Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine

The Monash medicine course is designed as an integrated curriculum, with units taught in an interdisciplinary fashion by staff from across the faculty and in a wide range of learning environments, both campus and clinical. The first year of study is largely campus-based, at the Monash University School of Rural Health co-located on the Gippsland campus of Federation University Australia with rural clinical and community placements. Interdisciplinary units introduce the basic medical and behavioural sciences of anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and psychology, together with sociology of health, clinical skills, ethics and medical law. After completion of the first year in the graduate program, you will progress into year three.Year three to five of the course are conducted in clinical settings, generally in hospitals and practices across metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria. You will spend around 40 hours per week working at a clinical site. This will provide you with time for self-directed study, and the time and opportunity to be in control of your own learning and to develop skills in problem-solving and the critical appraisal of information. Year five offers rotations through a number of clinical settings, such as aged care and emergency care, with the opportunity for a specialty selective placement.The course is accredited by the Australian Medical Council. After successfully completing the course, graduates become eligible for provisional registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia.  After serving a compulsory internship year of residence in an approved hospital, graduates become eligible for final registration in Victoria and other states of Australia. Graduates initially work as a doctor within the hospital system and can undertake further specialty training in a range of areas, such as general practice, obstetrics, paediatrics, psychiatry and surgery.You will also have the opportunity to take intermission from the course to undertake the honours year of the Bachelor of Medical Science (leading to the award of Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours)), and focus on an area of medical science research, before returning to complete the medicine course.Rural practiceAll students are encouraged to spend time in rural areas. In order for the University to meet the requirements of the Australian Government Rural Clinical Training and Support (RCTS) program, all students that hold a Commonwealth-supported place (CSP) are required to undertake a minimum of four weeks experience in rural areas. A cohort of students will be given the opportunity to spend up to two years in a rural site.FieldworkThis course requires you to undertake off-campus clinical placements. In the clinical settings you will apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. You must be aware of the faculty's Student Placement Guide. You will not be permitted to attend any clinical placements unless you have current valid Working with Children and Police checks, and have satisfactory immunisation status.[0101541]