UNSW Medicine Information and Assistance

For Undergraduate Students

Medicine

Who Can Help?

 
This section of the Handbook is designed as a detailed source of information in all matters related to UNSW Medicine's Undergraduate Programs. If you require advice about enrolment, degree requirements, progression within Programs or with any other general Faculty matter, contact one of the following people located in the Medicine Education and Student Office (map reference C27), UNSW Medicine:
Undergraduate
Regina Bohler
Manager, Student Administration
Medicine Education & Student Office
Tel: +61 (2) 9385 2444
General and Admission Enquiries
UNSW Medicine
Tel: +61 (2) 9385 8765
Fax: +61 (2) 9385 1874
Elective term
Electives Co-ordinator
Tel: +61 (2) 9385 8765
Email:  medelectives@unsw.edu.au
Clerkships
Mitzi MacDonald
Clerkships Co-rdinator
Tel: +61 (2) 9385 2452
 

UNSW Medicine Website

UNSW Medicine's website address is www.med.unsw.edu.au.

This website provides information about programs, courses, research interests, news and current events. The website also contains links to all the schools, units, centres and the affiliated research institutes of the Faculty, as well as staff, student and alumni information resources. The Faculty maintains many PC and Macintosh computer laboratories for student access, both on campus and in the Faculty's teaching hospitals. Students can access the web, email, MS Office and educational applications from these computers.

UNSW Medicine

UNSW Medicine was established when the NSW Government accepted a proposal of the Murray Committee of Inquiry into the Future of Australian Universities and announced in December, 1957, that a second medical school in NSW would be established within the re-named University of New South Wales.

UNSW Medicine's first students enrolled in 1961 and 25 of these graduated from the six-year program in 1966. A five-year undergraduate curriculum was introduced in 1974. Although this was a highly successful curriculum, a number of changes in both the hospital and health systems indicated the need for the Faculty to extend the program to a six-year curriculum in 1988. 2004 saw the beginning of a new six year Medicine program designed to suit the needs of 21st century graduates.

UNSW Medicine consists of all members of the academic staff, both full-time academics as well as conjoint and adjunct appointees from teaching hospitals, student representatives and other persons nominated by the Faculty. The Presiding Member is elected biennially from the professors and associate professors of the Faculty.

The Dean is the principle channel of communication between UNSW Medicine and the University on administrative matters. The Dean and the Faculty are supported by a number of committees, some of which perform administrative tasks, while many assist in maintaining a constant review of the curriculum and the objectives of medical education.

Goals of UNSW Medicine

The primary mission of UNSW Medicine is the pursuit of excellence in medical and biomedical education within a scholarly environment of research and discovery.

Application Procedures

Details on application for entry into UNSW medicine programs for both local students and international students can be found on the Faculty's website at www.med.unsw.edu.au.

Selection into the Medicine Program

UNSW Medicine implemented new admissions criteria for entry into the UNSW medicine programs from 2003 for both local and international students. Local students are selected on the basis of equal weighting for academic merit, results of the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) and performance at a face-to-face interview. International students are selected on the basis of equal weighting for academic merit, results of the International Student Admission Test (ISAT) and performance at a telephone/skype or face-to-face interview. Further details of the selection process can be found on the Faculty's website at www.med.unsw.edu.au.

International Students

International applicants may only compete for entry as either fee-paying students or as holders of a scholarship awarded by the Australian Government. Enquiries regarding admission of international students should be directed either to UNSW International (tel: +61 2 9385 6996 email: internationaloffice@unsw.edu.au, website: www.international.unsw.edu.au) or the Admissions Officer, UNSW Medicine, both at the University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia. Enquiries regarding Australian Government scholarships should be directed to the local Australian Diplomatic Mission or see www.ausaid.gov.au.

Admission of Indigenous Students

UNSW Medicine may admit suitably qualified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A pre-Medicine program, run for one month, is part of the preparation and selection processes for indigenous students applying for the Medicine program. Further information regarding the admission criteria may be obtained from the Rural Clinical School on (02) 9385 3677.

Admission of Disadvantaged Students (ACCESS Scheme)

UNSW Medicine may admit, within quota, a number of students whose education has been disadvantaged over a two-year period by circumstances beyond their control. Information can be obtained at: www.unsw.edu.au/access-scheme.

Rural Student Entry Scheme

UNSW Medicine sets aside a minimum of 25% of the places in its Medicine program intake each year for students of rural origin who are able to demonstrate that they meet a number of selection criteria. The scheme is designed for high school, undergraduate and graduate students. It is expected that students who gain entry via the Rural Student Entry Scheme will be allocated to a rural hospital and undertake the majority of their final three years in rural hospitals. Further information may be obtained from the Faculty's Rural Clinical School on (02) 9385 3250 or the website http://rcs.med.unsw.edu.au/.

Assumed Knowledge

There are no prerequisites for entry into the new Medicine program. However there is assumed knowledge of English. Assumed knowledge is a level of achievement at the HSC (or equivalent) considered desirable for successful study in a program or first year course. Students who do not have the assumed level of knowledge are not prevented from enrolling, but may be placed at a considerable disadvantage. It is assumed that upon enrolment students have an adequate command of English language and communication skills.

Costs in Addition to Fees

In all UNSW medicine programs, there are costs in addition to fees. The following is an estimate, based on students' experience, of the expenditure which is likely to be incurred over the full length of the program. The amounts quoted are subject to some variation.
 
 
$ approx.
Textbooks
1,850
Two coats (1 laboratory, 1 hospital)*
75
Stethoscope
90-300
Ophthalmoscope
190-250
Laboratory Manuals
200
Miscellaneous (papers, pens, kits, diagnostic equipment and aids, etc.)
400
*One long white coat is required for use in practical classes and one short coat
for use in the hospitals.

Advice to Students on Computing Requirements and Email Policy

For details on computer recommendations and specifications see the IT Requirements for UNSW Students policy at: www.its.unsw.edu.au/policies/policies_home.html

All official email from UNSW Medicine will be sent to students' UNSW email accounts. It is expected that all UNSW students will either routinely check their UNSW email account or have their UNSW email account forwarded to another email address. Information about managing your UNSW email account can be obtained from: www.it.unsw.edu.au/catalogue/index.html

Attendance at, and Residence in, Hospitals

From Year 1, students attend hospitals for clinical teaching. UNSW Medicine's policy on 'Allocation of Students to Clinical Locations' can be found on the website at http://med.unsw.edu.au/policies.

Government Policies affecting all Medicine Students

There are a number of Government policies that prospective and current medical students must be well aware of. For information please visit:
http://med.unsw.edu.au/government-policies-affecting-all-medicine-students#wwc.

Special Consideration

Sickness, misadventure, or other circumstances may prevent a student from completing a course requirement or attending or submitting assessable work for a course, or may significantly affect their performance in assessable work, e.g. formal end of session examination, class test, laboratory test, seminar presentation, etc. Students can apply for consideration for the affected assessments.
For information, please visit: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/SpecialConsideration.html

Student Photographs and Identification Badges

All UNSW students will be issued with University photo ID cards. Hospitals will also photograph medical students to produce hospital identification badges, which must be worn in the hospitals.

Special Note on Working as a Doctor

Working as a doctor is both physically and emotionally demanding. A doctor is exposed to stress and disease. If intending applicants have any concerns about these issues or if they are aware of any reason (such as a chronic illness, a disability or a criminal conviction) or any impairment that might make it difficult to gain medical student registration with the Medical Board or to practise as a doctor after graduating from UNSW, they are urged to speak about these important matters in confidence with one of our independent Faculty advisers. To arrange this, telephone (02) 9385 8765.

Faculty Student Organisations

UNSW Medical Society (Medsoc)
The UNSW Medical Society (Medsoc) is the representative body of the medical students of the University. Further information can be found on the website at: www.medsoc.org.au

Rural Allied Health & Medical Society (RAHMS)
The Rural Allied Health and Medical Society (RAHMS) is a club for allied health and medical students at UNSW from rural, urban and international backgrounds with an interest in rural, indigenous and international health issues. For further information, contact the Rural Clinical School on (02) 9385 3250 or visit their website on www.rahms.org/.

Australian Student Medical Journal (AMSJ) - An academic publication that accepts submissions from all Australian medical students, as well as students studying medically-related disciplines.
www.amsj.org

Medical Students' Aid Project (MSAP) - A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raise funds and source equipment for developing countries. http://php.med.unsw.edu.au/msap/

Undergraduate Information

Study Levels

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