Papers and Programs

Papers in Bioethics
Postgraduate Programs in Bioethics

Bioethics and Health Law

Graduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law (GDipBHL)
Masters in Bioethics and Health Law (MBHL)

The qualifications in Bioethics and Health Law enable candidates to develop a firm grounding in bioethics and the legal aspects of health care, and to explore both ethical and legal approaches to issues related to modern medicine. These qualifications are offered jointly by the Bioethics Centre and the Faculty of Law, and students are encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary approach.

For both qualifications, candidates have to complete three core papers (these are Theories of Biomedical Ethics, Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine, and Law and Medicine). They need in addition at least one other law paper and make up the rest of the points with further bioethics or law papers. All the bioethics papers listed below are options. Choices from Law include: Law and Psychiatry, Family Law and International Human Rights.

Students doing the MBHL also complete a research dissertation supervised jointly by Law and Bioethics.

The courses are available either full or part-time, and can be completed at a distance.

Bioethics

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Bioethics)
Masters in Health Sciences (Bioethics)

These Bioethics programmes offer continuing education for those holding a undergraduate degree or certificate or having relevant experience. They offer candidates a comprehensive coverage of theories and issues in Bioethics. Candidates for both qualifications have to complete Theories of Biomedical Ethics and another 60 points worth of Bioethics papers. Candidates for the PGDipHS(Bioethics) need another 30 points of papers (from any Health Science discipline) to complete.

Candidates for MHealSci (Bioethics) complete the above programme first (and may graduate with the PGDip), and then complete their Masters either by a thesis supervised by Bioethics or by further papers (including a research project, supervised by Bioethics).

Both qualifications may be taken full or part-time and all the Bioethics papers are available at a distance.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The interdisciplinary nature of the Centre means that this research degree can be offered to applicants from a range of academic disciplines, eg, Philosophy, Theology, Law, and Medicine, as well as to those with qualifications in Bioethics.

Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSci) and Master of Medical Science (MMedSc)

These degrees are for medical students, offering them a chance to write a thesis (30-40,000 words) containing an in depth consideration of a bioethical topic of their own choice. Both are one year, supervised programmes. The BMedSci is available to medical undergraduates who have completed three or more years of their medical training. The MMedSci is available to medical graduates.

Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)

The DipGrad course provides an opportunity for recent graduates to explore bioethics, whether or not they have previously completed undergraduate bioethics papers. Students should develop a package of papers in consultation with the Bioethics course advisor and the Director of the DipGrad programme. The DipGrad may be a route into further postgraduate study.

The course can be taken as a full-time year of study or part-time over two or more years.

Applications for Study

Applications for study (except for PhD, BMedSci and MMedSci) should normally be made before 1 November (or 1 August for those requiring a study permit for entry into New Zealand). Late applications will be considered.