Doctor of Medicine

Schedule of Qualification Categories

Entrance standard

a.  The minimum qualifications required for admission into the Doctor of Medicine ‘with’ supervision is a:

• Bachelors degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year, leading to an honours degree class I or class IIA level; or
• Masters degree by research; or
• qualification which in the opinion of the Research Graduate School Committee are equivalent or a satisfactory substitute.

b.  An applicant must have the following minimum qualifications to gain admission into the Doctor of Medicine ‘without’ supervision:

• must have qualified not less than five years previously, for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Monash University or another university recognised for the purpose by the faculty board;
• since qualifying for the degrees, has been substantially engaged in the practice of medicine (or a related field) or have been engaged in scientific or other relevant scholarly work.

Duration

a.  The duration of the Doctor of Medicine ‘with’ supervision is consistent with cumulative sequential study in the field for seven to eight years.  This would comprise four years of study at undergraduate level including an honours year (or equivalent), followed normally by three to four years of postgraduate research (or a minimum of 2 years full-time equivalent to a maximum of 4 years full-time equivalent study).

b.  The Doctor of Medicine ‘without’ supervision is normally awarded based on the examination of materials submitted to the appropriate faculty board, after a designated period of time has elapsed since the undergraduate degree was completed. Candidates for the Doctor of Medicine do not enrol in a course.

Exit standard

a.  The Doctor of Medicine ‘with’ supervision signifies that the holder has completed a course of postgraduate training in research under proper academic supervision, has submitted a thesis that external examiners have declared to be a significant contribution to knowledge, and that demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to carry out independent research.

b.  Examiners of the Doctor of Medicine ‘without’ supervision will expect a thesis to:

1. make a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding of the field concerned;
2. show the relation of the publications to the overall research theme and the significance attached to the conclusions reached; and
3. have a satisfactory format and literary presentation.