Location: Western Sydney, Orange (with rural campuses in the Northern Rivers, Hastings Macleay, Central Tablelands, Central West, Murrumbidgee, Riverina, Murray and Mallee regions)

Type of Degree: Undergraduate

Length:  5 Years

Rural Focus: WWSU and CSU Joint Medical Program (JMP) has the Rural Entry Admission Scheme (REAS) which offers an allocated number of rural places in each location. Rural applicants under this scheme require a minimum ATAR of 91.50 (rather than a minimum ATAR of 95.50 for non-rural applicants). Rural applicants are required to sit the UCAT and do an interview. For more information, please visit: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/application-pathways/rural-entry-admission-scheme

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are required to apply through UAC, however there is a separate process for admission. Applicants must have completed NSW HSC or equivalent and are invited to attend an interview and provide supporting documentation (such as transcripts, academic records, resumes and community involvement). For more information, please visit: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/how-to-apply/md-applicants/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-applicants

Admission scores: Rural applicants require a minimum ATAR of 91.50 (rather than a minimum ATAR of 95.50 for non-rural applicants). Applicants with current or previous university study will be assessed on their GPA. Applicants with a completed undergraduate degree require a minimum GPA of 4.9. Admission is based on 75% interview, performance and 25% UCAT performance and meeting the relevant academic threshold (ATAR and GPA requirements).

Locations: Kensington, Albury, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Griffith and Wagga Wagga

Type of Degree: Undergraduate

Length: 6 Years

Rural Focus: UNSW offers the Rural Entry Scheme (RES) which runs separately from the standard entry process for rural students. Students cannot apply for both RES and standard entry. Selection is based on UCAT results, rural rating, interview and academic rank (either ATAR or weighted average mark for those who have completed a previous degree). RES favours students who completed their HSC at a local high school within proximity to the UNSW Rural Clinical Campuses in Albury, Coffs Harbour, Griffith, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga. Students entering this scheme will be required to complete some or all of their studies at a rural campus. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: UNSW offers the Indigenous Entry Scheme which involves applicants completing the Pre-Medicine Program (PMP) which is a residential program at UNSW, which provides insight into what it is like to study medicine. After the completion of the course the final selection for the Indigenous Entry Scheme is made, and successful applicants receive offers to the undergraduate medical program. 

Admission scores: To be eligible for RES, applicants require a minimum ATAR of 91 and for applicants who have completed at least one full year of university study they require a minimum ATAR of 91 and a WAM of 70. RES applicants who have completed a degree require a minimum WAM/GPA equivalent of a 91 ATAR.  Selection of applicants for the Indigenous Entry Scheme Pre-Medicine Program is based on a written application and interview (no ATAR or UCAT required). 

Location: Newcastle, Central Coast, Maitland, Armidale, Tamworth and Taree 

Type of Degree: Undergraduate

Length: 5 Years

Rural Focus: UON and UNE JMP offer the Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme, which aims to increase the number of students from rural and remote locations being admitted into the program by allocating 30 per cent of places to this scheme. If eligible, apply through the Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme. This scheme results in a lower UCAT threshold and academic requirement. Selection is based on ATAR/university equivalent, UCAT, written statement and interview. 

The JMP also offers a Rural Bonus Scheme to applicants who have completed their secondary studies in a rural or remote location. Under this scheme applicants will only require a minimum ATAR of 91.40 to be eligible for medicine (rather than the standard minimum requirement of 94.30). 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: 

Each year, up to 17 places are reserved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Applicants can apply through the Miroma Bunbilla Pre-Entry Pathway. Eligibility for this pathway is based on Year 12 results, partial completion or completion of studies at university, or completion of an approved Tertiary Enabling Program. Applicants in the pathway undertake the Multiple Skills Assessment and Personal Qualities Assessment (interview) and attend the Miroma Bunbilla Program, a mandatory 5-day face-to-face program that gives applicants insight into studying medicine. 

For more information, please visit: http://newcastle.edu.au/jmp-indigenous 

Admission scores: UCAT score cut-off varies each year and determines eligibility for interview offer. Under the Rural Bone Scheme, rural applicants require a minimum ATAR of 91.40 (rather than the minimum requirement of 94.30 for metropolitan applicants). If you have commenced a bachelor degree, the equivalent academic requirement is close to a credit average.

Location: Sydney

Type of Degree: Postgraduate

Length:  4 Years

Rural Focus: Rural applicants applying to Macquarie University will automatically receive a three per cent adjustment to their weighted GPA. 

Macquarie University does not have a specific rural placement pathway option. Students wanting to do rural placements can organise to do their elective placement rurally. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: Macquarie University also offers the Indigenous Australian Pathway, in which applicants will have their application individually assessed by faculty at Walanga Muru (the University’s Indigenous office). Through this pathway applicants will automatically receive a three per cent adjustment to your weighted GPA (note if also rural, there is a maximum five per cent adjustment applied). Applicants are not required to sit the GAMSAT. Applicants will also receive guidance during the application and interview process. Applicants will need to achieve a minimum weighted GPA of 5.0 out of 7.0.

Admission scores: Applicants require a minimum GPA of 5.0 and a minimum GAMSAT score of 50 overall and 50 in each section. Applicants must also undertake a Multiple-Mini-Interview. 

Location: Sydney and Dubbo (rural sites in Orange, Broken Hill, the Northern Rivers)

Type of Degree: Postgraduate 

Length:  4 Years

Rural Focus: USYD offers a facilitated entry scheme for rural applicants which allows applicants to have a minimum GPA of 4.5 (compared to a minimum of 5 for standard applicants). USYD also offers the MD Dubbo Stream which has a greater focus on practicing rural medicine. 24 places are offered each year to study in Dubbo as well as the opportunity to undertake remote placements in western and far west NSW. Applicants for the MD Dubbo Stream may be required to attend an interview to assess their interest, intention and aptitude for practicing rural medicine. Selection for interviews will be based on GPA, GAMSAT and a Personal Statement. Selection for the Dubbo Stream will give highest priority to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants and rural applicants with the highest scores. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: USYD offers the Indigenous Facilitated Entry Scheme which allows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants to be considered for an offer with GPA and GAMSAT scores lower than those of standard entry applicants. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants also receive highest priority rankings for the MD Dubbo Stream. Please see the website for full details of entry requirements. 

Admission scores: Rural applicants require a minimum GPA of 4.5 and a minimum score of 50 in each section of the GAMSAT to be eligible for admission. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are preferred to have a GPA of at least 4.5, however applicants with a lower GPA who can demonstrate improvement over the duration of their studies may also be considered. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are preferred to have achieved a minimum score of 50 in each section of the GAMSAT (in particular Section III - Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences), however, applicants with lower GAMSAT results may be considered. 

Locations: Sydney (with Rural locations in Wagga Wagga, Lithgow and Ballarat)

Fremantle (with Rural locations in Wheatbelt, West Kimberley and Broome) 

Type of Degree: Postgraduate 

Length: 4 Years 

Rural Focus: There is no specific rural pathway at Notre Dame Sydney, however, rural applicants can submit their rural status which may be considered for interview places. 

The University of Notre Dame is introducing the Kimberley Centre for Remote Medical Training (KCRMT) in 2025. Students will do all four years in rural communities in Western Australia. Selection is based on GAMSAT, Casper test and an interview. Priority is given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, equity applicants, WA rural residents particularly residents of the Kimberley or Pilbara regions. Additionally, the preference for The University of Notre Dame Fremantle Campus may be taken into account when ranking for places.

An assured pathway for KCRMT is available for high school leavers from the Kimberley and Pilbara regions who enter the UNDA Bachelor of Biomedical Science - Assured Pathway or the Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Science (Honours) - Assured Pathway to MD. Entry is contingent upon maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5 each semester throughout their undergraduate degree.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants can apply for entry via the Aboriginal Entry Pathway. Offers are based on the completion of a degree in the past 10 years, GPA and an interview. For more information, please visit: https://www.notredame.edu.au/forms/admissions/indigenous-pathway-to-medicine

Admission Scores: 

UNDA Sydney: Applicants require a minimum GPA of 5.2, however, students commencing medicine at Notre Dame Sydney in 2024 had an average GPA of 6.74. Applicants require a minimum unweighted GAMSAT average score of 52 and a minimum score of 50 in each section. Students commencing in 2024 had an average unweighted GAMSAT score of 67.79. Admission is also based on performance in the Casper Test and interview.

Location: Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands (with rural placements across regional, rural and remote NSW). 

Type of Degree: Postgraduate 

Length: 4 Years

Rural Focus: UOW has the Rural Entry Pathway which applies a rurality adjustment to applications. 

Rural applicants may also be eligible to receive Admission Bonuses, for example commitment to service provision for rural NSW, commitment to rural medical education. Please refer to ‘UOW MD Admission bonuses’ for more information. UOW also offers two rural medical education tracks, which applicants can preference on their UOW MD application: 

Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track: Students in this track will be based in either Wollongong or Shoalhaven for the first 18 months of the program and then be placed in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW for the remainder of their degree. Training sites include Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands, Illawarra, Murrumbidgee, Clarence Valley, Northern Rivers, Central West, and Outback regions. There are 54 places in this track with a minimum of 32 places available for Rural Entry Pathway students. 

Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track: Students in this track will be based at either the Shoalhaven or Southern Highlands campus for the first 18 months of the program and then will spend the rest of their degree in a rural location. There are 30 places available in this track and these places are allocated across the General Entry Pathway, Rural Entry Pathway and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants can apply to the UOW MD Program directly via the direct online application process or through the GEMSAS application system. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants must meet university GPA and MMI requirements but are not required to sit CASPer or GAMSAT. Applicants will also undergo a Community interview, which allows the applicant to talk in a more informal setting about their Community, their experiences and being a medical student at UOW.

Admission scores: Applicants require a minimum weighted GPA of 5.5, minimum GAMSAT score of 50 overall and a CASPer score (unknown how high). Please refer to the website for UOW MD Admission bonuses.