UWA Handbook 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.(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 health and medical sciences grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.5;

and

(c) (i) a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) overall score of at least 55; or

(ii) a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score of at least 123/123/123/123 after April 2015 for international applicants;

OR

(d) a place in a Direct Pathway into this course;

OR

(e) entry via an Indigenous pathway

OR

(f) entry via Oral and Maxillofacial entry pathway for graduates with a BDS, DMD or equivalent, as recognised by UWA.

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 personal qualities considered desirable in medical practitioners, with invitation to attend the interview based on equal weightings under Rule 4(2) and 4(3), in alignment with the interview quota for the year;

and

(b) the intake quota for that year;

and

(c) a selection score determined by the GAMSAT/MCAT, GPA and interview for non-rural applicants, or the GAMSAT, GPA, interview and rurality ranking for rural applicants

OR

(d) for candidates via the Oral Maxillofacial entry pathway:

(i) a personal statement addressing motivation and relevant clinical experience and training;

(ii) a structured interview;

(iii) two referee reports;

(iv) the intake quota for that year.

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 192 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 48 points.

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

(3) Students who have completed the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Placement Major MJD-IMSCP are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 48 points.

Satisfactory progress

8. Supplementary of the Doctor of Medicine course rules is this document governing what constitutes satisfactory progress in the course and what rules are applied in cases of unsatisfactory progress.

MD Progress Rules

[Approved exceptions 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 School, 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 (3), the School, 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, 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, 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 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 (4) (a) or (b) will not be permitted to re-enrol in the course.

[(5) is an 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.

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

Supplementary assessment

14.(1) Subject to (2), a student who fails a barrier component of a unit may be granted a supplementary assessment in that component.

(2) 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'

Prerequisites

15. Unless the School permits otherwise, students are not permitted to proceed to units of a higher level until they have completed all units of the previous level.

Requirements of students on probation

16.(1) Subject to (2), students who have been assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' must repeat all 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: any coursework, research or service learning units undertaken as part of Scholarly Activities.

Approved leave and retention of credit

17.(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 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 granted and students must repeat the units comprising the most recently completed year of the course.

Mode of study

18.(1) Students must enrol on a full-time basis unless the School permits otherwise in exceptional circumstances.

(2) Students who have been permitted to enrol on a part-time basis in units of one level will not be permitted to enrol on a part-time basis in units of the next level.

Requirement to attend and complete prescribed work?

19.(1)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 School, as set out in the School's Guidelines on Workplace-based placements.

(2) Students must abide by the Professional Behaviour Procedure set in out in the Workplace-based placements.

Infection Control Requirements

20. Upon entry and during their enrolment students must comply with the Medical School's Infection Control Requirements as appended to the UWA Policies on Admission and Student Enrolment

Apply First Aid Requirements

21. At the time of enrolment students must show first aid competence equivalent to assesment requirements for HLTAID003, valid for no more than three years

Short leave

22.(1) Students can apply for short leave in accordance with the program guidebook. Such leave can include compassionate leave, medical leave, personal/other leave.

(2) Providing approval is granted, a student is permitted to take a maximum of 10 University days annually as short leave.

Advanced Standing

23.(1) The School may grant advanced standing for previously completed Medicine units if they were completed as part of a postgraduate medical course recognised by the School as equivalent to the Doctor of Medicine course of this University.

(2) The School may grant advanced standing of up to 48 points for the successful completion of the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Placement major IMSCP from UWA,

National Police Clearance

24. At admission and intermittently during enrolment, students must provide a clear current Australian National Police Clearance or equivalent certification, and comply with other mandatory checks and certifications.

Unsatisfactory progress in Elective Placement

25. Students who do not successfully complete their elective placement must enrol in IMED5417 Elective Remediation Unit, in years where the elective placement is offered.