Bachelor of Medical Science

The primary aim of the Bachelor of Medical Science is to provide an experiential introduction to the
process of biomedical research. The AMS program allows students to:

• practice the concepts of project design, ethical consideration and application of research methods;
• develop skills in the assembling and evaluation of scientific data to provide a scientific rationale for updating medical practice and treatment and/or understanding the mechanisms of disease;
• comprehend the selection of appropriate statistical techniques to appraise scientific data;
• assess the benefits and limitations of research an area/discipline of clinical interest;
• demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the diversity and breadth of biomedical
  research;
• demonstrate autonomy and independence in defining research methods, locating relevant resources and critically evaluating evidence and;
• actively participate in improving knowledge in a specific areas of medicine by critical review of scientific and medical evidence.

At the completion of the Bachelor of Medical Science, students should be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to communicate the results of original research;
• discuss how the results of medical research can be translated to improve the clinical care of patient and/or the mechanisms of disease;
• select and apply appropriate statistical tests such as descriptive statistics, power calculations, pvalues and confidence interval, and uni/multivariate logistic regression analysis, to analyse research data;
• compare and assess scientific evidence through critically evaluating relevant medical literature;
• appraise and describe the ethical requirements of a research project;
• demonstrate technical and problem solving skills in the use of biomedical experimental techniques and;
• understand the requirements for presentation of research data through preparation of a an xtended literature review, and small research report, in an area of clinical interest.

To satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Medical Science, students must successfully complete 2 core subjects and a total of 100 points.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• Semesters 1 to 5 of a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree, or equivalent.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• Prior academic performance.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Admission and Selection into Courses Policy.

4. The English language requirements for this program are an overall IELTS score of at least 7.0, with no band score less than 6.5. Scores on other standard English language tests that the Academic Board recognises as equivalent to these requirements will also be accepted.

Note.

• This program is only open to enrolled students at universities with which the University of Melbourne has an agreement confirming availability of the program.
• Successful applicants will be awarded 250 points of credit into the degree.
• This program may be taken either as coursework or as a research project. Entry to the research project stream is restricted to applicants who have a weighted average mark of at least H1 (80%) over semesters 1 to 5 of their Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree, or equivalent, have completed prior learning in research methodology and design to at least H2B (70%) standard, and have an overall IELTS score of at least 7.0, with reading and writing band scores of at least 7.0, and listening and speaking band scores of at least 6.5 (or equivalent scores on other tests recognized by the Academic Board).

Bachelor of Medical Science welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and degree policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the degree.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

N/A

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

· Academically excellent:

o have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship

o have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)

o reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication

o be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning

o be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies

· Knowledgeable across disciplines:

o examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines

o expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects

o have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems

o have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment

· Leaders in communities:

o initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces

o have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations

o mentor future generations of learners

o engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs

· Attuned to cultural diversity:

o value different cultures

o be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work

o have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community

o respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values

· Active global citizens:

o accept social and civic responsibilities

o be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment

have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics

N/A

At completion of the AMS program, students should have also acquired the following generic skills:

• the ability to appraise the principles of medical research and how they could be applied to a wider variety of research contexts;
• enhanced oral and written communication skills;
• the ability to work collaboratively with research colleagues;
• describe how the values of objectivity, scepticism and respect for evidence influence the design and implementation of biomedical research;
• assess how research outcomes can be translated into, for example, updating medical practice and treatment and/or understanding the mechanisms of disease and;
• a desire for further study/learning in biomedical research.