Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine/Arts

8 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine / Arts at the University of New South Wales is an eight-year program that lets you train as a doctor while also studying the humanities through a Bachelor of Arts. It’s a great choice for students who want a strong medical education but also want to explore areas like languages, history, politics, or philosophy to better understand the social and cultural side of healthcare.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
In the first year, students begin building their foundation in medical science while also starting their Arts studies. Core medicine subjects such as Medicine and Health, Health Maintenance, and Beginnings, Growth and Development introduce how the human body works and how doctors approach patient care. Alongside this, students take introductory Arts courses that help develop critical thinking and communication skills.

Year 2:
The second year focuses more deeply on how diseases develop and affect the body. Students study topics through courses such as Health and Disease, Processes of Disease, and Infection and Immunity, while continuing their Arts major or electives. Early clinical exposure also helps students begin linking classroom learning with real healthcare settings.

Year 3:
By the third year, the program explores how health is influenced by society and patient care. Subjects such as Society and Health, Clinical Sciences, and Patient Centred Care help students understand communication, ethics, and the wider factors that influence health outcomes. Arts subjects continue to broaden perspectives and strengthen analytical skills.

Year 4:
In the fourth year, students complete the Bachelor of Medical Studies stage of the program and move further into clinical medicine. Coursework may include Clinical Practice, Integrated Medical Sciences, and an Independent Learning Project (ILP) where students conduct supervised research. Arts studies also continue with advanced subjects within their chosen major.

Year 5:
The fifth year marks the transition into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) phase, where learning becomes much more clinically focused. Students take part in hospital-based training through modules such as Integrated Clinical Practice, Clinical Medicine, and supervised hospital rotations.

Year 6:
During this year, students rotate through a variety of medical specialties and clinical environments. Courses such as Clinical Decision Making, Patient Management, and Specialty Rotations help students develop diagnostic skills and gain practical experience working within healthcare teams.

Year 7:
Students continue advanced clinical training across different specialties including surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, and community health. Subjects such as Advanced Clinical Practice and Professional Practice in Medicine help prepare students for the responsibilities of medical internships.

Year 8:
The final year focuses on consolidating clinical skills and preparing for professional practice. Students complete Capstone Clinical Rotations, Professional Preparation, and their final Arts subjects before graduating with both the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA).

Focus areas (in a string): Clinical medicine, human biology, disease mechanisms, medical ethics, global and community health, humanities and social sciences in healthcare.

Learning outcomes (in a string): Develop strong clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills, understand the biological basis of disease, communicate effectively with patients and healthcare teams, apply ethical and cultural awareness in healthcare, integrate scientific knowledge with medical practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The program is accredited by the Australian Medical Council, allowing graduates to apply for provisional registration with the Medical Board of Australia after completing their internship.

Reputation (employability rankings): Medicine at UNSW is globally recognised, with QS World University Rankings consistently ranking UNSW among the top universities worldwide for Medicine and producing graduates with strong employment outcomes in the healthcare sector.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the biggest advantages of the Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine / Arts at the University of New South Wales is how early students begin gaining real medical experience. Instead of learning only through lectures, students work through clinical scenarios, laboratory sessions, and hospital visits that help them understand how medicine is practiced in the real world. As they progress through the program, learning gradually shifts from the classroom to hospitals and healthcare settings, where students work alongside doctors and healthcare teams. Being based within the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct also means students study in a major biomedical hub surrounded by teaching hospitals, research institutes, and advanced medical facilities.

As the degree progresses, students spend more time in real clinical environments and research settings, helping them develop practical skills, professional confidence, and strong clinical judgement:

Early clinical exposure: From the early years of the program, students develop clinical communication and examination skills through scenario-based learning and supervised hospital sessions.
Hospital-based clinical placements: Beginning around the third year, students spend a significant amount of time in hospitals — often several days each week — applying their knowledge in real patient-care settings.
Teaching hospitals across New South Wales: Clinical training takes place at major partner hospitals including Prince of Wales Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, St George Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and the Royal Hospital for Women.
Independent Learning Project (ILP) or research year: Students complete a supervised research project where they investigate a medical or health-related topic and develop skills in research design, data analysis, and scientific communication.
Ward rounds and bedside teaching: In the later stages of the program, students learn directly from doctors during ward rounds, patient consultations, and clinical case discussions.
Rural and regional placements: Some training opportunities take place in regional hospitals across New South Wales, giving students broader experience with different healthcare systems and patient populations.
Clinical mentoring programs: Students can connect with experienced clinicians through mentoring initiatives that support professional development and career planning.
Collaborative and case-based learning: Small-group teaching, team-based problem solving, and real patient cases help students learn how doctors work together in healthcare environments.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine / Arts from the University of New South Wales step into the medical field with both strong clinical knowledge and a broader understanding of society and culture. After completing the degree and the required internship year, many graduates begin their careers as Junior Doctors, Resident Medical Officers, or move into training to become General Practitioners or medical specialists. Because the program also includes Arts studies, some graduates also pursue opportunities in medical research, global health, health policy, or medical education.

UNSW’s strong reputation and close connections with hospitals and healthcare organisations help graduates transition smoothly into the workforce:

Career support services: Students can access UNSW Employability and Careers, which offers career coaching, CV and interview preparation, networking events with healthcare employers, and guidance for securing internships and hospital training positions.
Strong employment outcomes: Medicine graduates from UNSW consistently report excellent employment outcomes, with many securing full-time positions shortly after graduation and competitive starting salaries for junior doctors in Australia.
Hospital and healthcare partnerships: Through clinical training at major teaching hospitals across New South Wales, students build professional networks that often lead directly to internship and residency opportunities after graduation.
Accredited medical qualification: The Doctor of Medicine component is accredited by the Australian Medical Council, allowing graduates to apply for provisional registration with the Medical Board of Australia and begin their mandatory internship year.
Global reputation: UNSW is recognised internationally for medicine and health sciences, and its graduates are highly regarded by healthcare employers both in Australia and globally.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the program and their internship, graduates usually continue into residency and specialist training programs through professional medical colleges. This pathway can lead to specialisations such as General Practice, Surgery, Paediatrics, Cardiology, Psychiatry, Radiology, or Oncology. Some graduates also choose to pursue research degrees such as a PhD or MD (Research) if they are interested in becoming clinician-scientists, medical researchers, or academic lecturers in medicine and health sciences.