Develop your ability to reflect, analyse, and influence how society navigates ethical challenges in health and science.
Why study postgraduate Bioethics?
Bioethics is at the heart of some of the most urgent and challenging questions facing health and society today. As medicine and technology advance rapidly, the decisions we make about what is right and fair become more complex. Studying Bioethics equips you with the skills to think critically about these issues, balancing scientific possibilities with human values and rights.
At Otago, you’ll explore topics like patient autonomy, genetic testing, end-of-life care, research ethics, and public health policies. This subject encourages you to look beyond facts and figures, helping you develop thoughtful, ethical reasoning that matters in real-world settings.
Whether you want to influence healthcare, policy, or research, Bioethics prepares you to be a leader who shapes compassionate and just outcomes.
Career opportunities
Bioethics opens doors to roles where ethical insight is essential. You will gain skills in critical thinking, communication, and ethical analysis that apply across many sectors.
Possible career pathways include:
- Ethics consultant in healthcare or research institutions
- Policy adviser for government or NGOs
- Clinical ethics committee member
- Academic researcher or lecturer
- Health services manager or adviser
What it’s like to study at this level
At Otago, studying Bioethics is an interactive and reflective experience. You’ll engage with real cases, debates, and ethical dilemmas drawn from current health and science issues. Classes foster discussion and collaboration, encouraging you to see multiple perspectives and sharpen your reasoning. You’ll connect theory with practice through projects, presentations, and sometimes opportunities to work with professionals in healthcare and policy settings.
This is for you if ...
A background in health sciences, philosophy, law, or social sciences is helpful. Strong skills in critical thinking, writing, and an interest in ethics will prepare you well for this subject.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Bioethics as an undergraduate at Otago.
Leading the way in ethical thinking and health innovation
Otago offers a rich environment for Bioethics with experienced staff who are leaders in health ethics and policy.
Our close links to hospitals and research centres in Dunedin provide unique opportunities to explore ethics in action. Otago’s supportive postgraduate community fosters thoughtful discussion and collaboration, helping you develop expertise and confidence to make a real impact in the field.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law (PGDipBHL)
A mostly distance-taught, coursework programme, that can be completed with full-time (one-year) or part-time (two-years) study
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc)
A one-year full-time (or longer part-time) programme for health professionals who want to increase knowledge and skills in a specific area of practice
Master of Bioethics and Health Law (MBHL)
An interdisciplinary postgraduate programme including coursework and research, completed in one year of full-time or equivalent part-time study.
Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc)
A one- or two-year postgraduate degree for health professionals, encompassing coursework and/or research in a chosen area of specialisation
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Engage in original research leading to a doctoral thesis, supported by comprehensive academic and social networks
Graduate qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
You may also be interested in
Otago also offers a postgraduate qualification in Clinial Ethics:
Postgraduate Study in Clinical Ethics
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Papers |
|---|
BITC 401 Theories of Biomedical Ethics (30 points) BITC 403 Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine (15 points) LAWS 547 Law and Medicine (15 points) and at least one of the following:
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| Papers |
|---|
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| Papers | Points |
|---|---|
| BITC 401 Theories of Biomedical Ethics | 30 |
| BITC 403 Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine | 15 |
| LAWS 447 Law and Medicine | 15 |
| At least 15 further points of Law papers from: | |
| LAWS 322 Family Law | 15 |
| LAWS 428 Law and Emerging Technologies | 15 |
| LAWS 448 Law and Psychiatry | 15 |
| LAWS 467 International Human Rights Law | 15 |
| Any of LAWS 322, LAWS 428, LAWS 448, LAWS 467, and the following papers to make a total of at least 120 points for the programme: |
| Papers |
|---|
BITC 401 Theories of Biomedical Ethics (30 points) BITC 403 Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine (15 points) LAWS 547 Law and Medicine (15 points) and at least one of:
and any of LAWS 512, LAWS 528, LAWS 548, LAWS 588, and the following papers to make a total of least 120 points:
|
BITC 890 MBHL Dissertation (60 points) |
| Papers |
|---|
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Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
BITC papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BITC101 | 2026, 2027 | Bioethics in Aotearoa | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| BITC201 | 2026, 2027 | Bioethics and the Life Sciences | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| BITC202 | 2026, 2027 | Animal Ethics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| BITC210 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| BITC301 | 2026, 2027 | Bioethics: Healthcare Issues and Global Perspectives | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| BITC401 | 2026, 2027 | Theories of Biomedical Ethics | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| BITC403 | 2026, 2027 | Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine | 15 points | Semester 1 |
| BITC404 | 2026, 2027 | Ethics and Health Care | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| BITC405 | 2026, 2027 | Bioethics in Clinical Practice | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| BITC406 | 2026, 2027 | Health Research Ethics | 15 points | Semester 2 |
| BITC407 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Health Research Ethics | 15 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| BITC412 | 2027 | Special Topic | 15 points | Not offered in 2027 |
| BITC790 | 2026, 2027 | MHealSc Dissertation | 60 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (1 January 2026 - 18 December 2026), 2nd Non standard period (20 February 2026 - 5 February 2027), 1st Non standard period (26 February 2027 - 18 February |
| BITC890 | 2026, 2027 | MBHL Dissertation | 60 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (23 February 2026 - 19 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (9 July 2026 - 25 June 2027), 1st Non standard period (26 February 2027 - 18 February 2028), 2nd Non |
Contacts
Bioethics Centre
Faculty of Medicine – Dunedin
Email bioethics@otago.ac.nz
Bioethics Centre website
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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