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Broaden your medical qualifications and learn the advanced structure of the human body.

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#1 in Australia

for overall educational experience 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Medicine

#1 in Queensland

for student support 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Medicine

5 Stars

for teaching quality 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Medicine

Online

Students must attend 4 x 4-day residential blocks at Townsville campus

Online: July

$32,292.00^{^}

^{^}estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

1 year full-time

AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a health-related field, be AHPRA registered and maintain registration for the duration of the course; or be a current final-year student of a JCU MBBS program with a minimum 5.0 GPA

113906

What to expect

Broaden your medical qualifications and learn the advanced structure of the human body by regions, through a combination of core anatomy teaching, specialist surgical teaching and a full human body cadaveric dissection.

This one year full-time (or equivalent part-time) course is suited for busy professionals with the flexible delivery mode of online classes and four block intensives on campus.

Graduate with confidence – you will complete, over the course of a year, anatomy of the whole human body including dissection of the same with surgeons and anatomists, who are leaders in their field.

View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

Cadaveric dissection workshops

The specialised professional, academic and technical requirements necessary for the delivery of the cadaveric dissection workshops requires this part of your studies to be delivered at the JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas.

Workshop dates 2024

The workshops are held over four days on campus:

Workshop 1 (24 – 27 September 2024)

Workshop 2 (3 – 6 December 2024)

Career Opportunities

JCU Surgical Anatomy graduates are highly-regarded medical professionals with extensive skills and anatomical knowledge.

This course is suited to doctors who hold a formally-recognised medical degree and who want to advance their career in surgery. Other doctors (particularly those working in rural, regional and remote communities) may find this course useful as it will expand their scope of practice through developing a deeper understanding of human anatomy.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2024.
Course code	113906
Course type	Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8)
Owner	Academy
College	Medicine and Dentistry

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course prerequisites	Applicants must have completed an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a health-related field, and be an AHPRA registered health practitioner and maintain their registration for the duration of the course; or Be a current final year student of a James Cook University MBBS program with a minimum GPA of 5.0 or above and have their enrolment approved by the Dean of College/Course Coordinator; or Submit, as an exceptional case, evidence of professional and academic attainments, including employment for a minimum of three years in health related activities and previous anatomical studies at a tertiary level.
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 3c – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.
Additional selection requirements	Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria.
Post admission requirements	Hepatitis B immunisation: Students must provide evidence of being immune to hepatitis B within the first teaching period of their studies. A blood-borne viral disease may result in a student’s inability to obtain a placement in a Queensland Health facility and consequently may result in their inability to complete the requirements of the course as accredited by the relevant professional accrediting body. If a student has not complied with the above requirement by the last day of the first teaching period of their studies, their enrolment will be terminated immediately. For more information, refer to: Infection Control Procedure Students must maintain AHPRA registration for the duration of the course, except for students concurrently enrolled in MBBS. Due to online/external delivery of this course, computer and internet access is required.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points	24 credit points as per course structure
Additional course rules	Attendance and participation in the cadaveric whole body dissection workshops (4 across the degree) held in Townsville.
Course learning outcomes	Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy will be able to: Apply and adapt advanced anatomical knowledge and technical skills to structural identification and regional cadaveric dissection of a whole human body Review, consolidate and synthesise knowledge of anatomical development (embryology), tissue structure (histology), and functional systematic structure (gross anatomy) to identify anatomical variants and analyse the clinical and surgical implications of such variants Exercise high level and independent judgement in the critical interpretation and evaluation of how normal structure and variations of structure relate to normal and abnormal function of the human body Relate detailed anatomical knowledge to the potential for pathology development, functional complications of the human body and the options for management of complications Communicate theoretical knowledge using high level oral and written English language and, where appropriate, numeracy skills to a variety of audiences.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Postgraduate Medicine.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

AT8301:12 Surgical Anatomy of the Upper Body Regions and Central Nervous System

AT8302:12 Surgical Anatomy of the Trunk and Lower Limbs

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT

NOTES

JCU Townsville

Mixed Attendance:

Course delivery will be predominantly through online delivery due to the workplace and training requirements of graduate medics/dentists and AHPRA-registered health practitioners.

Attendance at Townsville-based cadaveric dissection workshops is a requirement for course completion.

Candidature

Expected time to complete	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Maximum time to complete	3 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	Whole Body Cadaveric Dissection Workshops: This course includes prescribed whole body cadaveric dissection workshops. These workshops are a compulsory/mandatory component of the course.
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Nil

Credit

Eligibility	Not eligible
Maximum allowed	Nil
Currency	Not applicable
Expiry	Not applicable
Other restrictions	Not applicable

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF SURGICAL ANATOMY
Approved abbreviations	GDipSurgAnat
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD32,292.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.

Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

All applicants must provide evidence of being immune to Hepatitis B within the first teaching period of their studies. Evidence of having a blood-borne viral disease may result in a student’s inability to obtain a placement in a Queensland Health facility and consequently, may result in your inability to complete the requirements of the course as accredited by the relevant professional accrediting body.

If you have not complied with the above requirement by the last day of the first teaching period of your studies, your enrolment will be terminated immediately.

For more information refer to Infection Control Procedure.

Alumni

Dr Ben McDonald

Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy

JCU’s Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy is outstanding. It’s delivered at a level above medical school. It gives us what is expected of someone who is going to operate and needing to be aware of what might cause problems, and how to avoid that.
Lecturer

Dr Monika Zimanyi

Course Coordinator, Graduate Diploma of Surgical Anatomy

This course is delivered through online delivery and limited mode attendance and includes a detailed dissection of a whole human cadaver over the course of a year. Successful participants gain an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification.