Study plan

The Medical Program is undertaken full-time over four years. First year (known as Stage 1 of the program) and the second year (Stage 2) consist of clinical problems presented in tutorials in which concepts of health and disease are related to the basic biomedical sciences. This ensures that the knowledge and problem-solving abilities which underpin medical practice have a strong scientific foundation. From the second week of Stage 1 students have patient contact in the various clinical schools at Westmead Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Royal North Shore Hospital, Concord Hospital, Nepean Hospital and Dubbo Hospital. Clinical training is undertaken at large urban hospitals and smaller rural hospitals affording a balanced view of urban and rural health care and their differences. Across the hospitals a huge range of specialisations are catered for, with paediatrics and its subspecialties being the focus of the Children's Hospital at Westmead. While practical clinical experience forms the basis for all learning in the latter two years of the Sydney Medical Program, it is accompanied by a structured teaching program. The balance between clerkship-based activities and scheduled sessions varies. In general, formal teaching sessions reduce in number and frequency as students move throughout years 3 and 4 of Stage 3 and are essentially withdrawn in the pre-internship block.

Progression rules

Candidates in Stages 1 & 2 of the Medical Program must pass all units of study designated for each year of enrolment before proceeding to units designated for the subsequent year of study. Failure in any single unit of study results in a failure of the year and requires the candidate to retake the units designated for the entire year, without credit or exemption for work previously completed.
Candidates in Stage 3 (integration of Years 3 & 4) must pass all units of study before being able to graduate. If a student fails a single unit of study during this Stage, they may be permitted to proceed to units designated for the subsequent year of study. However, they will be required to repeat the failed unit of study before commencing the Pre-Internship unit of study. Candidates in Stage 3 who fail more than one unit of study and/ or any summative assessment in a year will be required to retake the units designated for the entire year, and all summative assessments and a tailored program of remediation will be devised by the relevant Stage Coordinator in consultation with the Associate Dean of the candidate's clinical school.

Course opportunities

Students in the Medical Program have contact with patients and observe aspects of disease throughout their four years of study, with clinical placements at world-leading institutes, and established elective placement opportunities in Europe, Africa, North America and Asia.

Graduate opportunities

One year of internship is required prior to registration. Most junior doctors make their career choice during their second postgraduate year, most commonly opting for general practice or one of the specialties. Clinical training under the supervision of one of the specialist colleges (RACGP, RACP, RACS, etc) takes between three and six years in most instances. Australia is in special need of doctors for rural and remote practice, including Indigenous health care. Other careers for Sydney medical graduates include medical research, teaching, medical administration, medical communication or journalism, consulting and overseas aid work.

Course accreditation

The Sydney Medical Program is recognised in the World Health Organization Directory of Medical Schools. Countries that recognise the Sydney Medical Program, with varying conditions, include Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. For more details of eligibility for registration in each country, see sydney.edu.au/ medicine/future-students.
The Sydney Medical Program is accredited by the Australian Medical Council.
Following the successful completion of the Medical Program, graduates will be awarded a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Sydney.
Graduates then enter the medical workforce, primarily in the major public teaching hospitals, and complete a 1 year internship program.
Upon successful completion of this internship junior doctors are eligible to receive full registration with the State Medical Board or Council.
In general, registration in one state of Australia entitles the doctor to registration in other states.
Most junior doctors undertake an additional year of hospital training before commencing postgraduate medical training leading to specialisation. Specialist medical training is carried out by the relevant specialty medical college in conjunction with the state public health system. This training is not conducted by universities.
Graduates intending to practise medicine in a country other than Australia must satisfy the particular requirements of that country.

Further study

Eligible candidates may proceed to an Honours year in anatomy and histology, biomedical science, infectious diseases and immunology, pathology, pharmacology or physiology. These disciplines offer many projects directly and there are also many collaborative projects hosted by Sydney Medical School’s hospital-based clinical schools and associated research institutes.

About honours

Honours study in the Medical Program is undertaken concurrently with the rest of the course and allows students to develop a more complete understanding of an area of medical science or clinical medicine under the supervision of an academic member of staff or adjunct staff member in one of our hospitals who holds an academic appointment with the University. Honours is assessed by a research project and a research seminar and is graded to reward and recognise academic achievement. Outstanding medical students will be encouraged to participate in research projects in a wide range of areas including clinical research, medical sciences, rural and public health, and medical education. Students are encouraged to use honours study as an opportunity to undertake research in international settings. The honours project must address one of the themes of the Sydney Medical Program (Basic and Clinical Sciences, Population Medicine, Patient-Doctor and Personal and Professional Development). Of course, these themes overlap and an honours project could encompass aspects of more than one theme.

Admission requirements

For detailed information on the admissions requirements, please refer to the Admissions Guide 2014.

Please note: Sydney Medical School regularly reviews the admission criteria and application processes for its courses, including the Medical Program. It reserves the right to change these criteria and processes without notice. Information on this website provides advice about the currently applicable criteria and processes, and may not be correct for future application periods.

Domestic students

How to apply

Before applying you MUST download and read the Admissions Guide 2014 at http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/future-students/medical-program/AdmissionsGuide.pdf

Please check the timeline at http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/future-students/medical-program/admissions/dates.php regularly for updates on the application process to the Medical Program commencing in 2014.

Further requirements

As part of the application process, eligible applicants will be invited to attend an interview.

Information on interviews can be found in the Admissions Guide 2014.

International students

How to apply

Before applying you MUST download and read the Admissions Guide 2014 at http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/future-students/medical-program/AdmissionsGuide.pdf

Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University, or (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent).

Please check the timeline at http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/future-students/medical-program/admissions/dates.php regularly for updates on the application process to the Medical Program commencing in 2014.

Further admission requirements

As part of the application process, eligible applicants will be interviewed via an online video link.

Information on interviews can be found in the Admissions Guide 2014.

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.