Introduction

When you were little, did you enjoy playing doctor with your friends? Were your favourite subjects in high school Biology and Chemistry? Do you care about health and wellbeing? Do you feel comfortable being around sick people, and enjoy seeing their health improve? If you answered Yes to all of these questions, you should consider studying Medicine 

Why study Medicine in Australia?

Medical schools in Australia have an excellent reputation internationally in terms of teaching and training quality. According to QS Ranking by Subjects (2021), Australia has four universities ranked in the top 50 in the world: University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, Monash University, and University of Queensland.

You may be surprised to learn that Australia is one of the medical hubs in the world. Many innovations and valuable discoveries in the medical field were made here, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), the bionic ear, and the Gardasil vaccine for cervical cancer.

It is very competitive to be accepted into a medical course in Australia. However, careers after graduation are very rewarding, and highly paid. There are also extra incentives from the Australian government (under Workforce Incentive Program – Doctor Stream) if you work as a doctor in regional areas of Australia.

Career outcomes after graduation

  • General Practitioners  
  • Health Researchers 
  • Surgeons  
  • Doctors/Specialised Doctors 

Course Options

  • Bachelor of Medicine 
  • Bachelor of Surgery 
  • Doctor of Medicine 

Entry Requirements

  • Your high school results, or ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank)* 
  • Your score in the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) 
  • Your score in an interview or oral assessment (Note: some universities also require a written application) 

These three criteria can be equally weighted, or some universities may put more emphasis on a particular criterion. Furthermore, universities may look at particular UCAT subtest score(s) rather than your overall UCAT score. 

*International students who have not completed high school in Australia need to check with specific universities about their qualifications from their home countries. 

Course Pre-requisites  

Generally, universities will require the successful completion of English, English Literature, Maths, Physics, and/or Chemistry. 

English Requirement  

You will need a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (with no band under 7). 

Professional Accreditation

Upon the successful completion of the course, graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Medical Board of Australia. 

Expected salary as a Medical Practitioner in Australia

The starting salaries for medical graduates are between AU$70,000-AU$85,000 annually.  

The average top-level salary for doctors in Australia is roughly AU$395,000 a year. 

School Recommendations

Undergraduate only 

  • University of Adelaide 
  • James Cook University 
  • University of Tasmania 
  • Bond University** 
  • Curtin University** 
  • University of Newcastle**  

**not open to international students 

Undergraduate and Postgraduate 

  • Monash University 

Postgraduate with dedicated pathway from undergraduate 

  • Flinders University 
  • Griffith University 
  • University of New South Wales 
  • University of Sydney  

Postgraduate only 

  • University of Queensland 
  • Australian National University 
  • Deakin University 
  • University of Western Australia 
  • University of Melbourne

Interested in studying Medicine in Australia?

Contact SOL Edu today for free counselling, and a free application process!