The specialty of clinical oncology involves all aspect of the management of patients with malignant disease, from diagnosis through treatment with both radiotherapy and systemic therapies to management and symptom control in advanced and recurrent disease.Managing cancer in all its various forms requires an inquiring mind, a strong general medical background, good practical skills and full commitment to patient care.
A clinical oncologist requires excellent clinical skills and should be conversant with the basic sciences relevant to both radiotherapy and systemic therapy of malignant disease, the pathological and functional aspects of disease and the basic elements of research in clinical oncology. It is a very clinically focused specialty, with much of the working week spent in direct patient contact in outpatient clinics and on the wards.
Teamwork is very important. Most clinical oncologists work in multidisciplinary teams of oncology-trained nurses, radiographers, physicists, surgeons and other clinicians, all of whom must integrate and communicate effectively. Good communication skills are important, both to patient management and to team working. Cancer incidence is on the rise and has rapidly become one of the major causes of mortality among Malaysians. Due to increased disease burden and shortage of oncologists, there is a high demand for specialists in this area.
Full-Time Duration: 8 Semesters, (Clinical)
Programme Structure
Stage 1(1st Year):
Basic Oncological Sciences.
Cancer Pathology.
Radiotherapy Physics.
Medical Statistics.
Clinical Training with Continuous Assessment.
Log Book Maintenance.
Stage 2 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th Years):
Clinical Training in "Non-Surgical" Cancer Treatment.
Radiation Oncology.
Systemic Therapy for Cancer Treatment.
Research.
Log Book Documentation of Procedures and Clinical Skills.
Career Prospects
Clinical Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist, Medical Oncologist, Oncology Research Scientist, Cancer Treatment Specialist, Systemic Therapy Consultant, Radiotherapy Physicist, Cancer Care Coordinator, Oncology Clinical Trials Manager, Oncology Program Director, Oncological Pathologist, Oncology Educator, Cancer Research Coordinator, Cancer Treatment Plan Developer, Oncology Quality Improvement Specialist, Palliative Care Oncologist, Radiation Oncology Specialist, Clinical Cancer Pharmacologist, Cancer Epidemiologist, and Advanced Oncology Consultant.
Possess a Bachelor’s Degree with a CGPA of not less than 3.00; or
For applicants with a CGPA of 2.50 – 2.99 (must fulfill at least one of the following):
Graduate from University Malaya; or
Accumulate at least one (1) year of work experience in related fields; or
Produce publications in related field; or
Receive a scholarship; or
Serve as a staff member of a government agency; or
Pass an interview by Faculty; or
Pass a Special evaluation by Faculty.
Specific Entry Requirements
General University Requirements: Fulfill the General University Requirements
Bachelor's Degree Qualification: Possessed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or an equivalent medical qualification approved by the Senate.
Equivalent Qualification: N/A
Related Fields: N/A.
Special Requirements:
At least two (2) years of post-full registration clinical experience which must include a minimum of six (6) months in medicine AND a minimum of six (6) months in surgery, with experience in active medical and surgical on-call.*
*The minimum experience in medicine and surgery must have been undertaken within the last five (5) years from the point of entry into the programme
Qualifies for registration as a medical practitioner under the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) of Malaysia; and
Achieves the minimum requirement in the entrance evaluation for the program.
AND
The non-Malaysian citizen applicant who obtains a degree from a university or institution of higher learning that did not use English as the medium of instruction for the degree, shall be required to meet the specified requirements.
English Requirements
Malaysia University English Test (MUET): Band 4.0; or
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: Band 6.0; or
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – Paper-Based Test (PBT): Not applicable; or
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – Internet-Based Test (IBT) (Centre-Based): Score 60; or
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – Computer-Based Test (CBT): Not applicable; or
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – Essential Online: Score 8.5; or
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Score 59; or
Cambridge English Qualifications & Tests – Linguaskill Online: Not applicable; or
Cambridge English Qualifications & Tests – B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency: Score 169; or
Cambridge English Qualifications & Tests – B2 Business Vantage, C1 Business Higher: Not applicable; or
Occupational English Test (OET) (Conventional / Online): Not applicable; or
Cambridge English: First (FCE): Not applicable; or
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): Not applicable; or
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): Not applicable