Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses
9. Undergraduate entry

Search : Index : Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Prev 8. Faculty courses
Next 10. Unsatisfactory progress

9. Undergraduate entry
    9.1. Targeted Access Program
    9.2. Special initiatives for rural and regional students
    9.3. Mature-age candidates
    9.4. Financial assistance
    9.5. Animal experimentation in practical classes
    9.6. Health requirements
    9.7. Police check for clinical placements
    9.8. Attendance requirements
    9.9. Dean's Honours List
    9.10. Can I study overseas?
    9.11. Community Access Program (CAP)
    9.12. Can I transfer from another course of study?
    9.13. Credit for MUPHAS program studies
    9.14. Can I defer my place?
    9.15. Can I study part time?
    9.16. What about psychology students?

9. Undergraduate entry

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 2004 to the medical, dental science (BDSc) and physiotherapy courses are VCE English (any), chemistry, and one of mathematical methods, specialist mathematics or physics.

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 2004 to the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy course are VCE English (any) and Biology.

Selection into the medicine, dental science, oral health therapy and physiotherapy courses in 2004 will be based upon a combination of the applicant's ENTER, performance in the prerequisite subjects, and performance in an undergraduate admissions aptitude test (UMAT).

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 2004 to the Bachelor of Nursing Science (Standard) are VCE English (any) or graduates with an approved degree or diploma of at least three years duration in any disciplinary field. Prerequisites for entry in 2004 to the Bachelor of Nursing Science (Accelerated) are an approved degree or diploma of at least three years duration in the life or physical sciences, registration as a Division 2 Nurse plus 12 months work experience or as an Aboriginal Health Worker with two years work experience.

There are no prerequisites to commence studies in psychology, however, the School recommends VCE biology and mathematics. Students must be accepted into a degree course before they can apply to their faculty to study psychology. Please refer to the relevant faculty entry requirements.

9.1. Targeted Access Program

Places under this scheme are available in the first year of the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses. TAP applications will also be considered for nursing courses.

Applicants for medicine 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. Special initiatives for rural and regional students

The Federal Government and the faculty have introduced a range of bonded medical places, bonded and non-bonded scholarships and other financial initiatives to help students from rural and regional backgrounds to gain entry and complete a course in medicine. Further information is available from the School of Medicine's web site at www.medfac.unimelb.edu.au/med/medicine.asp.

9.3. Mature-age candidates

There is no mature-age entry scheme for the medicine, dental science, nursing or physiotherapy courses. The Selection Committee will consider the full academic record of non-school leaver applicants. Recent study would be expected, and applicants must meet the prerequisite requirements or their equivalents, and applicants must also undertake the UMAT test (where applicable).

9.4. Financial assistance

Assistance is available to medical and dental science (BDSc) students through cadetships with the 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. A number of bursaries are offered annually to students in financial need - see your school office for further information.

9.5. 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. In general, the University aims to reduce animal usage to the minimum consistent with academic needs. As well, computer simulations are being used where possible as an alternative to the use of live animals.

9.6. Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working with patients in health care settings, and for the protection of yourself, your patients and other students, you must follow some precautionary procedures. These include: confidential tests for immune status to a number of infectious diseases (including blood and skin tests); receiving vaccines; undergoing X-rays if indicated. These procedures will be necessary where the evidence indicates that they are appropriate and that there are no contraindications in your case. This policy is in accord with the National Health and Medical Research Council advice that educational institutions training students in health sciences should ensure that students are protected, as far as possible, by vaccination against the risk of infection. When you enrol you will be provided with information and counseled about the risks of cross infection in the health care setting. In particular, the issues relating to health care students who are infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV will be addressed. The Australian Immunisation Handbook identifies risk countries in relation to these infections. Please contact the relevant School Office if you believe you may be at risk.

9.7. Police check for clinical placements

Some organisations which host clinical placements 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, at their own expense, a police check prior to undertaking the clinical placements in their course.

9.8. Attendance requirements

Attendance at classes other than lectures is compulsory for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students failing to comply with this requirement without appropriate medical documentation (eg. not less than 75 per cent attendance) may be excluded from examinations. In addition, competent performance in carrying out the duties and work prescribed in all subjects is required. Students are expected to attend lectures, and it is to their advantage to do so.

9.9. 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.

9.10. Can I study overseas?

There is no provision to undertake part of the medical, dental science, nursing or oral health therapy courses overseas on an exchange basis, however MBBS/BA students may apply to take part of their arts component through the study abroad program. Opportunities exist for a limited number of second year physiotherapy students to undertake exchange or study abroad placements. 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. BDSc and DipOHT students have the option of taking elective studies in overseas dental schools.

9.11. Community Access Program (CAP)

Dental science, oral health therapy, physiotherapy and undergraduate medical subjects are not available under the CAP. The School of Medicine offers CAP students undergraduate subjects in the following disciplines: anatomy and cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology. In addition a small range of postgraduate subjects from various schools are available to suitably qualified applicants.

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

A limited number of nursing subjects will be offered in 2004 under the CAP. No clinical subjects will be offered under CAP.

9.12. Can I transfer from another course of study?

Applications are accepted for entry to the first year of the medical, dental science and oral health therapy or physiotherapy courses from students in other tertiary courses of study who meet the prerequisite requirements. Applicants would need an excellent academic performance to be competitive for a place. Application for the first year should be lodged with VTAC, except for enrolled students at the University of Melbourne, who may apply for an internal transfer via the Student Information System, (SIS).

All applicants for entry to first year of the medical, dental science, oral health therapy or physiotherapy courses must undertake the UMAT test. Further details are available from the relevant school office.

Entry to the second year 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. Applicants must undertake the UMAT test.

Lateral entry is not available in medicine. Applicants with partially completed degrees may apply for entry to the first year of the medical course, however no advanced standing will be given for prior studies, and applicants must undertake the UMAT test. Applicants for medicine who have completed more than 50 per cent of tertiary level study should complete their degree course and apply for graduate entry. Applicants who are in their final year of a degree course, or who have completed a degree, should contact the School of Medicine office for advice regarding the Graduate Entry Program.

Lateral entry in the dental science course is only available to applicants with partially completed dental degrees. Applicants with completed or partially completed degrees in other disciplines may apply to the first year of the dental science course and must undertake the UMAT test.

9.13. Credit for MUPHAS program studies

Applicants for psychology subjects and the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy may be eligible for credit for subjects completed through MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students) or other University extension programs available to Year 12 students. In a fixed course such as the diploma however, the possibilities are very limited. Credit is not available for the medical, dental (BDSc) or physiotherapy courses due to the integrated nature of the curriculum.

9.14. Can I defer my place?

Deferral from the medical, dental science, nursing and physiotherapy courses is available, subject to approval by the faculty, but deferment is not available to applicants selected into the Graduate Entry Program in medicine. Deferment from the first year of the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy is only granted under special conditions. Application must be made in writing to the relevant school office.

9.15. Can I study part time?

The medical, dental science, oral health therapy and physiotherapy courses are full-time courses. There is no provision for part-time study. Repeat students are required to repeat all subjects in the year. Part-time study may be granted to students enrolled in the accelerated Nursing Science course in the professional category and will be considered on a case by case basis.

9.16. What about psychology students?

Conditions of study for students studying psychology are determined by the degree course though which they are enrolled (ie. arts, science, commerce, law or music). Please refer to the relevant faculty's guidelines.