Making the transition from school to university can be challenging for many students, and the Medicine course is no exception.
As a parent or person supporting a medical student, there are many ways you can help. The following resources aim to guide and inform you on how to best support someone through their medical education.
Updated 06 May 2026 12:40pm
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Pre-clinical Years 1 & 2a
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Specific information regarding enrolment, orientation, booklists and ID cards for first year students can be found on our Information for New Students page.
Please review our Orientation Booklet for a detailed comparison of secondary school and university environments.
Clinical Years 3B, 4C & 5D
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The clinical years see a big transition in the style of learning as students move to clinical environments for their learning. Much of the learning in these years is gained from interaction with patients at the bedside rather than from lectures and other more structured approaches seen in the pre-clinical years. It can be challenging to adapt to this style of learning and the clinical schools are focussed on providing support during this transition. The clinical years are a stepping stone to life as a junior doctor.
Support
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Medicine is a course that challenges students in their intellectual, emotional and professional journey. Sometimes students encounter difficulties along the way, leading to possible interruptions as students navigate balancing priorities of study, part-time work and life in general. It’s important to know that there are many resources available and to encourage students to reach out during challenging times. Please also see the university’s Information for Parents page for more information.
Student wellbeing is a high priority at the university. Medicine students can access a dedicated wellbeing page under the ‘MD Info’ unit on our student portal (Moodle). It hosts tailored support resources and contact information.
Students on clinical placement should speak to the Student Wellbeing and Liaison Officer and the Director of Clinical Training (DCT) at their clinical school in the first instance for referral to appropriate support services.
For general support information, as well as safety, security and incident reporting, students can go to the university’s Student Support Services page.
Studying overseas comes with a unique set of challenges and we understand students from other countries have a lot to consider from the time they arrive, through to graduation. Students can access the university’s international student support resources and contact our dedicated Director International Student Welfare for more information.
Monash promotes access and equity for students who have a disability, ongoing medical or mental health condition. Please see our Disability Support Services page to learn more.
To learn about current medicine student and staff events, achievements and other highlights, please visit our School News page.
At the start of each year, we provide an online information session for the parents and support people of students in both the Pre-Clinical and Clinical cohorts. Please see below for recent session information.
Pre-Clinical (Year 1 & 2A) Parent and Support Person Information Session
Date: 18th February, 2025
Recording link (Passcode: emziF9H.)
Clinical (Years 3B, 4C & 5D) Parent and Support Person Information Session
Date: 20th February, 2025
Parents and support persons webinar slides
Academic and Professionalism Expectations webinar slides
University is an adult learning environment, so we can't provide confidential information to anyone besides the enrolled student. However we are very happy to meet with parents, or support people together with students to discuss ways to navigate any challenges they may be facing.
As a medical student, our students are now considered doctors in-training by the faculty. They have privileged access to people and their health information. With this access comes responsibilities and expectations.
This code has been adapted from the University of Otago’s Code of Professional Conduct for Medical Students 2010. It has been contextualised for Monash University and the Australian setting. It highlights ten core professional value statements grouped into four domains of professional practice. For more information, please review our Code of Professional Conduct for Medical Students at Monash University.
Fees
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If students are having difficulty paying course fees by the due date on their fees statement, they may be eligible for a Fee Payment Plan.
For further information on fees, including sponsorship, financial aid and overseas health cover for international students, please go to the Fees and Payments page.
Important dates
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The teaching calendar for the medicine course is longer than the regular university dates (i.e. the medicine year officially starts earlier and ends later.) It’s important to review key dates prior to booking any holidays or travel to avoid clashes.
The university is also open during a number of the annual Australian public holidays, including; Labour Day, King’s Birthday and Melbourne Cup. You can check the Holiday and Closedown page to confirm which dates the university is closed.
Semester dates and university holidays can be found here.
Information about Assessment dates can be found here.
Placements
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Clinical placements are a vital part of medical education across Years 3B, 4C and 5D. In the event that students miss placement due to illness, they may have to make up the time during the university break.
Students accepting a place in the Monash medical program should expect to complete clinical placements in both metropolitan and rural settings. While students can submit location preferences, these are not guaranteed. Students need to be prepared to travel, and in some cases seek temporary accommodations for placements and there may be unavoidable disruptions to work and other outside commitments. The university’s Residential Services team provides comprehensive care and support. Students may also wish to consider obtaining a driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle if travel flexibility and convenience are a priority.
Acceptance of the offer of a place in the Monash medical course indicates acceptance of the subsequent clinical placement allocation. See our list of Clinical sites website for more information.
Assessments
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In line with many medical schools both in Australia and overseas, we use competency or non-graded assessments only; there are no ranked or numerically graded assessments. Internship selection in Victoria is not determined by grades but using references, video interviews and application letters. We find this pass grade only approach has reduced psychological stress in a cohort who have all already proven excellence and are high achievers. There is a limit to the value of competition at this level and reducing focus on one’s own performance and grades shifts the focus to patient care and inspires a more collaborative cohort. Students who consistently perform at a high level can still receive prizes and commendations and apply for scholarships.
Students whose exam results are within the borderline range are given the opportunity to sit supplementary exams in January the following year. Deferred or Supplementary written exams are conducted online, however practical exams require in-person attendance.