Doctor of Medicine

The Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a five-year undergraduate program offered by Western Sydney University.

The course is structured around problem-based learning. The first two years of learning focus on the basic sciences (pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, population health and biochemistry), clinical skills and evidence-based medicine. An e-portfolio commences in the first year and runs through all five years of the course.

Clinical learning begins in the first weeks of this highly practical course. In your third, fourth and fifth years you’ll extend your professional skills through full-time clinical and community placements covering the broad range of general, specialist medical and inter-professional training. This will include surgery, medicine, critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, general practice and medicine in context rotations.

Every student in the Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is required to undertake an individual research project. Projects are selected during the second part of Year 2, to be completed over Years 3, 4 and 5.

Medicine is a physically and mentally challenging profession in which practitioners are often required to put the interests of their patients above their own. You must be prepared to commit to a lifetime of service and continuous learning.

While medical education will provide candidates with the foundation of knowledge, attitude, skills and behaviours required to practise medicine, it is recognised that there are certain inherent requirements that are necessary to progress through the curriculum and ultimately receive the Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine (MD). Review the inherent requirement statements for Medicine and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.

Areas of study

Clinical medical and surgical specialties, health in the community, hospital-based medicine, medical sciences, mental health, patient care, population health, research and medicine in context, women’s and children’s health.

Career opportunities

Medical practice, public health, medical education and research. Most medical graduates undertake at least several years of postgraduate vocational training before starting independent practice in their chosen area.

Professional recognition

Graduates will be eligible for registration by the Medical Board of Australia and its equivalent in New Zealand. Following successful completion of a period of accredited internship training, general registration as a medical practitioner can be approved.

An internship of one year (completed after five years of University study) is a requirement of registration as a medical practitioner in Australia. Internships are organised by the Health Education and Training Institute for internship positions in NSW.

All students must ensure they meet the Medical Board of Australia English language skills for initial registration. For further details regarding English language proficiency refer to the Medical Board of Australia Registration Standards: English Language Skills.

Practical experience

Patient contact and clinical learning begins in the first weeks and continues throughout the program. In Years 3, 4 and 5 you will rotate through clinical placements. You may be required to undertake these placements at locations away from your enrolment location and in NSW Health facilities. You will be subject to NSW Health policies and procedures.

You will be responsible for all travel and other expenses during placements that are away from your enrolment location.

During the clinical years, some students enrolled at Western Sydney University may be required to spend several clinical rotations in rural settings outside the Sydney metropolitan area. As a requirement of funding from the Department of Health, approximately 25% of students will have the opportunity to undertake 12 months of study at one of our rural clinical schools, based at Bathurst and Lismore, where subsidised accommodation is available. In the event of there being a shortfall of students volunteering to undertake such rural placements, the School will conduct a ballot to determine which students will undertake those placements.

An internship of one year (completed after five years of University study) is a requirement of registration as a medical practitioner in Australia. Internships are organised by the Health Education and Training Institute for internship positions in NSW.