Graduate Diploma in Advanced Surgery (Breast Surgery)

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Study breast surgery at Sydney Medical School

Breast surgeon, Dr Samriti Sood speaks about how this flexible course will prepare you for a career in breast surgery.

The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.

About us

Global leaders in medical education

No. 1 in Australia
The University is ranked first in Australia and 33rd in the world for surgery in the U.S. News Top Global Universities Subject Rankings 2020. The discipline is also the largest academic surgical department in Australasia.
Find out more.
Graduate outcomes
The University is ranked first in Australia and fourth in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020.
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Overview

In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely for students commencing their studies in Semester 1, 2021.

This course will be available to study remotely for students commencing in Semester 1, 2021. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely.

Note: The University intends to offer as many units of study as possible in a remote as well as face-to-face learning method of delivery in Semester 1, 2021 and subject to ongoing border closures and public health orders impacting attendance on campus, in Semester 2, 2021. However, some units of study and courses require students to study in-person at the relevant University of Sydney campus/es and host locations for placements and will not be available remotely.

About this course

The course was developed and is delivered in collaboration with Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand Inc (BreastSurgANZ). The coursework is designed to provide breast surgeons with the latest knowledge of breast oncology and breast surgical and oncoplastic techniques.

Why study with us?

The course is taught by leading breast surgeons, and other clinicians including medical oncologists, radiologists and geneticists.
In this program, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of benign and malignant breast conditions. This includes screening, risk assessment and the genetics of breast diseases, and recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis, assessment and management of malignant breast disease.
You will gain an understanding of the multidisciplinary care of breast cancer patients, including adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy as well as the integral role of the breast care nurse and other allied health staff.
The knowledge you develop will complement the practical experience gained during post-fellowship training offered by BreastSurgANZ, and will augment your research, leadership and communication skills.
You will learn specific surgical decision algorithms and surgical options for malignant and in situ disease and also gain thorough understanding of Level 1 and 2 oncoplastic breast surgical techniques.

How will you learn?

The breast surgery coursework and assessment is delivered fully online with lectures and podcasts, surgical videos and other educational resources supplemented by online discussion and webinars.

Who should study this course?

The course is suitable for Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in General Surgery or equivalent, who are training or have completed training, in breast surgery.

Subject areas

Shared pool

Your entry requirements

English language proficiency

Find out if you need to prove English language proficiency (depends on your country of origin and educational background).

For academic requirements check the ‘Admission requirements’ section on this page.

Your fee

How to apply

You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.

Standard closing dates:

Semester 1 - 11 February of the commencing year

Semester 2 - 15 July of the commencing year

We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.

Starting date

Semester 1 (March) Semester 2 (August)

You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.

Not available to student visa holders. International students on other visas with study rights may apply.

Standard closing dates:

Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year

Semester 2 - 30 June of the commencing year

Starting date

Semester 1 (March) Semester 2 (August)

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Course structure

Advanced surgery course structure (pdf, 80KB)

What you'll study

The Graduate Diploma in Advanced Surgery requires the successful completion of 36 credit points of units of study including:

24 credit points of surgery selective units of study; and
12 credit points of elective units of study.

Students must complete the following 24 credit point (CP) surgery selective units of study in sequence, one each semester:

Basic Sciences and Benign Disease (6CP)
Malignant Breast Disease & MDTs (6CP)
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery I (6CP)
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery II (6CP)

In addition, students must complete 2 elective units of study from a selection including Genomics in Clinical Practice, Health Technology Evaluation, Trial Design and Methods, Drugs and Devices: R and D to Registration, Commercialising MedTech and Pharma, Leadership in Organisations.

Download our sample course diagram to learn more about what you will study as part of this degree.

Breast Surgery course structure (pdf, 84KB)

Units of Study

View the faculty handbook

Admission requirements

Admission to the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Surgery (Breast Surgery) requires a medical degree from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification; and

a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or equivalent; and
acceptance into or completion of post-fellowship breast surgery training program or equivalent; or
a minimum of 3 years’ experience in breast surgery.

Credit for previous study

For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.

Course opportunities

Postgraduate study in breast surgery is available at Sydney Medical School in the following courses:

Sydney Professional Certificate in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Graduate Certificate in Advanced Surgery (Breast Surgery)
Graduate Diploma in Advanced Surgery (Breast Surgery)
Master of Advanced Surgery (Breast Surgery)

Students can tailor the coursework to meet their needs. The program consists of a sequence of articulated courses: professional certificate, graduate certificate, graduate diploma and masters.

From 2020, breast surgeons who would like to enhance their skills to improve breast conservation and reconstruction will be able to complete the oncoplastic breast surgery units and receive the Sydney Professional Certificate in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. Successfully completed units may subsequently be credited to any of the degrees.

Established breast surgeons may also choose to undertake a single unit and this can be negotiated on an individual basis.

Learn more about professional development and short courses at Sydney Medical School.

Careers & future study

Future study options

Sydney Medical School offers a wide range of short professional development courses for health professionals through its clinical schools, disciplines and associated research institutes.

Many of the courses offered are pre-accredited for Continuing Medical Education (CME) points, and other courses may be awarded CME points on request to your relevant association or professional body. A full list of short courses and more information is available here.

People_

Student profile: Surgery

We caught up with Oncoplastic Surgeon Dr Samriti Sood, to find out why she chose to specialise in breast surgery and how she thinks it has helped her career.

News_

The privilege of being a surgeon

University of Sydney alumnus Dr Samriti Sood was determined to be a surgeon from a young age. Now that she's there, she says it's her greatest privilege.

The Sydney Experience

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Disclaimer

The course information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.