Study Medicine in Australia

Australia has several world-leading universities that offer high-quality education. Despite the recent appreciation of the Australian dollar and the resulting rise in the cost of life and education there, students across the world are opting to complete their higher education in Australia, due to the promise of lucrative jobs, good quality of life, excellent climate, and beautiful locales.

Why Pursue Medical Education in Australia?

Medical science is a course that is immensely popular amongst international students seeking enrolment in Australia. According to the globally recognized QS World University Rankings for 2020, 7 Australian Universities make it to the top 100 institutes for Medicine and Medical Sciences. 5 of these made it into the top 50, including:

1. The University of Melbourne,
2. The University of Sydney,
3. Monash University,
4. The University of New South Wales and
5. The University of Queensland.

The high bar for academic excellence, world-class infrastructure, modern and versatile teaching methodologies, and properly structured syllabi make it an obvious choice for aspiring medical professionals. Of all its universities, 39 varsities in the country are governed by strict regulations, which ensures that the degrees conferred by these colleges are of high quality and are recognized by most institutions and governments across the world.

Eligibility Criteria for the Undergraduate Medical Program

The undergraduate medical course in Australia spans five to six years which may be referred to as the following: MBBS (Medicine Baccalaureus & Bachelor of Surgery), BMBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), or BMedSci. (Bachelor of Medical Science), depending on the university. This is a provisional admission for students who have completed (or are on the verge of completing) 12 years of schooling. To apply, applicants must consider the following:

• Students must have completed their school leaving qualification or be in the final year of study for that qualification.
• Most medical schools require that the applicant have excellent scores in a combination of the following subjects in their final years of high school training: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Maths.
• Australian universities require applicants to have results of an aptitude test, most commonly the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT). Some universities may also accept the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) scores. This includes the University of Adelaide, replacing their in-house Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) in favor of the UCAT ANZ. These tests measure the applicant's logical reasoning and aptitude for practicing in the fields of medicine and dentistry.
  (Note: The UCAT ANZ is a two-hour computer-based test that assesses a large range of abilities. The test consists of 5 parts, each of which is separately timed and assessed. Multiple choices are presented to the examinee, of which s/he is supposed to select an answer. Applicants should keep in mind that breaks are not allowed for the duration of the test.)
• The candidate should have completed year 12 or equivalent high school education and year 12 equivalent English. International students might need to have proof of proficiency in English, depending on the country of origin and the university they are applying to. An applicant whose first language is not English must have achieved, within two years of the date on which the applicant will commence the course, an IELTS overall band score of 6.5-7.0, with at least 6.0 in each band.

Eligibility Criteria for the Post-Graduate Medical Program

The graduate medical program in Australia is a four-year course, called the Doctorate of Medicine or MD. Applicants for this program need to comply with the following requirements (in addition to the UG requirements):

• Applicants must have completed a basic degree in a core science-based discipline. Applicant's completed bachelor’s degree must have been at least 3 years full-time equivalence (FTE).
• Some Universities may require a bachelor’s degree from an overseas university listed in the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition Guide, provided that the degree is equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree (pass or with honors).
• Applicants have to result in either the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). These test the extent of the applicant's knowledge of science subjects relevant to Medical sciences and practices. Specific Universities will require different minimum scores in these tests to merit admission. Applicants are advised to enquire about the specifics of the same from their desired universities.

Top Australian Universities Offering Medical Education

All medical colleges in Australia offering undergraduate and post-grad courses are accredited by the Australian Medical Council. Since all medical degrees offered in Australia are recognized by the AMC, International students need to check with their respective medical councils if degrees obtained from their choice of Australian universities will be valid in their own countries. Students from the US can refer to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

Name of the University	Degree Offered	Tuition
		Domestic Students	International Students
Australian National University	Doctor of Medicine and Surgery	RTP	AUD 90,000 annually
University of Sydney	Doctor of Medicine	AUD 13,000 annually	AUD 91,000 annually
Monash University	Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine	Under CSP	AUD 51,000 annually
Macquarie University	Doctor of Medicine	AUD 77,000 annually	AUD 84,000 annually
University of New South Wales	Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine	AUD 10,000 annually	AUD 84,000 annually
University of Western Sydney	Bachelor of Clinical Science/Doctor of Medicine	Under CSP	AUD 76,000 annually
University of Wollongong	Doctor of Medicine	Under RTP	AUD 34,000 per session
University of Newcastle	MD, MBBS	AUD 4,700 to AUD 18,000 annually	AUD 29,000 to AUD 43,000 annually
University of Notre Dame	Doctor of Medicine	Under CSP	AUD 81,000 annually
Bond University	Doctor of Medicine*	AUD 31,000 per semester	-
Griffith University	Doctor of Medicine	AUD 13,000 annually	AUD 78,000 annually
James Cook University	Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery	AUD 34,000 annually	AUD 67,000 annually
University of Queensland	Doctor of Medicine	AUD 13,000 annually	AUD 92,000 annually
University of Adelaide	MBBS, MD	AUD 13,000 annually	AUD 90,000 annually
Flinders University	Doctor of Medicine	AUD 13,000 annually	AUD 81,000 annually
University of Tasmania	Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine	Under CSP	AUD 402,000 full course
University of Melbourne	Doctor of Medicine	AUD 90,000 annually	AUD 112,000 annually
Deakin University	Doctor of Medicine	Under CSP	AUD 81,000 annually
University of Western Australia	Doctor of Medicine	Under CSP	AUD 86,000 annually

*International students who plan to apply for a student visa to enroll in this program are not eligible to participate in this program.

Career Pattern that Medical Students in Australia need to Follow

The Australian medical study format is similar to that of the UK. Upon completion of their graduation or post-graduation courses, students are required to work as an intern in a registered hospital for a year (more specifically, a minimum of 47 weeks) to be eligible to register with the state medical registration board. Graduate students are responsible for attaining, coordinating, and maintaining their own internships. Applications for such internships typically occur during the same time in Australia and usually close in June the year prior to their commencement. Each state has its own candidate priorities list and intake numbers. State-based websites are excellent resources for finding and applying for internships in hospitals (in their specific states). Graduate students may also wish to consider the Junior Doctor Training Program Private Hospital Stream. This is a good option for international applicants as well.

Six weeks prior to the completion of a medical degree, students will also need to apply for provisional registration with the Australian Medical Board to complete this supervised year of practice. After obtaining a registration, medical graduates can work as Resident Medical Officers or Hospital Medical Officers. Based on the work experience gained during this tenure, they can opt for vocational and specialization programs.

Cost of Studying Medicine in Australia

Australia has a relatively high cost of living, which makes an education there a rather expensive option for international students. However, the excellent quality of medical education offered by Australian universities and the widespread recognition of an AMC certification are reasons why it is still an excellent choice for aspiring medical professionals.

The average estimated cost of completing a medical studies degree in Australia is about AUD 40,000 (about US$ 27,000) to AUD 60,000 (about US$40,000) per year. The fees also vary wildly depending on the university or institution and their respective courses/programs. Also, the Australian government does not have a scholarship program that covers the entire expense of a medical degree for international students. However, pursuing medicine as a profession is highly lucrative as the mean salaries of medical professionals are often much higher than that of the median/average income of a given country. Hence, it's important that international students looking for fully funded scholarship programs to study medicine in Australia check with their respective governments for financial aid and funding.