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 2020 closed
- 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 Health Promotion Settings
LFS112 Health Promotion Implementation and Evaluation
LFS122 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
MLS101 Public Health Project
PUB112 Mental Health and Neuroscience: Translational Research
SCI105 Youth Mental Health and Neurobiology
SCI110 Neuroimaging Advances in Mental Health
Developing and Graduate courses (15) 180 units
BIM202 Understanding and Preventing Suicide
BIM263 Healthy Brain Ageing
BIM331 Neurocognition and Mental Health
CHM202 Stress-related Disorders
LFS203 Lifestyle Factors and Mental Health
LFS251 Cell Biology
LFS261 Human Physiology
LFS262 Human Anatomy
LFS303 Foundations in Medical Science
MED202 Public Health Foundations
MED301 Chemistry
MLS211 Science Research Methods
NUR222 Medical Genetics
PUB361 Introduction to Pharmacology
SPX201 Immunology
Specified electives (2) 24 units
Select 2 courses (24 units) from:
BIM303 Organic Chemistry
BIM341 Integrated Physiology
BIM371 Biochemistry
CHM311 Microbiology
MBT301 Medical Microbiology
MBT353 Pathophysiology
MBT361 Communication Skills for Medicine
SRP301 Integrated Medical Science
SRP321 Medical Biochemistry
WPL310 Health Law and Ethics
WPL320 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
*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.