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Clinical Surgery

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

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 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy
Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1  Course codes

Code Course title
TCCLISUR-01 Doctor of Clinical Surgery

2  Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for these courses is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3  Admission to candidature

(1) Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the following admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Faculty may admit applicants without these qualifications who, in the opinion of the Faculty, have qualifications, evidence of experience and achievement sufficient to successfully undertake the award.

(2) Admission to the degree requires:

(a) a medical degree from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification;

(b) evidence of excellence in both undergraduate and postgraduate study;

(c) an interview or examination or other requirement as determined by the University of Sydney Medical School; and

(d) advanced postgraduate knowledge of anatomy, surgical pathology and applied physiology acquired either by a relevant postgraduate degree or equivalent experience;

or

completion of the Basic Training Requirements of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or equivalent;

or

a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, or equivalent.

4  Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Table of Units of Study: Clinical Surgery.

(2) To qualify for the award of the Doctor of Clinical Surgery a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points, including:

(a) 108 credit points of core units of study including:

(i) 66 credit points of clinical coursework (surgery) units of study; and

(ii) 6 credit points of capstone units of study; and

(iii) 36 credit points of research dissertation units of study; and

(b) 36 credit points of elective units of study.

5  Research and dissertation

(1) The University of Sydney Medical School shall appoint, on the recommendation of the Head of Discipline of Surgery, a supervisor, and preferably an associate supervisor, to oversee the research component of the degree requirements.

(2) Candidates should complete a dissertation that:

(a) embodies the results of the approved research;

(b) shall be an original contribution and include evidence of originality by the exercising of independent critical ability;

(c) is a satisfactory literary presentation;

(d) contains material suitable for publication; and

(e) must be a significant contribution of distinguished merit adding to the knowledge and understanding of the subject concerned.

(3) The dissertation or any component(s) of the dissertation shall not already have been presented for any degree, however, such component(s) may be included within the dissertation where details of the previous presentation are provided.

(4) A candidate may include in the dissertation any publication of which the candidate is the sole or joint author provided that the papers:

(a) are based on work undertaken during the candidature for the degree;

(b) are identified as published work;

(c) are compatible with the overall coherence and organisation of the text of the dissertation; and

(d) that the candidate provides evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of the work for which the candidate is responsible, such as a signed written statement from all authors attesting to the contribution of the candidate.

(5) The dissertation shall state the sources from which the information was derived, the extent to which use has been made of the work of others and the portion of the work claimed as original.

(6) The dissertation shall be accompanied by a declaration signed by the candidate that the dissertation is composed by the candidate.

(7) The dissertation shall be written in English and be of approximately 50,000 words in length.

(8) The candidate shall prepare three copies of the dissertation and lodge with the University of Sydney Medical School; typewritten and bound according to the Academic Board resolutions for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Form of the thesis, points 1 - 4.

(9) The final approved version of the dissertation will be submitted electronically.

(10) A candidate may also submit, in support of the candidature, any publication of which the candidate is the sole or joint author. In such a case the candidate must produce evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of the work for which the candidate is responsible.

(11) The examination of the dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Surgery, shall follow closely the examination process as stipulated by the Academic Board resolutions for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the Examination Process, (with any reference to the PhD Award Subcommittee being substituted by the University of Sydney Medical School), except for the following variations: the delegated authority, shall appoint two examiners for the dissertation of whom normally at least one shall be external to the University unless otherwise approved by the supervisor and Head of Discipline of Surgery.

6  Credit for previous studies

Candidates who possess a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or equivalent (including fellowships granted more than 5 years prior to first enrolment in this degree) may be granted advanced standing (credit) for up to 66 units of clinical coursework as recommended by the admission panel chaired by the Head of the Discipline of Surgery.

7  Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to persons who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2023 and persons who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2023 who formally elect to proceed under these resolutions.

(2) Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January 2023 complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.