The Doctor of Medicine has three entry pathways:
  • undergraduate via double degree with Flinders University Bachelor of Clinical Sciences
  • undergraduate via double degree with Bachelor of Clinical Sciences offered jointly in the Northern Territory by Flinders University and Charles Darwin University
  • graduate-entry.
The Undergraduate Pathways require not less than six years of full-time study and the Graduate-entry pathway requires not less than four years of full-time study.

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. 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.

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

Graduates of the course will be able to:
  • practice with cultural safety and humility in a diversity of settings including Indigenous communities;
  • apply an integrated understanding of knowledge derived from the physical, biological, behavioural and social sciences and its application to medical and other health practice to meet the health care needs of patients, communities and populations;
  • show proficiency in clinical and communication skills across the diversity of patients and with awareness of personal limitations;
  • demonstrate clinical practice that accounts for individual and community concepts of health and illness based on social, psychological, behavioural and cultural dimensions;
  • apply health promotion and disease prevention principles to clinical practice tosupport patients’ health decisions and self-management regarding health, illness,injury and disability;
  • work in collaboration to form partnerships with patients, carers, colleagues, and others interested in the health care of patients or communities;
  • understand and work within the legal and ethical frameworks which govern medical practice;
  • understand the primary determinants of health and illness in individuals, communities and populations with development of skills to assess public health problems and resolve these with communities;
  • apply skills and abilities in accessing and interpreting evidence to inform clinical practice;
  • demonstrate personal and professional behaviour consistent with standards of medical practice required for competent, safe patient and community care;
  • develop lifelong learning skills necessary for professional development, adaptability to available resources and new technologies and the skills to teach others;
  • understand systems in clinical governance, patient safety, resource allocation and health care delivery in relation to the role of the clinical practitioner;
  • participate in a structured and collaborative inquiry process with a commitment to pursuing better health outcomes; and
  • commit to improving quality of care through the application of patient safety and quality principles.

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

 MMED8100  First Year Medicine Aggregate

 comprising 

 MMED8101  Doctor and Patient 1A  (4.5 units)
 MMED8102  Doctor and Patient 1B  (4.5 units)
 MMED8103  Knowledge of Health and Illness 1A  (9 units)
 MMED8104  Knowledge of Health and Illness 1B  (9 units)
 MMED8105  Health Professions and Society 1A: Socially Responsible Health Practice  (4.5 units)
 MMED8106  Health Professions and Society1B: Introductory Professional Practice: Evidence and Engagement  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

 MMED8200  Second Year Medicine Aggregate

 comprising

 MMED8201  Doctor and Patient 2  (4.5 units)
 MMED8202  Introduction to Clinical Performance  (9 units)
 MMED8203  Knowledge of Health and Illness 2  (13.5 units)
 MMED8204  Health Professions and Society 2A: Socially Responsible Health Practice  (4.5 units)
 MMED8205  Health Professions and Society 2B: Advanced Professional Practice: Evidence and Engagement  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

 MMED8300  Third Year Medicine Aggregate

 comprising

 MMED8302  Clinical Performance 3A  (13.5 units)
 MMED8303  Clinical Performance 3B  (13.5 units)
 MMED8304  Health Professions and Society 3A: Socially Responsible Health Practice  (4.5 units)
 MMED8305  Health Professions and Society 3B: Advanced Professional Practice: Evidence and Engagement  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 4 topics

 MMED8400  Fourth Year Medicine Aggregate

 comprising

 MMED8402  Clinical Performance 4A  (13.5 units)
 MMED8403  Clinical Performance 4B  (13.5 units)
 MMED8404  Health Professions and Society 4: Evidence for Quality Practice  (4.5 units)
 MMED8405  Professional Induction to Clinical Practice  (4.5 units)

Progression through the course is determined on the basis of a student's performance in each whole year aggregate. A student must obtain:

  • a non-graded pass in the whole year aggregate for First Year and Second Year and a grade of pass or higher in the whole year aggregate for Third Year in order to be permitted to proceed to the subsequent year;
  • a non-graded pass in each of the topics in First Year and each of the topics in Second Year in order to pass in the whole year aggregate for each year;
  • a grade of non-graded pass, pass or higher in each of the topics in Third Year in order to pass the whole year aggregate;

  • a grade of non-graded pass, pass or higher in each of the topics in Fourth Year in order to pass the whole year aggregate.

First and Second Year topics and the topic MMED8405  are graded on a NGP:Fail basis only.

Except with the permission of the Faculty Board, 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 Faculty Board deems appropriate.

A student who receives a failing grade in any individual topic may be offered a supplementary examination or assessment and/or, under certain circumstances, be permitted to proceed to the next year of the course provided he/she completes satisfactorily any prescribed remedial work.

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 Faculty Board.

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 Faculty Board.


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.

Combined degrees

Doctor of Medicine / PhD

Doctor of Medicine students who have a particular interest in research and who meet the entry requirements for enrolment in a PhD, may apply to undertake the two degrees concurrently.

Eligible students may opt to take the combined degrees program at any time up to the end of the Third Year of the MD and the combined degrees program will normally be completed in six years. Preliminary work on the research project may begin in Years 1 and 2 of the MD, when students may define a research project, undertake a literature review and learn relevant research techniques during the time normally allocated for MD electives.

Students will take leave from The Doctor of Medicine after the successful completion of the Third Year of that course in order to work full-time on their research, normally for a period of two years. The students will then complete the writing-up phase during the final year of the MD, during the time allocated for vacation and elective terms.

Students undertaking the combined degrees program will complete the program of study for the MD as outlined above and they will enrol in the PhD for the equivalent of at least two years full-time.