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.
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Programme details
Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law (PGDipBHL)
Admission to the Programme
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
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.
Structure of the Programme
The programme of study shall consist of papers from the schedule to the value of 120 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 credited with those papers in the programme for the diploma which have been previously passed for the certificate.
Duration of the Programme
A candidate for the diploma shall normally follow a programme of study for one year of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.
A full-time candidate shall complete the requirements for the diploma within two years of admission to the programme and a part-time candidate shall complete the requirements within four years.
Level of Award of the Diploma
The diploma may be awarded with distinction or credit.
Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve the course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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