Objectives
The Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) is a four-year graduate entry program for students wishing to qualify as medical practitioners. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used; however, problem-based learning will be the predominant learning method in years one and two while years three and four will focus on learning as part of health teams in clinical sites. Years 1 and 2 Students will be based at the University's Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds for the first two years. Problem-based learning tutorials will be supplemented by lectures, practical classes and clinical experience in clinical skills laboratories, hospitals and other health services in the Geelong region. Clinical experience will commence early in year one. At the end of year two clinical skills will be consolidated by a 'Transition to Clinical Practice' topic in preparation for years three and four. Year 3 During year three most students will undergo intensive clinical training within health services attached to one of four Clinical Schools: three in Western Victoria - Greater Green Triangle Rural Clinical School (Warrnambool area), Grampians Rural Clinical School (Ballarat area), and Greater Geelong Regional Clinical School - and one in Melbourne - Eastern Health Clinical School (Box Hill). In each Clinical School clinical education will be coordinated through a series of six 7-week rotations in hospitals, health services and ambulatory settings including general practices. A cohort of students will spend all of third year attached to a regional general practice where they will complete a 'parallel rural community curriculum'. Students will cover the same material as those studying in hospital settings. Year 4 Students will be based at public and private hospitals and general practices in Geelong, Warrnambool, Ballarat or Melbourne for four additional 5-week rotations. The course concludes with three 6-week terms: two ‘selectives’, a pre-internship hospital rotation and a further ambulatory rotation, and an ‘elective’ that can be taken in Australia or overseas. On completion of the four-year BMBS, all Australian medical graduates are required to undertake one year of pre-registration training as interns at accredited hospitals.
Course description
Professional recognition
This course is accredited with the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Graduates who satisfactorily complete pre-registration training will qualify as Registered Medical Practitioners in Australia and New Zealand.
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2009 can be viewed at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/handbooks2009/search.php.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
Deakin Medical School graduates will be well prepared to work as interns in regional, metropolitan and interstate hospitals. They will be equipped to enter training programs for a diverse range of medical careers, including general practice, surgery, pathology, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, anaesthetics, geriatric medicine, radiology, occupational and rehabilitation medicine and many other specialities. Other possible career paths include academia, medical research and hospital and government medical administration.
Course rules
The course is only available to students on a full-time basis. There is no advanced standing available.
Students must pass all units including all components of units in the course.
Course structure
Year 1
HME101 Medicine 1A
HME102 Medicine 1B
Year 2
HME201 Medicine 2A
HME202 Medicine 2B
Year 3
HME301 Medicine 3A (G) *
HME302 Medicine 3B (G) *
Year 4
HME401 Medicine 4A (G) **
HME402 Medicine 4B (G) **
* Planned to commence in 2010
** Planned to commence in 2011
Department of Human Services policy
In accordance with Department of Human Services policy*, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement.
Students will be asked to undergo serological testing prior to enrolment. Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience.
* Department of Human Services 2007, Service agreement information kit for funded organisations 2006–2009, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, retrieved 1 July 2007.
Admission requirements - general
Selection for the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) will be determined by undergraduate degree academic performance; an aptitude test (the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test or GAMSAT) and an interview. Prior experience, connection and empathy with rural and regional living and a commitment to working within these areas will be taken into account.
Advanced standing - specific
There is no advanced standing available to any student in the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery.
How to apply
The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) has been developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in conjunction with the Consortium of Graduate Medical Schools to assist in the selection of students for graduate entry medical programs. It is designed to assess applicants’ capacity to undertake studies in an intellectually demanding course and is open to any student who has completed an undergraduate degree. More information is available at the GAMSAT website http://www.gamsat.acer.edu.au
Your faculty may require further information from you when submitting your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many places will be available?
The School of Medicine will offer 120 CSP places in 2009. This includes 30 Bonded Medical Places (BMP).
International places will be offered in 2009.
What is a Bonded Medical Place?
If offered a BMP you sign an agreement with the Australian government to work in a district of workforce shortage (as determined by the Department of Health and Ageing) of your choice for six years.
