Program Overview

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Bioethics - A6002

Overview

The Master of Bioethics prepares students with the ability to provide well-informed analysis of crucial ethical questions raised by revolutionary developments in biological and health sciences and technology. The course is widely acknowledged to be one of the world’s most innovative and highly-respected programs in bioethics.

Who is the Course Suited to?

The course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, including:

• Health care professionals, doctors, and scientists who face complex ethical issues in their working lives
• Those involved in the formulation of public policy
• Legal professionals aiming to develop or refine specialized knowledge
• Journalists, media commentators, and public policy advocates
• Philosophy graduates with an interest in further study of bioethics
• Anyone interested in bioethical issues of public concern

How Will the Course Help Advance Your Career?

A key strength of the program is its provision of a solid philosophical grounding, which is crucial to doing bioethics well. This means you’ll develop stronger analytical skills, be able to think through issues more clearly, and be confident that your decisions and views regarding ethical issues are well-informed.

The Master of Bioethics will help you to develop a deeper understanding of ethical frameworks and their application to real-world issues. You’ll also gain familiarity with newly-emerging controversies surrounding the latest developments in science and technology – and with current policies and practices in clinical and research ethics.

Career options include:

• Clinical ethics and research ethics within hospitals and health care facilities
• Disability advocacy
• Public policy development
• State guardianship boards
• Tertiary teaching of ethics within the health care profession

Course Details

Location

• On-campus at Clayton: Full time
• Online: Full time & part time

Duration

• 1 year/1.5 years/2 years (full time), depending on prior qualifications

Start Date

• First Semester (February), Second Semester (July)

Qualification

• Master of Bioethics

Fees

Information about fees

Entry Requirements

You need to satisfy the following entrance requirements to be considered for entry to this course.

Minimum Entry Requirements (International students)

Qualifications

• Entry level 1: 96 points to complete Duration: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time: An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) with at least credit (60%) average
• Entry level 2: 72 points to complete Duration: 1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time: An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a cognate* discipline with at least credit (60%) average. Or An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) and an Australian graduate certificate (or equivalent) in a cognate* discipline with at least 50% average in both qualifications
• Entry level 3: 48 points to complete Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time: An Australian bachelor honours degree (or equivalent) in a cognate* discipline with at least credit (60%) average

*Cognate disciplines include: medicine and other health sciences, life sciences, social sciences, law, and humanities

English Entry Requirements

Level A

• IELTS (Academic): 6.5 Overall score, with minimum band scores: Listening 6.0, Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, and Speaking 6.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): 58 Overall score, with minimum scores: Listening 50, Reading 50, Speaking 50, and Writing 50
• TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 Overall score, with minimum scores: Reading 13, Listening 12, Speaking 18, and Writing 21
• Other approved English tests (minimum entry scores apply)

Course Structure

The course is structured in three parts.

Part A. Principal Study

These studies will immerse you in bioethics study at a graduate level. You will gain a solid foundation in the field to underpin Applied and Specialist study.

Part B. Applied Study

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development.

Part C. Specialist Study

Select from a range of options designed to enhance specific knowledge and skills in Bioethics and related fields.

Why Study Bioethics at Monash?

• Industry Connections: Our connections with industry at an international and local level include a wide variety of organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), The Alfred Hospital (Melbourne), International Association of Bioethics, Children’s Bioethics Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Victorian Clinical Genetic Services
• Internships: Thanks to our exceptional industry connections with the World Health Organization and other esteemed organizations, it may also be possible via the Monash Arts Industry Experience (IE) team to undertake a professional internship in this course
• Academic Experts & Industry Leaders: You’ll be taught by staff who are internationally renowned for their bioethics research and teaching, and who are active and prominent contributors to public debate on a wide variety of issues in bioethics
• Global Reputation: Bioethics is something that Monash is famous for – and the Master of Bioethics is widely acknowledged to be one of the world’s most innovative and highly-respected programs, with a global reputation for teaching and research in bioethics
• Professional Enhancement: Develop essential transferable professional skills with our tailor-made Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) units, a key component in all our coursework master’s degrees
• Research Pathway Available: If you’re a high-achieving student, you may undertake a research thesis, and pave your way to a Higher Degree by Research such as a PhD

Testimonials

• "Having this course as a background knowledge helps me contribute to the ethical boards I sit on at the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital. I am able to contribute to these boards in an in-depth and knowledgeable way, I wouldn’t have been able to do this just based on my previous experiences and education." - Tiffany Lucas, Master of Bioethics (2016); President RCH Auxiliaries and Non-Executive Director, The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation; Director, TEL Consultants
• "I found the Master of Bioethics course to be immensely satisfying, both because of its deep intellectual stimulation and its thought-provoking relevance. It raised myriad issues throughout the field of medicine and its associated disciplines, and requires one to examine them through the spectrum of reason, logic, and justice." - Claire Waldron, Dialysis Coordinator

International Study Grants

International Study Grants valued at up to $10,000

Additional Information

For more information about the course, including how to apply, please refer to the Monash University website.