The case for graduate schools of medicine in Australia

Abstract

The present length of the medical curriculum in Australia is, with one exception, six years. It is argued that the time is ripe for the development of some four-year graduate schools from among the existing ten medical schools. Selection from a pool of university graduates would permit a greater degree of self-selection of motivated students able to perform well in tertiary studies. At present admission to medicine occurs mainly direct from secondary school. It is argued that graduate students entering medicine would be more broadly educated, more mature and more self-directed in their studies and career selection. The curricula of such graduate schools could foster better integration of scientific knowledge and clinical practice. Such graduate schools would be concordant with current priorities of national policies on higher education.