UNSW Medicine offers a six year integrated Medicine program (288 UOC) which leads to the awards of Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMed) and Doctor of Medicine (MD).

The program includes a compulsory Independent Learning Project (30 UOC) to ensure that all graduates acquire knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to Medicine and its professional practice. Students who have achieved a high standard in the BMed may undertake a one year program of supervised research leading to the award of the BSc(Med) Honours. For details see the Online Handbook entry for program 3831. A direct link is given: BSc(Med) Honours

Admission into the Program

The majority of students are admitted into Medicine following a selection process based on academic merit, performance in the UMAT and performance at an interview. Only students selected for entry into Medicine can enrol in the BMed program.

All students selected for entry into Medicine will have to complete both the BMed and MD. Students who are unable to complete either the BMed or MD may apply for transfer to the BSc (Med) depending on the stage of withdrawal from Medicine.

A limited number of students in the BMedSc program at UNSW may apply for entry into the Medicine program. Students offered a provisional place at the end of second year will undertake a plan of study specific to entry to UNSW Medicine including a number of bridging courses in conjunction with their Honours research project. After entry into Medicine, the students will complete the Phase 2 Integrated Clinical Studies courses and all Phase 3 courses.

The objectives of the Medicine program are:

To establish an integrated, interconnected and organised medical knowledge base as a platform for a professional and personal life of learning through experience.
To develop effective interactions with oneself through reflection; interaction with others through communication; and interaction with information and learning resources through information literacy and critical analysis.
To develop a set of personal attributes and skills appropriate to the professional practice of Medicine.

These objectives have been translated into a set of educational outcomes grouped into eight desired capabilities in graduates of the Medicine program, as follows:

Applied Knowledge and Skills

1. Using basic and clinical sciences in medical practice

2. Understanding the social and cultural aspects of health and diseases

3. Patient assessment and management

Interactional Abilities

4. Effective communication

5. Working as a member of a team

Personal Attributes

6. Self directed learning and critical evaluation

7. Understanding and acting in an ethical and socially responsible manner

8. Development as a reflective practitioner

The duration of the integrated Medicine program is normally 6 years. It has a modular structure comprising a series of fully integrated courses studied over 26 teaching periods, generally each of 8 weeks duration. There are 4 teaching periods in Years 1-4 approximating the University semester timetable. There is an additional teaching period (Summer Teaching Period) in years 5-6. In most years, the standard UNSW program load of 48 UOC per year will apply.

As part of the program, students are required to satisfy the University's General Education requirements. Please see General Education below.

The program is organised into two degrees:

Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMed)

The BMed includes Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 commences with the Foundations course, followed by 7 x 8 week courses focussing on basic medical sciences in relation to the human life cycle; social, ethical and legal issues related to health care; and early experience in clinical or other health-related environments. During this phase, students will undertake a variety of learning activities involving students from different stages of the program working collaboratively in small groups.

Phase 2 consists of 2 x 16-week courses, with increased clinical content and an emphasis on correlation between prior and current learning.

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

The MD includes the Independent Learning Project (ILP), followed by a Clinical Transition Course prior to the Phase 3 courses. During the Independent Learning Project students should also complete 12 UOC of General Education courses in a faculty or faculties other than Medicine.

Phase 3 consists of 10 x 8-week courses with a clinical focus, but still includes relevant content from the basic medical sciences and the social sciences. Students are required to complete a course in the disciplines of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Primary Care, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Children's Health (Paediatrics). Students may choose from a range of other available clinical modules to complete Phase 3 requirements. In addition, a student's clinical experiences during Phase 3 must include a minimum of 4 weeks in a rural location. All clinical courses in Phase 3 adopt the principles of clinical clerkship, in which students learn through experience and participation in the treatment of patients under the care of medical practitioners and/or medical teams to which they are attached.

In all phases of the program, students will be required to travel to various clinical environments associated with UNSW, which will be the predominant locations for learning in Phases 2 and 3. These locations include Clinical Schools associated with St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst; St George Hospital, Kogarah; the Randwick Campus Hospitals; various locations in the South Western Sydney Clinical School based around Liverpool; and the Rural Clinical School, which has campuses in the Greater Murray and Mid-North coast areas. Throughout the program, students may be attached to multiple sites, which will typically include at least 4 weeks in a non-metropolitan setting.

Students wishing to undertake a full year of research may be able to enrol in the BSc (Med) Honours program 3831 subject to the approval from the Honours Committee. These students will be exempt from undertaking the Independent Learning Project. Exemption from the Independent Learning Project will also be granted to students who have previously completed a research Honours program or higher research degree, or a Master degree with a significant research component, or who can otherwise demonstrate acceptable evidence of independent study or research at a tertiary level.

AND

AND

As part of the program, students are required to complete 12 UOC of General Education courses (unless exempt under UNSW rules). This requirement must be completed prior to entering Phase 3 and typically concurrent with the ILP.

A number of General Education courses are not permitted to be taken as they are too closely related to Medicine studies. For further information and a list of excluded courses, see the Faculty of Medicine website.

not applicable

Rules of Progression

Assessment in this program is capability based, requiring students to demonstrate their ongoing development with respect to the eight areas of capability.Progression will not be based solely on satisfactory completion of individual courses, nor will it correspond solely to annual stages. Full details are available on the Faculty of Medicine website.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.