Program Overview

---

Podiatric Health and Medical Sciences

Overview

This extended major leads into the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. It covers pre-clinical biomedical and podiatric health sciences as well as foundations of podiatric clinical skills.

Course Details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1
• Weekly contact time: 30-35 hours teaching time, plus study time
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Course Code: MJD-PHMSC
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years (Bachelor of Biomedicine, Specialised)

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Level 1

• Core: Take all units (24 points):
  • IMED1001 Form and Function (6)
  • IMED1002 The Facts of Life (6)
  • IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication (6)
  • IMED1004 Health and Society (6)

Level 2

• Core: Take all units (24 points):
  • IMED2001 Body Defences (6)
  • IMED2002 Blood and Drugs (6)
  • IMED2003 Medical Sciences Research Methodologies (6)
  • IMED2004 Human Development and Genetics (6)

Level 3

• Core: Take all units (48 points):
  • PODI3000 Professionalism in Practice (0)
  • PODI3111 Body Systems 1 (6)
  • PODI3112 Clinical Podiatric Practice 1 (6)
  • PODI3113 Anatomy and Cutaneous Science (6)
  • PODI3114 Podiatric Biomechanics (6)
  • PODI3115 Body Systems 2 (6)
  • PODI3116 Clinical Podiatric Practice 2 (6)
  • PODI3117 Pharmacotherapeutics for Podiatrists 1 (6)
  • PODI3118 Research and Evidence in Practice (6)

Career Pathways

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

This extended major course prepares MJD-PHMSC graduates with the clinical and professional attributes required for successful entry to the entry-to-practice Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree.

Graduates from the MJD-PHMSC are also eligible to apply to the Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council to register and work as Allied Health Assistants in Podiatric practice – with the foundational podiatry skill set developed in level 3 of the major.

Successful graduates of this extended major, are eligible for credit towards the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine course. Graduates will be able to complete a five-year (rather than 6 year) pathway, to achieve a bachelor's degree with an extended major as well as a professional extended master's degree in Podiatric Medicine.

The Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (91870) is accredited by the Podiatry Accreditation Committee, Ahpra.

Further Study

This is an extended major also known as a “double major”, as such there is no opportunity to undertake another major at the same time in Level 3 of the degree.

Fees and Scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

2025

$48,700.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Admission Requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying one of these majors, find out the admission details below.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 17.5
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 85
• French Baccalaureate: 14
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 615
• GCE A-Levels: 14
• German Abitur: 2.2
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 19
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 87
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 88.8
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 33
• Malaysian STPM: 17
• Monash University Foundation Year: 324
• NCUK Foundation Program: 14
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 5
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 13.5
• South African National Senior Certificate: 6.3
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 353
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 17.5
• Trinity College Foundation: 346
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 6
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 78
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 14
• US College Board SAT: 1340
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 74
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 94

Assured Pathway to Podiatric Medicine for Domestic Students

With the Assured Pathway to Podiatric Medicine school leavers can apply for their Bachelor's degree and the DPM in one application.

Entry is a competitive process based on ATAR or equivalent and an interview.

Assured Pathway to Podiatric Medicine for International Students

With the International Assured Pathway to Podiatric Medicine school leavers can apply for their Bachelor's degree and the DPM in one application.

Entry is a competitive process based on ATAR or equivalent and an interview.

English Competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

How to Apply

The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Refer to the below regarding application processes for each of the pathways. More information regarding admission requirements and prerequisites for each pathway can be found on the 'Admission Requirements' tab.

Domestic Pathways

• Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC. Refer to TISC Online for current course codes and application deadlines.
• Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline. All domestic applicants must submit a valid GAMSAT score by the application closing date.

International Pathways

• International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
• International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.

Why Study This Major

• Gain a strong foundation in the disciplines of biomedical science, podiatric clinical knowledge, skills and professional behaviour.
• Prepare for continued study in the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine through an Assured Pathway. (NB. If successful in completing this extended major, students will be eligible for credit towards the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine [thus entering a shorter five-year pathway, to achieving a Bachelors degree with an extended major and a professional extended Masters degree].
• Experienced and expert teachers delivering an innovative and unique curriculum. The curriculum exposes students to various industry stakeholders, the ability to practice skills in state of the art facilities and develop skills of a lifelong learner and ethical health professional.

Practical Learning

Students will undertake both simulated and practical hands-on work in the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery pre-clinical teaching spaces, clinical rooms and laboratories during level 3 of this major.

• PODI3000 – Professionalism in practice
• PODI3112 – Clinical Podiatric Practice 1
• PODI3116 – Clinical Podiatric Practice 2

This involves the learning and practicing podiatric clinical skills on various models of feet and toes with some exercises being performed on simulated patients. This pre-clinical training is essential to develop the student's communication skills, professional identity, dexterity and to become competent in the various clinical skills required before progressing to clinical practice and the remaining years of the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) course.

The DPM course focuses on building knowledge, skills and the application of this knowledge and skill in the clinical environment with work-integrated learning as a core component to each year of the degree. The DPM program requires students to treat patients in the clinics of the UWA Podiatry Clinic, at various external placement clinics and hospitals in metropolitan, rural and remote areas. The experiential learning is an essential part of the training of podiatrists.