Admission

What are the entry requirements?

• Applicants must have completed or be studying the final year of a Bachelor degree at the time of application. Bachelor degrees undertaken in Australia must be from a Commonwealth-accredited institution and must be completed at AQF Level 7 at minimum. Bachelor degrees completed overseas must be from a recognised institution and must be equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree. If your Bachelor degree was awarded more than 10 years ago, you will need to meet further study requirements to be eligible to apply. Please see the ‘10 year rule’ FAQ for more information.  
• The minimum weighted GPA for interview consideration is 5.6 
• Domestic applicants must sit the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT). The minimum GAMSAT score for interview consideration is an overall score of 55 with a minimum of 50 in each section. 
• International applicants must sit either the GAMSAT or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). A minimum score of 125 much be achieved in each section of the MCAT to be considered for an interview. 
• All applicants must meet the University's English language proficiency requirements for graduate applicants. 

Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee an interview or admission into the program. 

What is the GAMSAT?

The Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is a requirement for applicants applying to the ANU Medical School. For information about the test and for important dates and locations please visit their website.

For the purpose of admissions, GAMSAT results are valid for two years. For example, to apply in 2020 for a course commencing in 2021, the following results can be used: September 2018, March 2019, September 2019 and May 2020..

How will my GPA be calculated?

The GPA calculation is based on three years of full-time equivalent study (3.0 EFTSL) in your most recent eligible degree. For the purpose of the GPA calculation, eligible degrees include Bachelor, Honours and Masters by Coursework programs. Course results from eligible degrees will be included in the GPA calculation if the degree is already complete or due to be completed by 31 December in the year of application.

The ANU Medical School uses a weighted GPA calculation for admission to the to Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) program. This means that your most recent results are weighted more heavily:

• Final GPA Year – Weighted x3
• Final-1 GPA Year – Weighted x2
• Final-2 GPA Year – Weighted x1

If your most recent eligible degree comprises less than 3.0 EFTSL worth of study, course results from your next-most-recent eligible degree(s) will be used to make up the remainder of the 3.0 EFTSL.

For example, if you completed a 2 year Masters by Coursework after your Bachelor degree, your GPA would be calculated using 2.0 EFTSL worth of course results from the Masters by Coursework, and the remaining 1.0 EFTSL worth of course results would be taken from the final year of your Bachelor degree.

Where an applicant is completing the final year of their qualifying degree in the year of application, the current year of study will only be included in the GPA calculation if at least 0.375 FTE worth of graded course results from Semester/Trimester 1 are available to be used in the calculation. If at least 0.375 FTE worth of graded results are not yet available, the Final GPA Year will be excluded from the calculation and the GPA will be calculated using only the Final-1 (x2) and Final-2 (x1) GPA Years.

There are helpful GPA calculation guides available on the GEMSAS website.

Please note that Graduate Diplomas, Graduate Certificates, Masters by Research and PhDs are not included in the GPA calculation. However, completion of some higher-level qualifications may attract a percentage bonus. Please refer to the FAQ about bonuses for further information.

Can I apply for the Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) after Year 12?

No. The Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) is a postgraduate program. Therefore you must already hold a Bachelor degree (or be completing the final year of your Bachelor degree) to be eligible to apply. You are not eligible to apply straight out of year 12.

However, the ANU offers a number of excellent pathways for students who wish to study medicine after their undergraduate degree. These pathways include the Bachelor of Health Science, Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) in Science, and the Tuckwell Scholarship Program. Please visit the Pathway Programs page for more information.

Can I use my UCAT or UMAT results to apply for the Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD)?

No, applicants cannot use results from the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) to apply. Applicants must sit the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT).

Note: International applicants may apply using results from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or the GAMSAT. Domestic applicants must apply using GAMSAT results only.

Do I need to have a science background to apply? Are there preferred Bachelor Degrees or prerequisite courses?

There are no preferred Bachelor degrees or prerequisite subjects for entry to the Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) program. The ANU Medical School welcomes applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds (sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, law, etc.) and considers all applicants equally.

While some students may like to choose an undergraduate field that is related to medicine, others may like to choose a field that they especially enjoy and expect do well in. High level performance in the chosen degree is the main prerequisite.

What is a Bonded Medical Place (BMP)?

The Bonded Medical Program provides students with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a medical course at an Australian university in return for a commitment to work in eligible regional, rural and remote areas for a specified period after completion of their medical course. This commitment is referred to as a Return of Service Obligation (RoSO).

Participants of the Bonded Medical Program are subject to Part VD of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Act) and must abide by the Health Insurance (Bonded Medical Program) Rule 2020 (Rule).

Further information is available at www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/reformed-bonded-programs

Am I eligible to apply if I completed my bachelor degree more than 10 years ago?

Applicants are required to have completed their Bachelor degree within 10 years prior to the date of application. If your Bachelor degree was awarded more than 10 years ago, the ‘10 year rule’ may be waived if you have undertaken additional undergraduate or postgraduate study in the intervening period — this must be evidenced by successful completion of at least 0.5 years of full-time equivalent study (0.5 EFTSL) at Bachelor level (or higher) in a Commonwealth-accredited program in the 10 years prior to the date of application.

A study load of 0.5 EFTSL is usually equivalent to one semester of full-time study or two semesters of part-time study. You should contact your institution directly to confirm the study load of any courses/units undertaken at that university.

Will I receive a bonus for completing a higher level degree?

Honours

A percentage bonus of 2% may be awarded for completion of a standalone Honours degree if the qualification is already complete or due to be completed by December 31 in the year of application. The bonus applies to standalone Honours degrees only. Embedded and professional Honours programs are included in the GPA calculation but do not receive the percentage bonus.

Masters by Research or PhD

A percentage bonus may be awarded for completion of a Masters by Research (2%) or PhD (4%) if the qualification is completed prior to the date of application.

Note

• The percentage bonus is applied to the combined GPA/GAMSAT score, therefore applicants must meet the individual GPA and GAMSAT requirements before they can be eligible for the bonus.
• Applicants cannot accumulate additional bonuses for completing more than one of the degrees listed above. If an applicant has completed more than one qualification that is eligible for a bonus, only the highest bonus will apply.

Is special consideration given for a rural background?

Yes. In line with federal government initiatives, 28% of the ANU intake of medical students should be of rural background. GEMSAS will use the Australian Standard Geographical Classification - Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) system to determine if applicants meet the rural background criteria. If your primary place of residence has been in an Australian rural area (ASGS-RA 2 to 5) for 5 years consecutively or 10 years cumulatively, you may be eligible for consideration in the rural sub-quota.

If you wish to be considered in the rural sub-quota you will need to complete the Rurality question in the GEMSAS application form and submit your supporting documentation to GEMSAS. You can check the ASGC-RA classification of your address by visiting the Department of Health’s DoctorConnect website.

Can I defer my offer of admission to commence at a later date?

An offer of a place is only valid for the year in which it is offered. The Medical School will not consider a deferral for students unless exceptional circumstances arise that were not foreseeable at the time of application.  

Applicants who meet the above and are seeking a deferral are required to submit a letter addressed to the Associate Dean detailing their reasons for deferral and why this was not foreseeable at the time of application. Applications for deferral are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Can medicine students from other universities transfer into the ANU Medical School?

Requests for direct transfers will not be considered. All years of the Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) program are at full enrolment capacity and the ANU Medical School is unable to accommodate additional students transferring into the program from other medical schools.

However, students from other medical schools are welcome to apply for the next available intake into Year 1 of the MChD program through the standard application procedure outlined on the How to Apply page.

Can doctors who trained overseas apply?

Yes, overseas trained doctors may apply for entry in the same manner as any other domestic or international applicant. We do not require overseas trained doctors to have attempted the Australian Medical Council exam prior to applying.

Who can I contact about the outcome of my application?

If you are a domestic applicant, please contact GEMSAS for details about your application

International applicants can contact admissions.medicalschool@anu.edu.au

Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD)

What is the MChD?

The Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD), Latin for Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, is a comprehensive and varied four year course for graduate students looking to enter the rewarding field of medicine. It aims to produce graduates who are committed to compassionate, ethical health care and the expansion of medical knowledge.

How is the MChD structured?

Please visit the ‘Programs and Courses’ page.

Can I study the MChD part-time?

No. Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) students must be enrolled full-time.

Can I study a combined MChD / research program?

Yes. The conjoint degrees offered include the combined MChD / PhD and MChD / MPhil programs.

International

What are the tuition fees for International students?

International students are required to pay the full cost of their medical training. The international fee for the MChD Program can be found in the ‘Admissions and Fees’ section on the Programs and Courses page. Further information can be found on the student fees website.

What are the English language proficiency requirements for admission?

All applicants must meet the Australian National University's English language requirements for graduate admission. Please refer to the ANU Policy Library for further details.

What happens if I become an Australian permanent resident after commencing the program?

A student who obtains permanent residence status after the census date in a semester will be classified as an international student for the remainder of that semester. They will be liable to pay the tuition fees applicable to international students for that semester. From the following semester, the student will be classified as a permanent resident and will be liable to pay the tuition fees applicable to permanent residents.

Where a student has obtained permanent residence by the census date for that semester and has already paid the tuition fees applicable to international students, the student may be eligible for a refund of these fees. Please refer to the Student Refunds Policy.

Note: permanent residency is recognised from the date proof of PR status is provided to the University, not the date on which the application for permanent residency was made or granted.

As an international student, can I stay and work in Australia after I graduate?

ANU and the Medical School are not responsible for internships. Internships are managed by State and Territory governments. In the ACT, placements are allocated through processes run by the Health Directorate. In other States and in the Northern Territory, placements are allocated by the Postgraduate Medical Council. These departments have made it clear that international students are not guaranteed an internship upon graduation from a medical program.

On completion of the internship, junior doctors are eligible to receive full registration with the State/Territory Medical Board. As each State/Territory has its own Medical Board, doctors are required to register in the State/Territory where they practice. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency may offer additional information.

Note: international students should be aware of the Medical Board of Australia's English requirements for internship registration in Australia, which requires a minimum of IELTS level 7 in all four components.

Graduates

What is the medical graduate internship?

Usually, MChD graduates will enter the medical workforce and complete a one year internship program, with the majority of time spent in major public teaching hospitals. On completion of this internship, junior doctors are eligible to receive full registration with the medical board in the State/Territory where they practice.

Placements are allocated through processes run by the Health Directorate, in the ACT and the Postgraduate Medical Council in other states and territories.

Can I undertake my internship through the ANU Medical School after I graduate?

ANU and the Medical School are not responsible for internships. Internships are managed by State and Territory governments. Placements are allocated through processes run by the Health Directorate in the ACT and by the Postgraduate Medical Council in other States and Territories. These departments have made it clear that international students are not guaranteed an internship upon graduation from a medical program.

On completion of the internship, junior doctors are eligible to receive full registration with the State/Territory Medical Board. As each State/Territory has its own Medical Board, doctors are required to register in the State/Territory where they practice. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency may offer additional information.

Is the MChD recognised in other countries?

The Medicinae ac Chirurgiae Doctoranda (MChD) qualification is recognised in countries outside Australia through its accreditation by the Australian Medical Council and listing on the International Medical Education Directory and the World Health Organisation Medical School Directory.

However, specific countries may require additional steps to be completed before the degree is recognised by that country.

Will I be able to register and practice in countries outside Australia?

MChD graduates wishing to register and practice in countries other than Australia must satisfy that country's requirements for foreign medical graduates.