Educational courses: Programs in STD/HIV

The University of Sydney programs in STIs and HIV are designed to give candidates a broad understanding of the key components of this area. They are targeted at medical professionals and allied scientists who have a basic understanding of the human biology.

The general entrance requirements are a medical degree or an undergraduate degree in medical sciences. Previous clinical exposure to the fields would be an advantage, but not essential.

Scientific rigour is encouraged and developed. As many of the areas dealt with are at the forefront of our understanding, the ability to critically evaluate new information is emphasised.

Courses operated by STIRC include:

• Master of Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV)
  (MM(STD/HIV)) KC033: for medical graduates
• Master of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV)
  (MScMed(STD/HIV)) KC034: For laboratory scientists and public health practitioners
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Combined MMed (STD/HIV MPhil) or MScMed (STD/HIV MPhil) which combines both the coursework Masters Degree with an opportunity to complete a research degree.
• Graduate Diploma in Medicine (STD/HIV)
  (GradDipMed(STD/HIV)) KF028: for medical graduates and laboratory scientists
• Graduate Diploma of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV)
  (GradDipScMed(STD/HIV)) KF035: for nursing and allied healthcare workers

Overview

Programs aim to provide medical practitioners or laboratory scientists with an opportunity to achieve high levels of knowledge and skill in the understanding and control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. An emphasis is placed on the importance of clinical, laboratory, public health and behavioural aspects of sexual health.

The Master of Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) and the Master of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) are essentially the same program with different admission requirements, and the same applies to the Graduate Diploma in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) and the Graduate Diploma of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV).

Only medical graduates (i.e. those with an MBBS) may be admitted to the Master of Medicine/Graduate Diploma in Medicine while non-medical graduates may be admitted to the Master of Science in Medicine/Graduate Diploma of Science in Medicine.

Students follow the same program of study (with the exception, in some cases, of practical work), with the only distinction between them being the title of the course they are awarded on completion.

Admission

Graduate Diploma in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) and Master of Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV)

Admission to the program normally requires a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Sydney or another approved institution.

Graduate Diploma of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) and Master of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV)

Admission to the program normally requires a bachelor's degree in a health discipline with first or second class honours from the University of Sydney, or another approved institution. If candidates do not have an honours degree, they may be admitted on the basis of having completed equivalent work or passing a preliminary examination, as prescribed by Sydney Medical School.

Structure

The graduate diplomas are embedded in the master’s degrees.

The clinical attachments undertaken by students in the Graduate Diploma in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) and the Master of Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) give direct experience of patient care at sexual health and HIV services. The Graduate Diploma of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) and Master of Science in Medicine (Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV) students undertake a corresponding laboratory attachment.

While lectures take place at the University of Sydney Camperdown Campus and at Westmead Hospital, clinical and laboratory experience occurs at a variety of locations throughout Sydney. An increasing proportion of the course is being made available online.

The graduate diploma comprises 7 core units of study and a further four credit points of elective units of study chosen from the list of electives (see University of Sydney postgraduate courses in STD/HIV and individual Unit of Study pages for more details).

The master’s degree comprises 9 core units of study and a further four credit points of elective units of study chosen from the list of electives (see Master of Medicine (STD/HIV) page and individual Unit of Study pages for more details).