Entering into health science courses after a B.Sc

[nerdgasm]

Hi everyone, I will be in my third and final year of a Bachelor of Science at Monash University in 2014. As such, I was considering applying into some courses in the health science areas for further study. If anybody has any information on these questions, I'd be really grateful for it. I've tried to look through the various threads here, so apologies if I ask a question that has already been answered.

I've tried to order the questions by course/degree, and obviously I'll contact the relevant university faculties for more information but anyways:

UoM Postgrad Dentistry
As far as I understand it, one applies through GEMSAS (the same people who run postgrad Medicine and UoM Optometry), admission is based on GPA + GAMSAT (and having passed prereq subjects). Would I be right in saying that only your first semester of 3rd year counts for receiving a complete offer, or would you get a conditional offer that takes into account your first semester, but ultimately still requires you to maintain a certain GPA for the second semester of third year?

Also, since there doesn't appear to be the ARTS (results retrieval system) for Dentistry, would I have to send my academic transcript (which would have only results from my first two years) when I apply, then send my new academic transcript (with Sem 1 3rd year results) to the stated postal address afterwards?

Also, the UoM website for Dentistry states that all enrolled students must do a number of things, namely:

• Established their infectious or immune status regarding certain viruses, including Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
• Obtain an appropriate First Aid Certificate within the first 4 weeks of Semester 1.
• Obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children check.

It seems that 3. will have to be done prior to the course starting. With respect to 1, am I likely to already have the required information (from childhood immunisation records etc.) to establish my immune status, or will I have to go and have my immunity tested from these sorts of conditions? For 2, is this something that is organised by the university, or is it something I'll have to do in my own time?

USyd Postgrad Dentistry
In order to meet their prerequisite requirements, I'll have to submit my academic transcript and subjects to them, for their "Qualifications Assessment Service". Currently I've done two units of 2nd year physiology, two of anatomy/developmental biology, and I've so far enrolled in one of biochemistry. The person I emailed said that this would be fine, (and it's certainly fine for UoM), but would anyone who has applied to USyd recommend that I take a second unit of biochemistry?

UoM Postgrad Optometry
Judging by ed_saifa's posts in Optometry admission =), it appears that one requires three 2nd or 3rd year subjects, two from the "Biological Sciences" category and one from the "Anatomy and Cell Biology" category. Unfortunately, the link he/she provided to this information is now removed, and it appears it has been replaced by http://graduate.science.unimelb.edu.au/doctor-of-optometry-entry-requirements. This new link doesn't say how many subjects from each category are required to meet the prerequisites. Does anyone know if it's still 2 from Biological Sciences and 1 from Anatomy and Cell Biology?

Deakin Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry
I'm guessing that since the vast majority of the subjects I took in my B.Sc are not similar to ones covered in the Bachelor of Vision Science, if I were to apply for this course, I would apply as a non-Year 12 through VTAC (and hence have to meet all the conditions imposed on non-Year 12 applicants) for the Bachelor of Vision Science, and just see if I can claim any prior credit from my studies at Monash?

Monash Pharmacy
I take it there are currently two ways I can enter this course after I graduate - through the specially designed program for people who have completed a bachelor degree in a biological field (with the intensive summer bridging program) which means I start in 3rd year, or if I don't meet those requirements, by simply applying through VTAC as a non-Year 12 student (and filling in the Personal Application form, along with any other requirements)? For the latter pathway, is it worth submitting multiple forms for assessment of previous credit, or would that just be a large waste of time and money?

RMIT Pharmacy, La Trobe Pharmacy
Same deal as above, I would apply through VTAC as a non-Year 12 applicant, fill out all the necessary paperwork etc.?

General Miscellaneous
Most, if not all unis in Australia have English-language requirements for acceptance into courses. Will I have to get some sort of statement from Monash to show that the primary teaching language of my course is in English, or is it more likely that whoever runs the admissions process will just say, "Yep, applying from Monash, meets English requirements, done and done"?

Just to be absolutely sure, as of 2012 (and hence in effect now), there is no limit to the amount of money or time that can be covered by HECS-HELP? Also, there is a limit to FEE-HELP (of around $116k), and if my course fees go over that, I have to pay the excess?

Finally, is it perfectly fine for me to apply for an undergraduate-level course, even if I've already finished an undergraduate course? I'm assuming so, but just in case there is some sort of regulation I'm not aware of, it'd be best to find out now.

[simpak]

I can only really answer General Miscellaneous!
1.  As long as you got like 25 or whatever in VCE level English that's usually the language requirement (it was when I was applying for stuff on forms you just select from a dropdown list if an online form I'm pretty sure you would have needed that to get in to Monash but I didn't apply for Monash Sci so NOT ENTIRELY SURE)
2.  There is no limit!  And yes you have to pay excess for FEE-HELP but you can kind of choose how you do it ie you could be like 'I will put three subjects this semester on FEE-HELP and pay for one' rather than just put it all on and then pay a large chunk at the end when you've exhausted the limit.
3.  Yes you can apply no worriez although I would probably personally not...a friend of mine finished BBmed at Melb and did Honours then decided to do Pharmacy but went to USyd to do a Masters in Pharmacy instead of the Bachelor at Monash if you're willing to move for something other than Dent you could consider that?

Some other HELPFUL hints:
- For the Deakin Optom cross-credit question your best bet is to ask in advance (eg now) just be like 'how many subjects could I get credit for?' in an email to their student centre or something and see if they will tell you...they might ceebs since you're not enrolled but it's worth a shot.
- Unless you've previously been tested for HepC I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have immune status for that and you'd have to get tested because there is no vaccine for HepC, similarly you would need to be tested for HIV as I don't see how childhood immunisation records could help you for that virus either!
...I believe they also expect you to get one more booster for HepB (or test your seroconversion) but I might be wrong?
- For your question about offers presuming that this is the same as med you get an offer based on your semester 1 GPA and it is conditional on you 'maintaining an average' for your second semester but like...some of my friends got like 66 in their second semester third year subjects and I highly doubt anyone is going to revoke their Med offer.  I would just say focus on passing or doing like 'good' standard.

[Tomw2]

UoM Postgrad Dentistry
As far as I understand it, one applies through GEMSAS (the same people who run postgrad Medicine and UoM Optometry), admission is based on GPA + GAMSAT (and having passed prereq subjects).

Correct.

Would I be right in saying that only your first semester of 3rd year counts for receiving a complete offer, or would you get a conditional offer that takes into account your first semester, but ultimately still requires you to maintain a certain GPA for the second semester of third year?

The latter.

Also, since there doesn't appear to be the ARTS (results retrieval system) for Dentistry, would I have to send my academic transcript (which would have only results from my first two years) when I apply, then send my new academic transcript (with Sem 1 3rd year results) to the stated postal address afterwards?

That is how it worked when I applied in 2011 for 2012 entry. I assume it is still the same.

Also, the UoM website for Dentistry states that all enrolled students must do a number of things, namely:

• Established their infectious or immune status regarding certain viruses, including Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
• Obtain an appropriate First Aid Certificate within the first 4 weeks of Semester 1.
• Obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children check.

It seems that 3. will have to be done prior to the course starting. With respect to 1, am I likely to already have the required information (from childhood immunisation records etc.) to establish my immune status, or will I have to go and have my immunity tested from these sorts of conditions? For 2, is this something that is organised by the university, or is it something I'll have to do in my own time?

All of this is best done after orientation - where they give you specific lists of stuff you need to do. They give you several weeks to get this done from the beginning of the year and are *reasonably* flexible as to when.

Just to be absolutely sure, as of 2012 (and hence in effect now), there is no limit to the amount of money or time that can be covered by HECS-HELP? Also, there is a limit to FEE-HELP (of around $116k), and if my course fees go over that, I have to pay the excess?

That is correct. No cap on CSP-HELP in terms of years or amount, but FEE-HELP is capped at ~$116. If you exhaust your FEE-HELP you are liable for fees - at UoM, the cost for DDS domestic full fee place is ~$238k and therefore FEE-HELP would cover under half of it.

Finally, is it perfectly fine for me to apply for an undergraduate-level course, even if I've already finished an undergraduate course? I'm assuming so, but just in case there is some sort of regulation I'm not aware of, it'd be best to find out now.

Yes it is, with only a few exceptions. These exceptions tend to relate more to quotas for non-year 12 applicants. Some specifically prohibit non-year 12 entry or admission to those who have completed any tertiary study - e.g. in the case of Monash undergrad medicine, those with any tertiary study cannot apply.

[nerdgasm]

Thank you both so much for your replies!

Simpak, I think my course has an English prerequisite of at least 30 (at least it was that when I applied), so hopefully I'm covered in that regard. Thank you for your explanation on immune status - my knowledge on this is really quite poor as the last time I remember having immunisations was some time in high school; previously my parents kinda forgot to get me immunised as a toddler, and I only received the 'toddler immunisations' when I was around 9!

Tomw2, thank you for checking over my queries for UoM Dentistry! All of this has been quite reassuring to me. Just as a follow up question, seeing as one gets a "conditional" offer that is dependent on Semester 2 results of third year, does this mean that eventually, I will have to send a THIRD academic transcript to them (that now includes all results from my three years of study)?

[Tomw2]

Tomw2, thank you for checking over my queries for UoM Dentistry! All of this has been quite reassuring to me. Just as a follow up question, seeing as one gets a "conditional" offer that is dependent on Semester 2 results of third year, does this mean that eventually, I will have to send a THIRD academic transcript to them (that now includes all results from my three years of study)?

During my admission, that is what I had to do. For the last transcript, I just took it in to the dental school office and they photocopied and certified it there. They may be doing things different now.l