UTAS UTAS Medicine: Entry Information and Discussion

[tiffiepiffie]

Hi all. I'm an international student who just got accepted to UTAS for MBBS program. I have already completed a bachelor's degree previously. However my offer is conditional, which stated that "Entry into the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery is conditional on successful completion of the pre-requisite unit of Chemistry". I took chemistry during high school, and did it for IB as well, but it was several years ago. Does anyone know for international students, can the chemistry requirement be fulfilled using high school results or is there a time limit for that? Since I know for domestic high school leavers, it has to be completed within 5 years.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi all. I'm an international student who just got accepted to UTAS for MBBS program. I have already completed a bachelor's degree previously. However my offer is conditional, which stated that "Entry into the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery is conditional on successful completion of the pre-requisite unit of Chemistry". I took chemistry during high school, and did it for IB as well, but it was several years ago. Does anyone know for international students, can the chemistry requirement be fulfilled using high school results or is there a time limit for that? Since I know for domestic high school leavers, it has to be completed within 5 years.

I’m not sure for international students, but can confirm as someone with a previous degree that is now a Utas student, I had to do the (free for domestic students, not sure for international) chemistry bridging course because my high school chem was more than 5 years ago. How long ago was your high school chemistry and where did you study that? If you studied it overseas, UTAS may not be aware of your high school record as they’d have used your bachelor degree to judge your eligibility. I’d recommend contacting UTAS directly to see what they want from you and if they’ll consider your high school chem. You may need to provide a transcript.

 

[tiffiepiffie]

I’m not sure for international students, but can confirm as someone with a previous degree that is now a Utas student, I had to do the (free for domestic students, not sure for international) chemistry bridging course because my high school chem was more than 5 years ago. How long ago was your high school chemistry and where did you study that? If you studied it overseas, UTAS may not be aware of your high school record as they’d have used your bachelor degree to judge your eligibility. I’d recommend contacting UTAS directly to see what they want from you and if they’ll consider your high school chem. You may need to provide a transcript.

My high school chemistry was around 8 years ago and yea it was overseas. I contacted UTAS admissions a few days ago and apparently my agent forgot to attach my high school results in my application, so now I have to wait for their reply and it's torturingggg! Now I'm really nervous about whether it can be used since I'm worried about the feasibility for the chemistry bridging course (if I have to take it), with the COVID restrictions and all. And if I am not able to fulfill the chemistry requirement, I might have to forfeit the offer

By the way, LMG! , just curious, did they include the bridging course in your offer letter? Since they just stated that one sentence in my offer letter but did not say how I can fulfill the pre-requisite for the Chemistry part.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

My high school chemistry was around 8 years ago and yea it was overseas. I contacted UTAS admissions a few days ago and apparently my agent forgot to attach my high school results in my application, so now I have to wait for their reply and it's torturingggg! Now I'm really nervous about whether it can be used since I'm worried about the feasibility for the chemistry bridging course (if I have to take it), with the COVID restrictions and all. And if I am not able to fulfill the chemistry requirement, I might have to forfeit the offer

By the way, LMG! , just curious, did they include the bridging course in your offer letter? Since they just stated that one sentence in my offer letter but did not say how I can fulfill the pre-requisite for the Chemistry part.

Given it was 8 years ago, I’d say it’s highly likely you’ll need to do the bridging course. They take the requirement very seriously.

It wasn’t a condition of my offer as I’d completed the bridging course prior to applications opening. But I do know others who had it as a condition of theirs and even one who failed the bridging course and had their offer rescinded.

I did the summer school bridging course that is online in Jan except for two lab days at the very end. If you’re coming for the start of semester one anyway, you could time it to come for those final two lab days.

 

[tiffiepiffie]

Yea they replied...and I do need to do that bridging course in order to fulfill the requirements. However, apparently the lab days can be done online now.
By the way LMG! , do you mind sharing more about the medical program, especially with the current situations in mind? As I heard that the first years are all online? Do you happen to know how would the case base learning or the exams be held with the pandemic still a very real situation? And any possible arrangements for people who are coming from overseas?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Yea they replied...and I do need to do that bridging course in order to fulfill the requirements. However, apparently the lab days can be done online now.
By the way LMG! , do you mind sharing more about the medical program, especially with the current situations in mind? As I heard that the first years are all online? Do you happen to know how would the case base learning or the exams be held with the pandemic still a very real situation? And any possible arrangements for people who are coming from overseas?

You can check out my guide for the content of semester 1 if you haven’t already. As for the pandemic era delivery of said content, I’m at the other end of the degree so don’t have too much familiarity with the online learning situation but I do understand that a substantial portion of the lecture-based teaching is online, but that some sessions (labs, clinical skills, possibly CBLs) are in-person. Obviously I’m not sure how things will look early next year and I’d recommend flexibility with expectations.

From my perspective, UTAS managed the shift to online really well last year. I had online labs and CBLs and honestly, I found the online labs to be better than in person ones. The teaching staff were amazing and I found it much more conducive to my learning style than how in-person labs had been run (where we were a bit left to our own devices). Obviously YMMV on this, but I personally think it was handled brilliantly.

Exams were held online with Respondus Lockdown and it was all very smooth. I also found online exams less stressful and more relaxed than in-person ones. I got my best results of any Med year (so far) last year, actually!

 

[jampa123]

Hi guys, if you qualify for the rural stream for most of the unis because by doing 5 consecutive years in a rural area during primary school, but do rest of schooling in a metro area, are you considered a rural applicant for UTas? Also, I am bit confused how they take the UCAT into consideration, is it like a 50 cuttoff or is it a ranking system. (Content removed: ‘what are my chances?’ thread will open in due course). Thanks guys.

 

[tiffiepiffie]

LMG! Thanks so much for all your information! I would also want to know more about the foundation chemistry unit from UTAS. Since my offer got updated and it now officially includes the course as one of the condition to enroll into MBBS, I was wondering how was the foundation chemistry unit, like is it quite hard or it's really mostly fundamentals? Does the course include complex theories or are they generally straight forward, including the assignments and assessments ? And is it hard to achieve the successful completion of the unit (since you mentioned that you know someone who failed to achieve that and got their offers rescinded), like is it a mere pass or has too be at least 80%?

 

[DrDrLMG!]

LMG! Thanks so much for all your information! I would also want to know more about the foundation chemistry unit from UTAS. Since my offer got updated and it now officially includes the course as one of the condition to enroll into MBBS, I was wondering how was the foundation chemistry unit, like is it quite hard or it's really mostly fundamentals? Does the course include complex theories or are they generally straight forward, including the assignments and assessments ? And is it hard to achieve the successful completion of the unit (since you mentioned that you know someone who failed to achieve that and got their offers rescinded), like is it a mere pass or has too be at least 80%?

You only need to get 50% to pass and I found it quite straightforward. For context, I did Physical Sciences waaaaay back in the day (seriously, a long time ago!!) which was Physics and Chem. Even though I’d done many years of uni since then, none of it involved any dedicated Chemistry so it was aaaages since I’d done any. I actually went in with it thinking I’d see how I go and if I found it really hard, then maybe Med wasn’t going to be for me. I ended up getting 94%. The teacher was amazing! So enthusiastic and willing to ‘teach’, not just tell you what to do. If she is still running it, then I highly recommend and even if she isn’t, I still think it was a very good course.

I hope that helps.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

LMG! Thanks so much for all your information! I would also want to know more about the foundation chemistry unit from UTAS. Since my offer got updated and it now officially includes the course as one of the condition to enroll into MBBS, I was wondering how was the foundation chemistry unit, like is it quite hard or it's really mostly fundamentals? Does the course include complex theories or are they generally straight forward, including the assignments and assessments ? And is it hard to achieve the successful completion of the unit (since you mentioned that you know someone who failed to achieve that and got their offers rescinded), like is it a mere pass or has too be at least 80%?

Hello! Did you end up completing the bridging course and enrolling in UTAS Med? Are you finishing up first year now? If so, congratulations! Let me know how your year has gone

 

[tiffiepiffie]

Hi LMG! Thanks for remembering me! The whole process was such a roller coaster! Basically at first they told me that I can take the bridging course online, and then afterwards telling me that I can’t due to the compulsory onshore lab component and then referring me to take an online Unilearn course. And later informing me that they have cancelled the five year rule in acknowledging my chemistry pre-requisite. So now I can directly enrol into UTAS Med!!! I’ll be starting year 1 in 2022 Feb, so still fingers-crossed for the borders opening!

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi LMG! Thanks for remembering me! The whole process was such a roller coaster! Basically at first they told me that I can take the bridging course online, and then afterwards telling me that I can’t due to the compulsory onshore lab component and then referring me to take an online Unilearn course. And later informing me that they have cancelled the five year rule in acknowledging my chemistry pre-requisite. So now I can directly enrol into UTAS Med!!! I’ll be starting year 1 in 2022 Feb, so still fingers-crossed for the borders opening!

Oh goodness! That is quite the rollercoaster ride! Rumours are that Tassie will open mid-Dec if you’re fully vaxxed so as long as you’ve done that, you should be good to go!

 

[StudyMed]

Hi, I am an international student and am planning to join UTAS medicine for Feb 2022 intake. I would like to know more about the course wrt the structure and internship opportunities for international students. Also, how many students are there for medicine in UTAS? Somewhere I read that there are 105, but would like to confirm.
Thanks!

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi, I am an international student and am planning to join UTAS medicine for Feb 2022 intake. I would like to know more about the course wrt the structure and internship opportunities for international students. Also, how many students are there for medicine in UTAS? Somewhere I read that there are 105, but would like to confirm.
Thanks!

Course structure for the first three years (fourth year coming soon) are outlined here: UTAS - UTAS Medicine: Overview

There’s about 120 students each year. 100 domestic and 20 international.

 

[StudyMed]

Course structure for the first three years (fourth year coming soon) are outlined here: UTAS - UTAS Medicine: Overview

There’s about 120 students each year. 100 domestic and 20 international.

Thank you so much LMG. This is extremely helpful.
I would like to know regarding the accommodation, like how it works for UTAS. Also, are the classes online? How does this work? Thanks.

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Thank you so much LMG. This is extremely helpful.
I would like to know regarding the accommodation, like how it works for UTAS. Also, are the classes online? How does this work? Thanks.

When I did first year a while ago now, no, the classes were not online. This has obviously changed significantly over the past two years and now a majority of lectures are online in first year, with pracs and labs and clinical skills type classes taking place face to face. I have no idea if there is a plan to move back to face to face lectures next year.

There are heaps of Uni accommodation options for students, including some that are very close to the med school. There's another dedicated thread for utas accommodation so ask any specific questions you have there.

 

[StudyMed]

When I did first year a while ago now, no, the classes were not online. This has obviously changed significantly over the past two years and now a majority of lectures are online in first year, with pracs and labs and clinical skills type classes taking place face to face. I have no idea if there is a plan to move back to face to face lectures next year.

There are heaps of Uni accommodation options for students, including some that are very close to the med school. There's another dedicated thread for utas accommodation so ask any specific questions you have there.

Thanks so much LMG!

 

[bubblegum3333]

Just wondering whether a 68%ile UCAT and 95.45 ATAR is enough for a UTAS offer as a RA3 rural interstate applicant

 

[Scrivo_72]

Just wondering whether a 68%ile UCAT and 95.45 ATAR is enough for a UTAS offer as a RA3 rural interstate applicant

This was an offer last year: UCAT: 2750, ATAR: 94.00, Rural (Northern Territory), CSP

Utas uses ucat as a hurdle over 50%ile so that shouldnt affect your chances, and cause this person is Northern territory they could either be RA 2 or RA3-5, where RA2 gets 4 atar adjustments based on utas and RA3-5 gets 5 atar adjustments. So either way your adjusted atar is higher than this persons. So i think you should get an offer then if stats are similar to last year. But this person could have been a top up or a very late round. You defo have a good chance of an offer regardless though.

 

[RealYY]

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone knew how many Canadians were in the cohort(s) and what their plans are for post-grad?