• Section 1 - Introduction
• Section 2 - Compliance
• Section 3 - Intent
• Section 4 - Relevant Definitions
• Section 5 - Procedures
• Current Admission Requirements
• Course Transfer Conditions
• Additional requirements for transfer into Bachelor of Clinical Sciences
• Progression to Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery in the Northern Territory Medical Program

Section 1 - Introduction

(1) Charles Darwin University and Flinders University are collaborating to deliver a full medical degree program in the Northern Territory - The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (BCSc) offers twelve (12) places per year to school leavers or, higher education students who have studied for no more than one year and hold year 12 qualifications. This degree is designed to provide a pathway for year 12 students to complete the Flinders University Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) taught in the Northern Territory.

Section 2 - Compliance

(2) This is a compliance requirement under the:

1. Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021;

Section 3 - Intent

(3) The intention of this document is to outline the procedures used in the transfer of the University’s students to the BCSc.

Section 4 - Relevant Definitions

(4) In the context of this document:

1. ATAR means Australian Tertiary Admission Rank and is the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate-entry university programs in Australia;
2. Credit Points means a value allocated to individual units in the Higher Education sector indicating its contribution to the overall course requirements and to the enrolment load of a student. Most units are 10 credit points which represents normally 10 hours per week of study, or a quarter of a full-time load for a semester. A full load for a semester is 40 credit points; a full load for the year is 80 credit points. Points which are allocated to individual units in the higher education sector in order to give value to a unit indicate its contribution to the requirements of a course and to the enrolment load of a student. Credit points are also an indicator of the amount of work the unit might entail;
3. Discontinued or lapsed means no longer enrolled or unable to satisfy the conditions for re-enrolment in a unit or course;
4. Grade Point Average means the average of the grades a student has achieved, weighed by the credit points or hour value of the units;
5. Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) means a collaborative program between the University and Flinders University by which Northern Territory students are able to complete medical degrees in the Northern Territory; and
6. UMAT means Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test is a test administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to assist in the selection of students into certain health science courses including most medical and dentistry courses, as well as other health science courses including physiotherapy and pharmacy. The UMAT is used for selection into undergraduate courses only.

Section 5 - Procedures

Current Admission Requirements

(5) In order to ensure that there are 12 students to commence in the Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) in any year (from 2013 onwards) from the BCSc, the University has a process for students currently enrolled at the University to transfer into the BCSc, should a vacancy occur. Based on a review of grades and course progression, high-achieving students, in order of Grade Point Average (GPA) merit, will be invited to consider the option of a course transfer for vacancies in a particular year of the course.

Course Transfer Conditions

(6) Admission requirements* for the new course need to be met by the student.

(7) Generally, students must have successfully completed at least 40 credit points in their current course of study, before they may be permitted to seek a transfer.

(8) Course transfers are only permitted prior to the commencement of Semester 1, 2 and/or Summer Semester.

(9) Students who are not currently enrolled, and whose status is either Lapsed, Discontinued or Completed are not eligible for lateral transfer.

Additional requirements for transfer into Bachelor of Clinical Sciences

(10) In addition to the above requirements, a student offered the option to transfer to BCSc must:

1. have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 or greater from their studies at the University (for further information on GPA refer to the Grading Policy);
   1. If there is more than one candidate with the same GPA, the GPA will be scored on the marks achieved in a combination of CUC 107 Northern Perspectives, SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology and SCH101 Chemical Concepts units with students being ranked accordingly; and
   2. interviews may be required if rankings are not able to separate students through their grades.
2. meet the ATAR requirements for admission to the BCSc/BMBS if they have studied less than 80 credit points at the University;
3. provide a statutory declaration stating how they meet the Northern Territory residency requirements for the NTMP course. A Northern Territory resident is defined as a person who, at the time of commencement of the medical course (Year 3 of the BCSc/Year 1 BMBS), has:
   1. resided with a permanent address in the Northern Territory, for a total of at least two (2) years out of the last six (6) years; or
   2. resided with a permanent address in the Northern Territory for a total of at least five (5) years since commencing primary school.
4. preferably completed CUC 107 Northern Perspectives, SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology and SCH101 Chemical Concepts units;
5. demonstrate that they can complete the prescribed units of study prior to commencing Year 3 of the BCSc (Year 1 BMBS) in the year of the vacancy. This will be done by mapping a study plan with the BCSc Course Advisor; and
6. must have units to undertake, relevant to a course of study in the BCSc in each semester prior to entering Year 3 of the BCSc (Year 1 BMBS).

Progression to Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery in the Northern Territory Medical Program

(11) Students will be required to pass all units and gain a GPA of 5 (Credit) or above within the two (2) years of the BCSc in order to be permitted to progress to the BMBS (NTMP).