Program Overview

Programme: MMed Clinical Pathology

The MMed Clinical Pathology programme is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria.

Programme Information

• All MMed students must register for, and attend Applied research methodology 802 satisfactorily, preferably during the intermediate phase or after completion of Part 1 and before sitting for Part 2 of the MMed.
• All MMed students must submit a dissertation which must be assessed as satisfactory by an external examiner, or a research article that has been accepted for publication in a subsidised periodical. The student must be the first author of the article. An ordinary literature review will not be accepted.
• The research proposal must be approved by the MMed Protocol Committee prior to the intermediate exam (surgical disciplines) or otherwise within two years of enrolment (other disciplines).
• It is in the best interest of the candidate to complete the research component prior to the exit exam and if not possible, preferably to postpone the exam.

Registrarship

• Inquire at the relevant head of department regarding the availability of registrarships for the specialisation Medical Oncology.
• Inquire at the Head of the Department of Family Medicine regarding the availability of registrarships for the specialisation Emergency Medicine.
• Inquire at the relevant head of department regarding the availability of registrarships for the specialisation Radiation Oncology.

Requirements

• Each student must prove to the University that he or she has successfully filled the required full-time training post for a period of four or five years according to the requirements of the relevant department.
• Has completed the theoretical, practical, clinical and applicable training as stipulated.
• Has passed the prescribed written, oral, practical and/or clinical university examinations.
• Has successfully completed the research component of the degree.

Other Programme-Specific Information

• Duration of training is five years with at least 18 months in each major subject.
• "Major subject" refers to the recognised field of study in Medicine in which the student specialises.

Examinations and Pass Requirements

• The sequence of the examinations in the prerequisite subjects will be determined by the head of the department under which the major subject falls.
• A minimum final mark of 50% is required by all departments to pass in a subject and in the clinical section of the examination, a subminimum of 50%. General Regulations apply.
• A student is not admitted to the examination in a prerequisite subject (second examinations excluded) more than twice, nor is he or she admitted to the examination in the major subject more than twice.

Second Examinations

• Second examinations for MMed students will only be held after at least six months have elapsed since the conclusion of the examination in which the student had failed.

Rules Governing the Writing of the Examinations of the College of Medicine of South Africa [CMSA]

• Only candidates who have met all requirements for the MMed degree except for the major subject (final examination) will be allowed to write the college examination (exit examination), after which they will obtain both the CMSA fellowship and the MMed as specialist qualifications.

Exemption

• The Faculty Board may grant partial exemption from the training and work mentioned under par. (b) and (c)(i) and (ii) above on the grounds of comparable training and experience completed in another post or at another recognised institution.
• Exemption from a maximum period of 18 months may be granted with regard to four-year and five-year programmes.
• Exemption from a maximum of three years may be granted by the Department of Medical Oncology for the MMed in Medical Oncology on the grounds of the MMed(Int) or MMed(Paed) degree of this University, or experience recognised by the University as equivalent.

Pass with Distinction

• The degree is conferred with distinction on a student who has obtained a final mark of at least 75% in his or her major subject.

General Information

• Registrars are expected to participate increasingly in the examining and treatment of patients in the hospital, both in-patients and out-patients, as well as performing and interpreting tests in the laboratory (where applicable).

Core Modules

• APA 800: General pathology 800 (Credits: 24.00)
• CHP 802: Chemical pathology 802 (Credits: 36.00)
• HEM 801: Haematology 801 (Credits: 36.00)
• MBG 800: Microbiology 800 (Credits: 300.00)
• MMS 890: Dissertation 890 (Credits: 180.00)
• TNM 802: Applied research methodology 802 (Credits: 0.00)