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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. 

Year 1 Observership

The MD Observership takes place at the end of year 1. It allows students to gain exposure to the practice of medicine in a clinical healthcare, research or community setting prior to the Clinical Rotations phase of the program in years 3 and 4.

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Phase 2 Allocation Process

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.  This process includes provision for Special Consideration and Placement Swaps, and is designed to facilitate the equitable distribution of students in Clinical Placements throughout the Academic Year and across all available Clinical Units.

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Year 3 Preferencing & Allocations

In Year 3, students will undertake five clinical placements across two semesters.

Hospital Practice Semester

  • Medicine (9 weeks)
  • Surgery (9 weeks)

Comprehensive Clinical Practice Semester

  • Mental Health (6 weeks)
  • GP (6 weeks)
  • Rural & Remote Medicine (6 weeks)

Students will be allocated to a Clinical Unit for the duration of the Academic Year, and will undertake most of their Clinical Placements in the teaching sites associated with that Clinical Unit.

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Year 4 Preferencing & Allocations

In Year 4, students will undertake a range of clinical placements across two semesters.

Women’s and Children’s Health Semester

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology (6 weeks)
  • Paediatrics (6 weeks)
  • Elective (6 weeks)

Advanced Hospital Semester

  • Medical Specialties (6 weeks)
     
  • Surgical Specialties (5 weeks)
    • Ophthalmology (2 weeks)
    • Orthopaedics (3 weeks)
       
  • Critical Care (7 weeks)
    • Anaesthetics (2 weeks)
    • ICU (2 weeks)
    • Emergency (3 weeks)

Students will be allocated to a Clinical Unit for the duration of the Academic Year, and will undertake most of their Clinical Placements in the teaching sites associated with that Clinical Unit.

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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 

  • Year 3 - Rural and Remote Medicine, Medicine in Society
  • Year 4 - Medical Specialties, PLC Elective and ED/Ortho

 

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Optional Electives

The purpose of the Optional Electives Program is to provide medical students with an avenue to gain additional clinical or research experience. 

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Inbound Electives

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. 

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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