[UMelb] Doctor of Medicine selection requirements for 2011

[Tomw2]

Is medical science similar to biomed undergrad?

When I said medical science, I meant any medical science discipline. E.g. anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, and developmental biology are the basic medical sciences.

In terms of Bachelor of medical science degrees - of which there are a couple (USyd being one), they are very similar to most biomed curricula. Some put more research into the program. Overall it's the same.

from what im told from the previous MBBS kids and current MD kids, biomed is pretty much the preclinical years of med (obviously not identical)

There are some similarities in content in terms of the scope of medical science content, but it is learned in a different way, in a different context. At Melb it even goes as far to see similar lecture content, but the volume, level of detail and assessment makes it quite different.

[Jenny_2108]

What do you think if I study undergrad in other uni like ANU or Syd Uni and apply MD at UoM? Do they prefer Mel uni students over other uni?
How about medical science undergrad at Bond Uni?
I know its a private uni but the quality of teaching and facilities are 5 stars and the course finishes earlier (only 2 yrs) while other uni is 3 yrs.
Do they accept students from private uni?
And if we start working in 1,2 years like a medical laboratory scientist, then do GAMSAT (because GAMSAT is only valid for 2 yrs), is it possible to do MD afterthat?
Sorry about too many questions but I really wanna know
Thanks in advance!

[Tomw2]

Do they prefer Mel uni students over other uni?

No, the admissions process leading up to interview offers is purely mathematical. Just make sure that you satisfy the prerequisite 2nd year units (see http://sc.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/prerequisites for details)

How about medical science undergrad at Bond Uni?
I know its a private uni but the quality of teaching and facilities are 5 stars and the course finishes earlier (only 2 yrs) while other uni is 3 yrs.

So long as it is a degree from a TESQA-accredited university, then they will accept it. Bond is perfectly sufficient for a pre-med education, granted not the best bang-for-buck IMO.

The only issue with 2-year accelerated degrees is that you are not eligible to apply for graduate medicine in the GEMSAS system until you have fully completed the degree and have received all your results - unlike 3 year degrees where you can apply before you have received your final semesters grades.

And if we start working in 1,2 years like a medical laboratory scientist, then do GAMSAT (because GAMSAT is only valid for 2 yrs), is it possible to do MD afterthat?

So long as you have a valid GAMSAT and a degree finished within the last 10 years there is never any problem applying.

[Jenny_2108]

How about medical science undergrad at Bond Uni?
I know its a private uni but the quality of teaching and facilities are 5 stars and the course finishes earlier (only 2 yrs) while other uni is 3 yrs.

The only issue with 2-year accelerated degrees is that you are not eligible to apply for graduate medicine in the GEMSAS system until you have fully completed the degree and have received all your results - unlike 3 year degrees where you can apply before you have received your final semesters grades.

They have 2 years but actually 3 semesters/yr and it starts from Jan (other uni is March) so it covers the same things as the normal uni. Is it considered as "fully completed the degree"?

[Tomw2]

They have 2 years but actually 3 semesters/yr and it starts from Jan (other uni is March) so it covers the same things as the normal uni. Is it considered as "fully completed the degree"?

I'm not sure you understand what I meant. Let me explain it another way.

Applications for medicine open in May each year. Most university students receive their final results for the year in early December for a standard semester or late Jan/early Feb for summer semesters or 3rd trimesters.

If you are completing a 3-year undergraduate degree, you can apply for medicine via GEMSAS in early may of your final year - that is, when you still have another semester to go. They collect your outstanding results at the end of the year to confirm your offer.

If you are completing a 2-year accelerated degree, you are not eligible to apply until you have completely finished and received results for all units - which falls outside the cut-off date for applications. This effectively means you cannot apply until May the following year.

So therefore, if one person starts a 3-year degree and another starts a 2 year accelerated degree at the same time, both would be eligible to apply for medicine at the same time. Doing a 2 year degree doesn't save any time in this regard.

[Jenny_2108]

^ I got it now.
I thought finishing the course earlier will be advantages. Thanks so so much for this useful info.
So we need to apply med postgrad via GEMSAS, not directly to the uni?

[Tomw2]

Thanks so so much for this useful info.

You're welcome, hope it all helps.

So we need to apply med postgrad via GEMSAS, not directly to the uni?

For graduate medicine, yes. With the exception of the University of Sydney, all grad med applications are through GEMSAS.

[Jenny_2108]

thanks a lot!!!
If you didn't help me, probably I will go to the wrong track next year

[rery]

Hi tomw2, can you apply in the final year of your undergraduate degree if you overloaded to finish in two years?

[Hancock]

See about 2 posts above for the answer rery.