Doctor of Medicine
Overview
Flinders University offers graduate entry to the MD in South Australia and the Northern Territory, providing an alternative to the traditional pathway from secondary school to an undergraduate medical course. The four-year course enables you to graduate with a medical qualification comparable to a six-year medicine degree.
The MD aims to develop the elements of knowledge, understanding and skill central to varied areas of medical practice, producing graduates well prepared to act as hospital interns and with the potential to follow a full range of medical specialties in subsequent training.
Flinders are leaders in the field of rural, regional and remote and Indigenous health.To address the health work force gap in rural and remote areas, the university offers students the opportunity to study the Flinders MD in the Northern Territory through the Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) and in rural South Australia through the South Australia Rural Medical (SARM) Program.
Flinders further provides rich and innovative student clinical placements across our clinical schools in Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Katherine Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Bedford Park, the Riverland, Mount Gambier and the Greater Green Triangle, the Adelaide Hills, Mallee, Fleurieu and Barossa Valley.
Flinders has a strong profile in medicine both nationally and internationally and continues to be at the forefront of innovation in teaching and research.
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International Student
Australia or New Zealand.
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Domestic Student
I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).
Course
Doctor of Medicine
Duration:4 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Location:
Bedford Park
Regional South Australia
Darwin
Availability:
Full-time
Start dates:
February
Annual indicative fees (2024):
$12,720 (Commonwealth supported)
Course
Doctor of Medicine
Duration:4 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Start dates:
February
CRICOS code:077675J
Annual fees:
2025: $84,500
Extend your MD and pursue multiple passions with a combined degree
Combining your MD with the Master of Public Health.
The addition of the Master of Public Health degree provides students with the ability to apply knowledge and skills in relation to public health principles, values and practices that reduce inequity in health care access and health outcomes, and improve population health status.
Kickstart your career as a clinician scientist by integrating a PhD in your MD.
You can reap the rewards of medical research with this well-supported and structured pathway to become a clinical scientist and future leader.
Your career
Upon graduation, you must complete a year as a hospital intern to qualify for medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia. After internship and a possible further year in a training position, you can then apply to undertake specialist training with a medical college. In addition to clinical practice in a wide range of medical specialties, medical graduates may work in research, public health or community aid around the world, or in health administration.
Potential occupations after internship include:
- general practitioner
- hospital medical officer
- medical specialist
- general practitioner in urban, rural and remote settings.
Professional accreditation/recognition
The Flinders University medical program has been re-accredited by the Australian Medical Council until 31 March 2025. Graduates of the Medicine degree will be registered with the Medical Board of Australia and permitted to practise medicine in Australia.
What you will study
Throughout the course there are three broad topics or themes: doctor and patient, knowledge of health and illness, and health professions and society. The program focuses on student-centred learning with longitudinal development of the knowledge, skills and personal and professional attributes required of a doctor. Topics cover areas such as interaction between doctor and patient, knowledge of health and illness, health professions and society, socially responsible health practice, clinical research foundations, and advanced studies.
The degree offers a hand-on approach, blending community and hospital training that offers you exposure to the broad spectrum of health care from the primary to the tertiary level. Topics introduce you to clinical practice and performance, and you will undertake practicals and clinical placements throughout the degree.
This course includes clinical placements which aim to provide students with the practical experience required for the workplace. Students who are required to complete clinical placements must be immunised in accordance with the relevant State or Territory immunisation standards (eg Health Immunisation for Health Care Workers in South Australia 2014 Policy Guideline) and any additional private provider requirements as needed.
View study program
Entry requirements
Applicants must:
- hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification or be due to complete their most recent Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification before starting the course; and
- have normally achieved a minimum Flinders equivalent non-weighted Grade Point Average of 5.00* or higher to be eligible to apply; and
- hold a valid Graduate Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) result with a minimum score of 50 in each section.
Additional requirements apply for sub-quotas such as submitting Statutory Declaration forms, supporting letters etc. which are detailed in the sub-quota information below.
Selection is based on combining the scores for the GAMSAT, weighted Grade Point Average from the most recent Bachelor degree and interview score.
Applicants are ranked to be shortlisted for an interview on the basis of their overall GAMSAT score provided they meet the minimum in each section of the test.
*for 2025 entry, as part of a transition period, applicants who have achieved a Flinders equivalent GPA of 4.50 or above will be eligible to apply. Applicants will normally be required to have achieved a GPA of 5.00 or above from the 2026 MD intake to be eligible to apply. Applicants can determine their Flinders equivalent GPA athttps://students.flinders.edu.au/my-course/gpa-calculator.
We support the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments’ key priority to increase the participation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in medicine.
We are committed to equity and inclusiveness in the Doctor of Medicine. Flinders recognises and values the contribution that Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous doctors make to the health of our country. Our Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff teach you how to work safely and confidently in a multicultural society.
As an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant you can choose from two pathways into the Doctor of Medicine.
If you have an undergraduate degree but donothave a valid GAMSAT score, you can apply for entry into theIndigenous Entry Stream (IES). Alternatively, if youdohave a valid GAMSAT score you can apply for direct entry through the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Sub-quota.
Both pathways have different timelines and requirements.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants may confirm their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity in one of two ways:
Confirmation of Indigeneity- provide a formal document, confirming their Indigeneity, from an incorporated Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation, containing the Common Seal of the organisation.
Or
Affirmation of Indigeneity- when a document under Common Seal is not able to be obtained, applicants may submit anAboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent Statutory Declaration.
Up to 4 places are available for applicants who currently hold or have held a Humanitarian Visa issued by the Australian Government and are permanent residents or citizens of Australia.
Applicants must submit aPermanent Humanitarian Visa Holder Statutory Declaration.pdfand a certified copy of their original Humanitarian Visa.
This Sub-quota is no longer available and will be replaced by theSouth Australia Rural Medical (SARM) Program.
Places available for applicants from an Australian rural background (Remoteness Areas 2 to 5 (2016 Standard)) in the following locations:
- Barossa Valley
- Hills Mallee Fleurieu
- Greater Green Triangle
- Riverland
A minimum 25% of total places available are reserved for Non-Flinders University Graduates.
Applicants whose most recent Bachelor degree or postgraduate qualification is not from Flinders University will be considered under this sub-quota.
A maximum 75% of total places are available for Flinders graduates of either their most recent completed Bachelor degree or any postgraduate study.
A minimum 28% of total places available are for applicants from an Australian rural background (Remoteness Areas 2 to 5 (2016 Standard)).
Applicants must submit aRural Residency Statutory Declaration.pdfand supporting letter(s) confirming they meet the rural residency criteria.
A maximum 30% of places are available for Flinders graduates whose most recent Bachelor degree is one of the following:
- Bachelor of Health Sciences*
- Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Physiotherapy*
- Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy*
- Bachelor of Medical Science - excluding the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science) and the Bachelor of Medical Science (Laboratory Medicine)
- Bachelor of Paramedic Science
- Bachelor of Public Health
- Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology - Medical Biotechnology Stream)* (per program of study either published in the course rule or the replacement study plan provided to students upon the stream being discontinued)
There are two types of places offered within the MD degree in Adelaide. These are Non Bonded Commonwealth Supported Places and Bonded Commonwealth Supported Places.
TheBonded Medical Programprovides 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 toPart VD of the Health Insurance Act 1973(Act) and must abide by theHealth Insurance (Bonded Medical Program) Rule 2020(Rule).
Students should obtain independent legal advice before agreeing to opt in to the Program.
New in 2025, our SARM Program will be offered entirely in rural South Australia for aspiring rural medical professionals.
Priority admission is for residents of rural South Australia, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants and applicants from interstate with rural backgrounds. Applicants from non-rural backgrounds who wish to pursue a career in rural medicine are also encouraged to apply.
Students will live and study Years 1 and 2 of the MD in the Riverland or Mount Gambier in the Greater Green Triangle (GGT). Later, in Years 3 and 4, students will study in either the Hills Mallee Fleurieu, Barossa Valley, Riverland or GGT.
With up to 46 places available, the SARM Program is a gateway to a fulfilling rural medical career.
The MD is also offered in Darwin, Northern Territory.
Places (Employer Reserved – Fee Paying) are funded by the NT Government. TheNTBMSis an NT and Australia Government initiative with the aims of improving the health of all Northern Territorians, particularly Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Territorians, increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island doctors and to provide a sustainable supply of medical graduates to the NT health community.
The NTMP considers applicants who meet the eligibility criteria in the following priority order:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant who meets the NT residency requirements.
- Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant who meets the NT residency requirements.
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant but not a NT resident.
- Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant and not a NT resident.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants may confirm their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity in one of two ways:
Confirmation of Indigeneity- provide a formal document, confirming their Indigeneity, from an incorporated Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation, containing the Common Seal of the organisation.
Or
Affirmation of Indigeneity- when a document under Common Seal is not able to be obtained, applicants may submit anAboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent Statutory Declaration.
Applicants who are NT residents are required to submit aNorthern Territory Residency Statutory Declarationand supporting letter(s) confirming they meet the NT residency criteria.
The following information is reproduced from the Medical Deans of Australian and New Zealand (MDANZ) document " Inherent requirements for studying Medicine in Australia and New Zealand", 2017.
Maximise your chances of entry to the Doctor of Medicine
To maximise chances of gaining entry to the Doctor of Medicine you need to:
- meet the application eligibility criteria;
- understand and adhere to the application procedures and meet relevant deadlines;
- provide all the information and supporting documentation requested by Flinders University by the relevant deadlines;
- read and understand the application terms and conditions;
- follow all the instructions given carefully whilst applying and in any subsequent communications;
- pay any fees by the required date; and
- keep personal contact details up-to-date.
Eligible applicants must have successfully completed the GAMSAT in the last two years, and hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Register to sit GAMSAT (theGraduate Medical Schools Admissions Test). GAMSAT is held in March each year and results are released in May each year.
2024 entry GAMSAT overall score cut-offs for interview^
Flinders Graduate Reserved Places - 64
Flinders Graduate - 67
MDRS (rural background applicants) – 57*
Rural - 64
Humanitarian Visa Holders - 62
Non-Flinders Graduates/Non-Rural/Non-Humanitarian Visa – 76
^Cut-offs are based on the main round of interview offers. If further offers to interview are made the cut-offs will be updated.
*MDRS not offered from 2025 entry onwards
Before applying you MUST read and understand theDoctor of Medicine Application Guidefor domestic applicants which forms part of the application process.
Note key dates and deadlines per the timeline below to make sure you are considered for entry.
2025 entry*
Application Guide published
Friday 17 May 2024
Applications open
Monday 27 May 2024 (9:00am)
Applications close extended to
Monday 15 July 2024 (11.59pm ACST)
Deadline for payment of application processing fee extended to
Monday 15 July 2024 (11.59pm ACST)
Instructions to upload Statutory Declarations, Official Academic Transcript(s) and/or supporting letter(s)/documents after closing date
Applicants will be emailed betweenMonday 15 July and Friday 27 Julyconfirming when they will be able to upload these to their application if not provided at the time of submission.
Deadline to submit Statutory Declaration(s), Official Academic Transcripts and supporting letter(s)/documents
Monday 31 July 2024
Applicants shortlisted for interviews notified
From mid to late August 2024
Interviews
Monday 16 to Friday 27 September 2024 for SA
Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 September 2024 for NT
Offers
Offers are normally made from late October and may be made right up until the commencement of the MD in February 2025 to fill places available.
*Timeline is subject to change
Apply onlinewith Flinders University.
Entry requirements
Applicants must:
- hold an approved undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution
- hold a valid Graduate Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) or North American Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) which must be no older than 2 years at the time of application
- attend an interview.
Before applying you MUST download and read theDoctor of Medicine Application Guidefor international applicants.
Checkapplication timelines.
If you do not already have current GAMSAT or MCAT results, you need to register to sit GAMSAT (March test) or MCAT (May).
Apply onlineto Flinders University. Applications will close when positions are filled, so submit your application as soon as possible.
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South Australia 5042
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CRICOS Provider: 00114A TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097 TEQSA category: Australian University