COURSE CURRICULUM

The Doctor of Clinical Surgery is a rigorous doctoral-level program that combines advanced clinical training, structured coursework, and research to develop highly skilled and reflective surgical leaders. The course covers all major dimensions of surgical practice, including operative techniques, psychomotor skills, cognitive decision-making, communication, ethics, behavioural science, health economics, and medicolegal responsibilities. A key feature of the program is its competence-based assessment approach, particularly for operative and technical skills, ensuring that candidates meet high professional standards in real clinical settings. Students undertake supervised clinical training in accredited University of Sydney teaching hospitals, working under nominated surgical supervisors and gaining experience across a wide range of specialties, including cardiothoracic, general, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, paediatric, plastic and reconstructive, and head and neck surgery. The course structure includes 144 credit points comprising core clinical surgery units, electives, a research thesis, and a capstone viva voce assessment. The clinical surgery units integrate patient care, surgical anatomy, pathology, and literature-based critical analysis of cases, while elective units allow broader professional development beyond surgery. A major research component runs throughout the program, structured across multiple stages from abstract to final discussion and bibliography, enabling students to contribute original knowledge. Overall, the program prepares surgeons for advanced practice, leadership roles, and evidence-based decision-making in complex surgical environments.