B-MBBS v.1 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

Bachelor Degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications.

The Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree available at Curtin Medical School is a five-year undergraduate course. The overall aim of the Curtin Medical School is to graduate doctors who are competent and ready to practice safely and effectively, with care and compassion for patients and their families. Curtin Medical School graduates will have a strong foundation for further medical training and lifelong learning. Throughout the course, students will develop: an understanding of medical and scientific knowledge; communication and clinical skills; skills as a health advocate; an awareness of ethical and professional responsibilities to patients; and strategies to cope with the challenges of medicine. Graduates of the course will be well prepared to begin an internship and pursue further medical training in specialty fields.

Professional Recognition

Curtin will work with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency to ensure all student registrations are completed with the Medical Board of Australia after enrolment. After graduation and before being admitted to full registration as a medical practitioner in Australia, graduates receive provisional registration. Graduates will enter the workforce as an intern and must serve at least 12 months in an approved hospital.

Course Accreditation Status

This course is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other essential study materials. In addition to the usual course expenses, students undertaking this course will be required to purchase a laboratory coat and stethoscope. They may also incur some expenses to ensure that they have completed all necessary immunisations, screenings and clearances. Extended placements in outer metropolitan and rural placements may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses.

Bachelor Degrees typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors, streams and/or minors for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study.

In the first year of the course, Curtin Medical School students undertake units alongside other health sciences students as well as units specifically for medical students. In the early years of the course, the curriculum focus is upon building a solid foundation of scientific knowledge related to biological, clinical, epidemiological, social, and behavioural sciences. The early years also focus on developing communication skills and clinical skills. In addition, Curtin Medical School students are introduced to medicine in rural and remote settings, and legal and ethical aspects related to the practice of medicine. Throughout the course, students develop knowledge of the human body in health and disease, and an understanding about how this knowledge is applied in clinical practice. In the latter years of the course, Curtin Medical School students will experience clinical placements in a variety of healthcare environments including GP practices and hospitals. Students will gain experience in rural and/or remote healthcare. The Curtin Medical School curriculum emphasises four themes of learning, which continue through the medical course. Scientific Foundations of Medicine: knowledge of the biological, clinical, epidemiological, social and behavioural sciences underpinning medicine and clinical practice, and evidence-based practice. Patient and Doctor: Clinical Practice: the clinical, procedural, and communication skills essential for clinical practice. Health and Illness in Society: knowledge of health systems, and the cultural, socio-economic and physical environment factors that contribute to health, illness, disease and treatment of populations. Professional and Personal Development: commitment to professional values and high quality clinical practice, including ethics, law and working as a member of an inter-professional health care team; and understanding of the importance of maintaining personal wellbeing. The course requires all students to participate in clinical skills sessions during which they will practice history taking and examination skills on each other (Peer Physical Examination). Peer examination is an essential learning strategy in medicine. Students will be expected to wear appropriate clothing and to occasionally partially disrobe to act as a subject or simulated patient for their peers.

Course Learning Outcomes

A graduate of this course can:

1. apply an understanding of normal development, disorders and diseases, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and scientific methods to the practice of medicine

2. interpret clinical information to assess health status, formulate and explain a diagnosis, prioritise treatment based on effectiveness, provide management in consultation with the patient and carer/s, and reflect critically on health outcomes

3. locate, critically evaluate and interpret evidence to inform clinical decision-making and clinical practice, and to improve the quality of health care, and health care systems

4. communicate in different ways to: maintain interpersonal doctor/patient and inter-professional team relationships; ensure shared decision making in health outcomes; engage in health advocacy; and, advance health outcomes

5. use appropriate technologies effectively in clinical practice and recognise the role of technology in advancing scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice

6. discuss knowledge with colleagues, reflect on clinical practice, and plan on-going personal and professional development needs for self and others

7. apply relevant internationally recognised evidence-based standards and practices in medicine, and evaluate the impact of global health on health and health care delivery in Australia

8. demonstrate cultural competence with individuals, families and communities, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and account for the impact of culture on health and illness, including how one’s own beliefs, attitudes and practices can influence interactions with patients, carers and the wider community

9. practice medicine in a professional and safe manner by: adhering to legal responsibilities and ethical principles; working effectively in health care teams; showing leadership; demonstrating a commitment to easing pain and suffering; promoting health and advocating for patients and their families

Duration and Availability

The course will be undertaken as a full time course over a period of 5 years. In Year 1 students will enrol in semester 1 and 2 study periods for common core and shared units. Other units will be undertaken as full-year units over a longer study period.

Location and delivery Mode

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2

YEAR 2 MEDICAL SCHOOL YEAR 2

YEAR 3 MEDICAL SCHOOL YEAR 3

YEAR 4 STUDY PERIOD 1

YEAR 5 STUDY PERIOD 1

* NOTE: The MBBS course requires students complete a Working with Children check. The Working with Children check is required for Years 2-5 of MBBS, units Medicine 2 through to Medicine 5.

Applicants for a Bachelor Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au and include flexible entry pathways. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.

Essential

Chemistry ATAR, or equivalent. Applicants are required to successfully complete a First Aid Certificate (including CPR) or equivalent by the completion of the first semester of the course. Students are also required to obtain criminal record history clearance, Working with Children Check as well as relevant immunisations and health screening. Applicants for this course should refer to the Faculty of Health Sciences website for more information on Communicable Diseases and Clearances: healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/studying-health-sciences/fieldwork Demonstrate an academic score based on a minimum ATAR of 95 or equivalent year 12 studies (including bonus point schemes such as Curtin StepUp for rural, socioeconomic disadvantage and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students). Undertake the University Clinical Aptitude Test Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ). Indigenous applicants are not required to sit the UCAT ANZ. Demonstrate qualifications satisfying Curtin Medical School's English entry requirements. For more information applicants should refer to the Curtin website: http://students.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/English_List.pdf Applicants using the IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) require a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0 (minimum band of 7.0) or equivalent.

Desirable

Study in one of the following Mathematics ATAR courses is desirable: Mathematics Applications, Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist, or equivalent.

Applicants for the Curtin University MBBS degree must be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens who have successfully completed year 12 with a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or an equivalent senior secondary qualification and have an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), or equivalent. Applicants will be required to meet the MBBS specific academic standards. Currently, international applicants are not eligible to apply. Applicants will be ranked based on the following categories: School leavers (predicted ATAR and UCAT) Non-school leavers (notional ATAR from previous tertiary studies and UCAT) Curtin course switchers (Course Weighted Average from current studies and UCAT). Top ranked applicants will be invited to attend a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). The interview process provides an opportunity for shortlisted applicants to demonstrate how they communicate, critically appraise information, and think about issues important to the medical profession. Applicants will be ranked and selected for offer based on their ATAR or equivalent, the UCAT score and the MMI score. Final selection will be made by this composite score. Applicants for this course should refer to the Curtin website for more information on specific admission requirements for Medicine. http://courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/admission-requirements/medicine.cfm

Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au

Students who have successfully completed common or shared units in the first year of another health sciences course at Curtin University and have been successful in their application to the medical course may be granted credit transfer for those units.

Intermediate Awards

A student who has successfully completed the requirements of an approved intermediate award may apply for graduation in that award subject to approval of Head of School/Department. Fees apply. Intermediate awards approved for this course:

B-HLTHST Bachelor of Science (Health Studies)

Specific Course Completion Details

The MBBS course from Years 2 – 5 has full-year units. If a student fails a full-year unit and is granted the opportunity to repeat it, the student must repeat the entire unit. That is, the student must repeat the whole year. There will be no partial credit given for successful completion of any assessment tasks and/or unit requirements during any previous attempt of the unit.