The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery may be taken as a double degrees program in not less than six years full-time.
The program is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and requires completion of a total of 216 units of study.
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed Year 12 (or equivalent) and must not have a record of study at higher education level. The course is not available to international applicants. All applicants must sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT). Final ranking is determined by combining scores for the test and Tertiary Entrance Rank (or equivalent).
Course aims
This course aims to:
- provide a foundation in the basic sciences
- integrate basic science and clinical disciplines and recognise the importance of exposure to the principles, practice and findings of medical research
- provide a structured approach to the acquisition of clinical skills and competencies through laboratory and simulated learning and early patient contact made possible by the physical location of the School within the Flinders Medical Centre and the integration of patient care teaching and research in that environment
- give students the opportunity to undertake clinical learning in diverse hospital and community environments in Adelaide, country South Australia, western Victoria and the Northern Territory
- recognise the importance of basing medical practice on a social and community view of health and illness
- support the advocacy of patient care and service as a central focus in medical practice
- ensure students gain an understanding of the professional roles and responsibilities of doctors and experience in group learning and developing collegial relationships.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the course will be able to:
- demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental sciences as an appropriate basis for the practice of medicine
- integrate knowledge derived from the physical, biological, behavioural and social sciences underpinning medicine
- demonstrate proficiency in basic clinical and communication skills which will enable them to practise competently, with empathy for patients and with recognition of their own limitations
- apply skills and abilities in clinical reasoning and critical appraisal to data gathering and interpretation and in clinical problem formulation
- understand population health patterns and distribution in Australia and internationally and the methods and process by which population health information is accumulated
- be sensitive to the diverse cultures and contexts of the Australian and international health systems and the impact of different cultures and contexts on health outcomes and patient care
- integrate health promotion and disease prevention with the management of illness and injury
- recognise that medical practice should be undertaken with due regard to available resources and in a manner which encourages patients to assume increasing responsibility for their own health and to participate in decisions about their Health Care
- demonstrate personal and professional behaviour which indicate development towards high standards of medical practice and patient care
- work within the legal and ethical frameworks which determine clinical practice
- demonstrate skills and abilities in self-evaluation, audit and quality review
- work in teams with medical and health professional colleagues
- perform the duties of an intern and be ready to proceed to the next stage of medical training
- undertake training for any branch of medicine, including medical research and show commitment to life-long learning and self-enhancement.
Program of study
To qualify for The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a student must complete 216 units with a grade of P or better, or NGP in each topic, according to the following program of study:
- The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component of 72 units;
- The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery component of 144 units.
The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component must include:
YEAR 1
36 units of core topics including:
Option A (Health Sciences focus)# OR
Option B (Medical Science focus)
#Students who select Option A in Year 1 MUST select Option A in Year 2. Students who select Option B in Year 1 MUST select Option B in Year 2.
Core - Year 1 - Option A (Health Sciences)
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (4.5 units)
HLTH1305 Health Practitioner Practice 1 (4.5 units)
HLTH1306 Health Practitioner Practice 2 (4.5 units)
MMED1005 How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure (4.5 units)*
Select CHEM1101 & CHEM1102 or CHEM1201 & CHEM1202
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)
Core - Year 1 - Option B (Medical Science)
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
ENGL1012 Professional English for Medical Scientists (4.5 units)
HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (4.5 units)
MDSC1102 Skills for Medical Scientists 1 (4.5 units)
MMED1005 How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure (4.5 units)
Select CHEM1101 & CHEM1102 or CHEM1201 & CHEM1202
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)
YEAR 2
36 units comprising core and elective topics; core topics include
Option A (Health Sciences focus) OR
Option B (Medical Science focus)
Students can select an elective of their choice on approval of the Course Coordinator.
Core - Year 2 - Option A (Health Sciences)
BIOL2771 Biochemistry (4.5 units)
BIOL2772 Molecular Biology (4.5 units)
HLTH2101 Epidemiology for the Social Determinants of Health (4.5 units)
HLTH2105 Health: A Psychological Perspective (4.5 units)
MMED2008 Communication for Improved Patient Care (4.5 units)
MMED2931 Human Physiology (4.5 units)
Elective - Year 2 - Option A (Health Sciences)
DSRS3234 Case Management (4.5 units)
NUTD1106 Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health (4.5 units)
PARA1007 Contemporary Approaches to Lifestyle Management (4.5 units)
Core -Year 2 - Option B (Medical Science)
BIOL2771 Biochemistry (4.5 units)
BIOL2772 Molecular Biology (4.5 units)
MDSC2000 Skills for Medical Scientists 2 (4.5 units)
MMED2008 Communication for Improved Patient Care (4.5 units)
MMED2931 Human Physiology (4.5 units)
Elective - Year 2 - Option B (Medical Science)
BIOL2702 Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity (4.5 units)
BIOL2761 Virology (4.5 units)
BIOL3761 Foundations in Microbiology (4.5 units)
BTEC2002 Legal, Ethical and Social Aspects of Bioscience (4.5 units)
MMED2932 Integrative Human Physiology (4.5 units)
MMED2933 Fundamental Neuroscience (4.5 units)
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery component must comprise the program of study described in the BMBS course rule.
The double degrees must be completed within nine consecutive years.
Normally, no topic in The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component may be attempted more than once.
Progressionto The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery component of the double degrees program is subject to a student passing all topics and gaining a Grade Point Average of 5 or better in The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component.
A student who is not eligible to progress to The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery component will be permitted to transfer to either The Bachelor of Health Sciences or The Bachelor of Medical Science.
A student who withdraws from the double degrees program after successfully completing the first three years will be awarded The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences.
Specific rules relating to Years 3-6 of the double degrees - ie the BMBS component - may be found in the BMBS course rule.