Master’s Degrees and Diplomas

Sydney Coursework Student Profile

Dr Christopher Ryan, Master of Health Law (MHL)

“As a health professional without any prior training in the law, I cannot speak too highly of the Masters in Health Law programme. Not only was the subject matter fascinating and directly relevant to my day to day work, but it was taught in a clear and engaging style by lecturers who are Australian leaders in the field. The course has made me a better doctor but, more than that, has opened up a number of previously unexplored vistas both in academic publication and medico-legal consultation.”

Dr Christopher Ryan, Master of Health Law (MHL)

Download the Sydney Health Law Brochure

Master of Health Law (MHL) & Graduate Diploma in Health Law (GradDipHL)

Sydney Law School offers one of the nation’s leading postgraduate programs in health and medical law. The Master of Health Law (MHL) is a flexible, specialist postgraduate qualification in health law providing wide-ranging interdisciplinary coverage of contemporary legal and social issues in health care. The degree will be of particular interest to lawyers with a health/professional liability practice, hospital and other health organization administrators, doctors, nurses and other eligible health professionals. An exciting feature of the MHL program is the opportunity for dialogue between the legal and health professions about legal and ethical issues of relevance to both practice and administration. The MHL attracts a diverse mix of students.

Candidates enrolled in the MHL must choose three out of four core units, and five optional units. Candidates without an undergraduate law degree must also complete, in lieu of one of the optional units, either Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System or Health Law for Health Professionals.

The Graduate Diploma in Health Law (GradDipHL) is designed for students who have an interest in health law, but do not wish to complete the full Master's program. The Graduate Diploma consists of two compulsory units, and two optional units. (N.B. The Graduate Diploma in Health Law is not open to International Students.)

Applications are still open. However, some units may have restricted class size and compulsory units may run early in the semester. It is strongly recommended that applicants submit their application on time to avoid disappointment. Please contact the Postgraduate Team for further details

Master of Health Law (MHL)

or, continue an existing application

Graduate Diploma in Health Law (GradDipHL)

or, continue an existing application

Program Co-ordinator

Associate Professor Kristin Savell

Admission requirements

While an undergraduate degree is required, admission in the program is open to both lawyers, health professionals working in their respective professions, and other approved applicants.

Program structure

Each unit of study in the health law program is equivalent to six credit points. A total of 48 credit points (or eight units of study) is required for the award of the Master of Health Law (MHL). 24 credit points (four units of study) is required for the Graduate Diploma.

Attendance Pattern

Each unit of study entails 26 contact hours. Units are offered on a semester length basis or intensive basis. Semester length units are taught once a week over 13 weeks on either a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening between 6pm and 8pm. Intensive units of study condense the 26 hours over a period of four to five days. The units are then taught between 9am and 5pm over a block period. For example, an intensive unit may be taught two consecutive days one week and then two consecutive days in a fortnight's time. All classes are held in the Law School or another Sydney CBD location.

Duration

COURSE	ATTENDANCE	CREDIT POINTS (CP) PER SEMESTER	MAXIMUM (from first enrolment)
Master's Coursework	FULL-TIME	18-24 CP	6 YEARS*
Master's Coursework	PART-TIME	max 12 CP	6 YEARS*
Graduate diploma	FULL-TIME	18-24 CP	3 YEARS*
Graduate diploma	PART-TIME	max 12 CP	3 YEARS*

*Periods of suspension, exclusion or lapsed candidature will be added to the maximum completion times except that no completion time will exceed 10 years from first enrolment. Credit will not be granted for previous studies older than 10 years at the time of first enrolment. If a student is admitted with credit, the Faculty will determine a reduced time limit for completion of the award course.

Units of study

Please note: some units of study may have pre-requisite requirements or prohibition guidelines and may not be available to those without a law degree. Please check with the Sydney Law School directly if in doubt.

Core Units of Study for the Masters of Health Law (MHL) (2013) (students must complete three core units)
Government Regulation, Health Policy and Ethics
Health Care and & Professional Liability
Information Rights in Health Care
Critical Issues in Public Health Law
Introduction to Law for Health Professionals or Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System*

*An additional, compulsory unit for candidates without a law degree from a common law jurisdiction
# Non highlighted subjects are not offered this year.

Compulsory Units of Study for Graduate Diploma in Health Law (GradDipHL) (2013)
Health Care and Professional Liability
Information Rights in Health Care
Introduction to Law for Health Professionals or Legal Reasoning and the Common Law System *

*An additional, compulsory unit for candidates without a law degree from a common law jurisdiction

Elective units of study - Master of Health Law (MHL) & Graduate Diploma in Health Law (GradDipHL) (2013)
Death Law
Dispute Resolution in Australia
European Health Law and Policy
Expert Evidence and Class Action Procedure
Genetics and the Law
Global Health Law
Health, Development, Trade and Investment Law
Independent Research Project
Law and Healthy Lifestyles
Mediation - Skills and Theory
Mental Illness: Law and Policy
Reproduction and the Law