M6018 Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine

The course develops through theme studies in personal and professional development; population, society, health and Illness; scientific basis of clinical practice; and clinical skills, all of which come together in professional practice demonstrated in the clinical placement units.

Part A. Personal and professional development

'Personal and professional development' will focus on the doctor as an individual and concentrates on the personal attributes and qualities needed by medical students and, ultimately, medical practitioners. It covers elements of health enhancement, professional responsibilities, communication skills, information technology, medical informatics and computing skills, ethics and legal issues, and clinical effectiveness.

Part B. Population, society, health and illness

'Population, society, health and illness' develops students' abilities to deal with broader society and population issues. Students will consider the social, environmental and behavioural contexts of illness and the practice of medicine, including an emphasis on rural and remote Australia. Other elements of this theme will be built around health promotion, epidemiology, public health, community diversity, population and global health, and a range of other societal issues. The history and philosophy of the scientific approach to medicine will also be included, extending this to approaches to knowledge and information, and an understanding of evidence-based medicine.

Part C. Scientific basis of clinical practice

'Scientific basis of clinical practice' includes much of the human systems-based teaching in the course. The knowledge and concepts that underpin medicine, both in the basic medical sciences and in the clinical sciences, are included.

Part D. Clinical skills

'Clinical skills' encompasses the whole range of clinical skills. This begins with clinical aspects of communication skills and introduction to practical clinical skills including handwashing, sharps disposal; subcutaneous and intramuscular injecting. Early in the course students will interact with health care professionals during medical contact visits, and will be introduced to the medical interview, taking a family history, ethical aspects of medical contact visits. Comprehensive history taking, systems based physical examinations and procedural clinical skills are further developed during later clinical placements. The approach in clinical skills development will be to develop defined clinical competencies.

Units are interdisciplinary, with themes woven through each semester.

Year A 

Blocks of systems-based sub-units are presented with a mix of basic medical science content, patient-based presentations and discussions in small groups. These sub-units combine basic content with generic skills and are set in appropriate clinical contexts, largely through the use of patient-oriented learning. Topics include:

• cardiovascular system
• endocrinology
• gastrointestinal tract
• genomics
• human behaviour
• human development and growth
• immunology and infection
• metabolism
• molecules, cells and tissues
• musculo-skeletal system
• neurosciences
• nutrition
• reproduction
• respiratory system
• urinary system.

Years three and four

During this period, clinical content is delivered in blocks of clinical rotations, with a mix of advanced and applied medical science, patient-oriented presentations, and discussions in small tutorial groups. A variety of clinical settings are used, including a range of metropolitan and rural hospitals, ambulatory clinics and the rural environment. The emphasis will be on students gaining real clinical experience, participating in patient care and understanding how healthcare teams work. In the third year, students will study integrated medicine and surgery and pathophysiology which will be taught together with a series of problem-based and core-based learning sessions. The fourth year will be largely taken up with the core clinical rotations of:

• children's health
• general practice
• psychological medicine
• women's health.

Year five

The final year of the course focuses on facilitating the students' transition into the medical workplace as a trainee intern. Students will participate in a range of learning experiences designed to substantially enhance their research skills, clinical reasoning, diagnostic and case management skills. They will consolidate and enhance their knowledge, clinical skills and professional behaviours in clinically orientated rotations integrated with sessions in patient safety and preparedness for professional practice.  The six clinical rotations are:

• aged care
• emergency medicine
• medicine
• scholarly intensive project
• specialty
• surgery

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course requires the completion of two stages. To progress to stage two you must have completed all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Medical Science and be in good standing with the faculty and meet all requirements of the applicant checks.

Stage one: Bachelor of Medical Science

Stage one of the course comprises 96 points, of which all are core units comprised of 48 credit points of campus based study (Year A) and 48 credit points of clinically based study (Year 3).

The course develops through theme studies in: A. Personal and professional development, B. Population, society, health and illness, C. Scientific basis of clinical practice and D. Clinical skills.

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 24 points unless otherwise stated.

You must complete:

Year A

• GMA2100 Foundations of medical practice
• GMA2200 Principles of medicine

Year 3

• MED3100 Medicine and surgery
• MED3200 Foundation clinical studies

Stage two: Doctor of Medicine

Stage two of the course comprises 96 points.

You can progress to stage two of the course after having successfully completed Year 3/Year A of the Bachelor of Medical Science which is cross credited for the master's qualification.

You must complete:

Year 4

• MED4100 Speciality clinical practices
• MED4200 Integrated clinical studies

Year 5

• MED5105 Advanced Clinical practices (24 points)
• MED5103 Patient Safety and Preparation for Practice (12 points)
• MED5101 Applied studies in medical research and professional practice (12 points)
• MED5100 Final grade (0 points)