Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

5 Years On Campus Dual-bachelors Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at Curtin University is a professionally accredited medical degree designed to prepare students for careers as competent, compassionate, and evidence-based medical practitioners. The program is ideal for students passionate about healthcare, clinical medicine, and patient care, combining biomedical science foundations with extensive clinical training in hospitals, healthcare centres, and community settings.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students develop foundational knowledge in human biology, medical sciences, and professional medical practice while beginning early clinical exposure. Subjects such as Foundations of Medicine 1, Human Structure and Function, and Professionalism and Communication in Healthcare introduce students to anatomy, physiology, clinical reasoning, and patient-centred care while building communication and teamwork skills.

Year 2

Second year focuses on understanding disease processes, clinical sciences, and integrated medical systems through case-based learning and practical clinical experiences. Courses including Foundations of Medicine 2, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, and Clinical Skills Development help students explore human disease mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic interventions while strengthening patient assessment skills.

Year 3

During third year, students transition into more intensive clinical learning through supervised placements across healthcare environments. Clinical rotations in areas such as Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Primary Care Medicine allow students to apply medical knowledge in real patient settings while developing diagnostic reasoning, clinical communication, and professional practice skills.

Year 4

Fourth year expands students’ clinical competence through advanced hospital and community-based training across multiple medical specialties. Students undertake rotations in disciplines such as Paediatrics, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, gaining practical experience managing diverse patient conditions and healthcare scenarios under professional supervision.

Year 5

The final year prepares students for internship and professional medical practice through immersive clinical placements and advanced patient management training. Students complete senior clinical rotations in emergency medicine, surgery, general medicine, and rural or regional healthcare settings while refining decision-making, leadership, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.

Focus Areas

Clinical medicine, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, surgery, internal medicine, primary care, paediatrics, psychiatry, public health, patient-centred care, medical ethics, and clinical communication.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop strong clinical reasoning, patient assessment, diagnostic, communication, and evidence-based medical practice skills. Students gain the ability to manage patient care professionally, work effectively within healthcare teams, apply medical research to clinical practice, and deliver compassionate healthcare across diverse medical settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The MBBS program is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC), enabling graduates to pursue internship and medical registration pathways in Australia. The degree aligns with national medical education standards and prepares students for professional practice across hospital, community, and healthcare environments.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Curtin University is recognised for its strong health sciences education, practical clinical training, and industry-connected healthcare learning environment. The medical program benefits from partnerships with hospitals and healthcare providers across Western Australia, supporting strong graduate readiness for medical practice and internship opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at Curtin University gain extensive hands-on clinical experience through simulation training, hospital placements, community healthcare exposure, and practical medical learning from the early years of the program. The degree strongly emphasises patient-centred education, allowing students to apply medical knowledge in real clinical environments while developing diagnostic, communication, and professional healthcare skills. Through access to advanced medical training facilities, clinical simulation environments, and healthcare partnerships across Western Australia, students build practical competence and confidence for professional medical practice:

Clinical Placements Across Healthcare Settings: Students complete supervised clinical placements in hospitals, general practices, community healthcare centres, and regional medical settings throughout the program.
Simulation & Clinical Skills Facilities: Curtin provides advanced clinical simulation laboratories where students practise patient assessment, procedural techniques, emergency response, and clinical communication in realistic healthcare environments.
Early Clinical Exposure: From the early stages of the degree, students engage with patients and healthcare professionals to develop communication, teamwork, and patient-care skills alongside theoretical medical learning.
Hospital-Based Medical Training: Senior years include immersive clinical rotations across disciplines such as surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and obstetrics and gynaecology.
Case-Based & Problem-Based Learning: Students work collaboratively through clinical cases and medical scenarios that strengthen diagnostic reasoning, evidence-based decision making, and multidisciplinary healthcare problem solving.
Anatomy & Biomedical Science Laboratories: Practical learning includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, and biomedical science laboratory experiences supporting understanding of human health and disease.
Clinical Communication Training: Students develop professional patient interaction and consultation skills through simulated consultations, healthcare teamwork activities, and supervised clinical practice.
Regional & Rural Health Experience: The program includes opportunities for learning in regional and rural healthcare environments, helping students understand diverse patient populations and healthcare delivery systems.
Digital Medical Learning Resources: Students use online medical learning systems, clinical databases, biomedical literature resources, and digital healthcare education platforms to support evidence-based learning and clinical preparation.
Research & Health Science Environment: Students benefit from Curtin’s health sciences and medical research environment, gaining exposure to current healthcare research and evidence-based medical practice.
Collaborative Healthcare Learning: Interprofessional learning activities allow students to work alongside other health discipline students, strengthening teamwork and multidisciplinary healthcare understanding.
Library & Medical Information Services: Curtin libraries provide access to medical journals, clinical databases, anatomy resources, research support tools, and healthcare learning materials essential for medical education.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at Curtin University are prepared for professional medical practice through extensive clinical training, patient-centred learning, and real healthcare experience across hospital and community settings. The program develops the clinical competence, communication skills, and professional judgement required for internship and medical registration pathways in Australia. Typical career pathways include junior doctor, hospital medical officer, general practitioner trainee, clinical researcher, and specialist medical practitioner following further training:

Curtin Careers & Employability Services: Students receive support through Curtin Careers, including career planning, employability workshops, interview preparation, networking opportunities, professional development programs, and graduate transition support for healthcare careers.
Australian Medical Council Accreditation: The MBBS degree is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC), allowing graduates to pursue internship placements and registration pathways required for medical practice in Australia.
Clinical Placement Partnerships: Curtin works closely with hospitals, healthcare services, and regional medical providers across Western Australia to deliver practical clinical training and professional healthcare exposure.
Hospital & Community Healthcare Experience: Extensive supervised clinical placements strengthen graduates’ readiness for internship and early-career medical practice across diverse healthcare settings.
Strong Healthcare Employability: Medical graduates benefit from continued demand for qualified doctors and healthcare professionals within Australia’s healthcare system, particularly in hospital, primary care, and regional healthcare sectors.
Professional Medical Skills Development: Graduates develop expertise in patient assessment, diagnostic reasoning, clinical communication, evidence-based practice, teamwork, and ethical medical decision-making.
Rural & Regional Health Exposure: Training experiences in regional and rural healthcare environments prepare students for broader medical career opportunities and diverse patient populations.
Research & Evidence-Based Practice Preparation: Students gain exposure to medical research principles and evidence-based healthcare approaches that support future clinical and academic development.
Global Recognition of Medical Qualification: Accreditation and professional training standards support recognition of the qualification for medical pathways and postgraduate opportunities internationally, subject to local registration requirements.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates typically progress into internship training within hospitals and healthcare systems before continuing into specialist training, general practice, surgery, internal medicine, emergency medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, or other medical specialties.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the MBBS degree and internship requirements, graduates may continue into specialist medical training programs through Australian medical colleges in fields such as surgery, general practice, paediatrics, psychiatry, anaesthetics, emergency medicine, or internal medicine. Graduates may also pursue higher research degrees, public health qualifications, clinical research pathways, or postgraduate studies in specialised healthcare and medical science disciplines.