UWA Handbook 2025

Note: This course is only available to re-enrolling students.

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—1 (a) a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or Doctor of Medicine, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

or

(b) a Bachelor of Dental Science or Doctor of Dental Medicine, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

or

(c) (i) a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Science, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent, and

(d) written agreement by a suitable academic on the UWA Register of Supervisors as Principal Supervisor to supervise the project, and written approval from their Head of School, Head of Division, and

(e) written agreement by a suitable academic on the UWA Register of Supervisors as Coordinating Supervisor to supervise the project, and written approval from their Head of School or Head of Division, and

(f) if (d) and (e) are the same person, written agreement by a suitable academic on the UWA Register of Supervisors to co-supervise the project, and written agreement by their Head of School, Head of Division.

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 96 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. Students will not have made satisfactory progress if they fail a core unit twice.

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. Students who do not make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 are assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' by the Faculty.

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 awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules

Time limit

14. The time limit is five years from the date of first enrolment in the course.

[Approved exception to University Policy]

Thesis submission and examination

15.(1) Submission and examination of the thesis is governed by the relevant master's degree by research rules for courses administered by the Board of the Graduate Research School.¹

¹ The Graduate Research School administers the examination and classification of the thesis.

(2) Following classification the Medical School Learning and Teaching Committee will assign a percentage mark for the thesis, based on the classification.

Substitution

16. In exceptional circumstances, and on the recommendation of the Head of the Medical School and the Head of the School of Population and Global Health, the Faculty may permit a student to substitute another relevant unit of equivalent points value from an approved course of study at this or another recognised institution, for an optional coursework unit in the sequence.

Supervision

17.(1) Students must have at least two suitable academic supervisors who provide at least 10% of the supervision each, are UWA staff, listed on the UWA Register of Supervisors, and approved by the relevant Head/s of School/s or Heads of Division.

(a) Principal Supervisor who must have at least adjunct status, provides primary academic leadership in the supervision of the research project; and

(b)Coordinating Supervisor who is primarily responsible for the academic management of the student's program of candidature and ensuring that all administrative and reporting requirements of the supervision are met,

and if (a) and (b) are the same person - Principal and Coordinating Supervisor —

(c) Co-supervisor who is a member of UWA staff and is neither the Principal nor the Coordinating Supervisor.

(2) In addition to (1), one or more external supervisors who will add specific expertise to the project, and who does not meet the criteria of a Co-supervisor, may be appointed.