understanding philanthropy is a crucial skill for anyone aspiring to be effective in a role in a charity or grant-making body or as a philanthropist. The knowledge and skills that you gain through this Master's programme will equip you with an essential and highly practical understanding of the history, methodologies and impact of philanthropic activity.
The distance learning delivery of the Master’s programme enables you to fit learning around your life and work commitments and you have the chance to apply your knowledge as you progress. Each cohort contains a unique mix of experiences and professions, providing a valuable opportunity for information exchange and networking, so you can make rapid progress in your career, without having to take time out.
Our expert academics - who are leaders in the field - are also excellent teachers, who will able to ensure you develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive after you graduate. Whether you are looking to break into the sector, or looking for that extra edge to take the next step in your career, we'll make sure you can get to where you want to go, and hit the ground running when you get there.
The 2024/25 tuition fees for this course - which are the same for Home, EU and International students - are:
MA - £8,800* (payable in two instalments of £4,400per year*)
PDip - £5,866* (payable in two instalments of £2,933 per year*)
PCert - £2,933 (payable in one instalment in year 1, though you may take up to two years to complete)
*NB Year 2 fees may be very slightly higher due to inflationary increases.
All students on the Philanthropic Studies course pay two years of fees, regardless of whether they pursue the full MA, PG Diploma or PG certificate.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for more possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the applications process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
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