Take your first step towards becoming a doctor
Is your dream to become a doctor? USC’s Bachelor of Medical Science is your first step. This highly competitive program provides provisional direct entry (subject to entry requirements) to Griffith University’s Doctor of Medicine program – and to your future medical career.
Applications for 2021 close on 28 December 2020
- Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attain an IELTS score of 7.0 (with a minimum of 6.5 in all subtests) and should refer to the English language requirements.
- This program is only available to Domestic students.
Is your dream to become a doctor? USC’s Bachelor of Medical Science is your first step. This highly competitive program provides provisional direct entry (subject to entry requirements) to Griffith University’s Doctor of Medicine program – and to your future medical career.
- Understand how the human body works and what happens when diseases, infections and clinical disorders occur
- Study the foundations of medical science, including pathophysiology, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology and pharmacology
- Gain provisional direct entry (subject to entry requirements) to Griffith University’s Doctor of Medicine program at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- Build hands-on clinical knowledge and skills in a small group of like-minded students
Special selection criteria
The BMedSc program is restricted to high-achieving secondary school students who have completed Year 12 no more than three (3) years before admission. Applicants must not have previously attempted any tertiary study at diploma level or higher. Current USC students are not able to apply internally for the BMedSc program. Enrolments into the program will be capped at 20 places each year.
A limited number of places in this program may be set aside for applicants from a rural background. Refer to Rural Access Scheme to check eligibility.
Post-admission requirements
Students must comply with the following requirements before the start of the last semester of study:
- Hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) from QLD Government Blue Card Services. You
should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card. - Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements.
- Complete the QLD Health student orientation requirements
Career opportunities
This program is a pathway to a medical career in clinical practice, primary-care and rural medicine, and health service administration. Opportunities also exist for a career in public health, and research and education health medical sciences.
Professional membership / Accreditation
Graduates who gain a GPA of 5.0 or better and a pass grade in the course Communication Skills for Medicine will be offered provisional direct entry into the Griffith University Doctor of Medicine (MD) graduate-entry program to become accredited medical practitioners. In addition, graduates are eligible to apply for membership of the following scientific societies: Australian Society for Biotechnology; Australian Society for Immunology; Australian Society for Microbiology; and Australian Society for Molecular Biology and Biochemistry; Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Physiological Society.
Program structure
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
LFS100 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
LFS112 Preparation and Nursing Practice 4
LFS122 Leadership in Clinical Practice
MLS101 Palliative, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care
PUB112 Life Crisis
SCI105 The Child Client
SCI110 Nursing Internship
Developing and Graduate courses (15) 180 units
BIM202 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety
BIM263 Animal Ecology Field Course
BIM331 Endangered Animals and their Conservation
CHM202 Cell Biology
LFS203 Communication and Thought
LFS251 Animal Form, Function and Evolution
LFS261 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
LFS262 Biodiversity and Ecology
LFS303 Science Research Methods
MED202 Invertebrate Biology and Ecology
MED301 Coastal and Marine Ecology
MLS211 Animal Ecophysiology
NUR222 Statistics with Teeth: Understanding Ecological Data
PUB361 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
SPX201 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Specified electives (2) 24 units
Select 2 courses (24 units) from:
BIM303 Coastal Conservation Planning
BIM341 Teaching Mathematics in the Early Years
BIM371 Animal Behaviour
CHM311 Global-Change Ecology
MBT301 K'gari-Fraser Island Field Studies
MBT353 Special Field Studies Topic
MBT361 Special Research Project
SRP301 Workplace Learning I
SRP321 Academic and Professional Skills: Planning for Success
WPL310 ICT for Academic and Professional Applications
WPL320 Innovation: Addressing Challenges
*a GPA of at least 5.00 and a minimum pass grade required for entry to Doctor of Medicine
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- Part-time study NOT AVAILABLE in this program
- Courses within the program incorporate a range of assessment regimes that match the learning outcomes for the course, and also the program. They include the use of assignments, reviews, technical reports, standard and on-line review quizzes, seminar and poster presentations (individual and group), creative project work, research projects and final examinations.
- Students will be required to purchase personal protection equipment (laboratory coat, safety glasses, closed footwear) for use during the practical work at USC. There will be costs associated to the purchase of course text books and readers. Possible cost of travel to clinical sites for students choosing an elective course in work integrated learning.
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to Medical Science students.