This program will provide a professional qualification for those wanting to enhance their research and scientific skills and who are considering a career in surgery.

In particular, the aim of the program is to give candidates a solid grounding in the academic side of surgery with emphasis on developing the skills of writing and presenting at meetings, research, attracting funding and promoting scholarly activity.

The learning objectives of the program are:

1. Demonstrate and apply the key aspects of surgical thinking and decision making.
2. Discuss and apply the ethics of surgery in both clinical and research settings.
3. Explain the relationship and association of molecular biology, surgical immunology and infectious diseases as related to surgery.
4. Plan, design and implement a research project.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of research methodology and techniques, and the ability to determine the correct methods and techniques required.
6. Employ skills in the use of computing and statistics applied to surgery and surgical research.
7. Retrieve information from scientific literature and formulate an overview of a topic that is assessed by its merits in a logical balanced discussion.
8. Produce a research paper suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal.
9. Present research work to a group of peers and colleagues and answer questions relating to this research.

This one year program is taught at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide and comprises:

• Lectures and tutorials
• Practical clinical teaching sessions
• The completion of a research project and production of a research paper suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal

delivered around fulltime clinical commitments.

Attendance at weekly tutorials, monthly journal club and departmental research meetings, a research project and associated writtern papers, presentations and examinations.

The program provides a professional qualification for surgical trainees who wish to enhance their research and scientific skills and consider a career in surgery.

Successful completion of the program will assist doctors into surgical training programs and will provide an excellent foundation for surgical learning that meets the needs of the modern surgeon's further training and career development.

1.    Duration of program

1.1.   Except with the permission of the Faculty, the program shall normally be completed in not more than one year full-time study.

1.2.   A student whose work on any of the program components is interrupted for a reason acceptable to the Executive Dean may be granted an intermission of candidature by the Head of the School of Medicine on behalf of the Faculty. If such an application is approved the maximum period specified in clause 1.1 will be adjusted accordingly by adding the length of the intermission.

2.    Admission

2.1.   An applicant for admission to the program of study for the degree of Master of Surgical Science shall have completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, or equivalent.

2.2.   Overseas applicants must register with the South Australian Medical Board

2.3.   Prescribed communicable infections policy.

The University promotes a pro-active public health approach to prescribed communicable infections (PCI) such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, and seeks to minimise the impact of these infections on students’ academic progress. It offers understanding and practical support to students with such infections, and aims to provide a work and study environment free from discrimination, challenging views that result in discriminatory attitudes toward people with PCIs. The University also has a legal and ethical obligation to take all reasonable measures to prevent the transmission of prescribed communicable infections among students, staff members and visitors, and recognises that some students with such infections will not be permitted to complete the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery or other clinical programs offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Prospective students are strongly advised to consult the University’s Students With Prescribed Communicable Infections Policy – available through the University’s website at www.adelaide.edu.au/student/current/policies.html - which makes reference to the relevant legislation, elaborates on the reasons for the adoption of this policy, and outlines procedures for implementing the policy.

3.    Assessment and examinations

3.1.   There shall be four classifications of pass in any course for the Masters degree: Pass with High Distinction, Pass with Distinction, Pass with Credit, Pass.

3.2.   

a   A candidate shall not be eligible to attend for examination unless the prescribed work has been completed to the satisfaction of the teaching staff concerned.

b   For the purpose of this Rule, a candidate who is refused permission to sit for examination shall be deemed to have failed the examination.

3.3.   On completion of the required research project, the student shall lodge with the Discipline a copy of the work prepared in accordance with directions given to the students from time to time. No publication or material presented for any other degree within this or any other institution shall be submitted.

3.4.   Two examiners of the publication for the Research and Development component of the program will be appointed by the Head of the Discipline of Surgery. Both examiners will normally be internal to the Discipline but not include the student’s supervisor.

3.5.   Review of academic progress

3.5.1.  A student who fails a course and desires to take the course again shall attend lectures and satisfactorily do such written and practical work as teaching staff concerned may prescribe.

3.5.2.  A student who has twice failed a course may not enrol for that course again except by special permission to be obtained in writing from the Faculty and then only under such conditions as may be prescribed.

3.5.3.  Attendance is required for at least 90% of the sessions in any compulsory course. A student who fails this requirement will not be eligible for examination unless there are extenuating circumstances.

3.5.4.  For the purposes of this clause a student who is refused permission to be assessed, by examination or otherwise, or who does not, without a reason accepted by the Head of the School of Medicine on the behalf of the Faculty as adequate, attend all or part of the final examination (or supplementary examination is granted) after having enrolled for at least two thirds of the normal period during which the course is taught, shall be deemed to have failed the course.

3.5.5.  If in the opinion of the Head of the School of Medicine on behalf of the Faculty, a student is deemed at risk of making unsatisfactory academic progress, the Faculty may, with the consent of the Council, terminate the candidature and the student shall cease to be enrolled for the degree.

 4.   Qualification requirements

4.1.   Unless exempted there from by the Faculty, all students will satisfactorily complete compulsory courses to the value of 24 units.

4.2.   Academic program

Unless exempted from by the Faculty, every student for the degree shall satisfactorily complete the following components:

4.2.1.      Courses

All students shall complete the following compulsory courses (24 units)

Surgical Science: Theory and Principles I                     3 units         

Surgical Science and Clinical Practice I                         3 units     

Surgical Science: Theory and Principles II                    3 units     

Surgical Science and Clinical Practice II                        3 units    

Surgical Science: Research and Development              12 units

4.3.   Unacceptable combinations of courses

No candidate will be permitted to count towards an award any course, together with any other course, which, in the opinion of the Faculty concerned, contains a substantial amount of the same material; and no course or portion of the course may be counted twice towards an award

4.4.   Subject to Chapter 89 of the Statutes, candidates who have satisfied the requirements for any award of the University shall be admitted to that award.

5.    Special circumstances

When in the opinion of the relevant Faculty special circumstances exist, the Council, on the recommendation of the Faculty in each case, may vary any of the provisions of the Academic Program Rules for any particular award. 

For further information regarding this program please:

Contact:     Professor Guy Maddern

Email:         guy.maddern@adelaide.edu.au

Phone:       (08) 8222 6756