Bachelor
The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] consists of three major streams reflecting the core elements of medical practice:
1. Scientific Basis of Medicine
2. Clinical Practice
3. Medical Professional and Personal Development
A major emphasis is placed on professionalism, communication and clinical reasoning, as well as the practise of evidence-based and preventative medicine. Small-group Case-Based Learning (CBL) is the dominant learning mode during the early years of the curriculum. Lectures in the medical disciplines such as pathology, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology are carefully staged throughout the clinical cases of the most commonly encountered and socially significant diseases.
In Year 1, students will also undertake two semesters of Fundamentals of Biomedical Science, a course specifically designed for medical students. The Clinical Skills and Medical Professional and Personal Development courses begin in week one and assist students to acquire the skills required for effective clinical practice. The clinical practice tutorials in Years 1 and 2 are led by senior clinicians in a state-of-the-art clinical skills facility.
In Year 3, clinical skills training is conducted primarily in the public teaching hospitals. Students will then bring this core learning to their clinical placements in Years 4-6. These placements will be held in a wide range of organisations, including public teaching hospitals and the broader medical and health community. There are some clinical placements that all students must take, but there are also opportunities for students to choose from a range of electives. Some students will be able to undertake Year 5 in a rural setting. Year 6 is focused on what students need to know for their internship. The major exam is conducted at the end of Year 5, and with the pressure of exams reduced, final year students can focus on their clinical practice and professional development.