The University of Queensland School of Medicine

At our School the broad aim of medical education to produce competent, caring, scientific doctors who are life long self directed learners, continues as the focus, but with emphasis on the ongoing challenge to anticipate and respond to the increasing pace of change in:

• community needs and attitudes;
• medical science and technology; and
• the need to provide sustainable health care of the highest standard.

The enthusiasm and dedication of UQ medical educators and practitioners keeps the School at the forefront of worldwide trends in medical education and research, with ongoing evaluation of educational programs and an emphasis on critical appraisal and current best practice.

Historically, the medical school dates back to 1936 when it was founded. Incorporated within the Faculty of Health Sciences it provides the majority of medical training places in the State of Queensland.

The School offers bachelor degree, postgraduate and higher degree programs and undertakes an important research role in a variety of disciplines across a multitude of divisions and sites that make up the School.

Geographically, the School extends throughout Queensland (and overseas to Brunei) with major sites in Brisbane including the Mayne Medical School at Herston, the St Lucia campus, Royal Brisbane and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, and other base hospitals in south east Queensland. Rural sites are based in Toowoomba and Rockhampton and small rural towns.

The Head of School and nucleus of administrative and academic School staff are based at Herston with the various operating arms and larger part of the School organised into geographic Clinical Divisions, (which in turn incorporate departments). There are currently three main Clinical Divisions: Central, Southern and Rural. (A planned Division in Brunei is progressing)

Each Division encompasses major hospitals, GP practices and healthcare facilities at which the teaching and research activities of the School are carried out. Through close affiliation with the Queensland Department of Health, Queensland Health staff and clinicians are significant contributors, particularly in the hospital settings, to the teaching and research activities of the School.

Prospective International Medical Students

Overview

The University of Queensland offers a four year graduate entry Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) prgram. To enter the MBBS program applicants must have a completed bachelor's degree. The Australian Medical Council (AMC) is the regulatory authority responsible of accrediting medical schools in Australia. The UQ MBBS program is accredited by the AMC.

Founded in 1936 The University of Queensland's School of Medicine is the oldest medical school in the state of Queensland and one of the largest medical schools in Australia. UQ is one of only three Australian members of "Universitas 21" , a select global alliance of universities committed to quality enhancement through international benchmarking.

Recent Australian and international surverys have placed UQ as one of the best universities in Australia and the world. These surveys include:

• The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic & Social Research lists UQ as fourth in Australia.
• Insitute of Higher Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University publishes annually an academic ranking of the top 500 universities in the world. UQ is listed as 3rd in Australia, one of the best 17 universities in the Asia Pacific region and within the top 152 universities worldwide.
• The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) published a survery of universities worldwide in 2004. In this survey, UQ ranked 6th in Australia and 49th in the world.

Applications from full fee paying international students are welcomed with up to 50 places available each year. The School of Medicine accepts many international students each year from several countries including Canada, Brunei, Indonesia Singapore, USA and the UK.

The UQ School of Medicine is listed in the World Health Organisation's World Directory of Medical Schools and the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research's International Medical Education Directory. Students and graduates of the UQ MBBS program are eligible to sit for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE); graduates are eligible to sit for the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE).

Hospital Internships in Australia

After graduating from the MBBS program, all graduates may apply for internships in Australian hospitals. However, international students cannot assume that an internship will be available in Australia.

International students are advised to check with their country’s medical council regarding internship and registration requirements.

The MBBS Program

The enthusiasm and dedication of UQ’s medical educators and practitioners ensures that this medical school is at the forefront of worldwide trends in medical education and research. Ongoing evaluation of educational programs and an emphasis on critical appraisal and current best practice are important facets of the MBBS program. Designed to produce doctors able to meet the challenges of the next century, the curriculum has been planned to capture the enthusiasm and maturity of its graduate entrants and help them develop into highly skilled medical graduates capable of entering the wide variety of career options open to them.

Selection for entry is competitive. The selection process aims to draw applicants from a wide range of social and educational backgrounds including the behavioural, social, biological and physical sciences and humanities, and is designed to admit students who have reflected earnestly on medicine as a career choice. Although applicants require appropriate knowledge and skills for success in the admissions tests, there are no specific prerequisite secondary school or university subjects that must be completed to be eligible to apply for a place in the medical program.

Problem Based Learning is a key component of the program. Students work co-operatively in groups with tutors to examine a carefully planned series of patient-centred problems, each designed to highlight principles and issues in health and disease. Early patient contact and clinical training are incorporated to develop high levels of clinical skills and medical knowledge.

Key features of the program are:

• the simultaneous learning of basic, clinical, biological and social sciences;
• the improved teaching of communication skills;
• the use of learning approaches that encourage lifelong learning skills;
• the incorporation of ethics and professional development as an integral part of the program; and
• the incorporation of modern information technology and computing skills to ensure that graduates are able to utilise the advances in technology to improve their learning skills and knowledge acquisition.

Teaching and learning is driven by the students’ own learning objectives. Students are encouraged to develop the skills of critical analysis, problem definition and solving, and to make the best use of resources. They are required to increase their own abilities to acquire information in a meaningful and relevant context so that they develop the habit of self motivated learning. Teaching and assessment is integrated across disciplines and throughout the program.

Information technology skills are seen as core skills for future doctors to manage data and to access information to practice evidence based medicine. A significant part of the MBBS program curriculum is delivered electronically via a website. The ability to access this website on a daily basis is essential for students to participate fully in the program. Access to a computer is therefore considered to be essential, however, it is not compulsory for students to own a laptop computer.

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