question about UQ curriculum structure

[copacetic]

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here is the UQ curriculum structure:

MBBS Structure

The four years should be viewed as a curriculum spiral that is divisible into a number of blocks:
Year 1 (40 weeks)

Foundations of Medical Practice (36 weeks)

• 33 weeks instruction
• 1 week revision
• 2 weeks assessment node 1
• Clinical Electives (4 weeks)

Year 2 (40 weeks)

Systematic Preparation for Clinical Practice (40 weeks)

• 36 weeks instruction
• 2 weeks revision (mid year and end of year)
• 2 weeks assessment (mid year and end of year)

Year 3 (40 weeks)

• Core Clinical Rotations (5 rotations of 8 weeks each)

Year 4 (38 weeks)

• Core Clinical Rotations (4 rotations of 8 weeks each)
• 1 week revision and assessment
• Elective (8 weeks)

It seems to me that you only get about 12 weeks worth of electives. that doesnt seem like a lot. i mean, at most you'll be able to study explore say 3 specialties thoroughly (4 weeks each). doing 2 week rotational electives is kinda silly, so doing 4 weeks would do justice to the learning experience. but once again, you'd only be able to thoroughly explore 3 specialties outside the core ones. any thougts or opinions?

 

[Ezekiel20]

I think 12 weeks of electives is quite ample.

Electives can be a chance to explore new cultures, alternative healthcare systems as well as clinical specialties you did not get the chance to do at your home institution.

At USyd we got 8 weeks for electives, and although I thoroughly enjoyed them, I didn't wish it was longer.

Having said that, North American students got an extra 8 weeks in the form of pre-internship ('sub-I' in the US) which they were allowed to complete in the US or Canada.

 

[copacetic]

I think 12 weeks of electives is quite ample.

Electives can be a chance to explore new cultures, alternative healthcare systems as well as clinical specialties you did not get the chance to do at your home institution.

At USyd we got 8 weeks for electives, and although I thoroughly enjoyed them, I didn't wish it was longer.

Having said that, North American students got an extra 8 weeks in the form of pre-internship ('sub-I' in the US) which they were allowed to complete in the US or Canada.

does UQ allow canadians to do some of their core clinical rotations in canada or the united states?

 

[stella18]

yeah - UQ allows students to do 2 core rotations plus an 8 week elective overseas.

I know that it doesn't seem like much elective time, but remember that in Australia, graduates do not have to choose a program of study, and rather enter into their internship year, where they can select to do rotations in areas they are interested in.

 

[pitman]

keep in mind that on top of open electives, there are (or at least were) two med specialties electives of 4 weeks each, and a surgical specialities elective (number of weeks I've forgotten).