BMedSc question (1 Viewer)

[mitch_f1]

Hey
Let me start off by saying that I wanted to go to the open day, but I had the flu, and hence could not make it.

I am considering the prospect of putting either BMedSc (@ UNSW) or BSc (in Bio med sc) (@UTS) as number one on my preferences, but both seem to lead into research positons.

I looked through the UAC book, and it seems that this course at UNSW doesn't necessarily have to lead to research positions, so what I was wondering is, is it possible to go into a position in like a hospital or something that isn't solely research after completeing this degree? Or like what other jobs would i be able to do after completing this, that are not research positions.

Also, I was thinking of, after doing a degree, entering medicine as a post-grad student. I was kind of intimidated at Syd uni, when I went to the talk on medicine there, and they were telling us how there is virtually no lesson time, and it's mostly you learn it yourself time as opposed to face-to-face stuff. Is this the same at UNSW?


Thanks
Mitch

P.S. sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

 

[bscienceboi]

I know quite a few people doing MedSc at various institutions and many of them really dont know where they will end up. To be honest, Universities have been trying to promote more people into doing science and one of the ways they've done so is by telling students or prospective students that it doesn't necessarily lead to a research based occupation.

In reality, your very much likely to be doing research work especially with the MedSc degree. There are jobs like Nutritionist/Physio etc. It really depends on your area of specialisation in BMedSc. Although BmEdSc is really a broad science degree.

There are a few jobs non research related such as marketing of health products and pharmaceuticals etc but these are very limited given the background in marketing you need. I'm sure there are many other jobs but honestly, in my 3 years at Uni I really havent heard of many opportunities in science. Maybe quality control, quarantine services, patent examinations, safety regulator, but really ultimatley its research.
If you want to get into Medicine postgrad then BMedSc or BAdvScience is the way to go but you have to realise that if you dont get in your kinda stuck with the degree you have. Also note that you dont have to even do a science degree undergrad course to get into Med.

I'm not sure what positions a hospital will offer you or for any science graduates. I was interested in Hospital Management/Marketing and they have preference for science or health-background studies. But again, you need the business aspect to get into those positions.

If you really dont want to follow a research pathway but you want to do science then Com/Sci (UNSW/USYD) or Medical Science/Business (UTS) will open quite a few opportunities.

My 2cents.

 

[mitch_f1]

So, your saying if I do the BSc in biomedical science at UTS, which is a more specialised degree, then it will be easier to obtain a more desirable job?

 

[Rekkusu]

Ok, lol I'm prone to typing up mistakes with these kind of questions, with like a list of people correcting me like a teacher marking an essay. But...here goes:

When you do a B Sci degree, you can specialise into certain areas of science - called Major(s) (i.e. in your case BioTech), the so-called specialised degrees is just exactly the same as B Science, except you can't switch your major. There is no flexibility.

UNSW also offers B Science (Biotechnology) as well. Different names may be given by different universities, but mostly anything that incorporates "Science" in it, you will most likely head into a research position.

However, I have asked UNSW's science student centre before, and B Sci degrees don't always end up 'fully' as research positions, if you aim to major in things like Pathology, you may end up in Hospitals conducting tests, etc on patients.

If you are planning to do Medicine in the future, finishing a B Sci degree is beneficial, because most specialists you know of today do a M.B.B.S degree, followed either by a B Sci degree, or a PHD in Science based degrees.

i.e. If you do B Sci specialising in Immunology, then do M.B.B.S. you'll come out as an Immunologist Specialist/Consultant, whereby you can further specialise into say Eczema immunology.

 

[Survivor39]

So, your saying if I do the BSc in biomedical science at UTS, which is a more specialised degree, then it will be easier to obtain a more desirable job?

No not really. You choose your specialisation at later years in B MedSc anyway. It's just that you have more options of where you want to go - e.g immunology or microbiology? pathology or biochemistry etc..

I knew when I get into B MedSc I would get into a research career so I'm really happy to came to UNSW. As to other graduates, with B MedSc (Honours) you will also be able to do work in the hospital diagnostic units, where you test patients blood, or other specimens and find out what infections they might have. Alternative you can become a research assistant (which is kind of like research but you get told what to do instead of coming up with original ideas and do everything yourself).

As to the UNSW teaching question, I think the School of Biotechnology And Biomolecular Sciences (my school) is very good at teaching. If you choose to do immunology or microbiology or biotech, you will be taught under this school. This school has many good lecturers. Anyway, good luck to you!

 

[velox]

i.e. If you do B Sci specialising in Immunology, then do M.B.B.S. you'll come out as an Immunologist Specialist/Consultant, whereby you can further specialise into say Eczema immunology.

Sorry just to point out here, your prior degree makes no difference to your specialty. When you graduate from your medical degree you end up as an intern, just like everyone else. I.e. a person with a pHD and a mbbs will be the same as a person with just an mbbs. Everyone has to go through the (specialist) training program (unless you want to be a CMO or something).

And these days most specialists dont do a phD since its 6 yrs for mbbs, 2 yrs for internship/pgy1 etc, then at least 5 yrs training in your specialty. Adding a phD would be suicide!

 

[Ritaann]

You should check out the changes to the B med sci at UNSW for 2007, it makes it a whole lot more suitable for someone who is aiming for med or something within med (say, paramedic work) - since, first years are now allowed to do anatomy (without HSC biology, I think... not totally sure) and there is that lateral entry scheme which gives you a back door entry to third year med after your hon's year (which Im sure will sky rocket the UAI a few points up this year).

Of course, if you enter to B med sci, you can always change your mind and go to a B sci. However, for some reason, I'm not sure if you can go from a B sci to a B med sci. ... (I have no idea where I got that notion from .. maybe its within my next point...)


But this I do know, to stay in Med sci at UNSW you need to maintain a 65% average, or at least, get it by end of second year. I think this is mainly because a B med sci is quite pointless without hons year [unless your going to do med] , hons year is looked at by enployers as "experience" apparently, and to do hons you need a 65% ave.

Then again, if you don't do hons, you can graduate with a plain med sci. People who do this usually go straight to grad med (btw. no such thing as post grad med unless you already got a MBBs and want to specialise in something) but to do that, you'd still need a overal average (aka. wam= weighted average mark) of 65 % either way.

But in B sci, you only need a 50 wam to graduate.

If your ultimatly unsure, a B adv si or B sci is the way to go, in my opinion.

Good luck!

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

Sorry just to point out here, your prior degree makes no difference to your specialty. When you graduate from your medical degree you end up as an intern, just like everyone else. I.e. a person with a pHD and a mbbs will be the same as a person with just an mbbs. Everyone has to go through the (specialist) training program (unless you want to be a CMO or something).

And these days most specialists dont do a phD since its 6 yrs for mbbs, 2 yrs for internship/pgy1 etc, then at least 5 yrs training in your specialty. Adding a phD would be suicide!

yeah ure mostly right
but there are exceptions as a requirement to let u into some specialty's advanced stages (to get ure fellowships) u need 'evidence of research'

so wat most clinicians (MBBS grads) do.. is get the science honours kids or research assistants to do the pracs or gather data.. .. the clinician just write the papers.. from available data and then they get a PhD.. so its not so suicidal..its a bit of a scam too....they are about 32 when they get the PhD or MD depending on the level of work and its usually part time..after or during basic training program

If you are planning to do Medicine in the future, finishing a B Sci degree is beneficial, because most specialists you know of today do a M.B.B.S degree, followed either by a B Sci degree, or a PHD in Science based degrees.

i.e. If you do B Sci specialising in Immunology, then do M.B.B.S. you'll come out as an Immunologist Specialist/Consultant, whereby you can further specialise into say Eczema immunology.

No as velox said... B Sci specialising in Immunology+ M.B.B.S.=/= an Immunologist Specialist/Consultant.

u need a professional fellowship (these are like professional degrees) ..FRACP or FRACP/FRCPA qualification to be an immunologist specialist in Australia
http://www.medeserv.com.au/ascia/trainees/career.htm

the flaw in ure arguement is that they get the BSc after an MBBS.. they dun.. they usually get it before or during.. and its an honours degree to sample if the want to do research.

Also, I was thinking of, after doing a degree, entering medicine as a post-grad student. I was kind of intimidated at Syd uni, when I went to the talk on medicine there, and they were telling us how there is virtually no lesson time, and it's mostly you learn it yourself time as opposed to face-to-face stuff. Is this the same at UNSW?

Medicine is very 'self-directed'.. in other words..."piss off and find out for ure self" as one of the students from UMelb put it so nicely..

there is less contact hours than 20-30 yrs ago.. and less face to face teaching and more learning by yourself or being resourceful.. u need to learn to get access to things.. to pick up new skills by yourself.. and basically continuously learn..
cos thats how medical practitioners keep up to date.. they dun get the pleasure of constantly having tutorials and lectures all the time about all the changes that occur in medical sciences (they get some if they subscribe to some groups.)

my friends at UNSW Med ..dun feel too confident.. but i doubt many medical graduates from the new system nationally do.. but its a matter of wait and see..

hope that helps and clarifies things