Concurrent language and academic skills support for international undergraduate medical research students

Advanced Medical Science (AMS) at the University of Melbourne is an intercalated Bachelor of Medical Science that aims to introduce students to careers in academic medicine and encourage the skills required for evidence-based practice. This article discusses a support program set up for international students. It covers language and academic skills training specific to the medical research year, initial training in critical analysis of research articles, and an introduction to statistics and research methods. The particular strength of the bridging program and orientation is the collaborative planning and delivery of academic skills and research training, which is mutually reinforcing in terms of its themes, and the recognition by AMS teaching staff of the integral function of language in the communication of research results.