Macquarie University

Macquarie University’s MD program has good clinical skills facilities. You have enough tools and resources to practice your clinical skills. The anatomy component (especially if it is your first exposure) is the most challenging and does not have much extra support or studying access outside your scheduled labs. There are many opportunities to join clubs and there are events that occur almost every month for student engagement. I love the small cohort component the most as we build stronger connections to our peers which helps build a supportive system in a difficult program. I disliked the organization of the program as it could be improved upon. Most of the lectures for applied sciences are online, self-directed. The application of these lectures are taught in anatomy practicals. These together are fast paced learning and can be difficult for those learning anatomy and physiology for the first time. The clinical practice component is more enjoyable as it is hands-on learning within smaller tutorial groups where you practice on one another, on models, and we learn from clinicians directly. If you can get exposure to anatomy and physiology earlier, I would recommend that.

Beautiful campus, so close to transport and shops, well funded facilities for the medicine program! It’s rewarding to have chosen a program with a smaller cohort where I can be known by my peers and tutors. The program itself is innovative and values global health, clinical competence and collaboration. Students even got to have small group meetings with the university’s Vice Chancellor who formerly practiced as a paediatric geneticist to ask questions and hear about his career, wisdom, and the design of the program!

Campus itself is really nice, amazing facilities and lecture halls/clinical rooms. I do dislike that gym memberships are not included in tuition; tuition is of course very high and it should be included as it was at [my old university]. Great support systems and very good lecturers/clinical tutors. Nothing I particularly dislike, medical school is tough and so it can be frustrating at times academically but that’s to be expected!

Nice facilities. Small classes allow great instructor interactions, hands-on experiences and better connections with classmates. Medicine is challenging but very doable. You have been studying hard and if you keep doing that you will have no problems.

Really like the small cohort, the internship in India, the way the program is done (online lectures and in person group activities). You’ll need to be on top of things as a lot has to be done not in class (watching lectures, reading, rework).

The med program at Macquarie is well funded. The building where we have most of our tutorials is new and has great technology. Having the clinic/hospital next door gives you a more rounded experience that most other students wouldn’t get. The tutors are friendly and you learn a lot from them. The program is quite fast paced (as expected) and Macquarie is one of the only universities that doesn’t give students a week off before final exams.

The class sizes are great, compare to other programs. Our cohort has about 70 people, which allows for smaller groups and more time with tutors. The course material can be a bit dense and overwhelming but that’s pretty normal for med school. Each week, we get approx 6 hours worth of online lectures that must be watched, so staying up to date with those, along with your other courses, is a must. Some of the instructors are involved with the program and are constantly around, while other instructors only teach for 1-3 weeks, depending on what block we’re on. The quality of teaching can vary from instructor to instructor.

MQ is a really nice campus, the MD program is a little isolated (closer to the hospital) but that’s okay. It’s in a part of Sydney that doesn’t require you to live deep in the big city which is really nice. Being so close to the mall makes it easy to do all the life things outside of school too (ie. banking, phone plans, grocery shopping – you can do all of that on your lunch or before going home). The MQMD program is fantastic. Being so small it really feels like a little family. The faculty know each of us as individual people and supports us as such. Since it is new there are admin bumps and hiccups – but that happens at every school – and the faculty is really open to feedback.

Love Macquarie University. The campus is beautiful and there is a strong support network available to anyone who needs it. The MD program has been great. With the small class size and great team of staff around us, they give you the tools to succeed, especially in such a stressful program.

I like the small cohort; I feel like you get to know your classmates a lot more closely. I also like the enthusiasm of the instructors. They are enthusiastic and passionate about the content and deliver it in an interesting way.