Course structure

Integrated clinical learning

Year 2 introduces you to real clinical experiences within MQ Health. Your learning will focus on seven clinical courses: Bone and Joint, Cancer, Cardiovascular and Respiratory, Critical Care and Anaesthetics, Neurosciences, Primary Care, Wellbeing and Diagnostics, Surgery and Gastrointestinal.

• Weekly cases and scenarios provide the basis for more advanced clinical skill development and a context for the integrated learning of applied clinical, medical and social sciences.
• You’ll study patient safety and quality, within the context of critical care.
• You’ll develop key research skills and finalise the selection of your research project. Your research project will be focused on health systems, patient safety and quality, clinical research or public health.

Core clinical placements

Year 3 focuses on clinical experience and training.

• As part of your clinical training, you’ll spend 22 weeks of the year engaged in clinical placements in Australia and a 22 week block of clinical placements in India*. Australian clinical placements will be completed at MQ Health and public hospitals within the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). Indian clinical placements will be completed in Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India.
• In both countries, you’ll complete placements in medicine, surgery, primary care, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology.
• You’ll discuss and compare your experience with peers in Australia and India through an online ‘community of practice’ and learn about different cultures, diseases and health systems.
• You’ll work on your research project throughout the year, focusing on an aspect of health systems, patient safety and quality, clinical research or public health.

* International travel restrictions enforced by the Australian government may affect Macquarie MD clinical placements scheduled for India. Alternate domestic placements will be provided to students where this occurs. International placements will  be delivered when International travel bans are lifted by the Australian Government and the University deems it safe to reinstate International student travel for study purposes.

Advanced clinical placements

Year 4 consolidates your learning and offers you choice and flexibility.

• You’ll have the opportunity to complete a number of selective clinical placements. In addition, a mental health placement will be completed within Sydney. The urgent care placement will be completed with experiences in emergency departments and other complementary clinical settings within Sydney. Your student-initiated elective placement can be within a rural or urban setting anywhere in the world^.
• The selective and elective clinical placements add depth and breadth to your clinical training. Built-in breaks can be used for additional student-initiated elective(s) in Australian or international^ settings, for travel or assessment and research preparation.
• Your final year allows you to reflect on your learning across the course, build skills and consolidate your knowledge as you prepare for internship.

^ International elective placements are subject to Australian Government international travel advice and approval by the Faculty.