University of Sydney Handbooks - 2018 Archive

Download full 2018 archive Page archived at: Fri, 21 Sep 2018 05:39:44 +0000

Medicine at Sydney


Sydney Medical School offers two entry pathways for students for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program:

Options may be available for combining MD studies with other postgraduate study programs:

Graduate-entry Medicine

The Sydney MD Program is a graduate-entry course leading to the award of a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. The MD Program is accredited by the Medical Board of Australia, and graduates are eligible for registration with the Board as medical practitioners at intern level.

The main features of the MD Program are as follows:

  • an integrated curriculum in which clinical knowledge, reasoning and skills are built on a foundation of biomedical sciences, with an emphasis on human structure and function and the mechanisms of health and disease
  • team-based, problem-focused learning with online support
  • early introduction of clinical learning
  • training in research methods and the principles of evidence-based medicine, and hands-on research experience through a research or capstone project
  • opportunities to undertake international electives
  • opportunities for exposure to rural clinical practice.


When applicants are offered a place in the MD Program, they are allocated to one of Sydney Medical School’s six metropolitan Clinical Schools: Central Clinical School (at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown), Concord Clinical School (at Concord Hospital), Westmead Clinical School (at Westmead Hospital), Nepean Clinical School (at Nepean Hospital, Penrith), the Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School (Wahroonga) or Northern Clinical School (at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards). There is an opportunity to express preferences at the time of application. Candidates are based at their allocated Clinical Schools throughout the MD Program, but undertake placements at other sites, including in community practice.


The MD Program is organised into four main curriculum themes that provide the framework for the goals of the curriculum, assessment, and the attainment of stipulated graduate outcomes.

The four themes are:

  • Basic and Clinical Sciences
  • Patient and Doctor
  • Population Medicine
  • Personal and Professional Development.


The MD Program includes a compulsory research component. This comprises instruction in Research Methods and completion of an MD Research Project in fulfilment of the research requirements for an MD. The research activities and teaching occur across all Stages of the MD.

Duration: four years full-time (through Sydney Medical School).

(Undergraduate entry) Double Degree Medicine pathway

The Double Degree Medicine pathway is designed for school leavers who perform exceptionally well in their final high school assessments. Successful applicants enter a bachelor’s degree program at the University of Sydney.

The following medicine and undergraduate degree options are available:

  • Arts-Medicine
  • Science-Medicine


Duration: approved undergraduate degree duration (through the relevant faculty) plus four years full-time graduate-entry medicine (through Sydney Medical School). The undergraduate degree program may be of three years’ duration (bachelor’s degree) or four years’ duration (bachelor’s degree with honours).


Further information about the Double Degree programs is available at:
sydney.edu.au/medicine/future-students/medical-program/combined/index.php

Medicine and an Higher degree by research

In addition to the research component of the MD Program, MD candidates wishing to pursue or continue an interest in research may be able to enrol in a parallel HDR, commencing with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree.

In order to be permitted to enrol in a parallel MPhil, students must perform well in the first year of the MD Program.

Entry into the MPhil usually occurs in the second year of the MD Program. Students may also opt to suspend their candidature in the MD Program for one year to undertake HDR research. This is most often done after completion of the second year.

Those interested in concurrent enrolment in the MD and a HDR are required to discuss their aspirations with the Sub-Dean (MD Research), or nominee, before submitting an application for concurrent enrolment in HDR and the MD.

The concurrent degree local provisions can be found on the University of Sydney's Policy Register.


For further details see:
http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/study/md/md-and-postgraduate-degree.php

Further information about the HDR program can also be found under the Research tab and information about research at Sydney Medical School: http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/research/index.php

Medicine and other postgraduate coursework programs

MD candidates have the opportunity to complete a Master of Public Health, a Master of International Public Health, a Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology), or a Master of Bioethics course in parallel with the MD Program. MD Candidates may also have the opprotunity to complete the Graduate Certificate in Surgical Sciences. It may also be possible for MD candidates to complete postgraduate coursework programs offered in other Faculties concurrently with their MD. Examples include the Diploma of Languages and the Masters of Health Law.

Students may take a maximum of 12 credit points per semester in addition to their enrolment in the MD. This is the equivalent of an 0.5FTE load in addition to their full-time MD candidature.

In order to be permitted to enrol in a parallel coursework master’s degree, students must perform well in the first year of the MD Program.

Entry into the master’s degree course usually occurs in the second year of the MD Program. Students may also opt to suspend their candidature in the MD Program for one year to undertake the other course. This is most often done after completion of the second year.


Those interested in concurrent enrolment in the MD and a coursework degree are required to discuss their aspirations with the Sub-Dean (MD Research), or nominee, before submitting an application for concurrent enrolment.

The concurrent degree local provisions can be found on the University of Sydney's Policy Register.


Further information about the postgraduate courses offered within the Faculty can be found in the relevant postgraduate coursework area of study sections in this Handbook, or at:http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/study/md/md-and-postgraduate-degree.php

Student eligibility for ongoing concurrent enrolment is reviewed annually. Students must always prioritise their MD studies over the other HDR or coursework degree.