Medical School

Learning Community allocation guidelines

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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. 

  1. Definitions
  2. Scope and purpose of the guidelines
  3. Learning Community allocations
  4. Change of Learning Community
  1. Special consideration
  2. Late special consideration applications
  3. Application information and forms

4. Change of Learning Community

4.1 You are encouraged to meet with the relevant Academic Guidance Lead to discuss your change request.

4.2 The actual change to a Learning Community can only occur at the:

  • beginning or middle of an academic year during Year 2 and
  • beginning of an academic year during Years 3 and 4.

4.3 The approved administrative processes to facilitate a change in Learning Community include:

4.3.1 Direct application if you have exceptional circumstances (please refer to Special Consideration section for examples of exceptional circumstances)

4.3.2 Expressions of interest to meet operational requirements, and

4.3.3 Re-preferencing to meet operational requirements (GBCS only).

4.4 Direct Application

4.4.1 Direct applications will only be considered from December 2024 for the commencement of the 2025 academic year.

4.4.2 You can apply to change Learning Community at any point during the academic year, noting when the change can take effect (see above).

4.4.2 You must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be enrolled in the MD program (program code 5740); and
  • Be able to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that support their request.

4.4.3 You can only request to change to another Learning Community as outlined below:

4.4.3.1 GBCS students can apply to change Learning Communities within the GBCS.

4.4.3.2 DD-SW students can apply to change Learning Communities within the RCS for Years 3 and 4 of their studies.

4.4.3.3 CQ and WB students can apply to change between the CQ and WB Learning Communities. CQ and WB students can apply to change to the DD-SW Learning Community for Years 3 and 4 of their studies.

4.4.4 You must apply and provide supporting documentation; and you may also be invited to participate in an interview.

4.4.6 Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, based on the information supplied and subject to availability of places.

4.4.7 Once received and assessed, eligible applications will be considered by a panel comprising:

  • Director of relevant Clinical School(s); and
  • Heads of relevant Learning Communities.

4.4.8  The panel will provide a recommendation for a final decision which is at the discretion of the Dean, Medical School.

4.5 Expression of interest

4.5.1 Each year, the Medical School will determine whether an expression of interest process will be made  available based on operational requirements.

4.5.2 Information on the process, including the application form and dates for submitting, will be communicated to you during the annual clinical immersion allocation process or another time as determined by the Medical School.

4.6 Re-preferencing

4.6.1 At the conclusion of the DD-SW expression of interest process (see Clinical School Transfer Guidelines), the Medical School will determine whether re-preferencing will be offered. This may include GBCS students being asked to rank order their preferred Learning Communities which includes the DD-SW Learning Community.

4.6.2 If you have exceptional circumstances you can apply for Special Consideration (see section 5), to be exempted from being allocated to the DD-SW Learning Community.

4.6.3 If you have previously applied and been approved special circumstances for your GBCS Learning Community allocation, you are asked to reconfirm your request by completing the application form. You will not be required to resubmit evidence to support your application.

4.6.4 Further information, including the dates for submitting preferences, will be communicated to you during the annual allocations process.