Course details

Summary

The Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law (PGDipBHL) provides a thorough grounding in bioethics and the legal aspects of health care, and explores both ethical and legal approaches to issues related to modern medicine. This qualification is offered jointly by the Bioethics Centre and the Faculty of Law, and students are encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary approach.

There are three core papers (Theories of Biomedical Ethics; Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine; and Law and Medicine). At least one other Law paper is required and the rest of the points are made up of further Bioethics or Law papers. The qualification exempts candidates for the degree of Master of Bioethics and Health Law from 120 points of papers.

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

Structure of the Programme

• The programme of study shall consist of papers from the schedule to the value of 120 points.
• With prior approval of the Director of the Bioethics Centre following consultation with the Bioethics Board of Studies, one or more appropriate papers taught by a university at an equivalent level may be substituted for those in the schedule, to a maximum value of 30 points.
• Law graduates who have passed LAWS 311, LAWS 428, LAWS 447, or LAWS 448,shall be required to take at least 30 points of LAWS papers from the schedule, or to take 30 points of other approved comparable papers.
• A candidate may seek credit or exemption of up to 30 points based on Law papers from another university. Such candidates shall be required to complete at least one of LAWS 547 or LAWS 548.
• A candidate who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences endorsed in Clinical Ethics shall be exempted from those papers in the programme for the diploma which have been previously passed for the certificate.

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Director of the Bioethics Centre following consultation with the Bioethics Board of Studies.
Every applicant shall

• be a graduate or possess an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years of full-time tertiary study and
• 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.