Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Abbreviation: MBBS
Course code: M3B
Course contact (faculty or school) (03) 6226 4757
Introductory comments
This on-campus full time course takes a minimum of 6 years to complete. After successful
completion of the first 4 years of the course, students are awarded the degree of Bachelor
of Medical Science (BMedSc). The first 4 years of the course are studied in Hobart. In years
5 and 6 students study in one of the 3 Clinical Schools located in Burnie, Launceston and
Hobart.
Admission & prerequisites
For entry in 2003 all domestic applicants must have obtained at least Satisfactory
Achievement awards in the following subjects of the Tasmanian Certificate of Education
(TCE) or its equivalent:
Biology (*BY826)
Chemistry (*CH856)
Mathematics (*MT841)
Physics (*PH866)
Without the prerequisite subjects applicants will not be considered for entry and should
not apply.
School leaver applicants should have obtained a minimum Interstate Transfer Index (ITI)
of 97, as calculated from their scores in the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) or
equivalent. The subjects used to calculate a Tertiary Entrance Score must be obtained in
the first two years of post-Year 10 TCE (or equivalent) study. Applicants with an ITI of 97
or more will be ranked on their UMAT performance. Applicants must not have previously
commenced tertiary study.
Admission for non-school leaver applicants will be based on academic and UMAT
performance together with evidence of capacity to successfully complete the course.
Maturity, experience and motivation will also be taken into consideration. All applicants
must address the selection criteria for alternative entry admission as outlined in the
admission guide.
All domestic applicants will be required to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health
Sciences Admission Test (UMAT). UMAT consists of three tests that have been developed
and used specifically to assist in the selection of students into medicine and health science
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University of Tasmania Course and Unit Handbook –Course details for 2003
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Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
degree programs. UMAT is designed to assess general attributes and skills gained through
prior experience and learning: specifically, the acquisition of skills in critical thinking and
problem solving, interactions with others and abstract non-verbal reasoning. Ranking will
take into account performance in each of the individual sections of the UMAT.
From 2004 the prerequisites for entry to the MBBS for domestic students will be:
Satisfactory Achievement results in:
Year 12 TCE subject *CH856 Chemistry (or its equivalent)
Year 11/12 TCE subject *SC786 Physical Sciences (or its equivalent)
A sound background in Mathematics, such as that provided by Year 11 TCE subject
*MT640 B Mathematics Stage 1 (or its equivalent), is desirable.
Course objectives
The course is designed to provide an appropriate foundation, to give the graduate sound
clinical skills, a solid basic knowledge of Medicine and Medical Sciences, good
communication skills and the capacity to build on all of these in the intern year and
subsequently in specialist training. The graduate will have the knowledge and skills to
pursue the many career paths available in Medicine.
Career outcomes
The profession of Medicine offers a diverse range of career opportunities. On completion
of the MBBS, graduates work in an approved hospital undertaking general medical
training as an intern. Graduates can then choose to specialize in one of a number of fields
such as, anaesthesia, dermatology, obstetrics and gynaecology, geriatric medicine,
paediatrics, pathology, psychiatry, radiology and surgery. Medical practitioners may work
in private practice on their own, in group practices, in community health centres and in
public and private hospitals. Graduates may also become medical administrators in
hospitals or government departments, or medical academics and / or researchers involved
with teaching or medical research.
Course structure
Students begin medically relevant studies from the beginning of first year, with applied
anatomy as part of Integrated Structure and Function, an introduction to social aspects of
medicine (Community Health and Medicine) and an introduction to problem solving in
clinical medicine (Foundation Medical Studies), which looks at case studies based on real
patients. Early in the course students are presented with hands-on clinical case studies,
enabling students to develop a working knowledge of.the three teaching hospitals
connected to the School – the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Launceston General Hospital and
the North-West Regional Hospital at Burnie. Course information is tailored to cover the
latest and the most topical information including ethics, rural and Aboriginal health.
The second year builds on the first with Structure and Function – Clinical Correlations,
which includes medical physiology, pharmacology and medical anatomy approached on a
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Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
systems basis. Community Health and Medicine continues and students are given a
comprehensive coverage of biochemistry relevant to medicine.
In third year, students learn clinical skills and begin to study the clinical specialties
(surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and internal medicine) while continuing
their studies of the paraclinical subjects of pharmacology, neuroscience, pathology and
microbiology. Rural health teaching is a strength of the School, and in years 3 and 4
students spend time in one of the University’s rural teaching sites. The North-West Rural
Clinical School provides a specific focus on rural health.
The Advanced Study unit in fourth year offers students the opportunity to undertake
in-depth study in a chosen field of interest. These studies may be completed locally,
interstate or overseas giving students a wide range of opportunities to broaden their
horizons. A popular advanced study option is tropical and travel medicine. Advanced
study and research projects may be carried out anywhere in the world, if suitable
arrangements can be made.
The elective program at the end of fifth year offers further opportunity for travel. Students
spend time in clinical placements in an area of their choice at another institution, interstate
or overseas.
Years 5 and 6 are pre-intern years based around ward teaching in one of the clinical
schools. The School of Medicine has three clinical schools, the Launceston General
Hospital Clinical School, the North West Rural Clinical School and the Royal Hobart
Hospital Clinical School. Placements are also arranged with general practitioners in both
rural and urban settings.
Medical Certificate
All students who are selected for the MBBS course will be required to lodge a
medical/immunisation certificate in the form prescribed by the School of Medicine.
Successful applicants will be notified of the Schools immunisations policy and
requirements. A copy of the immunisation policy can be found on the School’s website.
Schedule
Unit title
campus offered
weight
unit code
H~1&2
H~2
H~1
H.1
H~2 L~1/2
50%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
CHG110
CAM100
CAM105
KMA153
H~1&2
H~2
H~1&2
42.5%
12.5%
20%
CHG210
CJA212
CBA200
Year 1
Integrated Structure and Function
Foundation Medical Studies
Community Health and Medicine 1
Elective chosen from other faculties
Data Handling and Statistics 1
Year 2
Structure and Function – Clinical Correlations
Pathological Basis of Disease 2
Biochemistry 2 (Medicine)
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University of Tasmania Course and Unit Handbook –Course details for 2003
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Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Community Health and Medicine 2
H~1&2
25%
CAM205
H~1
H~1
H~1
H~2
H~2
H~2
H~2
H~2
20%
12.5%
17.5%
10%
7.5%
12.5%
10%
10%
CAM320
CJA312
CAM300
CJA315
CJA325
CMM300
CAM310
CKA320
H~1
H~1
H~1
H~1
H~1
7.5%
10%
12.5%
10%
10%
CJA400
CJA410
CMM400
CAM410
CKA400
B~1&2
L~1&2
H~1&2
100%
100%
100%
CAM500
CAM504
CAM505
r H~1&2
25%
CMM600
r H~1&2 L~1&2
25%
25%
25%
CGC600
CMP600
CLA600
25%
25%
0%
CKA600
CKA650
CAM600
Year 3
Neuroscience
Pathological Basis of Disease 3
Introduction to Clinical Studies
Special Pathology 3
Clinical Microbiology 3
Medicine 3
Clinical Specialties
Surgery
Year 4
Clinical Microbiology 4
Special Pathology 4
Medicine 4
Clinical Specialties
Surgery
Students enrol in ONE of CAM400, CAM420 or CAM440
Year 5
Medicine Year 5 – NWRH Clinical School
Medicine Year 5 – LGH Clinical School
Medicine Year 5 - RHH Clinical School
Year 6 (Hbt)
Medicine 6
Either CGC600 or CMP600
Paediatrics and Child Health 6
Psychiatry 6
Community Health (General Practice)
r H~1&2 L~1&2
r H~1&2
Either CKA600 or CKA650
Surgery
Surgical Specialties
r H~1&2
Integrated Examination[b]
H~2
r H~1&2
[a]
All students at the end of the 5th year are required to undertake an elective program of about 6 weeks
duration in a discipline and at a place of their choice.
[b]
the full title of this OSCE unit is Integrated Examination, CPR and Well Woman Assessments
6th Year from 2004 onwards
Unit title
Medicine Year 6 – NWRH Clinical School
Medicine Year 6 – LGH Clinical School
Medicine Year 6 – RHH Clinical School
campus offered
[na]
[na]
[na]
weight
100%
100%
100%
unit code
CAM606
CAM604
CAM605
Note: The following information is NOT included in the printed edition of the Course and
Unit Handbook
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Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Additional Information
The following information answers some frequently asked questions.
Note, however, details should be confirmed with the appropriate authority
Responsible faculty or school | Faculty of Health Science
Campus(es) offered | Hobart | Students undertake years 5 and 6 of the course in one of
the three Clinical Schools, in Hobart, Launceston or Burnie
Mode of delivery| Full time
Course duration | 6 years minimum (12 semesters) | 8 years maximum (16 semesters)
Costs (course fees only – annual) | HECS: YES
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