Monash Medicine in review – Overview of Monash Medicine

Monash University is a public research university in Melbourne, Australia, and the largest university in Australia. The Monash University School of Medicine is the largest medical school in Australia.¹

Beginning with the class of 2020, the medical degree awarded is the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (BMedSc/MD).² Monash University offers two entry pathways into this qualification:

• Undergraduate entry. Students enter directly after completing Year 12, before commencing any other tertiary studies. Selection is based on ATAR, UCAT (formerly UMAT) and interview. The first 2 years of the course (years 1 and 2) are based at the Monash University Clayton campus. The total duration is 5 years.

• Graduate entry. Students enter after completing a BBiomedSc, BPharm(Hons), BPT(Hons) or BSc at Monash University.³ Selection is based on WAM, interview and situational judgement test. GAMSAT is not considered. The first year of the course (year A) is based at the Monash University Churchill campus, about 2 hours' drive from Melbourne CBD.

After years 1 and 2 (or year A), the two entry pathways combine for a further 3 years based at various hospitals around the state – years 3, 4, and 5 (or years B, C and D) – leading to the award of the same qualification, the BMedSc/MD.

There are also opportunities to undertake further studies within the medicine programme:

• Diploma of Liberal Arts or Diploma of Languages. Students in years 1 and 2 can commence a 3-year DipLibArts or DipLang concurrently alongside the medicine course. Available majors are shown at the preceding links.

• Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons) ± PhD. At any time after year 3B (but most commonly between years 4C and 5D), a student may take a year off from the medicine programme to complete a year of research, leading to the award of the BMedSc(Hons).⁴ A very small number of students may take a further 2 years off to continue their research, leading to the award of a PhD.

• Master of Public Health. Between years 4C and 5D, a student may take a year off from the medicine programme to complete an MPH.

Medical students are represented at the university by the Monash University Medical Students' Society (MUMUS), which liaises with the faculty, and organises social and wellbeing initiatives. MUMUS also operates and supports a number of interest groups, such as:

• Monash Medical Orchestra, MedChoir and MedRevue
• surgical (MUSIG), paediatric (MUPPITS), emergency and critical care (MECCSIG), general practice (GPSN), women's health (WHISM), rural and indigenous health (Wildfire), global health (Ignite) and queer health (QHC) interest groups
• the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA), which organises a National Convention, global and rural health conferences, and national policy and advocacy work, as well as its own special interest groups

Next: Admissions experience ›

Declaration of interests: I am a member of the committee of MUMUS, the medical students' society at Monash University.

Footnotes