About the Medical Course
In this section:
Course Philosophy
The objectives of the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science course are to:
- Produce knowledgeable, caring and competent graduates, well prepared to practise under supervision as interns and subsequently to commence postgraduate vocational training in any area of medicine.
- Impart knowledge, attitudes and skills that will encourage and enable graduates to practise ethical and scientifically-based health care with a high level of skill and social responsibility and continue to develop their knowledge and skills throughout their career.
The teaching and learning environment encourages students to develop their own learning styles and ability to use academic resources, while reflecting on their experience of the practice of medicine. The medical course is designed to develop and maintain lifelong patterns of appropriate professional behaviour.
The course provides an integrated learning environment in which students are introduced to the principles of clinical medicine simultaneously with their introduction to the scientific basis of medicine. The course incorporates the following themes:
- The Scientific Basis of Medicine;
- Population Health;
- Clinical Skills;
- Professional Behaviour.
Teaching and learning is practically based and takes place on campus, in community settings and in hospitals. Teaching and learning methods include:
- Problem based learning - students work in small groups to understand and solve clinically relevant problems.
- Working in groups, with skilled tutor guidance, to develop team skills and individual learning styles.
- Early and continued exposure to diverse health practice settings to develop clinical skills and professional attitudes.
- Computer assisted learning packages, suitable for group and individual learning.
- Lectures and practical classes.
- Direct patient related teaching in hospitals or clinics.
Course Structure
Body Systems Subjects - Semesters 1-5
These systems-based subjects integrate teaching of the basic sciences relevant to medicine such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Physics, Pharmacology, Pathology and Microbiology.
Each week students, in small groups, explore a clinical case - the "Problem of the Week". This enables basic medical science knowledge to be assimilated in the context in which it will be used: the care of patients.
Health Practice Subjects - Semesters 1-5
Health Practice subjects cover the following areas:
- The Human Mind and Behaviour in Health and Illness;
- Health and Society;
- Introduction to Clinical Medicine.
Health Practice subjects will:
- Integrate with the clinical "Problem of the Week".
- Teach students clinical skills.
- Provide a framework of cumulative skill acquisition over the five semesters.
Students also visit teaching hospitals and other community health settings to explore the differing aspects of illness and health care arising from the clinical problems.
Advanced Medical Science Subjects - Semesters 6 & 7
(Optional for MBBS Graduate Entry)
During the Bachelor of Medical Science program students explore in depth an area of their own choice related to medicine from an extensive range of topics: e.g. aboriginal health, adolescent health, medical ethics and law, laboratory research, international health, women's health.
Students are introduced to the formal processes of research and develop key skills in literature appraisal, data collection, analysis and presentation. The year may be spent doing field research on campus, or in approved centres interstate or overseas. Further information is available from our Advanced Medical Science website.
Students who choose to exit the course after successful completion of Semesters 1 - 7 will be awarded the Bachelor of Medical Science degree.
Integrated Clinical Studies - Semesters 8-12
These semesters prepare students to enter supervised clinical practice as an intern. They provide direct patient contact and clerking in an integrated format that builds on previous knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Learning is predominantly patient driven with integration of the basic sciences and consolidation of clinical skills with a focus on an integrated approach to the "whole patient".
Students are based at one of the general clinical schools associated with the University. Learning and teaching activities also take place in institutions associated with the general clinical schools or in more specialised clinical centres.
For more detailed information on the above subjects please refer to the University Undergraduate Handbook
Honours Options
The Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) is an extension of the Advanced Medical Science year of research and clinical appraisal of literature, evaluation of evidence and use of statistical techniques. The course will also provide the student with a possible pathway into a research career.
The Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) may be awarded to students who achieve a high standard throughout the course in the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery undergraduate/graduate entry programs.
Bachelor of Medical Science Degree
Students who have completed at least two and a half years of an MBBS or equivalent from an approved university are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Medical Science by undertaking one year of an Advanced Medical Science research course. For more information please refer to the Advanced Medical Science website.