About the Sydney Bioethics Program

The Bioethics Program at the University of Sydney is a joint initiative between the Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine (VELIM) in the Faculty of Medicine, and the Unit for the History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) in the Faculty of Science. It is designed to address the growing interest in the life sciences and biomedical technologies among theorists and researchers in the humanities and social sciences, as well as the increasingly urgent need for postgraduate ethics education among researchers and practitioners in health-related fields and disciplines such as medicine, nursing, public health, health law, and public policy.

The Sydney Bioethics Program is an excellent example of the interdisciplinarity of the field of bioethics. Development of the program and the teaching within it are shared between the Faculties of Medicine and Science, with foundational units of study covering philosophical, sociological, and legal approaches (amongst others) to bioethics.

The Sydney Bioethics Program currently offers four degrees through an articulated coursework program:

In addition to acquiring a comprehensive overview of the field of bioethics, students in the program pursue areas of special interest to them by enrolling in elective units on biotechnology, clinical ethics, research ethics, or public health. For instance, the Graduate Certificate of Bioethics, concentrated on biotechnology, is directed at and appeals to people especially concerned with recent developments in genetics and stem cell research.

The Master of Bioethics (Honours) degree also provides opportunities for concentrated inquiry in an area of special interest through an individual research program and for gaining research experience necessary for further postgraduate study (such as in a doctoral degree).

Because many units of study in the Sydney Bioethics Program are offered in an intensive format with online supported learning activities, the program is accessible for working students and anyone living outside of the Sydney area. Units of study that meet on a weekly basis are offered during evenings in order to accommodate people engaged in full-time employment who may be unable to attend university during the daytime.