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—

(a) a Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine, or an equivalent qualification as recognised by UWA, which includes an approved qualification in Podiatric Therapuetics with a recency of 7 years (see course website and guidebook for more information on this particular qualification);

and

(b) minimum GPA of 5.0 or equivalent;

and

(c) unrestricted current registration as a podiatrist in Australia 1;

and

(d) One referee report from either a podiatric surgeon or orthopaedic/vascular surgeon;

and

(e) at least two years of relevant professional experience outlined in a written work portfolio.

1 applicants must be eligible and 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) the admissions requirements under rule 4;

and

(b) an interview in which eligible applicants will be assessed based on the personal qualities considered desirable in podiatric surgeons, with invitation to attend the interview based on Rule 4, in alignment with the interview quota for the year;

and

(c) personal statement addressing; motivation to become a specialist podiatric surgeon; years of clinical experience and training and understanding of the role of podiatric surgeons in Australian and global health care systems;

Final ranking: Interview: Personal statement & Work portfolio: GPA in the ratio 50:40:10

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) This course has the following exit award:

• 91370 Graduate Diploma in Podiatric Medicine (48 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Doctor of Podiatric Surgery course before completing it, but after completing units to the value of 48 points, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Podiatric Medicine.

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. 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

Prerequisites

14.(1) Before being permitted to enrol in a practicum unit from Group B (Doctor of Podiatric Surgery core units), students must complete all units in Group A (Doctor of Podiatric Surgery core units).

(2) Before being permitted to enrol in the research project unit from Group C (Doctor of Podiatric Surgery core units), students must complete all units in Group A (Doctor of Podiatric Surgery core units).

Time limit

15. The time limit is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the course.

[Approved exception to University Policy]

Enrolment

16. Unless the Faculty, on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Surgery, permits otherwise, a student must enrol in units to the value of at least 12 points in any year of enrolment.

Substitution

17. In exceptional circumstances, and on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Allied Health, the Faculty may permit a student to substitute for one or more units other units of equivalent level from an approved course at this or another recognised institution.

[Approved exception to University Policy]

Credit

18.(1) Unless the Faculty permits otherwise in recognition of exceptional circumstances, credit will normally only be granted for coursework or recognised professional experience completed within the last five years.

[Approved addition to University Policy]

(2) Credit granted for work completed as part of an approved course at this or another recognised tertiary institution will not exceed 24 points.

[Approved exception to University Policy]

(3) Credit granted for recognised professional experience, as approved by the Head of the School of Allied Health, will not exceed 12 points.

[Approved exception to University Policy]

Graduation Requirements

19. Upon completing all the course work student must have

(a) met the minimum surgical competency log requirements

and

(b) passed the oral exit examination