UWA Handbook 2025

Note: This course is not available in 2025.

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.