Learning Community allocation guidelines
The UQ MD Learning Communities are clusters of health care providers including hospital and community-based services, general practices, and other community providers. Importantly, these Learning Communities comprise the students and staff based in the facilities and provide a platform where they can flourish in a mutually supportive environment, where relationships and connections are forged, and students nurtured.
Learning Communities provide a small cohort experience within large cohort experience, which supports improved connection and engagement. The longitudinal relationships inherent in the Learning Communities model are integral to effective teaching and learning, support progress toward attainment of the graduate attributes and promote excellence in clinical practice and scholarly endeavours.
3. Learning Community allocations
3.1 Greater Brisbane Students
3.1.1 You will be based at the MD Learning Hub at St Lucia for Year 1 and may also have learning experiences within the GBCS Learning Communities.
3.1.3 You will be allocated to a GBCS Learning Community from Year 2, and you will remain with that Learning Community for the duration of your program.
3.1.4 You will have the opportunity to rank order your preferred GBCS Learning Community in the second half of Year 1 of the MD program.
3.1.5 Following the publication of provisional Learning Community allocations, you will be provided the opportunity to submit a swap request.
3.1.6 Swap requests will be facilitated where there is a match between two students. You are not responsible for finding, nor are you permitted to request, a “swap partner”.
3.1.7 If you have exceptional circumstances you can apply for Special Consideration to be allocated to a particular Learning Community
3.1.8 All reasonable attempts will be made for students who take an Interruption of Studies (IOS) or are required to repeat a year to remain in the same Learning Community prior to their IOS or repeat year.
3.2 UQ-Ochsner Students (Year 1 and 2 only)
3.2.1 You will be based at the MD Learning Hub at St Lucia for Year 1 and may also have learning experiences within the GBCS Learning Communities.
3.2.2 You will have the opportunity to rank order your preferred Learning Community from the Central or South Learning Community for Year 2 of the MD program in the second half of Year 1.
3.2.3 You will be based at the OCS for Years 3 and 4 of the MD program.
3.2.4 If you have exceptional circumstances you can apply for Special Consideration to be allocated to a particular Learning Community for Year 2.
3.3 Darling Downs and South West Students
3.3.1 You will join the DD-SW Learning Community based on your admission offer/entry pathway.
3.3.2 If you commence the program in 2025, you will be based at the MD Learning Hub at St Lucia and may also have learning experiences within the GBCS Learning Communities in Year 1. You will then be based at the DD-SW Learning Community for Years 2- 4 of the program.
3.3.3 From 2026, incoming students will be allocated to the DDSW Learning Community in the RCS for the entirety of their program.
3.3.4 Special circumstances are not relevant to Learning Community allocation, this is based on your admission offer/entry pathway.
3.4 Central Queensland Students
3.4.1 You will join the CQ Learning Community based on your admission offer/entry pathway.
3.4.2 You will remain part of the CQ Learning Community for the duration of your program.
3.4.3 Special circumstances are not relevant to Learning Community allocation, this is based on your admission offer/entry pathway.
3.5 Wide Bay Students
3.5.1 You will join the WB Learning Community based on your admission offer/entry pathway.
3.5.2 You will remain part of the Wide Bay Learning Community for the duration of your program.
3.5.3 Special circumstances are not relevant to Learning Community allocation, this is based on your admission offer/entry pathway.