Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences School of Dental Science

Policies, Rules, Regulations and Guidelines

Special Consideration:

Special Consideration is available when:-

  1. at any time, your work during the academic year has to a substantial degree been hampered by illness or other cause; or
  2. you have been prevented by illness or other cause from preparing for all or part of a component of assessment; or
  3. you were to a substantial degree adversely affected by illness or other cause during the performance of a component of assessment.

An application will be considered by the Board of Examiners provided that:

Except in unusual circumstances, acute problems – that is, problems involving no more than 3 consecutive days, or a total of 5 days, within the teaching period of a semester – are not considered sufficient grounds for Special Consideration.

If you are physically capable of sitting an examination, you will be expected to do so even though your studies may have been interrupted.

Applications for Special Consideration must be applied for on-line. Refer to: https://sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/special-consideration.pl and follow the instructions carefully.

Leave of Absence:

Students considering taking Leave of Absence (LOA) should complete a form (LOA FORM) obtainable from the School Office and make an appointment to discuss taking the leave with the Clinical Dean, who will approve or not approve the application.

Students should note that LOA is usually only granted until the end of the same year in which they are applying for LOA.

Students undertaking year-long subjects will be expected to return at the commencement of Semester 1 in the following year and re-enrol in the year-long subject and attend all classes, irrespective of any unofficial Semester 1 results in the subject the previous year.

Students should note that if LOA is granted after the census date for any subject, fees for the subject will not be refunded. Students re-enrolling in a year-long subject the following year will incur a fee for the subject for the full year.

Once LOA is approved, students will receive a confirmatory letter from the School in which they will be advised that they must notify the School of their intention or otherwise to return from LOA the following year. It is the student's responsibility to contact the School with this notification. If no notification is received by the due date (usually in November each year) the student will be deemed to have withdrawn from the course.

Credit for Previous Study:

Enrolled students seeking credit for any component of a subject should contact the Clinical Dean and the Convener of that component. Your previous studies must be relevant to the component and of an equivalent standard and duration in order to be used for credit.

Unsatisfactory Progress:

Refer to University Statute 11.5 at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ExecServ/Statutes/s115.html

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism:

The policy on plagiarism and collusion is available at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/abp/policies/processpenalties.pdf. Further information is available from the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/plagiarism/index.html.

Student Discipline:

Refer to University Statute: http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ExecServ/Statutes/s131.html

Student Grievances:

Refer to: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/grievances/grievances.html

Dental Science Environment, Health and Safety (EHS):

(See the School's EHS webpage).

Immunisation Program:

The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, through the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, provides a program for first year medical, dental, oral health, physiotherapy and nursing students to assess immunity to various infectious diseases and to provide appropriate vaccinations. The process is completed before significant contact with patients occurs.
Before undertaking clinical work for the first time and thereafter from time to time as required, students should undertake Hepatitis B testing as prescribed by The University or Dental Health Services Victoria. (Students shall also be vaccinated against infection if the University or Dental Health Services Victoria considers it necessary.)

Faculty Policy on Infectious Diseases:

Policy and the Student Statement of Compliance and Immunisation Program: Consent to Blood Collection and Testing and Vaccinations forms Infectious Disease Policy (PDF 320kb)

Infection Control Guidelines:

Dental School/Hospital Rules:

Clinic Rules:

Dress and Behaviour:

Protocol for dealing with needlestick injuries

DHSV Clinics:

Immediately wash the affected area, gently squeezing the edges to promote bleeding.

Ask your patient to wait while you report the incident to your immediate supervisor.

Obtain a "Sharps and Splash Accident Kit" and commence checklist procedure.

If the injury has pierced the skin, or blood has splashed in the eye or onto mucous membrane, arrange for blood to be taken for Hepatitis B surface Antibody levels.

Other:

If you suffer a needlestick injury during placement at any other clinic/hospital in Australia or overseas, you should report it immediately to your supervisor.

Part-time Employment

The BDSc and Oral Health courses are full-time courses and the Faculty and School expect that you will develop a balanced program of studies and other activities. Should it be necessary for financial purposes to obtain part-time employment during the academic year, you must obtain prior approval from the School. (This does not include employment during Winter Recess and the December/January period, provided that employment does not conflict with Clinical Experience requirements.) Generally this will be approved within reasonable limits eg. up to six hours per week and subject to it not affecting your academic progress. Students who do experience financial difficulties are advised to discuss them with School Office Staff and/or the University's Student Support Services.

Student Travel Policy

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