University of Sydney Handbooks - 2012 Archive

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Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Degree resolutions

Sydney Medical School resolutions and the printed handbook are the official statement of faculty policy. The resolutions contained in the printed handbook are accurate as at August 2011. If a conflict is perceived between the content of the printed handbook and information available elsewhere, Sydney Medical School resolutions and the information available in the handbook online shall always take precedence. See the handbook online website:
sydney.edu.au/handbooks/medicine/
See the Policy Online website: sydney.edu.au/policy, for copies of University policies.

 

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery


These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Course resolutions

1 Course codes

Code Course title
KH006 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

2 Attendance pattern

(1)
The attendance pattern for this course is full time only for Stages 1 and 2.
(2)
The attendance pattern for this course is normally full time for Stage 3 however this stage may be undertaken part-time with Faculty approval.

3 Admission to candidature

(1)
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the following admission criteria.
(2)
Admission to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery requires:
(a)
a minimum credit average or equivalent grade point average (GPA) in the most recent bachelor's degree; and
(b)
satisfactory performance in the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT) by domestic applicants; or
(c)
satisfactory performance in either the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT), or the Medical Colleges Admissions Test (MCAT) by international applicants; and
(d)
satisfactory performance in an interview process.
(3)
Applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor's degree comprising at least three full-time equivalent years of study, either from an Australian university listed in sub-category (ii) of the Australian Qualifications Framework (universities and other self-accrediting higher education institutions), or from an overseas university listed in the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition Guide. The bachelor's degree must be completed by 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the University of Sydney Medical Program.
(4)
Applicants who have undertaken a bachelor degree in an accelerated program are eligible to apply only after completion of the full degree.
(5)
The GPA and GAMSAT/MCAT results shall apply, regardless of circumstances such as illness, misadventure or disadvantage during the bachelor's degree.
(6)
An applicant who believes that his or her performance at interview has been compromised by serious illness or misadventure may appeal in writing to the faculty following the procedures outlined in the Faculty of Medicine Handbook.
(7)
Transfer of enrolment from other medical schools is not possible except in exceptional circumstances.

4 Deferment

(1)
Deferral of enrolment following the offer of a place in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is permitted only in the following circumstances:
(a)
progression to honours, masters or a PhD; or
(b)
under exceptional circumstances which could not be foreseen at the time of application; or
(c)
for completion of "professional years" where awarding of a bachelor's degree is dependent upon such completion only.
(2)
Deferral will only be granted one year at a time and will not be expected to last longer than two years.

5 Requirements for award

(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Table of Undergraduate Units of Study for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a candidate must successfully complete 192 credit points of core units of study in the order prescribed by the faculty.

6 Progression rules

(1)
Candidates in Stage 1 must pass all units of study designated for that year before proceeding to Stage 2. Candidates in Stage 2 must pass all units of study designated for that year before proceeding to Stage 3. Failure in any single unit of study in Stages 1 or 2 will result in a failure of the year and will require the candidate to re-enrol and successfully complete the units designated for the entire year, without credit or exemption for work previously completed.
(2)
Candidates in Stage 3 who fail one unit of study, may be permitted to proceed to units designated for the subsequent year of study providing that the failed unit of study is repeated before commencement of the PrInt (pre-internship) Term. Candidates who fail more than one unit of study and/or their barrier (summative) examination will be required to repeat the whole year, without credit or exemption for work previously completed.

7 Requirements for the honours degree

(1)
Honours is available to meritorious candidates who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the program. Candidates enrolled in the degree part-time are not eligible to enrol in Honours.
(2)
To qualify for admission to the honours program a candidate should, without repeating a Stage, achieve:
(a)
a satisfactory result in the Stage 1 written exam; and
(b)
a satisfactory result in Stage 1 and 2 portfolios on Personal and Professional Development; and
(c)
a minimum result of 75% in the Stage 2 written exam; and
(d)
a satisfactory result in the Stage 2 practical exam.
(3)
To qualify for the award of the honours degree a candidate must successfully complete the requirements for the degree in the minimum standard full time duration and:
(a)
complete the 12 credit point research unit of study described in the table of units for the degree with a minimum mark of 70; and
(b)
achieve a minimum average mark of 75% in the Years 3 and 4 written exams.

8 Honours weighted average mark (HWAM)

(1)
The HWAM in the Faculty of Medicine is calculated from the results in the 80 credit points of core units of study in Stage 3, plus the honours mark which will be given double weighting.
(2)
The HWAM is calculated using the following formula:
 
HWAM =
 
sum(Wc x Mc)  
sum(Wc)
Where Wc is the Stage 3 unit of study credit points x the Stage 3 unit weighting and Mc is the mark achieved for the Stage 3 unit. The mark used for units with a grade AF is zero.
(3)
All Stage 3 units are weighted 1 except the research unit of study which is weighted 2.

9 Award of the degree

(1)
The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery is awarded as either Pass or Honours. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Second Class, Division Two. The class of honours is awarded on the basis of a student's HWAM as below:

Description

HWAM Range

Honours Class I

80 >= HWAM

Honours Class II (Division 1)

75 <= HWAM < 80

Honours Class II (Division 2)

70 <= HWAM < 75

Honours not awarded

HWAM < 70

(2)
An honours candidate who obtains a mark of less than 70 in a research unit of study, or a HWAM of less than 70, will not be awarded honours and will be awarded the pass degree.
(3)
An honours candidate who fails the research unit of study will be required to undertake the elective unit of study at the end of the program as an additional unit in order to achieve the correct number of credit points required for the award of the pass degree.

10 University medal

A student with an HWAM of 90 or above may be awarded a university medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the faculty to the highest achieving students who in the opinion of the faculty have an outstanding academic record.

11 Time Limits

A student enrolled full time must complete all the requirements for the degree within five calendar years of first enrolment. A student enrolled part time in Stage 3 must complete all the requirements for the degree within seven calendar years of first enrolment.

12 Credit for previous study

Advanced standing and credit for previous study is not available in this degree unless study was completed in the Bachelor of Dentistry degree at the University of Sydney. In this case, candidates may be exempted from completing the non-clinical components of Stages 1 and 2.

13 Transitional provisions

(1)
These resolutions apply to persons who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and persons who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who formally elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.

Table of Undergraduate units of study for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session

Stage 1 units of study (Year 1)

Studies in Foundation Studies, Musculoskeletal Sciences, Drug and Alcohol:
GDMP1011
Basic and Clinical Sciences 1
12      Semester 1
GDMP1012
Patient and Doctor 1
6      Semester 1
GDMP1013
Population Medicine 1
3      Semester 1
GDMP1014
Personal and Professional Development 1
3      Semester 1
Studies in Respiratory Sciences, Haematology, Cardiovascular Sciences:
GDMP1021
Basic and Clinical Sciences 2
12      Semester 2
GDMP1022
Patient and Doctor 2
6      Semester 2
GDMP1023
Population Medicine 2
3      Semester 2
GDMP1024
Personal and Professional Development 2
3      Semester 2

Stage 2 units of study (Year 2)

Studies in Neuroscience, Vision, Behaviour, Endocrinology, Nutrition, Sexual Health:
GDMP2011
Basic and Clinical Sciences 3
12      Semester 1
GDMP2012
Patient and Doctor 3
6      Semester 1
GDMP2013
Population Medicine 3
3      Semester 1
GDMP2014
Personal and Professional Development 3
3      Semester 1
Studies in Renal, Urology, Gastroenterology, Nutrition, Reproduction, Oncology, Palliative Care:
GDMP2021
Basic and Clinical Sciences 4
10      Semester 2
GDMP2022
Patient and Doctor 4
6      Semester 2
GDMP2023
Population Medicine 4
3      Semester 2
GDMP2024
Personal and Professional Development 4
3      Semester 2
GDMP2025
Independent Learning Activity
2      Semester 2

Stage 3 units of study - for students commencing Stage 3 from 2011 (Years 3 and 4)

Incorporating theme studies in Basic & Clinical Sciences, Patient and Doctor, Population Medicine, and Personal and Professional Development:
Year 3
GDMP3131
Medicine Year 3
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP3016
Basic and Clinical Sciences 7
2    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 2
GDMP3017
Patient and Doctor 7
2    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 2
GDMP3018
Population Medicine 7
2    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 2
GDMP3019
Personal and Professional Development 7
2    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 2
Units of study undertaken in Years 3 or 4
GDMP3133
Surgery
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP3134
Critical Care
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP3135
Community
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP3136
Psychological and Addiction Medicine
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP3137
Perinatal and Women's Health
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP3138
Child and Adolescent Health
8    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
Year 4
GDMP3132
Medicine Year 4
8    P GDMP3131
Semester 1
Semester 1a
Semester 1b
Semester 2
Semester 2a
Semester 2b
GDMP4016
Basic and Clinical Sciences 8
2    P GDMP3016
Semester 1
GDMP4017
Patient and Doctor 8
2    P GDMP3017
Semester 2
GDMP4018
Population Medicine 8
2    P GDMP3018
Semester 1
GDMP4019
Personal and Professional Development 8
2    P GDMP3019
Semester 2
Students must also select one of the following units in year 4:
GDMP3109
Elective
12    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
N GDMP4110


Students must obtain approval to undertake an elective from the Clinical School Elective Committee Members who have the role of advising, counselling and directing students in their applications and approving Electives.
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP4110
Research Project
12    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
N GDMP3109


To apply for honours in the MBBS, students must submit a research proposal to the Honours/ Research Coordinator at the end of Stage 2 and before the commencement of Stage 3 of the MBBS.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Pre-Internship (PrInt Term)
To be undertaken by all students upon successful completion of all other Stage 3 units of study
GDMP4025
Pre-Internship Term
4   
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1,

Semester 1
Semester 2

Stage 3 units of study - for students commencing Stage 3 prior to 2011

Incorporating theme studies in Basic Clinical Sciences, Patient and Doctor, Population Medicine, and Personal and Professional Development:
GDMP3101
Medicine Year Three
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3102
Medicine Year Four
10    P GDMP3101
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3103
Surgery
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3104
Critical Care
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3105
Community
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3106
Psychological and Addiction Medicine
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3107
Perinatal and Women's Health
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP3108
Child and Adolescent Health
10    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
Semester 1
Semester 2
Students must also select one of the following units:
GDMP3109
Elective
12    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
N GDMP4110


Students must obtain approval to undertake an elective from the Clinical School Elective Committee Members who have the role of advising, counselling and directing students in their applications and approving Electives.
Semester 1
Semester 2
GDMP4110
Research Project
12    P GDMP2021, GDMP2022, GDMP2023, GDMP2024 and GDMP2025
N GDMP3109


To apply for honours in the MBBS, students must submit a research proposal to the Honours/ Research Coordinator at the end of Stage 2 and before the commencement of Stage 3 of the MBBS.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Pre-Internship (PrInt Term)
To be undertaken by all students upon successful completion of Stage 3 units of study
GDMP4025
Pre-Internship Term
4   
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1,

Semester 1
Semester 2