Curtin University Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Overview

This course can lead to many careers in the medical profession. Your studies will focus on biomedical sciences and clinical sciences, as well as healthcare in settings such as primary care, hospitals and aged care. You will also study Indigenous health, population health and professional development concepts.

In your first year, you’ll complete discipline-based subjects in medicine and begin developing skills in clinical communication. You will also develop skills in interprofessional practice by learning alongside other health sciences students.

Your second and third years will be devoted to a more intensive study of medical knowledge that focuses on the structure and function of the human body in health and disease.

In your fourth year, you’ll transition from the Curtin campus into a clinical setting, and work with people from all age groups under clinical supervision in hospital and community settings, including in rural and remote locations.

Your final year will be in clinical settings where you will work as a member of a healthcare team in preparation for your internship once you graduate.

Why Study Medicine at Curtin?

• Curtin’s five-year, direct-entry medical degree is the only undergraduate entry program in Western Australia. This means you don’t need a three-year bachelor degree to enter the course.
• Its strong emphasis on primary care will position you well for rural and remote practice, as well as outer suburban locations, where there is an acute shortage of doctors.
• Curtin was the top Australian university for undergraduate outcomes of skills development, learner engagement and teaching quality in the field of medicine, in The Good Universities Guide (2022).

What You’ll Learn

• Apply an understanding of normal development, disorders and diseases, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and scientific methods to the practice of medicine
• Interpret clinical information to assess health status, formulate and explain a diagnosis, prioritize treatment based on effectiveness, provide management in consultation with the patient and carer/s, and reflect critically on health outcomes
• Locate, critically evaluate and interpret evidence to inform clinical decision-making and clinical practice, and to improve the quality of health care, and health care systems
• Communicate in different ways to: maintain interpersonal doctor/patient and inter-professional team relationships; ensure shared decision making in health outcomes; engage in health advocacy; and, advance health outcomes
• Use appropriate technologies effectively in clinical practice and recognize the role of technology in advancing scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice
• Discuss knowledge with colleagues, reflect on clinical practice, and plan on-going personal and professional development needs for self and others
• Apply relevant internationally recognized evidence-based standards and practices in medicine, and evaluate the impact of global health on health and health care delivery in Australia
• Demonstrate cultural competence with individuals, families and communities, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and account for the impact of culture on health and illness, including how one’s own beliefs, attitudes and practices can influence interactions with patients, carers and the wider community
• Practice medicine in a professional and safe manner by: adhering to legal responsibilities and ethical principles; working effectively in health care teams; showing leadership; demonstrating a commitment to easing pain and suffering; promoting health and advocating for patients and their families

Entry requirements

2024 entry information:

• Completion of a provincial high school diploma with an average of 90 or better in Grade 12, and including a grade of 60 or better in Year 12 English (except Quebec where separate evidence of English is required)
• For applicants that have recently attended high school, applicants must not have commenced post-secondary studies (AQF Diploma or above) and not have a higher degree record from any Australian or overseas university
• Applicants must sit the UCAT ANZ test.  Applicants can only use test scores from the prior year for current year admissions. For example, only 2023 results can be used for the 2024 admissions round.
• New Requirement: Casper test (recommend sitting test in July or August)
• If you are shortlisted for this course, you will be required to attend an interview
• One of the following is required:
  • Chemistry ATAR or equivalent
  • International Baccalaureate Chemistry at HL Grade 4.
  • STPM 962 Chemistry, with a minimum grade of C
  • GCE Advanced Level Chemistry, with a minimum grade of E
• One of the following Mathematics ATAR courses are desirable, but not required: Mathematics Applications, Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Specialist, or equivalent
• Meeting minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer

Professional Recognition in Canada

Curtin’s Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree has full Australian Medical Council accreditation, so you will graduate with qualifications recognized anywhere in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

In Canada, provincial and territorial medical regulatory authorities have the responsibility to confer licences to physicians. The Medical Council of Canada plays an important role in the assessment of potential physicians in Canada. This assessment includes national qualifying examinations and satisfactory completion of acceptable postgraduate training. It is the responsibility of the medical school graduate to contact the provincial body for regulations and requirements.

KOM Consultants understands the process and requirements needed to enter the medical profession in Canada. Contact KOM Consultants for more information.

All students applying directly through KOM Consultants will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.