Doctor of Medicine

1

The degree of Doctor of Medicine will be awarded for an original contribution of distinguished merit to the knowledge or understanding of any branch of medicine. It will normally be awarded following the submission of a thesis. It may also be awarded on the basis of published work.

2

The thesis or published work shall not be submitted until at least five years after the person has qualified for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or an equivalent degree, nor until the person has spent at least five years following graduation substantially engaged in the practice and study of medicine or in scientific work relevant to medicine.

3

A person who holds the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of the University, or who holds qualifications deemed by the Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences (hereafter referred to as ‘the Board’) to be at least equivalent, may be accepted for enrolment as a Doctor of Medicine student provided that:

(a) the program of studies has been approved by the Board; and

(b) the proposed program of studies can be conveniently pursued and appropriately supervised; and

(c) the person is judged by the Board to be qualified to undertake the program.

4

Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 3, a person may be required as a prerequisite for enrolment as a Doctor of Medicine student to undertake and to complete to the satisfaction of the Board such qualifying studies as the Board prescribes.

5

Except with the permission of the Board, a full-time student for the degree of Doctor of Medicine by thesis shall pursue the approved program of studies for a period of not less than two and not more than four years, and a part-time student for a period of not less than three and no more than eight years from the month from which enrolment commenced. For students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2001, the maximum duration of candidature will be four and one half years (full-time) and nine years (part-time).

6

The thesis presented for the degree shall not contain material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma; nor shall it contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text of the thesis or in the notes.

7

A person shall not be accepted for enrolment in the degree of Doctor of Medicine on the basis of published work unless the Board is satisfied that he or she has had a postgraduate association with the School of Medicine, the Flinders Medical Centre or another approved institution for at least three years and that he or she has made a substantial contribution to knowledge and scholarship in a particular area of medicine.

8

A person shall apply in writing to the Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences giving particulars of work the person proposes to submit together with a curriculum vitae.

9

If the enrolment is approved by the Board, the person shall lodge with the Faculty four sets of reprints or copies of such work bound in accordance with the Rules for Higher Degree Theses.

10

The bound work shall include:

(a) an introduction describing the theme of the published work submitted and stating how the publication is related to the theme. The introduction must also indicate which portions of the work are claimed to be original; and

(b) a statement which, in the case of work carried out conjointly, clearly states the extent to which the person was responsible for the initiation, conduct and direction of such conjoint research; and

(c) a statement which clearly indicates any portions of the work submitted that have previously been submitted for any degree in the University or any other institution.

11

The Board shall appoint at least two examiners who shall be external to the University, and may appoint additional examiners.

12

The examiners shall each submit to the Board a written report on the student’s thesis or published work.

13

After considering the reports of the examiners, the Board shall report to the Academic Senate whether the degree should be awarded or not.

14

After consideration of a report from the Board, the Academic Senate shall decide whether the degree shall be awarded.