Placements
Clinical placements provide students with the opportunity to apply their studies as well as acquire further knowledge, skills and experience required to become a safe and competent medical practitioner. Over the course of the medical program, students undertake a range of placements in a variety of healthcare settings.
Phase 2 Allocations
The Faculty of Medicine has established the Phase 2 Allocation Process to manage and support the clinical training for students in Phase 2 of their program. The Phase 2 Allocation Process is designed to facilitate the equitable distribution of students in Clinical Placements throughout the Academic Year and across all available Clinical Units.
We have reviewed the way in which you are allocated to your placements in Phase 2, and from 2019 we will allocate you to a “home” clinical unit where you will undertake the majority of your placements. You will be part of a relatively small group of students at that site who will follow a similar sequence of placements across the year. We expect over the year that you will gain a good sense of the hospital in which you are working, as well as its staff, layout, facilities and culture, and we hope that will give you a better sense of belonging, both to the hospital and your peer group.
To facilitate this, the Faculty has developed “pathways” - the sequence of placements that one student will take across the entire year. It is important to note that the number of pathways that are made available each year is dependent on operational requirements, and individual offerings may be subject to minor changes. The Year 3 and Year 4 offerings for 2020 are provided to give you an idea of the likely sequences of placements available at different clinical units, the number of students at each unit, and the likely distribution of students across the different hospitals within the unit (if applicable).
Each year, students will have the opportunity to submit their preferences for allocations via the UQ Placements system. Further information on what, when and how to submit your prerefences can be found here:
Away Placements
Students are eligible to complete up to three (3) clinical placements during Phase 2 at a non-UQ location. In addition to these, students are able to complete the Personalised Learning Course (elective) at a non-UQ location.
Every institution has specific criterion that students must meet before undertaking a medical placement. Students must ensure that they can comply with all requirements before applying, as significant costs could occur. The Faculty of Medicine can assist in certain aspects of host institution requirements, but the responsibility remains with the student.
Approved Disciplines for non-UQ Locations
Important Note for Students on Placement Selection
- Students are advised NOT to make any travel arrangements until the final approval has been granted.
- Students are responsible for contacting any proposed teaching institution and for seeking agreement that a teaching program will be available consistent with the published Learning Objectives and Goals.
- Students are required to establish that supervision will be provided.
- UQ students are covered for Travel insurance while undertaking placements at non-UQ locations.The Placements team will advise the student of the relevant forms to complete prior to the rotation to be covered for UQ's insurance. Students can also find further information here
External Overseas Examinations
Scope of External Overseas Assessments
End of semester written assessments that are timetabled in the examination week are able to be undertaken at an overseas examination venue. The examination venue will be sourced by UQ staff – this will no longer be the responsibility of the student.
The following assessments are specifically excluded from being undertaken at an overseas examination venue*:
- Clinical or oral assessments that occur at any time, including during clinical placements, during designated assessment periods, or as supplementary or deferred assessments.
- The Phase 2 OSCE examination. Students will be required to undertake this assessment at a UQ clinical site in Queensland at a time as specified by the Chief Examiner. In most cases, however, students who are eligible for external assessments will be permitted to defer their attempt of the Phase 2 OSCE if it falls within the same examination period. Students must note the Phase 2 OSCE will only be held twice per year (mid-year and end of year). If students defer their attempt due to sitting their other examinations overseas, there will be reduced opportunities to attempt this prior to graduation.
*In accordance with PPL 3.10.11 Examinations, section 5.6.1
These guidelines are not applicable to Ochsner students. Ochsner students must undertake their end of semester written assessments at the Ochsner Clinical School.
Overseas Assessments at the Ochsner Clinical School
Onshore students who wish to undertake their examinations at the Ochsner Clinical School in New Orleans will be subject to the same eligibility criteria and application requirements outlined below.
NOTE: Students who are approved to undertake their exams at the Ochsner Clinical School are not required to pay a fee, as this constitutes an official University of Queensland venue.
Criteria for Student Eligibility
Students who meet the following criteria will be considered for approval for external overseas examinations:
- Onshore students with approved international placements or elective in Block 3 or 6; OR
- Onshore students with an approved international placement or elective in Block 4 who have a deferred or supplementary written exam for a semester 1 course
The following students would not usually be eligible:
- Students who are on away placements or elective placements within Australia, OR
- Students who are based in Queensland/Australia in Block 3, but are undertaking an overseas placement in Block 4; OR
- Students who are based in Queensland/Australia in Block 3 or 6, but wish to travel overseas (e.g. home) during the revision week.
Application Information
All applications must be submitted directly to the Faculty of Medicine, using the application form listed below. Please do not apply through the UQ Central process.
Application Deadline
Semester 1: Monday, 8 April 2019 (midday)
Semester 2: Monday, 19 August 2019 (midday)
Applications have now closed for Semester 1
Applications for Semester 2 will open on Monday, 29 July 2019.
Payment Details
Students are required to pay a set fee of $300 per end of semester examination block. This payment is non-refundable and must be made within 2 business days of receiving approval from the Faculty. If payment is not received within 2 business days, approval will be rescinded.
Please ensure that you do not pay the fee until your application has been approved.
Ochsner Clinical School Placements
Each year domestic and international onshore students in Phase 2 have the opportunity to apply for placements at the Ochsner Clinical School through a pre-approved selection process (NB. The Ochsner Clinical School is a UQ site and therefore undertaking a clinical placement at Ochsner is not considered to be an away placement).
These placements cannot be split, and must be taken in their entirety. Students can ONLY apply for blocks that correlate with their allocated placement pathway. Available placements include:
- Elective
- Medical Specialties
- Emergency/Orthopaedics
- Anaesthetics/Ophthalmology/Intensive Care
It is important to note that priority will be given to students who:
- Are committed to practising medicine in the United States or Canada (e.g. have been approved, have applied, or expect to apply to undertake medical licensing examinations), or
- Have applied to undertake their elective placement at the OCS.
Inbound Clinical Placements
UQ assists visiting students with medical elective placements. UQ Medicine defines visiting students as those who are seeking to complete a medical elective placements through UQ while they are enrolled at another institution within Queensland, interstate, or external to Australia.
Student Conduct
During your training, you are an ambassador for UQ Medicine and your conduct will be on show to preceptors, their clinical and scientific colleagues, patients and members of the general public. To assist you to display the highest possible professional conduct throughout your clinical training, please click on the button below:
Key Contacts
The Faculty of Medicine – Placements Team
Location: Level 5, Oral Health Centre, Herston
Phone: +61 7 3346 4922
Email: med.placements@uq.edu.au