Prerequisites

This page contains:

What are prerequisites?
How do you assess subjects from other Universities?
Have you already assessed my subjects?
What information do you need to assess my subjects?
Do I have to have my subjects assessed before applying for a course?
How do I send you my subjects for assessment?
I didn't complete an approved subject as part of my degree, what can I do?

What are prerequisites?

Some courses at The University of Melbourne have prerequisite subjects that must be completed in order to be eligible to apply for the course. 

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) require prerequisite subjects in anatomy, biochemistry and physiology taught at the second-year level, or equivalent.

The Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) requires prerequisite subjects in anatomy and physiology taught at the first year level, or equivalent.

For all three courses, the prerequisites must have been completed no more than ten years prior to commencing.

Some other courses offered by MDHS also have prerequisites. Entry requirements for courses offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences can be found in the Resolutions on Selection (http://www.unimelb.edu.au/abp/rs.html). You are also encouraged to consult the relevant Graduate School, or Bachelor of Biomedicine website for further details.

Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Surgery

The second-year level subjects that we recommend here at The University of Melbourne as meeting the prerequisites are:

Anatomy: ANAT20006 Principles of Human Structure
Biochemistry: BCMB20002 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Physiology: PHYS20008 Human Physiology

It is possible that one subject may satisfy more than one pre-requisite. An example of a combined Anatomy and Physiology subject: BIOM20002 Human Structure and Function (completion of this subject satisfies both the anatomy and physiology requirement).

Doctor of Physiotherapy

Assessment of these subjects is done on a case-by-case basis. Any subjects approved for the Doctor of Medicine and the Doctor of Dental Surgery are also approved for the Doctor of Physiotherapy.

How do you assess subjects from other Universities?

We compare your subjects to the recommended subjects here at The University of Melbourne using the following criteria:

Anatomy

Year level: 2nd year equivalent
Lecture program: The number and content of the lectures (in the gross anatomy component of an integrated course) must be equivalent to ANAT20006 ‘Principles of Human Structure’
Labs: There must be a lab component to the course which includes human material as a resource.
Text book: Standard human anatomy texts should be the prescribed resource

ANAT20006 Overview:
This subject covers the terminology of topographic anatomy; the principles related to key anatomical structures: skin, fascia and skeletal muscles, bones and joints, vessels, nerves and viscera; the organisation of the body into regions and the anatomy of the major organ systems. The material is presented in 36x1hour lectures, 4x2hour wet labs and 8 Anatomy-Directed-Self-Learning.

Physiology

Year level: 2nd year equivalent
Lecture program: The number and content of the lectures (in the physiology component of an integrated course) must be equivalent to PHYS20008 ‘Human Physiology’.
Text book: The recommended text for this unit is D. Silverthorn “Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach”.

PHYS20008 overview:
Physiology is the study of the normal functioning of living organisms.  The 2nd year course at Melbourne focuses on neuro-endocrine control mechanisms and homeostasis in humans, with specific content on basic mechanisms of excitable tissues, nerve-nerve and nerve-tissue communication, autonomic nervous system, skeletal muscle, and the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and excretory systems.  Interactive learning is emphasized in lectures (34 in total) and self-directed, computer-assisted tutorials (6). 

Biochemistry

Year level: 2nd year equivalent
Approved pre-requisite subjects would be deemed equivalent BCMB20002 based on the following criteria:
Lecture program: The number and content of the lectures must be equivalent to BCMB20002 ‘Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’.

BCMB20002 Overview:
30 x 1 hour lectures or more (a semester).  The content must build on strong chemistry prerequisites to cover biochemical structures of protein, polysaccharides and nucleic acids dealing with monomeric units and the biological polymers.  The function of enzymes should be covered and DNA functions.  Metabolism should include glycolysis, pentose phosphate, Krebs cycle and oxidative phoshorylation.
Labs: There is no specific requirement for a lab component
Text book: A standard biochemistry text should be the prescribed (e.g. Stryer or Lehninger).

Have you already assessed my Subjects?

We have assessed approximately 1000 subjects so far from Australia and overseas. If the subjects you have studied are not included in the lists below, please contact the MDHS Student Centre with the following information about the subjects you’d like to have assessed. We are happy to assess combinations of subjects if you feel that you have covered the required content.

Subjects that have been assessed from Australian, New Zealand and other International  universities:

• Victoria
• New South Wales
• Queensland
• Other states/territories
• New Zealand
• International

The following subjects had been previously approved, but have been reassessed and are now being removed from the ‘approved’ list.  These subjects may be used for entry to the MD and DDS for 2012 and 2013.  For entry in 2014 these subjects will not be accepted.

We are continuously reviewing subjects that have been approved. No subjects will be removed from the ‘approved’ list without at least 12 months prior notice.

What information do you need to assess my subjects?

At a minimum, the information we require is:

• Subject name and code
• Specific lecture content/breakdown (for the relevant year when studied)
• Assessment criteria
• Credit value of subject and the credit value of the full-time equivalent load at the particular institution . For example a subject is valued at 12.5 credit points and a full-time load is 100 credit points.
• Contact hours of lectures, tutorials and labs
• Length of subject
• Reading list
• Lab descriptions, including details of the resources used.

Do I have to have my subjects assessed before applying for a course?

If your subjects have not been previously assessed, we strongly recommend having your subjects assessed well in advance of applying.  The assessment process may be lengthy, so we recommend having your subjects assessed one year in advance of applying. 

Prospective applicants for the MD, DDS or DPT must submit documentation through the webform for assessment by 4 May of the year in which they wish to apply in order to be considered for admission for the following year.  Applicants who submit complete documentation by 4 May will be advised of the subject equivalent before the closing date for applications. 

Note: Submissions received after this date will be processed but applicants will not receive advice about the outcome of the request until after the closing date for applications.

How do I send you my subjects for assessment?

Please first check if your subjects have already been assessed, including subjects from International Institutions.

To have your subjects assessed please use the:

I didn’t complete an approved subject as part of my degree, what can I do?

You must complete an approved subject in order to be eligible to apply for admission, no exemptions will be granted, but that subject does not have to be part of a degree (though it must be passed). Most Universities have a program enabling you to take subjects as a ‘one-off’, here at Melbourne this is called the Community Access Program (CAP).  If you wish to complete one of the approved prerequisite subjects here at Melbourne University, please contact the MDHS Student Centre for further information.

Prospective applicants for the MD, DDS or DPT must show evidence of completion of (or evidence of enrolment in) the approved prerequisites at the time of application.

Please note that due to Australian Law, it is not possible for International Students to obtain a student visa to study CAP subjects at Melbourne University.