5. Medicine and surgery

Undergraduate courses are diplomas, advanced diplomas and bachelor’s degrees. Some bachelor’s degrees, such as the USydMP, require a previous bachelor’s degree for admission and these are considered graduate entry undergraduate degrees.

The information in this chapter is in summary form and is subordinate to the provisions of the relevant degree resolutions, in chapter 6 and in the University of Sydney Calendar. The Calendar is available for sale at the Student Centre, for viewing at the Library, or on the University website at www.usyd.edu.au/about/publication/pub/calendar.shtml.

Medicine and surgery

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

(MBBS) KH006

Overview of the University of Sydney Medical Program (USydMP)

What are the aims of the USydMP?

The medical program at the University of Sydney aims to produce medical graduates who are committed to rational, compassionate health care and medical research of the highest quality.

The program encourages the enrolment of students from diverse backgrounds and aims to help them to become graduates responsive to the health needs of individuals, families and communities and committed to improving the health care system at all levels.

The success of the program will be measured by the extent to which University of Sydney graduates maintain life-long, self-directed learning and the pursuit of evidence-based medical practice, initiating, leading and supporting advances in clinical medicine, research, education and community service.

How is the curriculum organised?

The program is organised into four curriculum themes which describe the important professional characteristics students will acquire by the completion of the program.

The themes provide the framework for the goals of the program; the development of the curriculum and for assessment. Students are required to demonstrate satisfactory performance in all four themes.

The learning within the four themes necessarily overlaps and their program objectives should therefore be read as a single collective statement. The four themes are

• Basic and Clinical Science Theme
• Patient and Doctor Theme
• Community and Doctor Theme
• Personal and Professional Development

What makes this program different?

Graduate students from diverse backgrounds

Students enter the program as successful graduates from a diverse range of academic and life experiences – all having made a singular commitment to the study of medicine. Each individual will have made a mature decision to participate in the University of Sydney Medical Program as their preferred way of realising their aspirations to become a member of the medical profession.

A four-year integrated learning curriculum

Learning in the University of Sydney Medical Program is integrated across the disciplines and program themes, carefully building from year to year. Learning in Stages 1 and 2 is based on clinical problems presented in tutorial settings. This ensures that individual subjects and disciplines contributing to a doctor's knowledge and understanding are learned in the context of medical practice.

Clinical contact from week one

From the very first week of the medical program students have patient contact in the various Clinical Schools where they are tutored in full set of Patient and Doctor communication and procedural skills. The Clinical network is comprised of large urban hospitals and also smaller rural hospitals. This offers students a balanced view of urban and rural health care and their differences (see
www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/futurestudent/clinschool/index.php for further information about the clinical experience).

Problem-based learning with online support

By focusing on clinical problem solving from the beginning of the program, students learn how to identify medical issues and then seek out the significant information needed to define, resolve or manage them.

This problem-based approach encourages students to seek information and become skilled independent learners, able to evaluate their own achievements and identify their own learning needs. (Visit
www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/futurestudent/clinschool/index.php for more information.)

Each week of problem based learning in Stages 1 and 2 is supported by a comprehensive set of online resources which are used to present an authentic clinical case and give extensive guidance for both group and independent learning.

An evidence-based approach

Throughout the program, the evaluation of evidence in decision-making is an essential approach. Students learn the skills of critical appraisal early in Stages 1 and 2; practice them in the context of problem-solving and then use the same skills in making decisions about individual patients in their clinical encounters in Stages 3 and 4. (See
www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/futurestudent/education/ebm.php for further information about evidence-based medicine.)

Degree regulations

The information presented in this handbook must be read in conjunction with the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 and the Senate and faculty resolutions pertaining to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. See the University’s Policy Online site www.usyd.edu.au/policy for copies of University policies.

The faculty resolutions and this handbook are the official statement of faculty policy. Should there be perceived to be a conflict between the faculty resolutions and this handbook on the one hand and information available elsewhere, the faculty resolutions and this handbook shall always take precedence.

For reasons of clarity, sections of the faculty resolutions are included in this handbook and are shown in italics.

Section 1

1. Admission
2. Units of study
3. Requirements for the pass degree
4. Honours degree

Section 2

1. Goals of the University of Sydney Medical Program (USydMP)
2. Outline of the curriculum
3. Discontinuation of enrolment without permission
4. Suspension of candidature
5. Time limit
6. Assessment and progression

Section 1

1. Admission

Applicants will be considered for admission according to the following criteria:

• Academic performance in the applicant’s most recent bachelor’s degree;
• Performance in the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT);
• Performance in an interview process.

In the interest of equity and fairness to all applicants, those applicants who do not meet the faculty’s admission criteria, including the required Grade Point Average (GPA) and GAMSAT results, will not be considered for admission to the University of Sydney Medical Program. The GPA and GAMSAT results requirements shall apply, regardless of circumstances such as illness, misadventure or disadvantage during the bachelor’s degree or test.

No preference or advanced standing is offered to any applicant.

No credit is given for previous units of study.

Except as provided for under section (1) (f) below, no exemptions from units of study are offered.

Transfer of enrolment between medical schools is not possible except in very exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the deans/heads of the two schools involved.

(1) Bachelor’s degree

The University of Sydney Medical Program is a graduate-entry degree program. Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement and successful completion of studies in a tertiary educational environment.

(a) Applicants must have completed, or be in the final year of, a bachelor’s degree comprising at least three full-time equivalent years of study, either from an Australian university listed in the Australian Qualifications Framework at sub-category ii. Universities and Other Self-Accrediting Higher education Institutions, or from an overseas university listed in the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition guide. The bachelor’s degree must be completed by 5 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the University of Sydney Medical Program. Where an applicant's bachelor’s degree contains credit from an institution other than the institution awarding the degree, the following conditions apply:

• Students must study for at least two years full-time equivalent at the degree awarding institution.
• Any qualification for which credit was given towards the bachelor’s degree used as the basis for admission will be included in the calculation of the grade point average (GPA: applicants must submit original transcripts); where credits are unspecified, the GPA will be calculated from all subjects completed in the first institution, and will contribute towards credits allocated by the second (degree awarding) institution.

(b) Applications from individuals who have completed an appropriate two-year bachelor’s degree in an accelerated program (e.g 3 semesters per year) will be considered only after they have completed the degree.

(c) Applicants whose bachelor’s degree was conferred 10 or more years before 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the University of Sydney Medical Program must have obtained either a second bachelor’s degree or a graduate diploma or a master’s degree or PhD in the past 10 years before 5 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the University of Sydney Medical Program.

(d) There are no prerequisite course units.

(e) Any student who is currently enrolled, or has previously been enrolled, in an Australian or New Zealand medical degree program or dental degree program is not eligible to be considered for admission to the University of Sydney Medical Program for a period of two years after the year of last enrolment in the previous medical or dental degree program.

(f) Transfer of enrolment between medical schools or between dentistry and medicine is not possible except in very exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the deans/heads of the two schools involved. Transfer will not be considered if an applicant has applied to the USydMP but been rejected. No applicant will be admitted to a graduate-entry medical program with advanced standing and exemptions from participating in part of the program will not be offered. Notwithstanding the above, approval for exemptions from the non-clinical components of Stages 1 and 2 of the University of Sydney Medical Program will be considered for applicants who have completed the requirements of the Bachelor of Dentistry at the University of Sydney.

(g) Applicants who have previously been excluded from any university because of academic misconduct will not be considered. Applicants who are excluded from any university at the time of application will not be considered. Applicants who have previously been excluded from any university because of other reasons will be referred to the Admissions Committee for consideration before interview invitations are sent. The major factor considered in these circumstances will be academic performance after the period of exclusion.

(h) Performance in the bachelor’s degree is assessed by a Grade Point Average (GPA), determined on a scale of 0 – 7 from each mark or grade on the official academic transcript issued by the institution where the bachelor’s degree was undertaken. Applicants must achieve a GPA of 5.5 or greater (equivalent to a credit level at the University of Sydney). The GPA will be calculated on the last three full-time years, or six semesters, of the most recent bachelor’s degree, including an honours year if undertaken.

(i) Subjects are grouped according to calendar year not academic year level. Each year is weighted equally. Percentages are used when available rather than grades. Should subject weightings be not available, a value of 1 will be assigned. If an applicant studied part-time he/she should list subjects in groups equivalent to full-time academic years. Postgraduate research or coursework qualifications are excluded.

(j) Applicants enrolled in the final year of a bachelor’s degree will be considered on a provisional basis if their record at the time of application yields a GPA of 5.5 or greater. First semester results of applicants who are applying whilst in the final year of their degree are not included in the assessment of applicants for interview.

(k) For applicants who have undertaken a combined degree or parallel degree program, final 3 years only will be calculated whether or not they count towards the award of the degree.

(l) Applicants with a degree where results in 1/3 or more of the units of study are awarded on a pass/fail basis only must provide official documentation, signed by the dean of the relevant faculty, indicating that they are ranked in the top 40 per cent of their cohort.

(m) The GPA levels and graduate qualifications of successful applicants will be recorded for periodic review of selection criteria and procedures.

(2) Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT)

The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) has been developed as a selection instrument by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in collaboration with Australian graduate-entry medical schools. The test is administered, conducted and assessed by ACER.

The GAMSAT is designed to serve five major purposes:

• to ensure that all commencing students have appropriate analytical and problem-solving skills and basic competence in the biological and physical sciences
• to recognise applicants who have a broad understanding of basic concepts in the social sciences and humanities, which are considered advantageous to the study and practice of medicine
• to ensure that applicants have an acceptable standard in written communication in English
• to provide valid and reliable information that will allow ranking of applicants
• to indicate to potential applicants the background knowledge necessary to commence the course and the standards required (how an applicant gains this knowledge is an individual choice).

(a) In the selection process, the faculty will use each of the three GAMSAT sections, i.e.
(i) reasoning in humanities and social sciences
(ii) written communication in English
(iii) reasoning in biological and physical sciences, i.e chemistry 40 percent, biology 40 percent, physics 20 percent (quoted by ACER as comparable to Year 12 physics and first year tertiary chemistry and biology).

(b) ACER will supply a score out of 100 for each of the three sections and an overall score weighted as humanities and social sciences 25 percent, written English 25 percent and biological and physical sciences 50 percent. The faculty will use the ACER scores for ranking of applicants.

(c) Applicants must achieve a minimum level in all three sections of GAMSAT and will be ranked according to their overall performance for the purpose of identifying applicants who will be invited for interview. In the first instance, applicants who achieve the highest overall score will be invited for interview. Invitations will then be made to those achieving progressively lower overall scores until the total number invited for interview is between 1.5 and 2 times the total number of places available for admission (or until the minimum score acceptable to the faculty is reached).

(d) The minimum acceptable score in any section of GAMSAT is 50.

(e) GAMSAT scores are valid for two years.

(f) There is no restriction on the number of times a candidate may sit the GAMSAT. Candidates may select their preferred valid annual GAMSAT results and the Admissions Committee will not have access to GAMSAT results from other years.

(g) The GAMSAT scores of successful applicants will be recorded for periodic review of selection criteria and procedures.

(3) The multiple mini interview

All applicants for admission to the University of Sydney Medical Program will be interviewed as part of the selection process. The interview has been designed to assess specific personal qualities, according to criteria agreed by the faculty to be important for success in the University of Sydney Medical Program and in later practice.

Those qualities rated as desirable by the faculty are:

• good communication skills
• a sense of caring, empathy and sensitivity
• an ability to make effective decisions
• an ability to contribute as a member of a team
• an appreciation of the place of medicine in the wider context of healing
• a sense of vocation, motivation and commitment within the context of medicine.

(a) Selection of applicants for interview will be according to GPA and GAMSAT results as described in sections 1 and 2.

(b) The multiple mini interview aims to broadly sample the candidates’ qualities in order to gain a more accurate picture of that candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. This is done by having several brief interviews with different interviewers.

(c) All interviewers are volunteers who will have completed a training program either by written instructions or face-to-face training sessions. They are recruited from the following groups:

• Academic and clinical academic members and staff of the Faculties of Dentistry and Medicine
• Senior students and graduates from the University of Sydney Medical Program (USydMP) or Bachelor of Dentistry program
• Persons drawn from the wider community.

(d) Applicants selected for interview will be required to travel to the interview location at their own expense.

(e) The interview process will be subjected to regular evaluation, including exit questionnaires from applicants and comment by silent, trained observers.

(4) Offers to applicants

(a) The interview ratings will be used to determine the offer of admission for each applicant.

(b) Applicants are required to meet or exceed a minimum MMI score which will be determined by the Admissions Committee. Applicants will then be ranked on the basis of their GAMSAT performance (50 percent) and their MMI performance (50 percent). This will generate a single ranked list of applicants. Offers will be made in sequence commencing with the applicant with the highest ranked score. Should it arise that applicants ranked equally need to be separated, the Overall GAMSAT scores will be used.

(c) If the number of applicants in an interview category exceeds the number of places remaining to be offered, the overall GAMSAT score will be used and offers made to applicants with higher scores.

(d) If necessary, the applicants’ performance in the bachelor’s degree will next be used to separate applicants for an offer of admission.

(e) The applicants most highly ranked will be offered places first according to their preferences (applicants are required to number their preferences from the options detailed below). If a particular type of place is no longer available (i.e all places have been offered to applicants ranked more highly), applicants will be offered their next preferred available place.

Scholarship places (no fees or other financial liability other than voluntary student subscriptions):

• Commonwealth supported places (CSP, formerly HECS)
• Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme places (MRBSS)*
• Bonded Medical Places (BMP)*
• Fee-paying places

*Only Australian citizens or permanent residents are eligible for MRBSS places and BMPs. New Zealand citizens must be Australian permanent residents to be eligible to apply.

(f) Firm offers of admission will be made only to applicants who have already completed their bachelor’s degree.

(g) Provisional offers of admission will be made to applicants who have not completed the final year of their bachelor’s degree at the time of interview. The provisional offer will be rescinded if the applicant does not complete the final year of the bachelor’s degree by 5 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the University of Sydney Medical Program, or if the applicant fails to achieve a GPA of 5.5 or greater on completion of the bachelor’s degree.

(h) Successful applicants will be notified in writing and will be given a firm date by which time a written acceptance of the offer of admission must be received by the faculty. If a written acceptance is not received by that date, the offer of admission will lapse. Extension of time for written acceptance of an offer of admission will not be allowed.

(i) The faculty may keep a small reserve list of applicants who are unsuccessful in the first round of offers, but who may be offered admission in a second round, if places remain unfilled after the first round is completed.

(j) Other than in exceptional circumstances, applicants who accept an offer of admission and then fail to enrol, without notifying the University of their decision, or who enrol and then subsequently withdraw or discontinue without prior approval, will not be reconsidered for admission to the University of Sydney Medical Program for a period of two years from the date of enrolment or the date of withdrawal/discontinuation, whichever is the latter.

(5) Deferrals

The faculty is committed to supporting medical research and to offering opportunities to students interested in undertaking research. The faculty resolutions concerning deferral of enrolment in the University of Sydney Medical Program reflect this commitment.

Deferral of enrolment after acceptance of an offer of admission or deferral after first enrolment may only be permitted under the following circumstances:

(a) Deferral for one year may be permitted in the event of serious illness or misadventure that could not have been foreseen at the time of application. Appropriate evidence and documentation acceptable to the faculty must be provided to support such a request for deferral.

(b) Deferral for one year may be permitted to allow suitably qualified applicants to undertake an additional research year for an honours degree (i.e those applicants enrolled in the final year of a bachelor’s degree which leads directly to a one-year research program for an honours level degree).

(c) Deferral for up to three years may be permitted to allow applicants who are enrolled in a higher research degree at a tertiary institution at the time of application to the University of Sydney Medical Program to complete that higher degree.

(d) In exceptional circumstances, the dean may permit deferral for one year to allow suitably qualified applicants to complete a non-degree postgraduate research year at an institution approved by the faculty.

(e) Requests for deferral must be in writing and must be received by faculty by 30 November. Requests will be considered by the Admissions Committee and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

(6) Applicants in special categories

(a) Indigenous Australian applicants

Facilitated entry is available for applicants who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Please contact the Koori Centre of the University of Sydney for advice upon proof.

Proof of receipt of Abstudy will not be accepted as proof of Aboriginality unless accompanied by one of the documents approved by the Koori Centre.

Applicants will be selected for interview if they satisfy the requirements of their bachelor’s degree at a pass level and if they reach the minimum acceptable levels of performance in GAMSAT as defined by the faculty. Applicants will also be expected to achieve a suitable level of performance at interview.

(b) Rural origin applicants

Facilitated entry is available for applicants who identify as being of rural origin. Rural origin is defined as: an individual having resided (according to principal home address) in a rural area (RRMA 3-7) for at least five years (consecutive or cumulative) from commencement of primary school. The Department of Health and Ageing website has further information about the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) classification system, see
www.health.gov.au. Applicants will be selected for interview if they satisfy the requirements of their bachelor’s degree at credit level and if they reach the minimum acceptable levels of performance in GAMSAT as defined by the faculty. Facilitated entry may be offered conditional on the production of one of the following forms of proof of rurality at the time of application:

• Letter of support from local minister, doctor, or school principal (no family members). The letter will also include current contact details.

• School records (if you are experiencing difficulties securing this documentation please contact the Admissions Office).

(c) Refugee medical student applicants

The Faculty of Medicine has developed a policy for the admission of refugee medical students to the University of Sydney Medical Program:

• A sub-quota of up to four Commonwealth supported places in the University of Sydney Medical Program will be available annually for refugee medical student applicants whose applications will be assessed on a case by case basis.

• Applicants must have been granted refugee status and Australian residency by the Australian Government.

(d) Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme (MRBSS)

These places are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and are additional medical school places for Australian citizens or permanent residents who enter into a legally binding contract with the Commonwealth Government. The contract requires scholarship holders to complete medical training culminating in a Medical Fellowship qualification and commence a period of six years of medical practice in a rural location in Australia. Students with MRBSS places will receive a tax-free scholarship for the normal duration of their medical school program.

• A quota of places will be available for students accepting Commonwealth Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships. This quota will be in addition to the standard places available to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

• The number of MRBSS places to be offered each year will be negotiated by the faculty and the Department of Health and Ageing.

• The selection criteria for MRBSS places will be the same as for standard places in the University of Sydney Medical program.

• The faculty will bear no responsibility in respect of any student’s decision to accept or decline the Commonwealth MRBSS offer.

• Any student who, having been admitted to the USydMP in an MRBSS funded place, subsequently relinquishes the Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship, will also relinquish his/her place in the USydMP, effective from the date of relinquishment of the scholarship.

• A MRBSS student is unable to transfer to any other type of place during the entire duration of his/her MBBS studies.

(e) Bonded Medical Place (BMP)

These extra places are intended to provide more doctors for districts of doctor shortage. By accepting a Bonded Medical Place, students agree to work in a district of workforce shortage of their choice for a period of six years upon completion of their medical studies. Districts of workforce shortage are located in either an outer metropolitan area in a capital city, or in regional or rural Australia.

• A quota of places will be available for students accepting Bonded Medical Places. This quota will be in addition to the standard places available to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

• The number of BMPs to be offered each year will be negotiated by the faculty and the Department of Health and Ageing.

• The selection criteria for BMPs will be the same as for standard places in the University of Sydney Medical program.

• The faculty will bear no responsibility in respect of any student’s decision to accept or decline the BMP offer.

• Withdrawal from a BMP at any time prior to completion of the USydMP will mean that the BMP will be terminated and enrolment in the USydMP will be cancelled.

• A BMP student is unable to transfer to any other type of place during the entire duration of his/her MBBS studies.

(f) Local full fee-paying place

In addition to the Commonwealth supported places, full fee-paying places are available to local students.

• The selection criteria for local full fee-paying places will be the same as for standard places in the University of Sydney Medical program.

• Fees are reviewed annually and may increase during the period of study. Fees are paid in advance (or partially through a FEE-HELP loan) on a per semester basis at enrolment.

• Withdrawal from a local full fee-paying place at any time prior to completion of the USydMP will mean that enrolment in the USydMP will be cancelled.

• A local full fee-paying place student is unable to transfer to any other type of place during the entire duration of his/her MBBS studies. The only possible exception is that a fee-paying place student may apply to transfer to a BMP in the unlikely event that a BMP becomes available.

(7) International students

The University of Sydney and the Faculty of Medicine welcome applications from international applicants to the USydMP on a full-fee basis. Selection will be based on criteria similar to those used to select local applicants. The quota for international students is additional to the quota for local students (i.e students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents or New Zealand citizens). The number of places available for international students shall be determined by the faculty, taking into account the student demand and staff teaching capacity.

(a) Selection criteria for full-fee paying international students will be similar to those for local applicants, i.e weighted GPA of 5.5 or greater in the bachelor’s degree, performance in the GAMSAT or American Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and performance in an interview.

(b) International applicants may use either the GAMSAT or MCAT.

(c) As with local students, offers of interview will be made to applicants with the highest scores in each section of the GAMSAT or MCAT and then to applicants with progressively lower scores in each section, until the total number of interviews offered is between 1.5 and 2 times the number of places available, or until the minimum score acceptable to the faculty is reached.

(d) The MCAT scores are valid for two years from the date of the test.

(e) The minimum acceptable MCAT scores are M in the writing sample and normally 8 in sections given numerical scores.

(f) The minimum acceptable scores in GAMSAT are 50 in each section.

(g) International applicants whose GPA falls slightly below 5.5 may be considered if good levels of performance in GAMSAT or MCAT have been achieved.

(h) International applicants whose GAMSAT or MCAT scores fall slightly below the acceptable minimum may be considered if a good GPA has been achieved.

(i) Offers of admission will be made by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, initially to those applicants who are considered most suitable at interview, then progressing through the suitable categories, until all the places have been offered.

(8) Change in immigration status

There are two possible situations relating to the position of international applicants to the USydMP who change their immigration status:

• The applicant's status changes before an offer is made.
  Should an international student who is granted permanent resident status (or New Zealand citizenship) before an offer is made, his/her application will be void. He/she may re-apply for a local place in a subsequent intake.

• An international student becomes an Australian permanent resident (or New Zealand citizen) after an offer is made.
  An international student who is granted permanent residency (or New Zealand citizenship) after an offer is made will transfer to a local fee paying place if a place is available. Permanent resident status is established from the date stamped on the student’s passport or a “Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status” from Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), not the date on which the application for status is made. If the student obtains permanent residency or advises the University after the census date, the student will be classified as an international student for the remainder of that semester. The student will be classified as permanent resident from the following semester or term.

(9) Appeals

(a) An applicant who believes that his or her performance at interview has been compromised by serious illness or misadventure, may appeal in writing. The written appeal, with supporting documentation, must be received by the faculty within two working days of the interview.

(b) An Admissions Appeals Committee, established by the faculty for this purpose, shall determine what, if any, further action is required and the decision of this committee will be final.

(c) Appeals will be conducted by direct communication between the applicant and the faculty. Correspondence with third parties will not be entered into.

(10) Disclosure

(a) All applicants must fully disclose all information relevant to the faculty’s decision about an offer of admission. All such information known to the applicant must be disclosed at the time of initial application.

(b) Relevant information includes (but is not limited to) academic performance and transcripts, citizenship and permanent residency, details of any exclusions and certification of completion of previous bachelor’s degree by the time of enrolment in the USydMP.

(c) If an applicant fails to disclose any information relevant to the faculty’s decision about an offer of admission and that information would have resulted in a decision not to offer admission, then the applicant’s offer of admission or subsequent enrolment in the USydMP will be rescinded.

(d) Presentation of false or forged documents by an applicant may constitute a criminal offence and the university may take appropriate action in such cases, including (but not limited to) cancellation of an application for admission, cancellation of an offer of admission or termination of enrolment.

2. Units of study

Academic Stage 1 (Year 1)

Teaching period 1 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP1011 Basic and Clinical Sciences 1	12
GDMP1012 Patient and Doctor 1	6
GDMP1013 Community and Doctor 1	3
GDMP1014 Personal and Professional Development 1	3
Following studies in: Foundation Studies, Musculoskeletal Sciences, Drug and Alcohol

Teaching period 2 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP1021 Basic and Clinical Sciences 2	12
GDMP1022 Patient and Doctor 2	6
GDMP1023 Community and Doctor 2	3
GDMP1024 Personal and Professional Development 2	3
Following studies in: Respiratory Sciences, Haematology, Cardiovascular Sciences

Academic Stage 2 (Year 2)

Teaching period 1 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP2011 Basic and Clinical Sciences 3	12	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2012 Patient and Doctor 3	6	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2013 Community and Doctor 3	3	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2014 Personal and Professional Development 3	3	Academic Stage 1
Following studies in: Neuroscience, Vision, Behaviour, Endocrinology, Nutrition, Gastroenterology

Teaching period 2 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP2021 Basic and Clinical Sciences 4	10	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2022 Patient and Doctor 4	6	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2023 Community and Doctor 4	3	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2024 Personal and Professional Development 4	3	Academic Stage 1
GDMP2025 Option	2	Academic Stage 1
Following studies in: Renal Sciences, Reproduction, Sexual Health, Cancer Services, Palliative Care

Academic Stage 3 (Year 3)

Teaching period 1 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP3012 Basic and Clinical Sciences 5	12	Academic Stage 2
GDMP3013 Patient and Doctor 5	6	Academic Stage 2
GDMP3014 Community and Doctor 5	3	Academic Stage 2
GDMP3015 Personal and Professional Development 5	3	Academic Stage 2
Following integrated clinical attachments in: Medicine and surgery and related disciplines

Teaching period 2 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP3022 Basic and Clinical Sciences 6	12	Academic Stage 2
GDMP3023 Patient and Doctor 6	6	Academic Stage 2
GDMP3024 Community and Doctor 6	3	Academic Stage 2
GDMP3025 Personal and Professional Development 6	3	Academic Stage 2
Following integrated clinical attachments in: Medicine and surgery and related disciplines

Academic Stage 3 (Year 4)

Teaching period 1 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP4011 Child & Adolescent Health	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4012 Perinatal and Women's Health	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4013 Community	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4014 Psychological and Addiction Medicine	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP 4015 Elective Term	4	Academic Stage 3
Incorporating studies in: Basic and Clinical Sciences, Patient and Doctor, Community and Doctor, Personal and Professional Development

Teaching period 2 UoS code and name	Credit points	Assumed knowledge
GDMP4011 Child & Adolescent Health	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4012 Perinatal and Women's Health	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4013 Community	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4014 Psychological and Addiction Medicine	10	Academic Stage 3
GDMP4025 Pre-Internship Term	4	Academic Stage 3
Incorporating studies in: Basic and Clinical Sciences, Patient and Doctor, Community and Doctor, Personal and Professional Development

Note: Students in Year 4 are only enrolled in two of the four listed rotations in teaching periods 1 and 2.

3. Requirements for the pass degree

(1) Requirement for award of the degree

Total credit points required: 192
All prescribed units must be completed for award of the degree.

(2) Progression requirements

No candidate shall be permitted to enrol in any academic stage unless that candidate has satisfied all the requirements prescribed for the preceding stage. A candidate who has failed to satisfy the requirements for a particular academic stage, shall be required to repeat that stage and, in doing so, shall complete all prescribed units of study for that stage.

4. Honours degree

The degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery may be awarded with honours. As assessments within the University of Sydney Medical Program are ungraded, the honours degree is awarded without specification of a class.

The principles underlying the award of honours in the University of Sydney Medical Program (USydMP) include the following:

• The award of honours will not be based on ranked performance in summative assessments but on completion of an honours project.
• All students should be encouraged to meet the honours standard.
• Excessive extra work by students should not be required for the award of honours.

(1) Eligibility

(a) Participation in the honours program is voluntary.

(b) Students who are required to repeat any part of the USydMP course are ineligible for the award of honours, except in the case of attested misadventure or illness accepted by the faculty.

(c) Students who do not satisfactorily complete the Stage 2 Barrier, without remediation or supplementary, are not eligible for award of honours. Students may enrol in honours prior to the Stage 2 Barrier exam, but if they do not satisfactorily complete the Stage 2 Barrier, without remediation or supplementary, then they will no longer be eligible for honours. In this case they will be eligible for a research award.

(d) Students who fail their first attempt at a summative assessment, but who are judged satisfactory on re-assessment, and are not required to repeat part of the course, will not be excluded from the honours program providing that the relevant Examination Committee endorses certification by the assessors and the Theme Coordinator (and, if in Stage 3, the Rotation Coordinator) that the student's performance at re-assessment is of a standard that is sufficient for the student to continue as a candidate for honours.

(e) If a student subsequently fails another first attempt at a summative assessment (either in the same theme or another theme) during the USydMP but is judged satisfactory on re-assessment, and is not required to repeat part of the course, the student will be excluded from the honours program unless the relevant Examination Committee endorses certification by the assessors and the Theme Coordinator (and, if in Stage 3, the Rotation Coordinator) that the student’s performance at re-assessment is of a standard that is sufficient for the student to continue as a candidate for honours.

(2) Honours project

Honours projects must be approved by the faculty. Approval may be sought from the beginning of Block 4 in Stage 1 of the USydMP. The latest date to apply for approval for a project is the end of a student’s Integrated Clinical Attachment 2 (end of March) in the year during which Stage 3 of the USydMP is undertaken.

The project report (original plus two copies) must be submitted to the Medical Program Administration Unit by no later than 1 July of year four of the USydMP. Students are encouraged to submit as early as possible.

The honours project must address one or more of the themes of the USydMP (Basic and Clinical Science, Community and Doctor, Patient and Doctor and Personal and Professional Development). The student is required to identify an area of interest and seek an appropriate supervisor for the project. The project must address one theme as a principal focus. A wide variety of tasks are suitable for an honours project, including:

1. Participation in one aspect of an ongoing research project and a survey and analysis of results obtained.
2. A critical writing review of a research or clinical topic.
3. Participation in special patient clinics and review of ancillary basic and/or clinical science data.
4. Development and evaluation of educational materials, evaluation tools or analyses of educational issues.

(3) Project proposal

Once an area of interest and a potential topic has been selected, the student should prepare a 1200–1500 word proposal. The proposal application form and guidelines for preparing the application are available from the USydMP Website or from the Medical Program Administration Unit. The following sections should be included in the proposal:

1. Project title, supervisor and location where the project will be done.
2. Aims – Describe the aims of the project including a clear statement of the hypothesis to be tested.
3. Background – Provide a brief review of progress in the field of research. Include reference to relevant publications.
4. Research plan – Describe the experimental design techniques to be used and methods of statistical analysis.
5. Timeline – Provide a draft timeline with details of when the various phases of your research will be carried out.
6. References – Include a list of all references cited in the application (references are not included in the word limit).

(4) Supervision of the project

Students can have more than one supervisor if required. At least one supervisor must have a University of Sydney appointment. A supervisor is required to undertake regular reviews of a student's progress in the project. A supervisor will be required to nominate two appropriate examiners for the project and will also serve as an examiner.

A student experiencing major difficulties beyond his/her control with either the supervision or execution of the project, may appeal directly to the Chair of the USydMP Honours Committee for resolution of the difficulties.

(5) Review of progress

The Medical Program Administration Unit will issue progress report forms to all honours students six months after enrolment in the program. For students who enrol in honours at the end of Stage 1, progress will be reviewed six months and 18 months after enrolling. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all parties complete the progress report before submission to the Medical Program Administration Unit. Students who fail to complete and return the report may be asked to show cause as to why they should be allowed to continue in the honours program.

For USydMP honours students, the 6 month progress report form and review process are mechanisms whereby the faculty can be assured that satisfactory progress is being made. It should not be the first point at which a supervisor and candidate discover there is a problem and identification of difficulties on the form will not in itself resolve them. However, the report form is the place to put on record any difficulties which may or may not have been unavoidable including, for example periods of personal illness or misadventure. The report form should also be an instrument for advising the faculty that the student's performance has been satisfactory from the supervisor's point of view.

Following review of this report by your clinical school's honours coordinator you will be asked to attend a 10-15 minute interview to discuss your progress. On the basis of the evidence provided in the report form and the interview, the honours coordinator recommends to the faculty the conditions of candidature to apply for the remaining duration of enrolment in honours. The Chair of the USydMP Honours Committee then either (i) approves the progress based on the evidence provided or (ii) may require the candidate or supervisor to provide further evidence of progress or the provision of satisfactory resources after an appropriate period.

(6) Final report

The final honours report should not be more than 10,000 words. It should include or represent a piece of work that is of a potentially publishable standard. It should also include a review of the methods used in the project and the findings of the project against what is already known in the field. The critical review should include suggestions for further study which might advance the field and which could in turn entail, where appropriate, an examination of the wider implications of the findings for community and individual health concerns. It is of course possible that the project report can be presented in a format (such as a submitted paper) that is briefer than 10,000 words. Similarly, if the project is presented in other than written format, e.g a web-based project, it should represent a similar amount of work. Experienced supervisors/examiners will naturally exercise their discretion in this matter. The final report should clearly identify the student's intellectual input into the work. Considerable flexibility in the final major theme reporting is encouraged, but examples might include:

• A written report of approximately 10,000 words, including a critical review of methods used in the project and the findings of the project against what is already known in the field.

• A draft of a paper that will be submitted for publication. If jointly authored the student must be either first or last author and have written the majority of the paper. A letter from the supervisor explaining the student's contribution to obtaining the data and to writing the paper must be included. A covering letter should explain the theme goal addressed.

• A Web document or CD-ROM. A covering letter should explain the theme goal addressed.

The student submits three copies of the honours report together with a compliance statement direct to the Medical Program Administration Unit which will then distribute one copy of the report to each of the three nominated examiners (including the supervisor). If emendations are required the Medical Program Administration Unit will provide the student with information about this process.

All students should be familiar with the University of Sydney Plagiarism Policy, which was updated on 12 April, 2005. Extensions will only be given in cases of illness or misadventure. If a candidate’s supervisor is absent for an extended period of time it is the student's responsibility to find a temporary supervisor if necessary. A rural placement is also not a valid reason for requesting an extension.

(7) Assessment of the project

Each project report will be assessed by three examiners. One of the assessors will be the project supervisor. The examiners will have the task of determining whether or not the report is of a sufficient standard to merit the award of honours. The criteria for assessment will include the following:

• Did the submitted project address the original goals of the project proposal?

• Did the project adequately address relevant aspects of the nominated theme?

• Does the project represent a sufficient body of work given the time available to the student?

• Were the progress reports satisfactory?

• Is the final submitted project work of satisfactory standard?

The examiners will be asked to grade each project. The grading will be criterion-referenced, using the following categories:

• Award of honours without further examination
• Award of honours subject to typographical corrections/minor emendations
• Requires revision and re-examination
• Unsatisfactory for the award of honours.

The examiners will be required to provide a written critique to the student. Any minor emendations required should be completed no later than one month after the critique is made available to the student. Revisions required before re-submission should be completed within a period of three months from the time of the project's assessment. No further extensions of time will be allowed. In cases whether the examiners disagree significantly concerning the grade to award a project report, the honours committee will review the report and the examiners grades and re-grade the report.

A student has the right of appeal against the assessment of the honours project. The grounds for appeal shall include difficulty with:

• supervision
• unforeseen circumstances affecting the execution of the project, or
• major disagreement with the assessment grading by the student and his/her supervisor.

The appeal should be lodged with the Manager, Medical Program Administration Unit in writing within one week of notification of the results. Appeals will be considered by a committee appointed by the dean and comprising the Chair of the USyd Honours Committee and two other academic staff members who have not been involved in the supervision or assessment of the project, one from a discipline relevant to the project, and the other from another discipline.