How to Apply
Application Form for 2010 (DOC) - Submission deadline: 12 June 2009
Supervisor's Form (DOC)
Frequently Asked Questions
For Applicants
What are the requirements for consideration to the BSc (Med) Hons program?
Students need to have:
- completed at least 3 years of MB BS degree requirements before the commencement of the BSc(Med)Hon
- obtained a minimum 70 average, calculated by taking a straight mean of Medicine subjects only from Phase 1 (excluding portfolios and end-of-phase exams)
- acceptance by a supervisor
- approval by the Honours Student Subcommittee to undertake the proposed topic with the proposed supervisor
If I make the minimum academic requirement, will I automatically be approved for the BSc(Med)Hon?
Students who apply
need to fulfill the academic requirement of a 70 average at the time of application. This, however, does
not guarantee success for a place in the BSc(Med)Hon program.
How do I apply?
A complete application package includes:
- the application form and the nomination of examiners submitted electronically from the supervisor's email, and
- the supervisor's form
All fields in the form and the nomination must be filled; blanks/gaps in information will nullify the entire application.
How will applications be assessed?
Students must first pass the academic requirement. After that, the proposals will be assessed based on the potential of the projects to:
- enable students to acquire an appreciation of the value of observation and research in the development of medical science
- enable students to determine the ‘current state of knowledge’ in a defined field
- provide experience in the written and spoken presentation of scientific information and scholarly research, and
- provide an invaluable background in basic research philosophy and techniques on which a subsequent career in specialised medical research may be built.
Applications that do not explain/demonstrate how a student will be able to achieve the above aims will be rejected.
Is there a quota for the BscMedHon program?
After 2007, there will be a cap on the number of students being accepted for the program in any one year - This has been set at 30. However, no minimum has been set.
Can I take on a project from another university/country?
No - Projects must be undertaken at
UNSW and/or its affiliated centres/institutes. From 2009, the Honours and ILP Committee has stated that no overseas nor interstate projects will be approved.
What topics are available?
The topics available can change very quickly due to the nature of research. The best thing to do is to refer to the
list of projects and contact potential supervisors to discuss possible research topics.
Can I take on other courses while in the BSc(Med)Hon program?
No. Enrolment in the BSc(Med)Hon program excludes all other enrolments.
Can I complete the MBBS and BSc(Med)Hon programs within six years?
The combined MB BS/ BSc (Med) Hons program is
designed to take a minimum of six and a half years to complete. The extra six months allows for completion of the 12 units of extra-Faculty elective courses. The Faculty discourages students from overloading in earlier years to complete the extra-Faculty elective courses prior to commencing the BSc (Med) Hons Program. Students will need to apply to the Faculty for approval to take more than the standard load (usually 24 Units of Credit).
Can I upgrade from a negotiated ILP to the BSc(Med)Hon
In a word - NO. An upgrade from an ILP to Honours may not be logistically feasible. Any BSc(Med)Hon project requires a fair amount of time and resources to be put in place before the project can go ahead and hence resources may not be available in time for an upgrade.
If I am successful, what is expected of me?
Students will be assessed formally during the two oral presentations and submissions of a literature review and a thesis. Students must physically be present for the two oral presentations. They will also be informally assessed on the following:
- Adherence to schedules – egg. lab work, essay, seminars, thesis
- Ability to learn and improve, egg in experimental work, writing and surveying literature
- Ability to understand and communicate ideas and respond appropriately to instruction
- Ability to think logically and critically, and to plan effectively
- Ability in laboratory or experimental procedures and in writing
- Degree of initiative, motivation and perseverance in experimental work and writing
- Degree of independence in work and in writing
For Supervisors
How will applications be assessed?
Students must first pass the academic requirement.
After that, the proposals will be assessed based on the potential of the projects to:
- enable students to acquire an appreciation of the value of observation and research in the development of medical science
- enable students to determine the ‘current state of knowledge’ in a defined field
- provide experience in the written and spoken presentation of scientific information and scholarly research, and
- provide an invaluable background in basic research philosophy and techniques on which a subsequent career in specialised medical research may be built.
The Subcommittee will be looking for supervisors to explain
how and
what the the student will be doing during the
32 weeks allocated for BScMedHon that will culminate in a 20,000-word thesis.
Why is the BScMedHon application so demanding?
It comes down to the timing - Students who intend to undertake the BScMedHon program have only 32 weeks in which they have to conduct research activities and produce a 20,000-word thesis. The Subcommittee has to assess if the suggested research activities/projects are sufficient to satisfy an Honours degree or if it is too ambitious.
If an applicant fulfills the academic criteria, the application will be assessed on the proposed project's suitability for the BScMedHon program. If the application/proposal is deemed to be unsuitable for the BScMedHon program, either due to depth or scope of research, then it will not be successful. Also due to the nature of BScMedHon program, it is necessary to cap the number to 30 students per year.
Must a co-supervisor be nominated at the time of application? What is the role of a co-supervisor?
Yes. The co-supervisor should act as the supervisor whenever the supervisor is unable to do so for any reason. The co-supervisor should be involved in all stages of the planning of the candidate's research plan. The co-supervisor should maintain a level of communication with the supervisor and the candidate during the period of candidature so as to allow him or her to participate in the supervision or act as a substitute for the supervisor whenever this is necessary.
Must examiners be nominated at the time of application?
Yes - Again due to timing constraints, we are unable to wait on supervisors to nominate examiners after a project has commenced.
In nominating examiners, supervisors must choose appropriate academics who will not allow any pre-existing relationship to prejudice the marking of the student's performance. If the integrity of any examiner's assessment is suspect, it will negatively impact on the student.
Internal examiners must have Faculty of Medicine appointments and must be available to attend student seminars and grade the literature review and thesis. External examiners are only required to grade the thesis.