Program Overview

Programme: MMed Forensic Pathology

The MMed Forensic 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 800 (TNM 800) 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 (MMS 800) 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).

Registrarship

• Inquire at the 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.

Requirements for Completion

Each student must prove to the University that they:

1. Have successfully filled the required full-time training post for a period of four or five years according to the requirements of the department in question.
2. Have completed the theoretical, practical, clinical, and applicable training as stipulated.
3. Have passed the prescribed written, oral, practical, and/or clinical university examinations.
4. Have successfully completed the research component of the degree.

Admission Requirements

A prospective student for the MMed degree programme must be in possession of the MBChB degree of this University or a qualification deemed by the University to be equivalent to the MBChB degree for at least two years. In addition, such a student must be registered as a physician with the Health Professions Council of South Africa for at least one year.

Other Programme-Specific Information

• "Major subject" refers to the recognised field of study in Medicine in which the student specialises. The study of the major subject extends over four or five years, as prescribed by the department in question.

Examinations and Pass Requirements

1. The sequence of the examinations in the prerequisite subjects will be determined by the head of the department under which the major subject falls.
2. The nature, duration, and time of the examinations in the prerequisite subjects are determined in cooperation with the heads of the departments under which the prerequisite subjects fall.
3. 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.
4. 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]

1. 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.
2. The rules have been effective as from 1 January 2011. As a transitional measure, cases will be considered on an individual basis where necessary.

Exemption

1. 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.
2. Exemption from a maximum period of 18 months may be granted with regard to four-year and five-year programmes.
3. Specific prerequisite subjects must be passed within 24 months after commencement of the programme.

Pass with Distinction

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

General Information

• Registrars: Departments expect registrars 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

• ANA 800: Anatomy 800 (Credits: 36.00)
• ANP 874: Anatomical Pathology 874 (Credits: 36.00)
• FAR 803: Pharmacology 803 (Credits: 36.00)
• FSG 801: Physiology 801 (Credits: 36.00)
• MMS 800: MMed: Essay 800 (Credits: 12.00)
• TNM 800: Applied Research Methodology 800 (Credits: 5.00)
• GGK 800: Forensic Medicine 800 (Credits: 300.00)