About AMS

Advanced Medical Science ( AMS) is a specially designed subject strategically placed within the medical course at The University of Melbourne. The medical course is six-years (12-semesters) in length. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree (MBBS) and a Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc) degree. The BMedSc program is completed over the first three and a half years of study. AMS is the final year of this degree, and it involves a year of research, or combined research and coursework, in a field related to medicine.

In this year students:

• explore an area of relevance to medicine in greater depth than is possible in the body of the curriculum.
• broaden their experience of health care and research, often in off-campus settings.
• learn the theory behind evidence and research, and experience it first hand and appreciate the challenges and limitations.
• have the opportunity to interact with researchers and better appreciate the background work and processes involved in the advancement of medicine.
• acquire skills in the acquisition, evaluation and application of information (evidence) by undertaking in-depth studies in an area of their choice related to medicine.

AMS is taken as a year long subject in Semesters 6 and 7 and commences in July. Students choose their topic from a range of units published each year. Each semester is of approximately twenty weeks duration. Most units are at the University of Melbourne, some are at other prestigious institutes in Australia and overseas, and a limited number are student-initiated.

Graduate Entry students do not have to complete AMS. It is expected that graduate entry students will have had exposure to the concepts and methods of research and evidence in their prior degree that would satisfy the learning objectives of these subjects. Graduate entry students still have the option of completing a research year, if so desired.

The BMedSc degree may be used as an exit degree from the course for students not wishing to continue with their MBBS.

It is also possible to apply for BMedSc Honours which is a six month extension of the AMS year.

Find out about our Learning Objectives.

See an overview of the Course Requirements.