PROFESSIONAL COURSES
MEDICAL EDUCATION
Conventional and new
The undergraduate medical qualification in Australia is the MBBS or the combined Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery course. The conventional program is 6 years in duration. After a broad medical education, graduates take their internship. This is a pre-registration training of one year duration very much like in India. After this are various postgraduate specializations. Internship follows the final year of a medical degree program and this internship can also be undertaken in the home country of the international student.
The undergraduate medical courses in Australia are accredited by the Australian Medical Council.
In the first 3 years of MBBS the focus is on pre-clinical studies while the final year is spent largely in hospitals and in community based work. This practical training is an experience in major clinical specialization such as medicine, surgery, psychiatry, general practice, child health and gynecology.
Australian medical schools give opportunity to the best students to pursue research for an additional year. This is aimed at providing medical research experience and a research degree.
Entry to the six year program is based on a students result in the final year at school. Fresh entrants to medical schools, hence, are drawn from the top one per cent of the high school graduating class. Proficiency in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics generally determine the student’s eligibility. There are, however, certain universities, e.g., the University of Newcastle which involves several procedures including individual interviews for selection. Entry into undergraduate courses in medicine also requires evidence of an adequate level of English language proficiency.
New medical degree courses
In a major departure from the conventional British type model three of Australia's leading medical schools have developed new four-year medical degree courses which are open to students who hold an undergraduate university degree in any field of study. These innovative courses are designed for students who have already developed effective skills for learning, critical analysis and problem solving at university. They represent a major new direction for medical education in Australia. Of the 540 places offered annually across the three schools, more than 50 places are available to outstanding university graduates from other countries - that is, to people who are not permanent residents of Australia. International places are available on a full-fee basis.
In the transition to four-year graduate entry programs, an important aim has been to develop curricula appropriate for training doctors in times of rapid change in medical knowledge and community expectations.
Although the curriculum at each campus places strong emphasis on the active involvement of students in learning, coupled with hands on clinical experience in a broad range of clinical settings emphasis is laid in the interaction of doctors with individual patients, families and communities.
Characteristic features of the new medical course are:
- It has innovative curricula based on clinical problems
- It allows extensive patient contact and clinical experience from 1st year
- It provides integration of basic medical science with clinical medicine
- It offers excellent research opportunities
The graduate entry medical programs create new opportunities for gaining entry to medical training in Australia. Admission requirements have been designed to attract applicants with diverse backgrounds and experience.
Although applicants will require appropriate knowledge and skills for success in an admissions test, there are no specific prerequisite high school or university subjects.
Admission is highly competitive, based on three criteria. The way in which these elements are combined will vary from school to school.
Eligibility:
- Performance in an undergraduate degree
- Scores in a written admission test: Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT) or North American Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Performance in a structured interview
Applicants must have performed well in an undergraduate program. The full requirements for the degree must be completed prior to admission (although the admissions test may be undertaken while undergraduate studies are in progress). The degree may be in any field but must be considered equivalent, at least, to a three-year Australian university degree.
Admissions Test (GAMSAT) & (MCAT): All applicants will be required to sit in a comprehensive written admissions test to provide evidence of the knowledge and skills considered necessary for graduate medical studies. Test results are required before submitting an application to medical school and potential applicants will normally sit in an admissions test a year or more before they hope to enter medicine.
International applicants may choose to take either the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or the North American Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Test results remain valid for two years.
Overall scores on the admissions test are used in identifying candidates for interview.
Australian admissions test, GAMSAT, is conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in February each year at a number of centres around Australia. Overseas test centres have been established from 1996.
North American test, MCAT, is conducted twice each year in about April and September at many locations in USA and Canada and at overseas centres in Singapore, Japan, England, France, Germany, Israel and Lebanon.
Both tests require a good command of English, skills in analysis, logical reasoning and problem solving and knowledge of aspects of biology, chemistry and physics.
Interviews - Top ranking applicants are invited to participate in structured interviews. Interviewers assess proficiency in spoken English and other qualities considered important for participation in the educational process at graduate medical school and for effective medical practice.
The Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Guide and application materials can be requested from the National Admission Service. Application may be submitted to ACER giving preference for Flinders, Queensland or Sydney universities.
The application deadline is May 31st for entry in February in the subsequent year.
Cost of undergraduate medical education
The current average annual tuition cost for the existing six-year degree is in the region of $25,000 or $150,000 in total. Tuition fees for the new degree are likely to be in the region of $120,000 in total. As an applicant seeking admission to the new degree program does not have to complete his or her first degree in Australia, this represents a considerable saving. Prospective medical students who decide to take their first degree in, for example, Science in Australia average $14,000 hence the cost is only marginally greater.
Postgraduate medical training
Postgraduate medical education is conducted by professional associations of doctors called `Royal Colleges' and not by universities. The college sponsors training in the major specialties. This training extends from 7 to 10 years. During training candidates are employed in approved posts in hospitals and after the training they are awarded a degree which permits specialized practice. An international student must first secure a training position which is not quite easy to get. Postgraduate award courses are conducted by each university. Following are some addresses for reference:
Faculty of Medicine; the University of Queensland
Herston Road, Herston QLD 4006
Australia
Faculty of Medicine; the University
International Education Office 12 O7
The University of Sydney, ASW 2006; Australia
Information about GAMSAT; ACER, Private Bag 55
Camberwell VIC 3124, Australia
Information about MCAT
Association of American Medical Colleges
2450 N St. NW; Washington DC 20037-1126, USA
Universities following the new degree course
School of Medicine
University of South Australia
International Office
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001
Australia
ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Enrolment for engineering courses needs preliminary study of relevant courses before being enrolled for higher degree. This is specifically in relation to undergraduate degree in subjects related to engineering as also English language preparation. Admission to masters and doctorate programs is usually restricted to those who have the equivalent of an honors level degree in the relevant discipline in Australia. Entry to all postgraduate engineering courses requires evidence of an adequate level of English language proficiency generally demonstrated by the IELTS or TOEFL tests.
Courses in engineering
Diploma programs provide specialist professional skills and build on study in the same area. Postgraduate diplomas enhance skills acquired during graduate study while graduate diploma programs are available to people with a general background of science.
Masters or postgraduate qualifications may have the following names: Master of Engineering, Master of Science, Master of Applied Science etc.
Institutions differ in course structures and entry requirements, e.g., a Master in Engineering may be awarded by one university after supervised study or research while another university may confer the degree without such supervised course work. Postgraduate students who wish to do Doctoral work certainly need credits earned out of research during postgraduate study.
Doctorate in engineering can be earned only by research. PhD is given after supervised research work while D.Eng. (Doctor of Engineering) is given after unsupervised research. There are some courses which do not earn a formal award but can be done by practicing engineers. Such courses are accredited by institution of Engineers for professional recognition.
Course duration - Diploma courses are generally for one or two semesters. Masters degree normally takes 2 years while doctoral studies may take 3 years or more.
Accredition of engineers
The Institution of Engineers is the accrediting organization. Bachelor degree holders in engineering from most engineering departments are exempted from the exams of the Institution of Engineers. However if an engineer takes a Master's degree in engineering from an accredited university after a Bachelor's degree from a non-accredited university, such an exemption is not given .
COURSES IN VISUAL ARTS AND TV COURSES
University courses in visual arts are designed to prepare talented people to enter the industry. Courses in visual arts are offered at twenty-two Australian universities. These courses are offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. While all of these institutions have undergraduate courses available in painting, involvement in other visual arts areas such as ceramics, photography, drawing, sculpture, and graphic design, is offered only in some institutions. The visual arts course structure of each university varies considerably and the applicant must check to see whether the course a student is seeking is actually offered at the university at which he or she is thinking of enrolling. Generally, undergraduate courses in the visual performing arts are of three years duration (full-time), while postgraduate courses vary in length depending upon their being at Graduate Diploma, Masters, or Doctoral level.
Film and television courses in Australian universities lay emphasis on theory and critical studies and vary in practical production training. The two major well known production courses in Australia are at the School of Film and Television, the Victorian College of the Arts, and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney.
COURSES IN AVIATION
Aviators can choose ambitious careers apart from the most obvious - that of an active pilot. Passenger operators, cargo operations and many other occupations offer exciting career options in the industry.
In the past few years Australian universities have developed degree courses for pilot education and training. Courses in Aviation have been developed in universities in each State. The Australian University Aviation Association - (AUAA) has been formed of Australian universities which offer professional degree courses in aviation. The aims of the association are to help the development of university aviation education and flight crew development.
Membership of the Association ensures high standards of education and is open to those universities which are offering degree level programs involving pilot training.
The following universities are members of the Association:
- University of Western Sydney (New South Wales)
- University of New South Wales (New South Wales)
- Edith Cowan University (Western Australia)
- Griffith University (Queensland)
- University of Newcastle (New South Wales)
- Swinburne University of Technology (Victoria)
- Massey University (New Zealand)
- University of South Australia (South Australia)
- University of Tasmania (Tasmania)
Although all these universities offer degrees in aviation fulfilling Civil Aviation Authority requirements, their courses differ in emphasis on subjects other than those required by the Civil Aviation Authority. Some lay emphasis on engineering, some in human factors and performance, while others concentrate on management aspects of aviation.
Students from India must ensure that the training in an Australian university meets the requirement of the Indian industry from DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) in New Delhi.
COURSES IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate courses in biological sciences are BS or Bachelor of Science degree course. A typical BS program includes biology, chemistry, physics, maths or psychology. Other related subjects are zoology, biochemistry, ecology, botany, genetics, cell biology, anatomy, microbiology, immunology, life sciences etc. Most universities offer these subjects with special emphasis in honors programs.
Postgraduate courses
Postgraduate and PhD courses in biological sciences entail either research work or submission of a major thesis or coursework only. PG degree takes generally 2 years. The PhD course can be taken after an honors BS course or a Master of Science course. It generally takes 3 to 4 years to complete. Postgraduate diplomas may take a year’s time. Colleges of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) offer courses in biological sciences which trains students to carry out a range of technical functions in support of professional scientists and or technical officers. There are certificate/advanced certificate and associate diploma levels. Courses emphasize on practical training to develop technical knowledge and skill which can be applied to various areas such as ecology, botany, zoology, biotechnology, microbiology and biological instrumentation. TAFE courses can gain credit towards university degree courses.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements to an undergraduate (BS) course are a good performance in Secondary Education (+2) with relevant subjects. To enter TAFE courses in Australia students may require an average performance at the +2 stage. Postgraduate courses can be taken after approval of the chairperson of the departments and the head of the faculty or research units at the institution. Excellent grades in undergraduate courses are needed for studying in a competitive environment.
Entry to all biological science courses requires evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
Australia has interesting biological resources in unique species of plants and animals thereby making it an ideal place for studying biological sciences.It has evidently evolutionary relationships with the Asian region and is an example of diverse environments. From tropical rainforests and alpine areas to arid ecosystems it has a long coastline and the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, making it an excellent place for the study of biological sciences.
COURSES IN MARINE SCIENCE
Marine science is a combination of disciplines such as marine biology, oceanography, marine archaeology, marine geology, engineering technology, geography, economics, maths, etc. Marine scientists have a number of job opportunities. The sustainable development of wild fisheries and expansion of mariculture is largely dependent on the work of marine biologists and related scientists. Coastal and ocean engineers along with food technologists are involved in developing technology to access the ocean resources.
Courses
Marine Science courses in Australian universities are structured to provide in the first 2 years a basic grounding in science disciplines. The marine science course majors are conducted in the third year. Majors in such diverse areas such as marine biology, fishery science, marine chemistry, physical oceanography, marine geosciences etc. are offered.
After 3 years a student is able to identify for himself the area of marine science which he will like to pursue. He can then study for another year for an honors degree in the subject, a large component of which will be research.
Postgraduate programs are available throughout Australia.
