Outline

Overview

The world has experienced a health crisis like no other. COVID-19 has been a defining issue for global health, and for the international laws that govern health. COVID-19 also exemplified the health inequalities that represent the most enduring and consequential global health challenge of our time. This unit explores how the law, and governance, can and should be wielded to meet these challenges. This unit provides students with a firm understanding of the role of international law in promoting, or harming, human health. It covers the foundations of global health law as a field of study and practice, the major actors in global health, the principal international legal instruments governing global health, contemporary threats to global health, and innovative solutions for global health governance in the 21st Century. We will explore the content and functioning of ‘hard’ international legal instruments such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as well as ‘soft’ law instruments such as the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. We will also explore key innovations in global health law and governance on the horizon, including reforms to the International Health Regulations and a new treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The unit will cover naturally occurring infectious diseases, past and future epidemics, major chronic diseases caused by modern lifestyles (e.g., unhealthy diet, alcohol, and tobacco use), and the complex health threats of climate change and antimicrobial resistance. The central theme throughout our discussions will be global health with justice – striving to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for everyone, not only in the aggregate but also distributed fairly across all populations. The unit uses innovative teaching activities to engage students, including contemporary case studies, mock sessions of intergovernmental negotiating bodies, and real-life pandemic simulations. By the end of this unit, students will be able to apply knowledge obtained in this and other classes to the most important public health problems facing contemporary society. They will be able to critically evaluate and utilise the tools the law presently provides to address health needs, and they will also be able to understand the gaps in current legal frameworks. Designed as a complement to other health law coursework, this unit serves as an important stepping-stone to the sort of real-world problem-solving public health lawyers perform on a daily basis. Above all, this unit is designed to be highly engaging and stimulating, appealing to a broad range of students. It is also dealing with health challenges of major consequence for the health and well-being of people everywhere. Refer to Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Roger Magnusson, roger.magnusson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Lawrence Gostin, l.gostin@usyd.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 7 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Written assignment (60%) Written assignment	60%	Mid-semester break Due date: 28 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Oct 2026	4000 word / 9 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	(Alternative) Capstone Essay (80%) Written assignment	0%	Mid-semester break Due date: 28 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 Oct 2026	7000 words / 9 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Attendance - accreditation or faculty requirement	Attendance (0%) 70% compulsory attendance	0%	Ongoing	70% compulsory attendance	Not applicable
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback task (0%) Online quiz	0%	Week 01 Due date: 24 Jul 2026 at 23:59	10 multiple-choice questions	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Practical skill	Full-day Public Health Emergency Simulation: Professional Competency (10%) Students will respond as the simulation unfolds across four phases throughout the day.	10%	Week 01 Due date: 23 Jul 2026 at 09:00	Full Day Guided Simulation Exercise	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Class participation (10%) Individual participation in class simulation exercises	10%	Week 01	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Opinion Editorial (20%) Assignment question or essay topic	20%	Week 04 Due date: 24 Aug 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 07 Sep 2026	1500 words / 4 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= early feedback task ?

Assessment summary

Attendance (0%): Students in this unit of study are required to attend 70% classes. Failure to satisfy this requirement will result in an Absent Fail grade. Students who apply successfully for Special Consideration may be granted an exemption from the attendance requirement by the coordinator. To enable students to apply for Special Consideration, attendance has been included as a 0% assessment in this unit of study. Students should only apply for Special Consideration when they have failed to attend at least 30% of timetabled activities.

Early Feedback Task (0%) : This unit includes an Early Feedback Task that is designed to provide students with timely insights into their understanding and engagement with the unit content. The Early Feedback Task in this unit is an online set of 10 multiple-choice questions. The task will be available on Canvas from 4:00pm on 21 July 2026 and due 11:59pm on 24 July 2026, (Sydney, Australia time). It will be tailored to reflect key concepts from the first day of classes. Students will be provided with immediate automated feedback upon completion of the task.

Class participation (10%): Students’ class participation grade will be based on the quality of their contributions to class discussions throughout the intensive teaching sessions. Participation will be assessed on quality rather than quantity. Students are expected to demonstrate preparation, pre-reading, co-operation, and reflective consideration of complex legal, policy and public health issues. To avoid double-counting, this task assesses participation in class discussions and preparatory learning activities outside the formal simulation competency assessment. Students will be assessed on; Evidence of engagement with pre-reading and class materials; Relevant and constructive contributions to discussion; Respectful engagement and communication; consideration of complex legal, policy and public health issues

Full-day Public Health Emergency Simulation: Professional Competency (10%) : The full-day simulated public health emergency on Thursday, 23 July 2026 is a compulsory in-person assessment worth 10% of the final grade. Students will be assigned roles as key legal, policy and scientific decision-makers, either in the World Health Organization or a WHO Member State. Students will respond as the simulation unfolds across four phases throughout the day. Student roles will be available on Canvas from 4:00pm (Sydney, Australia Time) on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

Opinion Editorial (20%): The short assignment will take the form of an opinion editorial (no more than 1,500 words) (excluding citations). Students must select a topic area from a list posted to Canvas on Monday, 27 July 2026 (these will be directly related to the topics covered during the course) but the content of the opinion itself is entirely the student’s discretion. We will discuss the characteristics of good opinion writing in class. The short assignments must be submitted by 11.59pm (Sydney, Australia time) on Monday, 24 August 2026.

Written Assessment (60%): The primary written assessment be an analysis of the simulation exercise that takes place on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The written assessment will take the form of an After-Action Review (AAR) report (a form which will be discussed further in class). It should consist of the student’s analysis of what happened during the simulation, what went well, what should have been done differently, and recommendations to improve responses in the short term (for the hypothetical parties), and to improve future responses in the medium- and long term. The written assessment is to be prepared as an AAR report from the perspective of an independent commission hired to review the emergency as a whole, and not as a reflection of the student’s personal experience nor a review only of the student’s allocated country or organization.

In-person attendance for the full day of Thursday, 23 July 2026 is compulsory as students will not be able to complete this assessment without it. The written assessment should be no more than 4000 words (excluding citations). Written assessments must be submitted by 11.59pm (Sydney, Australia time) on Monday, 28 September 2026. Students will be graded on the following criteria: accuracy; critical analysis; deep reflection; recommendations; structure; writing clarity.

(Alternative) Capstone Essay (80%): Students electing to take the unit as a capstone will submit a written AAR report of no more than 7000 words (excluding citations). Capstone reports must be submitted by 11.59pm (Sydney, Australia time) on Monday, 28 September 2026, and students will be graded on the same criteria as the 60% written report. The capstone report will be worth 80% of students’ final grade, undertaken in lieu of the short assignment. Students undertaking a capstone will still accrue marks for participation in class and the full-day simulation (see above)

All written assessments must accord with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018).

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude all footnotes and any bibliography (if required), and exclude acknowledgements of assistance from editors, automated writing tools or generative AI (where use is permitted).

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer. A link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at Referencing and Citation Styles: AGLC4.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study. As the EFT is an early diagnostic tool, this task is not included in the final grade for the unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	• Completely answers the question. • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis. • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required). • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed. • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
Distinction	75 - 84	• Completely answers the question. • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues. • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument. • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument. • Generally well expressed and free from errors. • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.
Credit	65 - 74	• Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question. • Contains no significant errors • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues. • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues. • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.
Pass	50 - 64	• Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument. • Contains some significant errors. • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues. • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question. • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase. • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis. • Adequate expression. • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.
Fail	0 - 49	• Does not answer the question. • Contains significant or numerous errors. • Few or no identifiable arguments. • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant. • Lack of research or analysis. • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure. • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see Guide to Grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per 24 hours or part thereof, after the due time on the due date. Penalties for late submission will be applied strictly, subject to a 5 minute grace period.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Topic 1– Introduction to Global Health Law; Topic 2 – Public Health Strategies to Control Global Epidemic Disease; Topic 3 – The World Health Organization; Topic 4 – The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control	Seminar (6.5 hr)
	Topic 5 – The International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR); Topic 6 – The IHR (continued), and Preparedness Monitoring and Assessment; Topic 7 – The WHO Pandemic Agreement; Topic 8 – Legal Frameworks for Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing	Seminar (6.5 hr)
	Full Day Guided Simulation Exercise	Seminar (6.5 hr)
	Topic 9 – Antimicrobial Resistance; Topic 10 – The Silent Pandemic of NCDs; Topic 11 – Global Health Financing; Topic 12 – Global Health Equity and other Lessons from COVID-19 and Completion of the student feedback survey for this unit of study.	Seminar (6.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: All students are required to attend 70% of classes to satisfy the pass requirements for this unit. Failure to meet this requirement will result in an Absent Fail grade being recorded as the student’s result for this unit (see The University of Sydney Law School Resolutions: Coursework Awards cl 11).

In-person attendance for the full day of Thursday, 23 July 2026 is compulsory as students will not be able to complete Written Assessment (70%) without it.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Gostin, Lawrence O, Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021). The full text is available online and in hard copy at the University of Sydney Library. This book is available for purchase, with a student discount, from Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road or online via https://www.gleebooks.com.au/textbooks/.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. analyse and critically reflect on the legal, economic, political, and public health policy concepts relevant to global health law.
LO2. identify and describe to an advanced and integrated level the major institutions and organizations influencing global health, including intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and foundations
LO3. critically evaluate the effectiveness of international legal and policy mechanisms in advancing health goals and comprehend the theoretical framework underpinning contemporary international law related to global health
LO4. apply advanced legal research skills to critically assess and explain the significant contemporary challenges in global health and their underlying causes
LO5. synthesise complex legal ideas and concepts to create sound written and oral arguments and critically reflect on the appropriate role of law in addressing global health needs and priorities

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessment regime has changed since the last time this content was taught.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

LAWS6920: Global Health Law

Intensive July - August, 2026 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links