Course details

Summary

The Master of Bioethics and Health Law (MBHL) degree is an interdisciplinary postgraduate programme which consists in writing a research dissertation under supervision and completing papers worth an additional 120 points from a schedule of papers. The degree may be awarded with distinction or credit. The degree draws on the resources of both ethical and legal theory, and attends to bioethical problems arising from the increasing use of technology in medicine and changes in the resourcing and delivery of health care.

New birth technologies, genetic modification of organisms, patient confidentiality and environmental concerns are some of the diverse topics explored in the field of Bioethics. There is an increasing recognition of the need to expand our understanding of the ethical issues being raised by advances in medicine, health care, science and technology and by changes in society.

The Bioethics Centre, established at the University of Otago in 1988, aims to encourage and coordinate teaching and research in ethics, to stimulate informed public debate and to provide a consultation and resource service for health professionals and others in the community. As New Zealand's only centre for applied ethics, the Centre offers you unique opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate study in Bioethics.

Law permeates all social activity. It defines relationships, protects rights, imposes obligations and gives structure to governmental and commercial enterprise.

Law graduates are well equipped to analyse complex issues, find solutions to a wide variety of problems and contribute to decision-making at all levels. They are skilled in the precise use of language, both oral and written. They understand the limits of law and its relationship with other social forces.

Many graduates find careers as lawyers in private practice, but others prefer to work in business, government, the public sector or welfare agencies.

Schedule of Papers

Papers

• BITC 401 Theories of Biomedical Ethics
• BITC 403 Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine
• LAWS 547 Law and Medicine

At least one of:

• LAWS 511 Family Law
• LAWS 528 Law and Emerging Technologies
• LAWS 548 Law and Psychiatry

And any of LAWS 511, LAWS 528, LAWS 548 and the following papers to make a total of least 120 points:

• BITC 404 Ethics and Health Care
• BITC 405 Bioethics in Clinical Practice
• BITC 406 Health Research Ethics
• BITC 407 Advanced Health Research Ethics
• BITC 410, BITC 411, BITC 412 Special Topics
• Other approved LAWS papers

BITC 890 MBHL Dissertation

Entry criteria

• Admission to the programme will be subject to the approval of the Director of the Bioethics Centre following consultation with the Bioethics Board of Studies.
• Every applicant shall possess a postgraduate diploma, or be a graduate with honours or of a four-year undergraduate programme in a relevant discipline. A candidate shall usually have completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law (PGDipBHL) or an equivalent qualification, and shall have achieved an average across all papers of at least B+.
• All applicants must present evidence of ability for advanced level academic study.

English Language Requirements: IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.