Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Biomedicine

Students will study basic and biomedical sciences such as anatomy, biochemistry, histology, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, pathology, clinical diagnosis and pharmacology in western medicine. These studies aim to provide an understanding and appreciation of the theoretical background of modern biomedicine in order to establish a common ground for communication with the Australian healthcare system to enable practitioners to interpret the biomedical viewpoint, and to encourage the application of scientific knowledge in clinical practice.

Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture

Students will study the full range of modalities of Chinese medicine which provide an understanding of the theoretical aspects specific to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine/dispensing, including compliance with herbal restrictions under the SUSMP and CITES, as well as practical training in the safe application of these therapeutic methods. Students will study classical Chinese medicine literature to provide an understanding and appreciation of the sources of many of the concepts and therapeutic approaches used in contemporary Chinese medicine.

Clinical Studies

Clinical Chinese medicine studies will provide a foundation in TCM internal medicine, TCM traumatology, TCM gynaecology, TCM paediatrics and dermatology. This will provide students with theoretical and practical skills in the diagnosis, differentiation and clinical management of a wide range of health disorders using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Clinical Training

Clinical training provides practical application of the theories of Chinese medicine and biomedicine for the management of a wide range of health disorders using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, as in the operation of a Chinese medicine clinic or dispensary. Students will develop an understanding of their professional identity and other professional roles in the healthcare team and develop approaches to become collaborative interprofessional team members. This learning occurs in real clinics (i.e., at SITCM’s Teaching Clinic and designated external clinics). For more information about clinic training, please see our Clinic Practicum page.

Professional & Practice Issues

Students will study professional and practice issues that include communication, ethics, legal responsibilities, cultural safety, cultural determinants of health, practice management, small business management, and research methods. This will assist students in a range of areas needed for the effective operation of an independent practice in Chinese medicine and in their ongoing professional development. This aspect of the course is integrated systematically throughout the teaching and learning process to assist in the development of skills required for an Australian healthcare practitioner to operate a successful private practice.

• Successful completion of the NSW HSC and attainment of the required ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) of 70;
• Successful completion of an equivalent secondary qualification, either interstate or overseas, and attainment of the required entrance standard;
• Successful completion of accredited vocational (Certificate IV level or above) or higher education studies under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), or overseas equivalent; OR
• Satisfactory completion of an accredited Tertiary Preparation Program or a Foundation Studies Program offered by an Australian university that would enable students to gain entry to an Australian university.

Alternative Admissions

Applicants who do not meet any of the above education requirements may gain entry to the course by meeting one of the following alternative admission requirements:

• Successful completion of at least one unit at the Australian Higher Education level;
• Successful completion of a Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT): http://www.uac.edu.au/stat/;
• Employment experience: full-time paid employment experience of 2 years or more (an applicant must provide a letter from the employer confirming the applicant’s job title,  start and end date, hours worked per week, and duties involved in the job);
• Mature age: applicants who are over 21 years of age, but have not completed Year 12 or equivalent studies, must demonstrate a range of attributes such as life experience, motivation and maturity;
• Educational disadvantage in schooling: through disability, serious illness, lack of educational support, disrupted education, or serious family problems or responsibilities; OR
• SITCM may provide special entry arrangements to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in recognition that they are amongst the most disadvantaged groups in Australia.

Alternative admission applicants must also pass an interview with the Dean, who will assess their capacity to undertake higher education study. Applicants may be required to commence the course through conditional enrolment which involves a reduced number of units in the first semester of study and the close monitoring of their progress at the conclusion of each semester in the first year of study.

English Language Requirement

Applicants need to demonstrate English language proficiency by providing evidence of ONE of the following:

• Completion of secondary studies in English;
• Completion of a qualification at AQF level 7 or higher in English, or its overseas equivalent;
• Completion of at least 1 year of full-time study at AQF level 5 or higher in English, or its oversees equivalent, as assessed by SITCM on a case-by-case basis and passing an interview and writing task with senior academic staff (domestic applicants only);
• Completion of a qualification at AQF level 5 or higher in English within the last 2 years and passing an interview and writing task with senior academic staff (international applicants only);
• Completion of an accredited Tertiary Preparation Program or Foundation Studies Program;
• Work experience in a professional environment where the sole language of communication is English, for at least 3 years immediately before enrolment at SITCM, and passing an interview with senior academic staff and complete a writing task;
• Completion of one of the following English language tests within the last two years with the minimum required result:

  English Language Test	Minimum Requirement
  IELTS Academic	6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in each subtest)
  TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)	58 overall (minimum 50 in all communicative skills)
  Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic	90 overall (minimum 21 in writing)
  C1 Advanced Cambridge (formally known as CAE-Cambridge Advanced English)	176 overall
  C2 Proficiency Cambridge (formally known as CPE-Cambridge Proficiency English)	176 overall
  Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Multiple Choice	155 in the verbal (critical) reasoning component

• Completion of one of the following qualifications with the minimum required result:

  Qualification	Minimum Requirement
  International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)	Grade 4 in either English B (at higher level), English A (language and literature at standard or higher level) or English A (literature at standard or higher level)
  United Kingdom GCE A Levels	C grade in at least one Humanities subject at AS or A2 level
  Singapore-Cambridge GCE A Levels	C grade in at least one Humanities subject at H1 or H2 level
  Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)	C pass in 920 Literature in English
  Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)	Level 4 in English Language or Literature in English
  German Arbitur	3 (on a 6-point scale) or 8 (on a 15-point scale) in Advanced Level English (AF)