Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
The Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) is a three-year programme for entry into professional practice as a podiatrist. The aim of the course is to produce graduates able to treat and educate their patients effectively and appropriately in a professional and responsible way. The programme conforms to its CREATE themes, which strives to produce highly trained clinicians, researchers, educators, advocates, team-minded professionals and ethical practitioners.
There are two semesters of equal length in each year. The first year covers bioscience, while years two and three cover the theoretical and practical aspects of podiatric medicine, alongside supporting subjects research, biostatistics and general medicine, all of which fall within the second year. These subjects help students to understand the diagnosis and management of diseases and conditions that affect the lower limb, and to take a leading role in the interdisciplinary management of foot and ankle problems.
In the final year, in addition to more advanced coverage of theoretical and practical podiatry, students undertake a supervised research project which follows their training in research methods the previous year. They also undertake weekly clinical placements in a variety of external locations, principally tertiary hospitals and private practices, to learn patient management in the a workplace environment.
The study of podiatric medicine in the DPM includes biomechanics, sports medicine, minor surgery, the diabetic and acute foot, geriatric and paediatric podiatry and podiatric surgery, as well as general practice. New graduates are able to register immediately for registration that enables them to practice independently.
Course overview
- Course title
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
- Award abbreviation
- DPM
- Course code
- 90870
- Course type
- professional practice master's degree
- Status
- current / 2021
- Administered by
- Allied Health
- CRICOS code
- 075343A
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year only
- Attendance type
- full-time only
- Credit points required
- 144
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Professional accreditation
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine is accredited by: Australian and New Zealand Podiatry Accreditation Council.
- Standard course duration
- 3 years
- Time limit
- 9 years
- Delivery mode
- internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Schedule 2: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Catherine Crabb/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.
Course structure
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period |
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Year 1
Take all units (48 points):
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | PODI4111 | Integrated Clinical Sciences 1 (24 points) |
| 30 hours per week |
| NS | PODI4112 | Integrated Clinical Sciences 2 (24 points) |
| 30 hours per week |
Year 2
Take all units (48 points):
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | PODI4202 | Progression of Clinical Practice 1 |
| 14 hrs/week clinic and labs conducted every day and times are according to allocated groups |
| NS | PODI4203 | General Medicine and Pathology | 5-6 hours per week | |
| NS | PODI4205 | Progression of Clinical Practice 2 |
| 14 hours per week clinic and labs conducted every day and times are according to allocated groups |
| NS | PODI4208 | Research Methods | ||
| NS | PODI4211 | Integrated Clinical Practice | 4-6 hrs/week | |
| NS | PODI4212 | Integrated Podiatric Medicine 1 | 5 hours per week | |
| NS | PODI4213 | Integrated Podiatric Medicine 2 |
| 5 hours/week |
| S1, S2 | PUBH4401 | Biostatistics I |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week (for face-to-face mode only) |
Year 3
Take all units (48 points):
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | PODI5302 | Consolidation of Clinical Practice 1 (2020) (12 points) |
| 25 hours per week |
| NS | PODI5303 | Anaesthesia and General Surgery | 2 hours per week | |
| NS | PODI5304 | Podiatric Research Project |
| |
| NS | PODI5306 | Consolidation of Clinical Practice 2 (2020) (12 points) |
| 25 hours per week |
| NS | PODI5309 | Integrated Podiatric Medicine 3 |
| 3 hours/week |
| NS | PODI5310 | Integrated Podiatric Medicine 4 |
| TBC |
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) Except as stated in (2), 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 who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.
(3) 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.(1) 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, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
(2) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA grade point average of at least 5.0;
and
(c) (i) a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test overall score of at least 50 and no section score less than 50 for domestic applicants; or
(ii) a Medical College Admission Test score of at least 8/8/8 prior to April 2015, or 123/123/123/123 after April 2015 for international applicants; or
(iii) completed a human biology, animal biology, physiology, pharmacology, genetics or microbiology unit at a tertiary level; and completed a chemistry or biological chemistry unit at a tertiary level.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
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 in a calendar year a student must pass all units that the student is required to undertake in that year.
[Approved exception to University Policy]
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 Faculty, 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 Rule 8.
(2) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, and except as set out in (3), the Faculty, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, will assign a progress status of 'On Probation' to a student who fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8.
(3) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, the Faculty, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, will assign a progress status of 'Excluded' to a student who—
(a) fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 and has previously repeated two years of the course; or
(b) fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 in the same year of the course for a second time.
(4) A student who is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' under (3) (a) or (b) will not be permitted to re-enrol in the course.
[Approved exception to University Policy]
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.
Additional rules
Supplementary assessment
13.(1) Subject to (2) the Board of Examiners will provide an opportunity for supplementary assessment to a student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 inclusive in a unit.
(2) The Board of Examiners will not provide an opportunity for supplementary assessment to a student who—
(a) fails more than two units in any calendar year;
or
(b) fails a deferred examination.
Requirements of students on probation
14.(1) Students who have been assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' must—
(a) repeat all units that they have previously attempted in that year of the course;
and
(b) subject to (2), repeat all other units that they have previously attempted in that year of the course.
(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 per cent in the unit(s) concerned:
PUBH4401 Biostatistics I
PODI4208 Research Methods
PODI5304 Podiatric Research Project
Leave and retention of credit
15.(1) Students may apply for a period of approved leave in accordance with University Policy.
(2) Following a period of approved leave of less than two years, students retain credit for all units previously passed.
(3) Following a period of approved leave of two years or more, full credit is unable to be retained and students must repeat the units comprising the most recently completed year of the course.
Requirements to attend and complete prescribed work
16.(1) Students must attend compulsory teaching and undertake practical and clinical work at the University Podiatry Clinic, and other institutitions as approved by the Faculty.
(2) Providing approval is granted, a student is permitted to take a maximum of 10 University days annually as leave. Leave can include compassionate leave, medical leave, personal/other leave.
(3) Leave is administered and managed as outlined in the UWA Division of Podiatrric Medicine and Surgery, Student Handbook.
(4) Students who are absent for more than 5% of their total clinical sessions, or 10 clincial sessions, whichever applies in an academic year, will be required to make-up/replace any further clinical session missed during the remainder of the year.
Entry from the Medical Sciences Major at the University of Western Australia
17. Subject to completing other admission requirements, in recognition of prior learning, students who have satisfactorily completed the Medical Sciences Major (MJD-MEDSC or MJS-MEDSC) may be granted up to 48 points credit towards year 1 of the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
Advanced Standing
18. The Faculty may grant advanced standing for previously completed Podiatry units, if they were completed as part of a postgraduate Podiatry course recognised by the Faculty as equivalent to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine of this University.