Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses

9. Undergraduate entry

Table of Contents

 9. Undergraduate entry

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 1999 to the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses are VCE English, Chemistry, Mathematical Methods (or Specialist Mathematics), and one of Biology, one additional Mathematics or Physics (or Physical Education or Psychology for the physiotherapy course only).

Selection into the Medicine, Dental Science (BDSc) and Physiotherapy courses in 1999 will be based upon a combination of the applicant's ENTER and performance in an undergraduate admissions aptitude test. Selection into the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy course in 1999 will be based on ENTER only.

Minimum prerequisites for entry to the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy course are VCE English and Biology.

 9.1. Targeted Access Program

Places under this scheme are available in the first year of the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses.

Applicants for the MBBS course from rural schools will be given additional consideration under this scheme.

There are no specified quota places allocated under the Program for the applicants to the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy, however the Selection Committee will consider all applications.

 9.2. Mature age candidates

There is no mature age entry scheme for medicine, dental or physiotherapy courses. If you are not a school leaver, the Selection Committee will consider your full academic record. Recent study would be expected, and applicants must meet the prerequisite requirements or their equivalents, and undertake the aptitude test.

 9.3. Financial assistance

Assistance is available to medical and dental science students through cadetships with all three armed services. These cadetships and scholarships are normally available from the third year of the course and involve a commitment to serve with the sponsoring authority for a limited period after graduation.

Students who experience financial difficulties during the course may apply for student loans within the University through the Student Support Services.

 9.4. Animal experimentation in practical classes

Some subjects offered by the Faculty involve the use of animal experimentation. These experiments are an essential part of the course and exemptions are not possible. All animal experimentation in the University is subject to the rigorous control of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee. A Faculty Student Animal Experimentation Review Committee, with student and academic staff membership, has also been established as a sub-committee of the Faculty's Curriculum Review Committee. In general, the University aims to reduce animal usage to the minimum consistent with academic needs. As well, new educational aids involving computer simulations are being used where possible as an alternative to the use of live animals.

 9.5. Health requirements

Students enrolled in the MBBS, BDSc, DipOralHlthTher or BPhysio courses should be aware that certain precautionary procedures may be required in order to meet health requirements for working in the wards of affiliated teaching hospitals and for the protection of yourself and others.

Measures consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and undergoing X-rays where appropriate and no contraindications exist in an individual case. This policy is in accord with the National Health and Medical Research Council advice that educational institutions undertaking the training of students in health sciences should ensure that students are protected against the risk of infection, as far as possible, by vaccination.

Prospective students should note that prior to enrolment, they will be provided with information, and if appropriate, counselled about the effects that being a carrier of HIV, Hepatitis B or C may have on their ability to practise their profession. Although the Faculty does not prevent students who are carriers of these viruses from undertaking courses, individuals who know that they are carriers are strongly advised to consider carefully whether to embark on studies within the Faculty, since in some cases, it may not be possible to complete the training requirements and practise their chosen profession.

 9.6. Police check for clinical placements

Organisations which host clinical placements may require students to have obtained a police check regarding their suitability to undertake such placements.

Enrolled and prospective students in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences are advised that they may be required to obtain, and pay for a police check prior to undertaking the clinical placements in their course. The fee is approximately $12.

 9.7. Attendance requirements

Attendance at classes other than lectures is compulsory for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students are also expected to attend lectures, and it is to their advantage to do so. In addition, competent performance in carrying out the duties and work prescribed in all subjects is required. Students failing to comply with this requirement (e.g. not less than 75 per cent attendance) may be excluded from examinations.

 9.8. Dean's Honours List

The Dean's Honours List recognises the achievement of the Faculty's outstanding students each year. Students are selected on academic merit and receive a letter from the Dean and official acknowledgement on their academic transcript.

Prizes, scholarships and bursaries are also awarded to students for academic excellence at each year level and in individual subjects in Faculty courses.

Further details are available from the relevant School Office, or from the Student Support Services.

 9.9. Can I study overseas?

There is no provision to undertake part of the medical, dental or physiotherapy courses overseas on exchange basis. However, students in medicine and physiotherapy are approved to take an elective overseas, and medical students may also be approved to undertake their Advanced Medical Science subjects overseas. Some BDSc students choose, and gain approval, to take elective studies overseas after the fourth year of the course and some take approved leave of absence to travel overseas and spend some time in dental hospitals and clinics.

 9.10. Community Access Program (CAP)

Medical, dental, oral health therapy and physiotherapy subjects are not available under the CAP.

Psychology subjects are offered through the CAP program. Contact the School of Behavioural Science (Department of Psychology) for more information.

 9.11. Can I transfer from another course of study?

You may apply for entry to the first year of the medical, dental, oral health therapy or physiotherapy courses from other tertiary courses of study if you meet the prerequisite requirements. However, you would need an excellent academic performance to be competitive for a place. Application for the first year should be lodged with VTAC unless you are an enrolled student at the University of Melbourne, where application may be made on an internal application form available from any Faculty office. These forms should be lodged with the appropriate School Office.

All applicants for entry to first year of the medical, dental science (BDSc) or physiotherapy courses must undertake the aptitude test. Further details are available from the relevant School Office.

Entry to the second year or later years of the physiotherapy course is restricted to applicants who have completed appropriate science subjects at university level. Applications must be lodged on the prescribed form available from the Physiotherapy School Office. Only a limited number of places are available and selection is restricted to candidates with outstanding academic records.

In recent years a very limited number of places have been available in the second and later years of the BDSc course, but from 1999 entry into these years will no longer be available.

Lateral entry will not be available in Medicine after 1999. Applicants with partially completed degrees may apply for entry to first year of the medical course, however no advanced standing will be given for prior studies, and applicants must undertake the aptitude test. Applicants for Medicine who have completed more than one year of tertiary level study are advised to contact the School of Medicine Office for advice regarding the graduate entry program.

 9.12. Credit for MUPHAS program studies

In courses other than Medicine, students who have completed subjects in Year 12 through MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students) may be eligible for credit. Credit may also be awarded for approved subjects taken in Year 12 as part of another university's extension program. Credit is not available for the medical course due to the integrated nature of the curriculum.

 9.13. Can I defer my place?

Deferral from the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses is available, but subject to approval by the Faculty. Application must be made in writing. Deferment from the first year of the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy can be offered under special conditions.

 9.14. Can I study part-time?

The medical, dental, oral health therapy and physiotherapy courses are full-time courses. There is no provision for part-time study, although students who are granted credit exemptions may undertake a lighter load. Repeat students are required to repeat all subjects in the year.

 9.15. What about Psychology students?

Conditions of study for students studying Psychology are determined by the degree course they are enrolled through (i.e. Arts, Science, Commerce, Law or Music). Please refer to the relevant faculty's guidelines.

Status:                   Official 1999
Last Modified:            Tuesday October 20 11:52
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