Course overview
- Description
The Doctor of Podiatric Surgery (DPS) is a 5-year part-time postgraduate course for registered general podiatrists wishing to become podiatric surgeons. The course provides theoretical knowledge and clinical skills in podiatric surgery, as well as advanced research skills, beyond the entry-level podiatry degrees with the aim to produce graduates committed to the well-being of the patient, community and society as an accountable, responsible, lifelong learning, caring, safe and competent podiatric surgeon. The outcome, content and teaching conducted in this program are based on five domains to produce a: 1) podiatric surgeon, 2) professional and ethical practitioner, 3) communicator and collaborator, 4) lifelong learner and 5) quality and risk manager.
The structure and duration of the course has been careful planned as two streams, surgical and research streams, which run concurrently for the majority of the program. This is to ensure students are taught progressively with adequate time to consolidate surgical critical thinking skills, hands-on surgical skills and develop high-quality research skills.
The first year of the surgical coursework stream focuses on foundation topics such as body systems, pharmacology, foot and ankle pathology, interpretation of medical imaging as well as scheduled medicines and their use in podiatric surgery. The mode of delivery is predominantly online with lectures, tutorials and seminars. The research stream introduces the students to foundations in biostatics, qualitative methods and clinical epidemiology with aims to develop ideas for a research project.
In Year 2, under the surgical coursework stream, students undertake units that assist with their transition to the surgical learning environment. These units cover theoretical knowledge of surgical procedures, theatre etiquette, perioperative as well as therapeutic management of the patient. Learning is integrated with clinical workshops, early clinical experiences in live theatre as well as small group tutorials, lectures, laboratories and seminars. Transitioning from Year 2 to 3, students are on placements during the summer break to ensure clinical exposure is uninterrupted during their training. The research stream embarks the student on their research project whereby a thorough literature review, proposal and ethics application is produced.
Year 3, as part of the surgical coursework stream, students undertake placements in tertiary hospitals, surgical clinics and surgical theatres to develop their skills in communication, patient assessment, therapeutics, pre-operative workup, post-operative care as well as basic surgical skills and procedures. This is integrated with reflective logbooks, case studies, oral presentations, clinical workshops, lectures and seminars. Transitioning from Year 3 to 4, students are on placements during the summer break to ensure clinical exposure is uninterrupted during their training. The research stream is a continuation of the research project with elements of an ongoing research diary, oral presentation/s as well as abstract and preliminary article writing.
In Year 4, the surgical coursework stream is a continuation to develop and progress surgical skills and critical thinking. In addition to content taught prior, students continue to undertake placements focusing on patient selection, surgical procedure selection with reasoning, therapeutics, communication and intermediate surgical procedures. This too is integrated with reflective logbooks, case studies, oral presentations, clinical workshops, lectures and seminars. Transition from Year 4 to 5, students are on placements during the summer break to ensure clinical exposure is uninterrupted during their training. The research stream comes to an end midway through Year 4, whereby students are expected to produce a high quality dissertation.
The final year of study solely focuses on the surgical coursework stream. As students are becoming high critical thinkers by this stage, building on the skills taught previously, the program focuses on developing skills in complex patient management, the deteriorating patient, post-operative complications, therapeutics and advanced surgical procedures. Although the research stream finishes in Year 4, the student is encouraged to publish their research in a relevant high quality journal.
- Course title
- Doctor of Podiatric Surgery
- Award abbreviation
- DPS
- Course code
- 91830
- Course type
- Clinical master's degree
- Status
- Current / 2024
- Administered by
- Allied Health
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year only
- Attendance type
- Part-time only
- Credit points required
- 144
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 5 years Part-time
- Time limit
- 7 years
- Delivery mode
- Multi-mode
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Not available to international students on student visas. Available to international students on other visas if visa conditions allow (see https://www.immi.gov.au). For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Burke Hugo
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Take all units (30 points):
Note: Students must complete all prerequisite requirements of all units in this Group.
Group A
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
NS | PODI5500 | Essential Licenses and Certifications (0 points) | As determined by training provider | |
NS | PODI5511 | Foundations of Podiatric Surgery 1 |
| Lecture: 2hours / week for duration of semester Tutorial/Seminar: 2hours / week for duration of semester Placements/Clinic: 2hours / week for duration of semester |
NS | PODI5512 | Foundations of Podiatric Surgery 2 | Lecture: 2hours / week for duration of semester Tutorial/Seminar: 2hours / week for duration of semester Placements/Clinic: 2hours / week for duration of semester | |
NS | PODI5513 | Concepts of Podiatric Surgery |
| Lecture: 2hours / week for duration of semester Tutorial/Seminar: 2hours / week for duration of semester Clinic/Placement: 2hours / week for duration of semester |
NS | PODI5514 | Podiatric Medicine Practicum |
| Clinical placement: Approx 90hrs/semester |
NS | PODI5515 | Introduction to Surgical Skills | Lecture: 1hours / week for duration of semester Placement+ laboratory combination: 7hours / week Seminars: 2hours/ fortnight for duration of semester |
Take all units (72 points):
Students must complete all prerequisite requirements of all units in this Group.
Group B
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
NS | PODI6531 | Surgical Practicum 1A |
| Clinical placement: ~100 hours / semester |
S1 | PODI6532 | Surgical Practicum 1B |
| Clinical placement: ~100 hours / semester |
NS | PODI6533 | Surgical Practicum 1C |
| Clinical placement: ~100 hours / semester |
NS | PODI6534 | Surgical Practicum 2A |
| Clinical placement: ~100 hours / semester |
N/A | PODI6535 | Surgical Practicum 2B |
| Clinical placement: ~100 hours / semester |
N/A | PODI6536 | Surgical Practicum 2C (12 points) |
| Clinical placement: ~200 hours / semester |
N/A | PODI6541 | Surgical Practicum 3A |
| Clinical placement: ~100 hours / semester |
N/A | PODI6542 | Surgical Practicum 3B (12 points) |
| Clinical placement: ~200 hours / semester |
N/A | PODI6543 | Surgical Practicum 3C (12 points) |
| Clinical placement: ~200 hours / semester |
Take all units (42 points):
Note: Students must complete all prerequisite requirements of all units in this Group C.
Group C
Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
NS | PODI6571 | Podiatric Research 1 | supervised research: offered intensively | |
NS | PODI6572 | Podiatric Research 2 | supervised research: offered intensively 15hours/week | |
S2 | PODI6573 | Podiatric Research 3 |
| supervised research: offered intensively 15hours/week |
N/A | PODI6574 | Podiatric Research 4 |
| supervised research: offered intensively 15hours/week |
S1, S2 | PUBH4401 | Biostatistics I |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
S1, S2 | PUBH4403 | Epidemiology I | None | lectures: 60-70 minutes recorded lectures per week; online tutorial worksheets: ~ 2-3 hours per week |
S2 | PUBH5805 | Qualitative Research Methods in Health | None | seminar: 3 hours per week |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have
(a) an entry to practice General Podiatry degree or equivalent recognised by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA);
and
(b) unrestricted current registration as a General Podiatrist in Australia*;
and
(c) at least two years of relevant professional experience outlined in a curriculum vitae, including a cover letter
* applicants must remain registered for the duration of the course
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on
(a) a structured interview in which eligible applicants will be assessed based on the attributes and background considered desirable in podiatric surgery;
and
(b) the intake quota for that year;
and
(c) a selection score determined by the interview score, curriculum vitae, and weighted average mark of the general podiatry degree
Articulations and exit awards
6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 144 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) The School of Allied Health, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, may assign a progress status of "On Probation" or "Excluded" to a student who does not make satisfactory progress under the progression rules.
(2) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, and except as set out in 10 (3), the School of Allied Health, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, will assign a progress status of "On Probation" to a student who is repeating a year and fails to make satisfactory progress under the progression rules.
(3)Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, the School of Allied Health, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, will assign a progress status of "Excluded" to a student who fails to make satisfactory progress under the progression rules in a year in which they have a progress status of "On probation".
(4) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, the School of Allied Health, on recommendation of the Board of Examiners, will assign a progress status of "Excluded" to a student who
a) Fails to make satisfactory progress under the progression rules and has previously repeated two years of the course; or
b) Fails to make satisfactory progress under the progression rules in the same year of the course for a second time.
(5) A student who is assigned a progress status of "Excluded" under 10.(4) (a) or (b) will not be permitted to re-enrol in the course.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants are not permitted to defer admission to this course and are expected to commence their course in the offered intake only. Approved leave is not available during the first academic year of this course. Applicants seeking admission to an alternative intake must submit a new application for that intake.
Additional rules
Time limit
14. The time limit is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the course.
[Approved exception to University Policy]
Enrolment
15. A student must enroll in units to the value of at least 6 points per semester in any year of enrolment.
Mode of Study
16. Students must enroll on a part-time basis and units selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Requirement to attend and complete prescribed work
17. Students must attend compulsory teaching and other sessions and do clinical and practical work as required at the University and at teaching hospitals and other institutions approved by the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Discipline (PMSD).
Incidental fees
18.(1) Students may incur incidental fees for travel and accommodation costs for certain rural and remote placement destinations as a part of the experiential learning component of this course.
(2) Other incidental fees included in this course are relating to:
a. School of Allied Health Infection control requirements: Upon entry and during their enrolment, students must comply with the School of Allied Health Infection Control Requirements as appended to the UWA Policies on Admission and Student Enrolment.
b. First Aid requirements: At the time of enrolment students must show first aid competence equivalent to assessment requirements for HLTAID003, valid for no more than three years with CPR component renewed annually.
c. National Police Clearance: At admission and annually during enrollments, students must provide a clear current Australian National Police Clearance or equivalent certification.
d. Working with Children Check (WCC); At admission and annually during enrollments, students must provide a current WCC clearance or equivalent certification.
(3) Other incidental fees for specific units are detailed in the relevant unit
Prerequisites
19.(1) Students must complete all prerequisite requirements of all units in Group A (core units).
(2) In order to progress to Group B Units, students must complete all units in Group A (core units in Doctor of Podiatric Surgery 91830).
(3) Students must complete all prerequisite requirements of all units in Group B (surgical practicum units).
(4) Students must complete all prerequisite requirements of all units in Group C (research units).
(5) Unless the School of Allied Health permits otherwise, students are not permitted to proceed to units of a higher level until they have completed all units of the previous level.
Refer to the DPS Study Plan which outlines the required sequence of unit completion.
Credit
20. The School of Allied Health may grant credit transfer, advanced standing and recognition of prior learning as per University Policy on: Credit Transfer, advanced standing and recognition of prior learning
Approved leave and retention of credit
21.(1) students may apply for a period of approved leave in accordance with the University Policy on Enrolment.
(2) Following a period of approved leave of less than one year, students retain credit for all units previously passed.
(3) Following a period of approved leave of one year or more, full credit is unable to be granted and students must repeat the units comprising the most recently completed year of the course.
Supplementary assessment
22.(1) Subject to DPS Progression rules, supplementary assessments can be delivered in various formats at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.
(2)Subject to 22(3), a student who fails a barrier component of a unit may be granted a supplementary assessment in that component.
(3) The Board of Examiners will not provide an opportunity for supplementary assessment to a student who
a) fails two or more units in any calendar year; or
b) fails a deferred or supplementary assessment; or
c) has a progress status of On Probation.; or
d) the unit does not allow a supplementary assessment
Requirements of students on probation
23.(1) Surgical stream: Subject to (2), students who have been assigned a progress status of On Probation due to unsatisfactory progress in Group A or Group B units must repeat all Group A or Group B units that they have taken in that year. Group C units will not be repeated unless also failed. Research stream will continue as per sequence if Group C units for that year are successfully completed.
(a) PODI6531 is considered a Year 3 unit
(b) PODI6534 is considered a Year 4 unit
(c) PODI6541 is considered a Year 5 unit
(2) Students are exempt from the requirement to complete one or more of the following units if they have a mark of at least 70 percent in the unit(s) concerned:
Any Group A or Group B coursework units
PODI5511, PODI5512, PODI5513, PODI5514, PODI5515, PODI6531, PODI6532, PODI6533, PODI6534, PODI6535, PODI6536, PODI6541, PODI6542, PODI6543
(3) Research steam: students who have been assigned a progress status of "On Probation" due to unsatisfactory progress in Group C units must repeat the failed unit only. Group A or B units will not be repeated unless also failed. Surgical stream will continue as per sequence if Group A or Group B units for that year are successfully completed.
Infection Control
24. Upon entry and during their enrolment students must comply with the Faculty's Infection Control Requirements as appended
to the UWA Policies on Admission and Student Enrolment.
First Aid Requirements
25. At the time of enrolment students must show first aid competence equivalent to assessment requirements for HLTAID003, valid for no more than three years with CPR component renewed annually.
National Police Clearance
26. At admission and annually during enrolments, students must provide a clear current Australian National Police Clearance or equivalent certification.
Working with Childrens Check (WCC)
27. At admission and annually during enrolments, students must provide a current WCC clearance or equivalent certification.