Program Overview

Programme: MMed Forensic Pathology

Programme Information

The MMed Forensic Pathology programme is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Forensic Medicine. The programme consists of a minimum duration of study of 4 years, with a total of 624 credits at NQF level 09.

Admission Requirements

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

Programme-Specific Information

• All MMed students must register for, and attend 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 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 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).

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 Academic Regulations apply.
• 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.

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)
• GGK 800: Forensic medicine 800 (Credits: 300.00)
• MMS 890: Dissertation 890 (Credits: 180.00)
• TNM 802: Applied research methodology 802 (Credits: 0.00, Attendance module only)

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.

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).
• Lectures/symposia with closely related departments are organised, as well as discussions of literature, etc.