The MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy provides for the exploration of practical social problems with philosophical rigour, allowing students to develop a more ‘first principles’ perspective on various policy issues. I completed my dissertation on coping with scientific dissent in health policy development and I received a great deal of support for this study in the Evidence, Objectivity and Policy elective. Before attending LSE I had little understanding of either health policy or issues related to the sciences, but with the encouragement and extensive expertise offered by the Department I was quickly able to supplement my knowledge. Since completing my MSc I have returned to South Africa, where I am working as part of a research team at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at Rhodes University. We are currently studying the Government’s proposed National Health Insurance plan, which if it comes into effect will be the most substantial reorganisation of health policy in South Africa since the end of apartheid. In this work I am able to further extend the understanding of health policy that I gained during the course of my MSc.