Doctor of Medicine - MD - From 1 January 2017

Admission requirements

Undergraduate Pathway via Bachelor of Clinical Sciences at Flinders University

This pathway is for applicants who have completed Year 12 (or equivalent) and who do not have a record of study at higher education level. Domestic applicants must sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT) and their final ranking is determined by combining scores for the test and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), or equivalent.

International applicants must sit the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) and achieve minimum secondary school results set by the Admissions Committee for the Doctor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences / Doctor of Medicine. Their final ranking is determined by combining secondary school results, ISAT test results and an interview score.

In the first two years of the program of study, all students must pass all topics and gain a Grade Point Average of 5 (Credit) or above, in order to be eligible to progress to the MD component.

Undergraduate Pathway via Bachelor of Clinical Sciences offered jointly in the Northern Territory by Flinders University and Charles Darwin University

This pathway is for applicants who have completed Year 12 (or equivalent) and who either do not have a record of study at higher education level or who have studied at higher education level for one year or less. It is not available to international applicants. Applicants must sit The Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT). Final ranking is determined by combining scores for the test and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), or equivalent. In the first two years of the program of study, students must pass all topics and gain a Grade Point Average of 5 (Credit) or above, in order to be eligible to progress to the MD component in the Northern Territory.

Graduate-entry Pathway

Applicants must hold an approved degree from an Australian university or tertiary institution deemed to be of equivalent standard, or be due to complete such a degree before starting the course. Applicants who are Australian citizens or permanent residents must sit for the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) unless they are eligible to apply in the Indigenous Entry Stream. International applicants may choose to sit either the GAMSAT or the North American Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Selection for interview is based largely on performance in the Admissions Test. Final ranking is determined by combining scores for the test, performance in the first degree and personal qualities, as assessed at interview.

Indigenous Entry Stream (IES)

Applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who hold an approved degree from an Australian university or tertiary institution deemed to be of equivalent standard, or who are due to complete such a degree before starting the course may apply for admission through the Indigenous Entry Stream. There are three elements in the IES selection process: a written application, an interview and a 4-5 week Preparation for Medicine Program (PMP). Selection for interview will be based on assessment of the written application. Selection for admission will be based on performance in the interview and in the Preparation for Medicine Program. IES applicants who have satisfactory results in GAMSAT and at interview may be exempt from the PMP.

Course aims

The course is designed to provide a high standard of academic, clinical and professional medical training to provide graduates with the skills necessary to take up positions as hospital interns and thereby qualify for medical registration in Australia.

At the same time, the course fosters autonomous learning and provides a foundation of knowledge and skills in preparation for diverse career choices after graduation.

The MD aims to:

integrate basic science and clinical disciplines and recognise the importance of exposure to the principles, practice and findings of medical research
provide a structured approach to the acquisition of clinical skills and competencies through laboratory and simulated learning and early patient contact made possible by the physical location of the School within the Flinders Medical Centre and the integration of patient care teaching and research in that environment
give students the opportunity to undertake clinical learning in diverse hospital and community environments in Adelaide, country South Australia, western Victoria and the Northern Territory
recognise the importance of basing medical practice on a social and community view of health and illness
support the advocacy of patient care and service as a central focus in medical practice
ensure students gain an understanding of the professional roles and responsibilities of doctors and experience in group learning and developing collegial relationships.

Learning outcomes

In line with the Australian Medical Council’s organisation of the Graduate Outcome Statements into four domains, graduates of this course should be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes.

Domain 1: Science and Scholarship: the Flinders University medical graduate as a scientist and a scholar

1. Is a discerning user and producer of medical and health related research who can:

Acquire, consolidate and integrate a defined body of evidence-based knowledge from established biological, clinical, epidemiological, social, and behavioural sciences.
Undertake, assess, critically appraise, interpret, and apply evidence from medical research and the supporting sciences.
Formulate relevant research questions, select applicable study designs and undertake research to contribute to enhanced medical practice and health care provision.

Domain 2: Clinical practice: the Flinders University medical graduate as a practitioner

2. Can apply core and integrated medical and scientific knowledge to individual patients in clinical practice and to populations and health systems to make judgments and provide optimal, ethical, and patient-centred medical and health care.

3. Can use preventative and therapeutic interventions effectively, legally and ethically to diagnose and ensure quality care and patient safety.

4. Can communicate effectively and culturally appropriately in diverse and inter-professional healthcare teams to illicit information needed to support accurate problem formulation and optimal health care provision to diverse populations.

Domain 3: Health and society: the medical graduate as a health advocate

5. Understands the Australian health care systems, the social determinants of health as well as the variance of health and illness models across diverse cultures, in particular the health of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, and appreciates the need for social justice and advocacy in the delivery of health care.

Domain 4: Professionalism and leadership: the medical graduate as a professional and leader

6. Is an independent, collaborative, self-regulating learner who is aware of the limitations of their own knowledge and capabilities and has a commitment to address these in ongoing professional learning.

7. Can exercise leadership in wider roles of health advocacy, teaching, assessing, and appraising.

8. Knows and demonstrates a commitment to high standards of personal and professional behaviour with patients and their families, colleagues and inter-professional teams.

Program of study

To qualify for the degrees of Doctor of Medicine a student must complete the following program of study with a grade of NGP or P or better in each topic.

Core - Year 1 topics

MMED9150 Medicine 1A (18 units)
MMED9151 Medicine 1B (18 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

MMED9250 Medicine 2A (18 units)
MMED9251 Medicine 2B (13.5 units)

Option - Year 2 listed options

Research

MMED8205 Health Professions and Society 2B: Advanced Studies (4.5 units)

Coursework

Undertake a 4.5 unit pre-approved postgraduate coursework topic

Core - Year 3 topics

MMED9350 Medicine 3A (13.5 units)
MMED9351 Medicine 3B (18 units)

Option - Year 3 listed options

Research

MMED8304 Health Professions and Society 3A: Advanced Studies (4.5 units)

Coursework

Undertake a 4.5 unit pre-approved postgraduate coursework topic

Core - Year 4 topics

MMEDXXXX Medicine 4A (18 units)
MMEDXXXX Medicine 4B (18 units)

Except with the permission of the Dean (Education), the course must be completed within seven consecutive years. Failure to do so may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's policy on Student Progress.

Students who have interrupted their studies in the course may be required to resume at such point in the program and/or undertake such additional or special program of study as the Dean (Education) deems appropriate.

A student who fails in the work of any year of the course may be required to show cause why he/she should not be precluded from further studies in the course.

A student who at any time withdraws from, is precluded from, or fails to re-enrol in the MD shall be permitted to re-enrol in the course only with the prior approval of the Dean (Education).

Registration with the Medical Board of Australia

Students are required to register with the Medical Board of Australia as a condition of their enrolment in the course. A student whose registration is suspended will not be permitted to continue in the course until such time as their suspension is lifted. The student's re-enrolment may be subject to conditions imposed by either the Medical Board of Australia or the Dean (Education).

Double degrees

Bachelor of Clinical Sciences / Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University and based in Adelaide

The program of study is prescribed in the course rule for the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences / Doctor of Medicine

Bachelor of Clinical Sciences / Doctor of Medicine in the Northern Territory

The program of study for the first two years is prescribed in the course rule for the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences offered at Charles Darwin University. The program of study for the Doctor of Medicine component is the same as above.