Student Enrichment and Support

Student Enrichment and Support

Health Hub

The Health Hub centralizes services common to current and prospective students across the schools of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

The Student Experience team is the face of the Health Hub. We are here to help you with graduate pathways advising, transition into first year undergraduate degrees, pre-placement compliance and more! We work alongside the Faculty’s Admissions, Research Higher Degree and Experiential Learning teams to give you the most up-to-date information on all things MDHS!

Download our flyer here and find out 10 reasons why you should visit the Health Hub.

Our Student Experience team is divided in two main areas:

Student Support

Our Student Support Officers can help you with:

  • Graduate Pathways Advice

    Nobody knows MDHS graduate entry requirements and prerequisites better than the Health Hub. Talk to us about your graduate study plans early and we can help you stay on track to achieve your goals.

  • Pre-placement Compliance

    Many of our courses have industry placements that require you to satisfy certain preplacement requirements. Whether it is for this course or your next, the Health Hub can advise you on what you need to provide.

  • Specialist Cohort Support

    At the Health Hub, we support Chancellor’s Scholars students and have a dedicated Indigenous Student Support Officer on the team. We are well versed in graduate entry requirements for your cohorts and initiatives for current students.

  • Student Society Enrichment

    One of the things we love to do is enrich student experience. We often do this by facilitating academic enrichment and social events run by your student societies. Study/life balance is important so get involved!

Student Life

Our Student Life team can help you with:

  • Peer Mentoring

    The Melbourne Peer Mentor Program connects commencing undergraduates with an instant network of familiar faces to help make the transition to uni easy and enjoyable. The Health Hub can answer any questions you may have.

  • Academic Advising

    From Semester 2 2020, commencing undergraduate students will be supported by an Academic Adviser who will guide them to develop academic interests, skills, and help with study decisions. Interested in learning more? Visit the Health Hub today!

  • Graduate Pathways Advice

    Nobody knows MDHS graduate entry requirements and prerequisites better than the Health Hub. Talk to us about your graduate study plans early and we can help you stay on track to achieve your goals.

We are located on Level 1 of the Brownless Biomedical Library and available for drop in visits from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday*. You can also contact us by phone or email if you are not on campus. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Address: Level 1, Brownless Biomedical Library
Parkville Campus, Building 182
Email: health-hub@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 5890

You can also follow the Health Hub on social media for updates:
Facebook: uom.HealthHub
Instagram: uom.healthhub

*Please note that drop in visits are currently not available as the University has moved to a virtual campus due to COVID-19. However, we are still open virtually, and you can talk to us via phone or email!

Clubs and Societies

There are a rich and diverse range of student clubs and societies for you to get involved in across the University and within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

If you represent a student group, visit Student Group Support.

Breadth

Breadth subjects are an exciting part of the Melbourne Curriculum. They allow undergraduate students to expand their horizons by taking subjects offered outside their degrees.

Why study MDHS breadth subjects?

Studying undergraduate breadth subjects in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) will give you a variety of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers and applicable in a variety of contexts. These include critical thinking, problem solving, interpersonal and decision-making skills, as well as an understanding and high regard of social and cultural diversities, human rights, equity and ethics.

The Faculty teaches six undergraduate breadth subjects. These subjects are available to all undergraduates to take as breadth, even those studying within MDHS.

Find out more about breadth at the University of Melbourne.

Breadth Subject Showcase webinar

Date: Tuesday 7 July 2020
Time: 4pm - 4:30pm

Hear from the coordinators of three breadth subjects from the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health that offer perspectives on the big issues for the health of our planet, our people and our societies:

- Indigenous Cultures and Knowledges (UNIB20022) *NEW SUBJECT*
- Inequalities: Causes and Consequences (UNIB20021) * NEW SUBJECT*
- Our Planet, Our Health (UNIB10017)

There will be an opportunity to ask questions of the panellists during the webinar.

Register here.

  • Our Planet, Our Health (UNIB10017)

    https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2018/subjects/unib10017

    This interdisciplinary subject will introduce students to the core concepts of One Health in its broadest sense, as a concept that describes the interconnectedness of the health of humans, animals and the environment. Students will gain a deeper and broader understanding of the complex interplay between human, animal and ecosystem health including the historical and current influence of anthropogenic change in different cultures and contexts.

    This subject is offered in conjunction with the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences. Find out more here: http://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/opoh

  • Drugs That Shape Society (UNIB20008)

    https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2018/subjects/unib20008

    This subject is a compelling story of drugs that provides insight to us as individuals and as a society. Drugs impact our lives in many ways and social responses to their use have shaped our laws, the health system, commerce and foreign policy. Using a case-study approach, students will explore the scientific, social, historical and legal issues associated with alcohol, opiates, tobacco, penicillin and thalidomide.

  • Global Health, Security & Sustainability (UNIB30002)

    https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2018/subjects/unib30002

    Global Health, Security & Sustainability is an exciting subject that explores the root causes of disease, poverty, injustice and inequity that exist in the world today. Students are encouraged to draw on disciplines in law, arts, engineering, economics, biosciences and medicine to explore and understand the depth, complexity and multi dimensionality of current global health challenges.

  • Living Longer: A Global Diagnosis (UNIB30005)

    https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2018/subjects/unib30005

    Since 1800, human life expectancy at birth has doubled globally and tripled in the most favoured nations. The subject will explore in historical sequence the social interventions, economic changes and advances in scientific knowledge that have enabled increasing proportions of human beings to live longer. It will critically review the roles of public health; medicine; wealth, income and economic development; famine, malnutrition and diet; households and individuals; literacy and education.

  • Indigenous Cultures and Knowledges (UNIB20022)

    https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2020/subjects/unib20022

    Indigenous Cultures and Knowledges will introduce students to the diversity of Indigenous culture, epistemologies, practices and engagements with the contemporary world. It will also introduce students to the immense body of scholarship on traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies, cultures, languages, history and prehistory in curricula, research and knowledge exchange.

  • Inequalities: Causes and Consequences (UNIB20021)

    https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2020/subjects/unib20021

    This interdisciplinary subject introduces concepts and theories from population health, the humanities, sociology, economics, geography, criminology and education to explore contemporary and historical trends and debates. It will be delivered by scholars and eminent guest speakers from varied backgrounds and areas of expertise and focus on understanding causes, consequences, and potential means of tackling inequalities, inequities and injustices from a range of disciplinary perspectives.

Chancellor’s Scholars

Student Profiles

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Sian Brownlow ( Biomedical Student)

You've worked hard for it, you deserve the rewards!

If you’re a high-achieving student, our Chancellor’s Scholars Program is for you. The Program, which had its first intake in 2012, gives you a guaranteed place in a graduate degree*, and you’ll also enjoy a wide range of other exciting benefits.

Read more

Rural Volunteering Program

One of the benefits of the Chancellor’s Scholars Program is the opportunity to take part in a research or internship opportunity. For Bachelor of Biomedicine Chancellor’s Scholars, this includes the Rural Volunteering program in which select students travel in pairs to a small rural/regional towns and take part in a myriad of volunteering activities.

Read more

Rural Health

The Department of Rural Health

Based at Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley, we have major nodes at Ballarat and Wangaratta and associations with nearly 40 smaller towns in rural Victoria.

Visit our website

Indigenous Hub

Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

Tailored support for Indigenous research students.

Find out more

Murrup Barak

The University of Melbourne welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to all courses and programs, and Murrup Barak is here to help future students discover their options and start studying. Murrup Barak supports the Indigenous student community and delivers an integrated educational and cultural program to ensure that Indigenous students have every opportunity for success in their studies.

Find out more

LIME Network

The LIME Network is a dynamic network dedicated to ensuring the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning of Indigenous health in medical education, as well as best practice in the recruitment and graduation of Indigenous medical students.

Find out more

Graduate Pathways Advising

The Student Experience team at the Health Hub offers drop in services for all students wishing to know more about our graduate study options in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

Get in touch with them to discuss how to achieve your graduate study ambitions!

Virtual Briefing Session

On Monday 1st June 2020, the Health Hub hosted a virtual briefing session to explain entry requirements and the application process for 2021 entry into into the Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Physiotherapy.

The briefing was conducted by Neil D'Souza, the Manager of Admissions and Graduate Research Operations. You can listen to Neil's presentation and access the slides below:

For further information, please refer to the relevant Admissions Guide:

You can also consult the FAQ sections below or contact the Health Hub.

General FAQs

  • Why have you decided not to include 2020 grades for the 2021 intake into the Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Physiotherapy?

    Due to COVID-19, this year’s academic results are being derived differently by different universities and are therefore not reliable or consistent indicators of true academic ability. This, along with the need to ensure selection is clear, consistent and coherent for students, is why the University will be using the most reliable and equitable data from before the pandemic struck.

  • How will this affect my application to these courses for future intakes? Will 2020 grades always be exempt from GPA calculations?

    No decision has been made for intakes beyond 2021.

  • Why is the May GAMSAT being considered for the 2021 intake if it was also delivered online?

    As the GAMSAT is a standardised test, it is delivered in the same way to all applicants and is therefore a reliable indicator of ability despite of digital limitations.

  • As 2020 results impacted by COVID-19 are being excluded from the GPA calculations, will any weightings change? Will the GAMSAT be worth more?

    All weightings will remain the same.

  • Taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic, what will Multi Mini Interviews (MMIs) look like this year?

    All MMIs will be held online this year for shortlisted Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Physiotherapy applicants. Time differences will be taken into consideration for overseas applicants.

  • Was there a reduction in the number of places available for 2021 entry into the Doctor of Medicine?

    No. Over the past years, there was a slight reduction in the number of Commonwealth Supported Places available, which are supplied by the government and not the University.

Guaranteed entry FAQs

  • I’m a guaranteed full fee entry applicant: does this mean that my WAM this year will not be calculated towards the condition of maintaining a 75% WAM? What if my WAM is below 75%?

    For applicants under the guaranteed entry scheme who need to maintain 75% WAM, the WAM will be calculated in line with the recent announcement from Academic Board. 
    If your WAM entering Semester 1, 2020 is below 75%, you will have the opportunity to improve your WAM throughout Semester 1, 2020 in accordance with the announcement, which you can find here.

  • I'm a guaranteed full fee entry applicant: do I get automatically invited for the MMI even if my WAM has not reached 75% yet?

    As the 75% WAM requirement applies to the entire course, guaranteed full fee entry applicants with 73%-74% WAMs may still get invited to the MMI because there is a chance of improvement in Semester 2, 2020. However, these students would still need to meet the 75% WAM requirement at the end of their undergraduate degree.

Summer subjects, Honours and other FAQs

  • Will my Summer subjects be included in the GPA calculations?

    Results for 2020 subjects completed before the COVID-19 pandemic will be included for 2021 entry to Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Physiotherapy programs. All other 2020 subject results will be excluded for 2021 entry.

  • If I'm finishing my Honours degree mid 2020, does my Honours year still count?

    If you complete your Honours degree mid 2020, the coursework subjects you would have completed in Semester 2, 2019 will count towards to the final year GPA calculations. Your thesis subject, which would be completed in Semester 1, 2020, would not be included in GPA calculations.

  • I have overloaded my studies in second year. Will the excess subjects I have undertaken count towards GPA calculations?

    Yes, results for subjects completed before the COVID-19 pandemic will be included for 2021 entry to Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Physiotherapy programs. If you have questions regarding how your GPA will be calculated, please contact GEMSAS directly.

Commonly Requested Resources

Buddy Program

Have you heard of the MDHS Buddy Program?

First of all – welcome to the University of Melbourne and congratulations on being offered a graduate course at the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS).

We understand that starting University in a new country can be both exciting but challenging. So, if you are a new commencing international postgraduate student enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, this Buddy Program is for you!

About the program

This brand new scheme aims to assist new commencing international students to have a smoother initial transition to university life at Melbourne. The short term program will provide you with the opportunity to connect with senior students and peers in the faculty, so you can familiarise yourself with the campus while making new friends from the get-go!

Tip #1: Check out the FAQs below for more information about the scheme.

  • How does the Buddy Program work?

    1. The Buddy Program matches you (a new commencing international postgraduate student) with current senior MDHS students.
    2. You will be connected with a small group of other new international postgraduate students within MDHS to explore and discover student life together. Your other buddies may be from a different background or course.
    3. We will then pair your group with two experienced seniors (our 'Senior Buddies') who will help point you in the right direction if you have questions about life on campus, settling in or making adjustments to university life.
  • Who is this program for?

    This program is for you if you are:
    ✔ A new commencing international postgraduate student and
    ✔ Enrolled in one of our courses in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

    Tip #2: Why should you be part of this program?

    • Get crucial information and advice during your early university days
    • Make new friends & connect socially with life at university
    • Expand your personal network
    • Meet students from other courses and backgrounds
  • How do I join the Buddy Program?

    You can join the MDHS Buddy Program by expressing your interest online. Applications close on 31 January 2020. Students will be notified in late February about  the next steps, with the first Meet & Greet session taking place on 10 March 2020.

    Remember – in order to be eligible for this program, you must be a new commencing international postgraduate student enrolled in one of our MDHS courses.

    Tip #3: Questions?

    Drop us an email at contactmdhs-srt@unimelb.edu.au with the email title: Buddy Program registration.

  • FAQs

    Who is the MDHS Buddy program for?

    This program is for new commencing international postgraduate students at MDHS. This Buddy Program aims to provide additional support to the new commencing postgraduate students, on top of the range of other student support services offered by the university.

    How long is the program for?

    The MDHS Buddy Program aims to provide additional support during the initial transition into university life. This is a year-long program which will officially start in March 2020 and end in October 2020.

    Who are the Senior Buddies? 

    Our Senior Buddies are students who have been at The University of Melbourne for a longer period of time and are familiar with navigating student life on campus. You can find out more about our senior buddies here.

    How are the Buddies matched?

    The Senior and Junior buddies will be matched through a confidential process based on information provided by both parties upon registration. Every effort is made to ensure the participants' interests are aligned as closely as possible. Some degree of flexibility and understanding on the part of the participants may be required to make the most of the opportunity.

    When is the first meet-up?

    At the start of each semester, there will be a Meet & Greet event to welcome all Buddy Program participants. It is compulsory for all program participants to attend the Meet & Greet event. Outside of these two formal gatherings, the Buddy groups are encouraged to continue catching up, either via social media or simply just by grabbing a coffee or lunch together.

    Will my senior buddy help me with my assignments or exam preparation?

    Important: Your senior buddies are not tutors, and are not trained to assist with academic work.

    Seniors may share with Juniors their experiences and study tips but are not able to assist with reviewing work and assignments. Academic Skills is a great resource for students to get support on academic writing, time management and presentation skills.

    I have registered for this program and I am no longer interested in this program. What should I do?

    Please drop us an email at contactmdhs-srt@unimelb.edu.au with the title: Buddy Program, as early as possible and we will work out the rest.

    Other useful resources

    • Find your way around campus (link)
    • Support services – Stop 1 (link)
    • Health and Wellbeing (link)
    • Careers and employability (link)
    • Student services workshops (link)
    • Clubs and societies (link)

If you are a new commencing international postgraduate student commencing in Semester 2, this program is just for you! Expression of Interest for the MDHS Buddy Program is now open for Semester 2 and will close on 20 July 2020 (12pm AEST).

If you are commencing in 2021, registrations for 2021 intake will only open in November.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Student advocacy program 2020 (2)

MEET OUR SENIOR BUDDIES

Our Senior Buddies are students who have been at the University of Melbourne for a longer period of time and are familiar with navigating student life on campus.

They can help you learn some tips and tricks for starting out at university.

Read their stories