Rapid Rescoping and Adaptation: An Evaluation of the Impact of COVID-19 on Postgraduate Medical Student Research Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected tertiary science and medical education, with significant impact on research-related activities. Research projects are a mandatory requirement of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program at the University of Sydney, and medical student projects are delivered across multiple sites in metropolitan and rural New South Wales, Australia. Several cohorts of medical students had projects that were affected by COVID-19. The aims of this study were to determine the impact of COVID-19 on medical student research projects and describe the measures taken to rescope projects, to support students in meeting the learning objectives of the program. Mandatory submission statements for all medical student research project scientific reports for 2020-2022 were examined for reports of the effect of COVID-19 on the project, including COVID-19 related delays, downsizing and the need to change research project types. During the study period, a total of 760 student reports were submitted, of which 217 (28.7%) were affected by COVID-19. About 50% were significantly delayed, 30% were downsized, and 6% required completely new projects. Rescoping arrangements implemented facilitated the successful completion of projects. Overall, the final student grades for the research projects were unaffected by COVID-19 or the related project rescoping. Whilst significantly impacted by COVID-19, medical student research projects were completed with provision of appropriate rescoping plans and academic support. Ensuring projects have a documented contingency plan secured projects as the pandemic progressed and will be a useful safeguard for all future project delivery.