UQ UQ Medicine: Undergraduate Degree Options and Discussion

[puzzlemaster]

Hi everyone I was offered UQ Provisional Entry and I was wondering what the initial degree I could choose could be. I know that the prerequiste subjects have to be BIOM2011 and BIOM2012.

Should I just choose any Bachelor of Science Degree with thoose subjects?

(Mod note: post moved from Dent thread. Likely incorrectly located initially.)

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi everyone I was offered UQ Provisional Entry and I was wondering what the initial degree I could choose could be. I know that the prerequiste subjects have to be BIOM2011 and BIOM2012.

Should I just choose any Bachelor of Science Degree with thoose subjects?

This is the UQ Dentistry thread. Do you have a Med or Dent offer (I'm guessing Med)?

 

[bizwest76]

Hi does anyone have an opinion on the employability of the following for finding casual/part-time work during the MD? B Nursing, B Biomed science, B Exercise and Nutrition Science, B Health Sci, B Sci. Which of these would be my best bet for finding work? Is employability a consideration I should be making?

 

[Crow]

Hi does anyone have an opinion on the employability of the following for finding casual/part-time work during the MD? B Nursing, B Biomed science, B Exercise and Nutrition Science, B Health Sci, B Sci. Which of these would be my best bet for finding work? Is employability a consideration I should be making?

Definitely nursing - it’s the only vocational degree out of those you’ve listed. And yes, if you want to be working during the MD to fund yourself. Otherwise, it’s probably not as important.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi does anyone have an opinion on the employability of the following for finding casual/part-time work during the MD? B Nursing, B Biomed science, B Exercise and Nutrition Science, B Health Sci, B Sci. Which of these would be my best bet for finding work? Is employability a consideration I should be making?

If you want a job related to your undergrad degree then, absolutely, employability is a consideration.

If you’re happy with a job in retail/hospo etc, then it won’t matter.

To be employable as a BBioMed grad (for example) and in that field, you’d need honours most likely.

Of those you listed, BNurs would be the most directly and reliably employable and without needing further study.

 

[bizwest76]

If you want a job related to your undergrad degree then, absolutely, employability is a consideration.

If you’re happy with a job in retail/hospo etc, then it won’t matter.

To be employable as a BBioMed grad (for example) and in that field, you’d need honours most likely.

Of those you listed, BNurs would be the most directly and reliably employable and without needing further study.

Thanks guys. Few further questions:
Does casual/flexible around uni hours nursing work exist? Which of those degrees would lead me to have the easiest time adapting to MD (due to similar subjects)?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks guys. Few further questions:
Does casual/flexible around uni hours nursing work exist? Which of those degrees would lead me to have the easiest time adapting to MD (due to similar subjects)?

A friend of mine will be in fourth year this year and has worked casually as a nurse quite comfortably for the first three. From my understanding, casual call lists and rostering are quite common.

All of those degrees will have some overlap with Med (which can be useful but is not necessary).

 

[bizwest76]

A friend of mine will be in fourth year this year and has worked casually as a nurse quite comfortably for the first three. From my understanding, casual call lists and rostering are quite common.

All of those degrees will have some overlap with Med (which can be useful but is not necessary).

Thanks again. I'm leaning toward doing nursing for my pre-med now. However when I searched up "is nursing a good pre-med degree" heaps of answers online say no. Is this because they're American and its different or the credit doesn't transfer over or something? Also, do you know if the compulsory units of B Nursing cover the prerequisites for MD? I don't see any pre-med study plans for it.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thanks again. I'm leaning toward doing nursing for my pre-med now. However when I searched up "is nursing a good pre-med degree" heaps of answers online say no. Is this because they're American and its different or the credit doesn't transfer over or something? Also, do you know if the compulsory units of B Nursing cover the prerequisites for MD? I don't see any pre-med study plans for it.

Definitely don’t be getting advice from American sources, the pathways are very different and not comparable.

I have no idea re. your second question. That could be something to discuss with course counsellors at UQ.

 

[CookieBey]

Also, do you know if the compulsory units of B Nursing cover the prerequisites for MD? I don't see any pre-med study plans for it.

I had the same question as you except for B of Midwifery which similarly has a rigid course list. I called UQ and I was told that over courses such as midwifery/nursing/physio, we would pick up the knowledge required by the prereqs. Thus there is no need to study the prereq courses separately as it's automatically covered.

Wouldn't hurt to double check and confirm.

 

[CristinaYang]

Also, do you know if the compulsory units of B Nursing cover the prerequisites for MD? I don't see any pre-med study plans for it.

As B Nursing is an option offered by UQ for the first degree in provisional med (Pathway A or something A I’ve forgotten) it should cover the prerequisites or at least give you the required knowledge as Cookiebey was saying.

 

[sfras80]

Hi everyone, I have been offered UQ as well, very excited, we should get a group together and meet up if possible!

I've been looking into the first degree as well and was strongly leaning towards nursing, but on advice from a doctor who graduated from UQ Med about 10 years ago, am now gonna enrol in Science.

He said - "Biomedical science is the most popular degree for those on the medicine pathway straight out high school. For good reason – it provides a good grounding in the essential sciences and content knowledge required for the medical degree. And whilst it isn’t strong in the essential “soft skills” (communication, patient rapport, etc) which are actually weighted quite heavily in the OSCE exams, it should be your first choice.
There were some nurses in the program, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a first degree. I feel you would be frustrated by the nursing degree – yes it will provide development of those “soft skills” and familiarity with the way the medical system works, but not the content knowledge. Lots of focus on patient care. Also, it will not provide for research opportunities which are essential if you wish to access the more prestigious specialties such as dermatology. "

 

[bizwest76]

Hi everyone, I have been offered UQ as well, very excited, we should get a group together and meet up if possible!

I've been looking into the first degree as well and was strongly leaning towards nursing, but on advice from a doctor who graduated from UQ Med about 10 years ago, am now gonna enrol in Science.

He said - "Biomedical science is the most popular degree for those on the medicine pathway straight out high school. For good reason – it provides a good grounding in the essential sciences and content knowledge required for the medical degree. And whilst it isn’t strong in the essential “soft skills” (communication, patient rapport, etc) which are actually weighted quite heavily in the OSCE exams, it should be your first choice.
There were some nurses in the program, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a first degree. I feel you would be frustrated by the nursing degree – yes it will provide development of those “soft skills” and familiarity with the way the medical system works, but not the content knowledge. Lots of focus on patient care. Also, it will not provide for research opportunities which are essential if you wish to access the more prestigious specialties such as dermatology. "

Could you ask him to expand a bit on the last sentence? I was pretty set on nursing until I read this...

 

[sfras80]

Will do.
I agree, I was pretty set on nursing too until another person urged me to check out the content in the nursing degree. Hence asking this Dr. So this is the second person who is saying, maybe reconsider nursing. I was basing my choice of nursing on the ability to get nursing jobs during Med, but decided to take it out of the equation and then reconsider the degrees on their own merits. Might be able to get jobs in other areas anyway as a med student eg. pharmacy assistant, etc.

 

[bizwest76]

Will do.
I agree, I was pretty set on nursing too until another person urged me to check out the content in the nursing degree. Hence asking this Dr. So this is the second person who is saying, maybe reconsider nursing. I was basing my choice of nursing on the ability to get nursing jobs during Med, but decided to take it out of the equation and then reconsider the degrees on their own merits. Might be able to get jobs in other areas anyway as a med student eg. pharmacy assistant, etc.

Any update on this?

 

[sfras80]

Overall the answer from him and another current med student was that both would prepare you for med school but the BSc is better in terms of directed content. Not many, if any, did nursing as a first degree. Also the advice was to enjoy the first years of uni but before the primary degree is finished, it would be best to have an idea of which specialty you would like to head towards. Entry into the specialty training programs is competitive and the sooner you narrow in on the desired field, the better your chances are of ending up in the preferred area.

 

[Cool]

Hi There

What will happen if you are unable to finish the first degree within 3 years.? Will I lose the place for medicine? I have asked the same question in another Group but I think this is the appropriate group for the question.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi There

What will happen if you are unable to finish the first degree within 3 years.? Will I lose the place for medicine? I have asked the same question in another Group but I think this is the appropriate group for the question.

Yes, I looked into this for someone else and the UQ website (have a google) makes it very clear you have to finish the bachelor degree in the minimum time possible. So if it’s a 3 yr degree, you have to do it in 3 years. If it looks like you won’t, I’d contact the school of med ASAP.

 

[dotwingz]

Hi There

What will happen if you are unable to finish the first degree within 3 years.? Will I lose the place for medicine? I have asked the same question in another Group but I think this is the appropriate group for the question.

Is this related to your friend that you asked about here before? Has he contacted the school of med yet like we recommended?

Realistically as it stands he has lost his Provisional Place (iirc he was meant to graduate last year) and he has nothing to lose from contacting the med faculty.

 

[Cool]

Yes, the same one. But as per the instructions of the UQ, he is currently doing the subjects which he failed. But not sure whether he will get his place next year. As per some source, some students were given a second chance in the past.