Program Overview

Introduction to the Medicine Diploma Program

The Medicine Diploma program aims to provide students with the best preparation for entry into working life and an optimal foundation for postgraduate training in all specialist disciplines based on a broad medical education. The program incorporates postgraduate professional development content to create a consistent concept for the entire medical education.

Program Objectives

The objective of the Medicine Diploma program is to impart theoretical knowledge, practice and develop psychosocial abilities and practical skills, and shape ethical behavior. The program consists of a core curriculum (compulsory courses) and elective elements (compulsory electives and free electives).

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum is defined on the basis of clinical presentations that are selected according to the following criteria:

• Epidemiology
• Urgency of treatment
• Severity
• Disease prototypes The learning goals of the individual clinical presentations are defined according to the biopsychosocial model of health in the following dimensions:
  • Knowledge (biomedical/psychosocial)
  • Skills/abilities (diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using the latest equipment and instruments)
  • Attitudes

Program Structure

The program is divided into three phases:

Phase 1

• Length: 2 years; 4 semesters
• The first phase imparts knowledge and a basic understanding of the human organism and supplies the theoretical foundation for understanding clinical presentations.
• It encompasses initial training in medical skills and communication as well as an introduction to the principles of medical practice, women's studies, gender studies, and an exploration of occupational fields.

Phase 2

• Length: 3 years; 5 to 10 semesters
• In the second phase, students acquire knowledge of the healthy and diseased organism.
• Topic-centered, patient-oriented, interdisciplinary courses include clinical presentations and employ new forms of teaching such as problem-based learning.

Phase 3: Clinical Practice Year (CPY)

• In the third phase, the clinical practice year (CPY), students are integrated into the daily routine at University Hospital Graz or other teaching hospitals within Austria or abroad as learning team members.
• Students must spend a total of 48 weeks at the hospital.
• They deepen their understanding and acquire the competences listed in the Austrian Competence Level Catalogue of Medical Skills according to European guidelines.

Special Study Modules (SSM)

• Special study modules teach selected topics in medicine in greater depth.
• For coursework to be assigned, the courses must be taught at the Medical University of Graz or another accredited postsecondary educational institution in Austria or abroad, consist of six ECTS credits, and have a content-related thematic focus.
• Special study modules are taught as seminars with exercises.
• Different special study modules are offered each academic year.

Special Research Modules (SRM)

• Special research modules allow the scientific examination of a special topic that is conducted as part of the diploma thesis (DT).
• Examples of such topics or subtopics are:
  • Scientific collaboration on a study
  • Research as the basis for a DT
  • Selection of methods for the DT
  • Preparation of an Ethics Committee application
  • Preparation of a literary review for the DT
• A special research module cannot be completed until the first phase of the program has been finished.
• Special research modules must be completed in SRM/SSM slots within a period of five weeks.

Admissions Procedure

• All persons who wish to be admitted for the first time to the Diploma Program in Human Medicine must participate in the annual admission procedure.
• The admissions procedure is conducted annually, and all information regarding the procedure is available through the university.