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The current route to qualifying as a doctor requires only a cursory knowledge of the law. The intensive clinical and basic science curriculum mean that the content of both the undergraduate and postgraduate medical syllabus is constantly under stress. There is seldom room for a discrete medico-legal module.

This practice-based distance learning course has been designed to meet the distinct needs of hospital doctors who are required to make medical decisions with legal implications.

Combining a practical approach with an in-depth study of Medical Law you will develop legal knowledge, legal application, and critical analysis skills in addition to the professional and reflective expertise necessary for safe and confident hospital medical practice.

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Part Time (Distance Learning)

Department
Northumbria Law School

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

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Find out More / Northumbria Law School News

Take a look at our Law school and the opportunities available to you.

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Northumbria Law School is one of the largest law schools in the UK, with a national and international reputation for excellence in legal education for those interested in studying law. Hear from our academics on why you should study at Northumbria, the facilities we offer as well how we support our students.

Discover more / Explore Northumbria University

Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.

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Entry Requirements Modules Overview Fees, Funding  and Scholarships

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in medicine, a healthcare related subject or in Law.

Relevant professional qualifications or suitable experience will also be considered.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

Full UK Fee: £3,233

Full International Fee: £3,233



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Whilst books are made available via the University Library, students may wish to purchase key texts. One text per module is recommended for purchase throughout this course. There is one study day, held at Northumbria University, associated with each of the three modules on this course that would give rise to travel and accommodation costs. (The study days are not compulsory).

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules Overview 2025/26

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

Year one

LW7144 -

Clinical Negligence (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the law relating to clinical negligence in England and Wales as applied to doctors. The module will examine the substantive law applicable in this area and will focus on statute and common law.



This module covers the following topics:



Clinical Negligence - the substantive rules:

An overview of the clinical negligence claim.

Duty of care.

Breach of the duty of care / the standard of care.

Causation.

Damage.

Limitation.

Claims in contract.

Criminal law and gross negligence manslaughter.

The Role of the Coroner.

More information

LW7145 -

Consent and Confidentiality (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to consent to treatment in England and Wales, medical confidentiality and access to medical records. You will examine the importance of legal capacity/competency in consent law and its effect on the rights of adults and children to give or withhold consent. You will examine the basis of the duty of confidence and the circumstances where disclosure of confidential medical information can be justified. The module will critically consider the complex framework that governs medical confidentiality and examine the common law and statutory requirements alongside relevant professional guidance.



This module covers the following topics:



Treatment of capable adults at common law: introducing the doctrine of informed consent and the common laws of battery and negligence in relation to consent to treatment.

Treatment of Incapable adults under the Mental Capacity Act 2005: examining how and when incapable adults can be treated without consent.

Treatment of Children and Young Persons: exploring the legal framework governing the care and treatment of children and young people and the solutions offered by common law and the primary statutes when legal and ethical issues arise in their treatment and care.

The sources of the duty of confidence.

The circumstances where disclosure of medical information can be justified and the remedies available where the duty is breached.

Disclosure issues relating to children and adults lacking capacity.

Analysis of the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to medical confidentiality.

The Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) with a particular focus on issues relating to ‘processing’ medical information and entitlement to access personal data.

More information

LW7146 -

Medical Law in Context (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the substantive legal principles set out in the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), the Mental Health Act 2007, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), and the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) and common law and related guidance with specific reference to care and treatment for mental disorder and those who lack capacity. You will also examine the importance of legal capacity/competency and its effect on end-of-life treatment. You will evaluate the impact of the law understanding the interaction of relevant legal principles and their practical application with reference to relevant case studies.



This module covers the following topics:



An overview of the overall structure and application of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), the Code of Practice to the MHA 1983, The Mental Health Act 2007 (MHA 2007) and subsequent legislation and current Government proposals for reform.

Emergency provisions of the MHA 1983.

Treatment under Part IV MHA 1983 and under Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

An overview of the key provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) and the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 (MCA 2019) and how they fit into the overall framework for care and treatment of those who lack capacity/ are mentally disordered.

An examination of how provision can be made for a future onset of incapacity through Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

An overview of the law and ethics in relation to end of life treatment and organ donation.

More information

Modules Overview 2026/27

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

Year one

LW7144 -

Clinical Negligence (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the law relating to clinical negligence in England and Wales as applied to doctors. The module will examine the substantive law applicable in this area and will focus on statute and common law.



This module covers the following topics:



Clinical Negligence - the substantive rules:

An overview of the clinical negligence claim.

Duty of care.

Breach of the duty of care / the standard of care.

Causation.

Damage.

Limitation.

Claims in contract.

Criminal law and gross negligence manslaughter.

The Role of the Coroner.

More information

LW7145 -

Consent and Confidentiality (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to consent to treatment in England and Wales, medical confidentiality and access to medical records. You will examine the importance of legal capacity/competency in consent law and its effect on the rights of adults and children to give or withhold consent. You will examine the basis of the duty of confidence and the circumstances where disclosure of confidential medical information can be justified. The module will critically consider the complex framework that governs medical confidentiality and examine the common law and statutory requirements alongside relevant professional guidance.



This module covers the following topics:



Treatment of capable adults at common law: introducing the doctrine of informed consent and the common laws of battery and negligence in relation to consent to treatment.

Treatment of Incapable adults under the Mental Capacity Act 2005: examining how and when incapable adults can be treated without consent.

Treatment of Children and Young Persons: exploring the legal framework governing the care and treatment of children and young people and the solutions offered by common law and the primary statutes when legal and ethical issues arise in their treatment and care.

The sources of the duty of confidence.

The circumstances where disclosure of medical information can be justified and the remedies available where the duty is breached.

Disclosure issues relating to children and adults lacking capacity.

Analysis of the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to medical confidentiality.

The Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) with a particular focus on issues relating to ‘processing’ medical information and entitlement to access personal data.

More information

LW7146 -

Medical Law in Context (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the substantive legal principles set out in the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), the Mental Health Act 2007, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), and the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) and common law and related guidance with specific reference to care and treatment for mental disorder and those who lack capacity. You will also examine the importance of legal capacity/competency and its effect on end-of-life treatment. You will evaluate the impact of the law understanding the interaction of relevant legal principles and their practical application with reference to relevant case studies.



This module covers the following topics:



An overview of the overall structure and application of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), the Code of Practice to the MHA 1983, The Mental Health Act 2007 (MHA 2007) and subsequent legislation and current Government proposals for reform.

Emergency provisions of the MHA 1983.

Treatment under Part IV MHA 1983 and under Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

An overview of the key provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) and the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 (MCA 2019) and how they fit into the overall framework for care and treatment of those who lack capacity/ are mentally disordered.

An examination of how provision can be made for a future onset of incapacity through Advance Decisions and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

An overview of the law and ethics in relation to end of life treatment and organ donation.

More information

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

Student Inclusion support

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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