International Students’ Flexible Study Arrangements

• Option 1 (Substitute Specialty Block)
• Option 2 (USMLE preparation)
• Option 3 (Substitute PRINT)
• Procedures for application and approval of substitute Specialty Block overseas

The following arrangements have been approved by the Office of Medical Education (OME) for international fee-paying students enrolled in the Sydney Medical Program. This includes international students whose fees are subsidised in part or full via a scholarship.

These arrangements are not available to students who are not enrolled as international fee-paying students at the time of their planned overseas study, even if they have previously been enrolled as international students.

Option 1 (Substitute Specialty Block)

International students seeking ultimate placement in the medical workforce overseas may apply to complete ONE of the Stage 3 Specialty Blocks in their country of origin.

This arrangement is subject to availability of suitable placements and approval of the proposed substitute Specialty Block by the Specialty Block Chair, the Associate Dean of the student’s Clinical School and the Stage 3 Coordinator, or their delegates.

This will entail an evaluation of the syllabus content, clinical experience and assessment standards of the replacement course in relation to the equivalent Specialty Block in the Medical Program.

This offer applies to:

• Perinatal and Women's Health (Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Neonatology)
• Child and Adolescent Health (Paediatrics)
• Psychological & Addictive Medicine (Psychiatry)
• Community Medicine (Family Practice/Primary Care)

Note:

• Four months’ notice before the commencement of the proposed overseas substitute Specialty Block, must be given to the Medical School if this option is to be considered.
  Please refer to the application procedures.
• Unsatisfactory performance in the Year 3 Barrier examination or any of the Specialty Blocks undertaken in Stage 3 may impact upon a student’s ability to undertake an overseas substitute Specialty Block.

Option 2 (USMLE preparation)

International students planning to sit the USMLE, who wish to take some time off to study for the Part 1 examination, may apply to do so in place of one of the Stage 3 Specialty Blocks.

If this option is taken, the missed Specialty Block will have to be undertaken at the end of the fourth year of the course (Term J). The associated Summative assessment paper (normally sat at the end of Terms D and I) will also have to be undertaken at the end of the fourth year of the course (Term J). This will delay the Pre-Internship term and completion of the Medical Program until some time in the following year.

This arrangement will be subject to approval by the relevant Specialty Block Coordinator, the Associate Dean of the Student’s Clinical School and the Stage 3 Coordinator, or their delegates.

The student will be expected to undertake and meet the usual requirements for assessment in the relevant Specialty Block.

Option 3 (Substitute PRINT)

Students intending to seek placement as interns in their country of origin may apply to do their Pre-Internship Term in an accredited medical centre in that country.

This request will be subject to approval of the proposed term by the Print Committee and the OME.

Note:

• Four months’ notice before the start of the Print Term will be required by the Medical School if this option is contemplated.
• Please refer to the application procedures.
• Students who have elected to take up Options 1 or 2 are also able to take this option.

Important points to note

1. A student who fails to complete the assessment requirements of a substitute Specialty Block which is undertaken overseas will be required to repeat the Specialty Block in Australia.
2. A student who in Option 2 completes a missed Specialty Block in Term J will be required to undertake the Specialty Block in Australia.
3. Delayed Print will have some important implications in 2010 and beyond. The NSW Department of Health and IMET have recently made changes in the Intern allocation process and how students who are undertaking a delayed Print will be handled. Please refer to the IMET website for details.
4. Final approval of requests for flexible study under this policy is at the discretion of the Office of Medical Education, Sydney Medical Program.
   The normal delegates for this purpose are the Stage 3 Coordinator and the Head of the Medical Program.
   Students are advised not to make irrevocable arrangements (such as payment for airfares) before such approval has been received.

Reviewed & revised by OME (CMD & TH) April 2009

Procedures for application and approval of substitute Specialty Block overseas

The purpose of this set of procedures is to facilitate students' arrangements for taking up one of the options set out within the policy document International students' flexible study arrangements.

Application procedure

1. The initial application ( downloadable pdf form ) is to be made in writing at least 4 months prior to the start of the relevant placement. Prior to making the application the student should seek detailed information about the Specialty Block requirements from the Specialty Block Coordinator (see table below).
2. The initial application is made directly to the Associate Dean of the student’s Clinical School.
3. Provided that initial approval is granted by the Associate Dean, the student should then apply to the Specialty Block Coordinator or delegate at their Clinical School, as appropriate (see table).
4. The application (referred to in 3 above) should include:
   - details of the overseas institution,
   - an outline of the curriculum relevant to the chosen Specialty Block
   - the name of the course coordinator and/or senior academic who is to provide supervision of the student, with full contact details including telephone, fax and email address,
   - evidence that the institution will enrol the student, and
   - other documentation as specified by the chosen Specialty Block.

The Specialty Block Coordinator, as appropriate, will contact the nominated course coordinator at the overseas institution to confirm course provision and assessment details.

The Specialty Block Coordinator or delegate, in liaison with the Head of the relevant Discipline(s), will make an assessment as to the equivalence of the overseas term in teaching and learning experiences, including clinical experience and coverage of Themes. The Specialty Block Coordinator or delegate will then forward the student's application to the Stage 3 Co-ordinator (see table below). Final approval will lie with the Stage 3 Co-ordinator, and students are recommended not to make any irrevocable travel arrangements prior to receiving approval from the Stage 3 Co-ordinator.

Assessment requirements for the relevant Specialty Block must be agreed to by the student, the overseas course coordinator and the Specialty Block Coordinator. These will be determined on a case by case basis, in accordance with the formative and summative assessment requirements for each Theme in each Specialty Block and depending on what equivalent assessment is carried out in the overseas course. Please refer to the Specialty Block handbooks.

Detailed requirements will be set by the Specialty Block Coordinator. These are to be agreed to, in writing, by the student.

In some cases students may be required to sit, with appropriate invigilation, written examinations prepared by the relevant Specialty Block. Where this is the case the student must obtain written confirmation from the Examinations Section of the relevant University that they have a mechanism is place for this to take place.

Attendance and participation requirements
Full attendance and a professional level of participation are requirements for all Core and Specialty Blocks. The overseas course coordinator/supervisor will be asked to certify this in writing. Any absences due to misadventure or illness are to be notified directly to the Clinical School Associate Dean, with copies to the relevant Specialty Block Coordinator or PRINT Committee. Appropriate supporting documentation is to be supplied by the student. This may include an application for Special Consideration. Information on Special Consideration can be found on the Medical Program website.

Liaison requirements
Students are required to send at least two updates by email to the Specialty Block Coordinator during their term of overseas study. These are to report briefly on progress, breadth of experience and to ask any questions.

Stage 3 Co-ordinator (delegate of USMP Committee)
Associate Professor Chris Dennis
Sydney Medical School
Room 114
A27 - Edward Ford Building
Email:
Fax: (02) 9926 8855