Materia Medica Malaysiana

New option to study medicine

PETALING JAYA: Students intent on pursuing medicine will have a new local option from next year.

Monash University Malaysia (MUM) will commence its medical programme early next year, with an initial intake of 50.

Approved by the Higher Education Ministry and recognised by the Malaysian Medical Association, the five-year MUM medical degree will cost RM65,000 per year.

However, until their “purpose-built medical facility” is completed in 2007, students will spend their first two years of study at the Monash campus in Melbourne at no extra cost.

They will pay the same fees before returning for their clinical study at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru, said Prof Richard Larkins, vice-chancellor and president of Monash University.

“This is an important milestone for Monash and Malaysia too in view of the country’s manpower needs and the demand for medical programmes here. Although the first two batches of students will do their two years in Australia, they will be paying the MUM rate which is considerably less that what international students pay in its Australian college.

“From 2007 however, the entire programme will be conducted at MUM, although students will have the option to do a semester or two in Australia as both programmes are on par,” he said.

Entry into MUM’s medical programme, said Prof Larkins, would be competitive, taking into account not only academic performance but also the applicants’ aptitude and personality.

“We require high academic scores, at least 2As and 1B at A-level or equivalent. On top of this, applicants will have to go through a structured interview, which covers specific areas and an aptitude test on logic and problem solving abilities as well as the candidate’s personality.

“Unlike many other programmes, the human component is very important in Medicine,” Prof Larkin said during a media briefing at the MUM campus here yesterday.

He added that the university was currently in the process of appointing a dean for the faculty as well as hiring “quality lecturers.”

Interested candidates are advised to look out for enrolment advertisements in the local print media next month.