Program Overview

Programme: MMed

The MMed programme is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Haematology.

Programme Information

All MMed students must register for, and attend (TNM 802) Applied research methodology 802 satisfactorily, preferably during the intermediate phase/ after completion of Part 1 and before sitting for Part 2 of the MMed. All MMed students must submit a dissertation (MMS 890) 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 relevant head of department regarding the availability of registrarships for the specialisation.

Requirements for Completion

Each student must prove to the University that he or she:

1. 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 at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, (in case of pathology registrars) or Kalafong Hospital or at an institution recognised by the University as equivalent;
2. has completed the theoretical, practical, clinical and applicable training as stipulated;
3. has passed the prescribed written, oral, practical and/or clinical university examinations, and
4. has successfully completed the research component of the degree.

Admission Requirements

1. MBChB (or equivalent) degree or relevant medical degree with modules equivalent to at least the first two years of the MBChB degree
2. Currently registered as a physician with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and must have been registered for at least one year

Other Programme-Specific Information

Satisfactory progress after one year of training is required, as evaluated by the applicable examination panel. "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 relevant department.

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 – with the proviso that, except in cases where stipulated otherwise, the examinations in the prerequisite subjects may be held at any time prior to or concurrently with the major subject.
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 Academic Regulations apply.
4. A student is not admitted to the examination in a prerequisite subject (supplementary examinations excluded) more than twice, nor is he or she admitted to the examination in the major subject more than twice.

Supplementary Examinations

Supplementary 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), i.e. passed all prerequisite subjects (the latter to be interchangeable; can be passed either at the University or as primary and intermediary examinations at the College of Medicine of South Africa [CMSA], completed all practical, clinical and applicable training of four or five years as prescribed by the relevant academic department (continuous evaluation of the candidate, in an approved registrar post, by the head of department of the candidate); and completed the required research component for the degree in accordance with the Faculty Yearbook regulations, i.e. Applied research methodology 800 (TNM 800) and the dissertation (MMS 800) or an article (not an ordinary literature review) that has been accepted for publication in a subsidised periodical, 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

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 – with the proviso that exemption from a maximum period of 18 months may be granted with regard to four-year and five-year programmes.
2. Exemption from a maximum of three years may be granted by the Department of Medical Oncology for the MMed in Medical Oncology [MMed(MedOnc)] 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 at the end of the prescribed training period (i.e. three, four or five years, respectively). 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
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); initially under supervision and later increasingly at their own responsibility.

Core Modules

• FSG 801: Physiology 801 (Credits: 36.00)
• HEM 800: Haematology 800 (Credits: 300.00)
• MMS 890: Dissertation 890 (Credits: 180.00)
• TNM 802: Applied research methodology 802 (Credits: 0.00)

Elective Modules

• APY 871: Anatomical pathology (Capita selecta) 871 (Credits: 12.00)
• GMB 871: Medical microbiology (Capita selecta) 871 (Credits: 36.00)
• GVR 871: Medical virology (Capita selecta) 871 (Credits: 36.00)
• HEM 801: Haematology 801 (Credits: 36.00)