Short Certificate Courses in Family Medicine

Primary medical care in Australia, and in many other countries, is largely delivered by general practitioners. 

With this in mind, the Department of General Practice has developed a comprehensive Short Certificate course program that provides the opportunity to upgrade skills and knowledge, assisting general practitioners/ family physicians to manage emerging concepts in practice, access information and critically analyse literature. 

What is off-campus learning?

Off-campus learning is a flexible mode of study that allows you to study from home and work without the constant need to travel.  You are provided with course materials to let you learn at your own pace and we also supply contacts to tutors should you have any academic queries.  Our courses are assessed by coursework which you submit by designated due dates.

What can I study?

How long does it take?

Courses are offered in either or both of the two academic semesters – commencing February and July. Student are provided with up to 14 weeks to complete 12 credit point units and up to 7 weeks for 6 credit point modules.

Study may take up to 10 hours per week on coursework which consists of reading, listening to audio CD's, viewing DVDs and engaging in various activities such audits and assignment completion.

What is the cost and how do I pay the fees?

Course fees are payable in full upon application to the course.  Fees may be paid via credit card, cheque or bank draft using the Short Course Payment Form on your application.

* The School of Primary Health Care reserves the right to adjust tuition fees. However, every effort will be undertaken to ensure that any adjustment will not exceed 6% per annum.

What happens at the end of the course?

Doctors satisfactorily completing a course will be awarded a non-quotable certificate of achievement and the RACGP QA and CPD program notified for point allocation, where appropriate.

What are the pre-requisites for entry?

Applicants must be

• currently registered by the medical board in their respective state, or
• have a qualification which is eligible to be registered in a state of the Commonwealth.

A minimum of two years of work experience in general practice is essential.  Preference will be given to applicants who are currently employed and have been in active general practice for a minimum period of two years.

Special consideration may be given to suitably qualified overseas graduates residing in their own country.

What are the English language requirements?

Students are expected to be proficient in English and must satisfy the minimum English language requirements of the university.  You can meet these requirements in one of the following ways:

• You have achieved a satisfactory level of performance in an English subject at Year 12 or equivalent level.  For postgraduate study, a study score of at least 30 in units 3 and 4 in any VCE English subject is required.
• You have studied in an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the entire institution and have satisfactorily completed either:
  • at least the equivalent of the first year of a university course (if the university was outside Australia, you must have completed this study within the past two years), or
  • at least the equivalent of a two year tertiary program (if the institution of study was outside Australia, you must have completed this study within the past five years).

Completion of an Australian TAFE, Singapore Polytechnic or Malaysian College diploma will satisfy this requirement. 

Documentary evidence in the form of a letter or transcript is required from the institution at which the study was undertaken.

• You have undertaken an English language proficiency test within 24 months prior to your study commencement date and have achieved the following results:
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System - academic) minimum test score of 6.5with no individual band score less than 6.5. Please refer to important IELTS information below. For more information on IELTS go to www.ielts.org
  • TOEFL (American Test of English as a Foreign Language) minimum test score of 580 with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of at least 4.5 or a minimum test score of 237 in the computer-based TOEFL with an Essay Rating (ER) of at least 5.  You must include the original TOEFL or TWE test report with your application.  For more information on TOEFL go to www.ets.org and select TOEFL.

• You have successfully completed the Monash University English Language Bridging Program, or equivalent programs, at the appropriate level.  For further information on the Monash University English Language Bridging Program, visit www.monash.edu.au/englishcentre/courses/elbp.html

• All of your secondary schooling was in English and you have successfully completed at least two university level subjects in an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying for a Short Certificate course, please use the Application Form.

Regrettably faxed or e-mailed forms cannot be accepted. Please submit the original form with supporting documents to the address on the Application form.

If you have any further questions or wish to discuss your application to the course, please contact 

Julieanne.McLuckie@med.monash.edu.au
Administration, Marketing & International Development Manager, Graduate Studies
Department of General Practice
School of Primary Health Care