Handbook

Courses / qualifications may not be offered in all locations and modes each year.  For more information on Mode of Delivery, visit Mode definitions

The course is designed to provide a high standard of academic, clinical and professional medical training to provide graduates with the skills necessary to take up positions as hospital interns and thereby qualify for medical registration in Australia.

At the same time, the course fosters autonomous learning and provides a foundation of knowledge and skills in preparation for diverse career choices after graduation.

The MD aims to:

• Integrate basic science and clinical disciplines and recognise the importance of exposure to the principles, practice and findings of medical research
• Provide a structured approach to the acquisition of clinical skills and competencies through laboratory and simulated learning and early patient contact made possible by the physical location of the School within the Flinders Medical Centre and the integration of patient care teaching and research in that environment
• Give students the opportunity to undertake clinical learning in diverse hospital and community environments in Adelaide, country South Australia, western Victoria and the Northern Territory
• Recognise the importance of basing medical practice on a social and community view of health and illness
• Support the advocacy of patient care and service as a central focus in medical practice
• Ensure students gain an understanding of the professional roles and responsibilities of doctors and experience in group learning and developing collegial relationships

Failure to complete the course within six consecutive years, may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress. Where credit has been granted a lesser period to complete the course may be set by the Dean (Education). 

A student must complete 72 units within the first three years, and the final 72 units within the remaining time. Students can take a maximum of four semesters of approved leave during the medical program. Periods of approved leave will be counted in the calculation of the maximum time allowed in the medical program (time limit). Students who undertake a leave of absence from fulltime study in the course, for a period of 6 months or more, due to approved leave or non progression, may be required to successfully complete an additional Clinical Practice Preparedness topic (4.5 units) as part of their Program of Study, for each period of leave taken.

Students who undertake the MD-PhD pathway will be required to take extended leave of absence from the MD component of studies for up to four years in order to complete their PhD. These students will be required to successfully complete an additional Clinical Practice Preparedness topic (4.5 units) before recommencing the MD component of their studies. 

Any such application for leave of absence from the MD course must be approved by the Dean (Education).

Students are required to register with the Medical Board of Australia as a condition of their enrolment in the course. A student whose registration is suspended will not be permitted to continue in the course until such time as their suspension is lifted. The student's re-enrolment may be subject to conditions imposed by either the Medical Board of Australia or the Dean (Education).

A student who at any time withdraws from, is precluded from, or fails to re-enrol in the MD shall be permitted to re-enrol in the course only with the prior approval of the Dean (Education).

Failure of a single topic (supertopic – 18 units) will identify the student as experiencing difficulty progressing in the medical program and will initiate a Student Progress process.