FAQs

What are MD Project Streams?

MD projects are allocated to one of eight main streams: Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Community Health, General Practice and Primary Care, Health Innovations, Indigenous Health, Medical Education, and Rural Health. You can find more information about each stream in the MD Project Supervisor Guide available in Downloadable Resources.

What type of projects can students undertake?

Essentially, medical students can complete any type of small-scale health-related project. MD Projects may be fully designed by academics, clinical researchers, or academic/community or academic/clinician collaborations to complement their community, clinical, or research strategies. However, it is important to remember that students are novices and will need supervision and guidance. Importantly, they must be able to complete and write up the project primarily within their allocated project time (400 hours).

The ideal MD project is one, or more, of the following:

• an 'add-on' to an existing project.
• utilises existing data or stored tissue samples.
• modest in size and scope.
• has clearly defined aims/objectives.
• has deliverable outcomes or endpoint measurements.
• has established methods/protocols.
• has ethics approval if required.

Where can I find detailed information on the role of a MD Project Supervisor?

Please refer to the MD Project Student & Supervisor Guide available in Downloadable Resources.

What support does Western Sydney University provide for a student under my supervision?

The School of Medicine will provide students with skills training, project resources and academic support during the MD Project. Students have on demand access to online modules on knowledge and skills specific to their project via the WSU learning management system. They also receive training on preparing written reports, oral presentations and conference posters. Student have free access to data analysis software (including SPSS, Nvivo, Leximancer) by logging a request to WSU ITservice (WesternNow).

Is there funding allocated for the student’s research associated expenses? For example: research consumables, travel, animal ethics courses, publication costs?

The School of Medicine does not have a funding allocation for MD students projects other than general course costs. All research project related costs must be covered by the supervisor. The supervisor has full responsibility for ensuring resources and facilities that are essential for the successful completion of the project are available to the student.

Who is responsible for ethics approval for the project?

Full responsibility for ethics approval for research or Quality Assurance Local Health District projects resides with the Supervisor, unless a specific agreement has been negotiated with the relevant Stream Advisor.

• It is preferable for ethics to be in place prior to the commencement of a project.
• Supervisors must ensure their MD Project student has been added to new or existing ethics approval prior to any data collection.
• Non-research (service learning and quality assurance with no public dissemination), and literature review projects do not need ethics approval.

Who is responsible for work health and safety (WHS) for the project?

The supervisor has full responsibility for ensuring all WHS requirements are met, including site induction where applicable. The student is responsible for adhering to all WHS requirements.

Can I supervise multiple students on the same project?

Yes. It is often beneficial for Supervisors to supervise a team of students, and for students to work collaboratively on a larger project in pairs, or in small groups, on pre-determined aspects of similar topics. However, each MD student project must have a unique question or aim, and students must individually develop, address, and report on their project.

How can I let students know that I am willing to supervise a MD Project?

Students are encouraged to self-source projects in their subject areas of interest by contacting supervisors directly. For this purpose, we list for students, the details of supervisors who have agreed to be contacted directly, with the intention of developing and collaborating on a project together. If you would like to be added to the list of potential supervisors, please email MDProject@westernsydney.edu.au

Do I have to be affiliated with Western Sydney University to supervise a project?

No, however a co-supervisor who is affiliated with WSU will normally be required for the project. The supervisor can determine the co-supervisor, or the MD Project team can appoint one in consultation with the supervisor.

How do I submit a MD Project for consideration?

MD Projects can be offered at any time and require the completion and submission of a WSU MD Project Proposal Form. Email to the MD Project team by mid-year for commencement the following year. Approved offers will be listed for students who have not self-sourced, to view by September and allocations will be made by October. All proposals must be submitted to MDProject@westernsydney.edu.au

Can I submit a partially completed MD Project proposal?

Only projects with completed proposal information will be considered. Project information content can be discussed with the relevant Stream Lead on request. Following review, project changes may be required to fit with the scope of the MD Project based on the feedback provided by the relevant Stream Lead.

Can I nominate a particular student for my project?

Yes. You can nominate a specific student in the proposal template. For example, you may offer a project to a student who is already working with you, perhaps on a Summer Scholarship. The MD Project should be a new question that furthers the original research. You may also develop a small project from an existing ethics approved program of research, or you may wish to design a new small, low risk project with the student. In this case you can nominate the student on the MD Project proposal and the project will not be listed for other students unless specified.

MD Students are also able to self-source a project in an area of interest to them and may contact you directly via email.

How will I know if my MD Project proposal has been approved and allocated a student?

A member of the MD Project Team reviews each project for feasibility. Once the project has been reviewed you will be advised of the outcome. Your project may be approved to offer to students or may require a little adjustment in order to be feasible as a MD Project.

What is required if I need to change the project part way through?

Any major changes require Stream Lead approval. Supervisors must contact the relevant Stream Lead to discuss changes prior to implementation. Minor modifications do not require approval but must be stated in the Year 4 Updated Learning Plan.

My project is Sydney based. How can I be sure that the student allocated to me will be ‘on site’ in Year 4?

There are several options to consider depending on the requirements for your project.

• State in the project proposal that the student is required to be on site during project weeks.
• Arrange any on-site access requirements e.g. IT access, swipe card, security passes, eMR

My project is based in Bathurst/Lismore. How can a student be allocated to a rural project??

• Rural Health projects focus on significant issues for rural communities and are conducted on location with the base either at Bathurst Rural Clinical School or in Lismore at the University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH). Students undertaking a rural placement in Bathurst or Lismore must undertake a project based on their relevant placement location. Rural projects need to be discussed directly with the relevant rural stream advisor.
• State in the project proposal that the student is required to be on site during project weeks.
• Discuss early with your student their plans to go on rural placement in Year 4.
• For more information regarding rural projects, please contact the relevant rural stream advisor.