FAQs

GSSE course: Tūhura Otago Museum – Barclay Theatre, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin. Weekend labs are located at the Anatomy Department, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street.
CSSP course: Dunedin Leisure Lodge – A Distinction Hotel, 30 Duke Street, Dunedin

No, it is your responsibility to arrange accommodation. You can view recommended accommodation options.

Lunch provided on weekdays.

A three week course, consisting of approximately 100 hours of lectures/tutorials/practical anatomy sessions. There are two weekend practical anatomy sessions plus 9 hours of MCQ tests post-course.

Anatomy, physiology and pathology. The topics covered in the course reflect their importance in the FRACS examination, and/or their relative difficulty. For more information on the GSSE Course.

This postgraduate course aims to revise relevant topics in anatomy, physiology and pathology (including immunology, microbiology, pharmacology and statistics), as defined in the textbooks listed by the RACS. The size of the syllabus for pathology limits the detail in which component subjects can be discussed in the available time. For more information on the CSSP Course.

Course fee is NZ$5,500 including GST

Course fee is NZ$2,500 including GST

Tutors are members of staff of the Otago School of Medical Sciences and Dunedin School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, together with visiting lecturers. You can view the full list of speakers for the CSSP course.

Three tests (120 questions each) are available after the course, and comprise three “FRACS” papers, in which the distribution of questions is similar to that in the FRACS exam. These tests are computer-based. Once a question has been answered by a candidate, the correct answer is displayed, and in some instances a comment is provided.

The candidate’s results are emailed at the completion of all three tests. Graphs showing the distribution of marks for the whole class will also be included, allowing candidates to assess their own standard against that of the whole class. Some idea of the standard that corresponds to a pass in the FRACS exam will be provided.

Course fees, minus a NZ$100 administration fee, will be refunded to those withdrawing two weeks before the course starts. After this date, refunding of either the course fee will be at the sole discretion of the organising committee, and will be subject to the above administration fee.

Application should be arranged directly with the RACS. Make a careful note of the closing date for the examination that you propose to sit. The RACS does NOT accept late entries. Note: The Generic Surgical Sciences Exam will NOT be offered in Dunedin.

Most medical schools have in recent years reduced the basic sciences content of their undergraduate courses. The syllabus for the FRACS Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) requires candidates to know substantially more than is required at undergraduate level. The Dunedin courses aim to revise the relevant material, and to provide an overview, rather than to teach it for the first time. A great deal of information is covered in a relatively short time. Candidates are therefore strongly advised to come reasonably well prepared if they are to get the most out of this course.