Australia continues to be among the most popular destinations for students seeking a degree in Medicine. The association between the medical profession and life makes it a noble profession. The country puts a strong emphasis on quality education and has given the same consideration to its medical studies.
Here’s what you need to do if you want to study Medicine at one of the 13 Australian universities as an international student. But before that take a look at the list of the best Universities in Australia.
| 1 | The University of Melbourne | Melbourne, Victoria |
| 2 | The University of Sydney | Sydney, New South Wales |
| 3 | RMIT University | Melbourne, Victoria |
| 4 | Victoria University | Melbourne, Victoria |
| 5 | Curth University – Australia | Perth, Western Australia |
| 6 | Deakin University | Burwood, Victoria |
| 7 | The University of Queensland | Brisbane, Queensland |
| 8 | Monash University | Melbourne, Victoria |
| 9 | The University of Adelaide | Adelaide, South Australia |
| 10 | La Trobe University | Melbourne, Victoria |
Medicine in Australia
Listed below are the Medicine courses offered in Australia for Indian and other international students, along with their eligibility criteria and admission process:
Medical Education Structure
It is important to understand the educational structure of Australian medical studies before we move on. The Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery degree (MBBS) was a bachelor’s degree before 2004, whereas the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) was a graduate degree reserved for research training. However, both of these programs required a bachelor’s degree to be eligible (meaning they were graduate programs). Medical studies are now qualified as master’s degrees under the AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework).
Currently, there are two levels of entry into Australian medical schools. Generally, undergraduate medical programs are those that accept students after matriculation or high school. The courses usually last about 5 – 6 years and lead to an MBBS degree. The graduate degree program is usually four years long and confers the MD degree.
The MBBS program in Australia for Indian students
According to the AQF, the MBBS program in Australia consists of a six-year program consisting of both theory and practice-based learning. You can check out about the AQF Levels in the Australian Education System. The majority of medical schools in Australia only offer graduate-level programs in Medicine (MD), but there are a few good schools that offer undergraduate programs as well. There are several good examples, such as the University of Adelaide and the University of New South Wales.
Eligibility to study Medicine in Australia:
- English Language Proficiency
- Minimum 17 years of age (which might vary from university to university)
- Completion of Higher secondary education from a recognized board/institute
- PCMB with English as one of the main papers and an overall score of 65% in high school.
- GAMSAT or MCAT or UCAT ANZ
The MD program in Australia for Indian students
The majority of medical courses in Australia are graded at Level 9 as master’s programs, conferring the degree of Doctor of Medicine. There are many top universities in Australia that offer this 4-year graduate program.
- The University of Melbourne
- Deakin University
- The University of Sydney
Some universities’ medical programs do not call it MD and have a different nomenclature. Check the entry level to determine whether it is a graduate or undergraduate program. Often, it states clearly that this is a graduate program.
It is important to note that a student may not have completed a bachelor’s degree in medical sciences or any other science. Medical schools in Australia do not require students to have a particular subject. Despite this, a student who lacks a thorough understanding of the biological sciences might have trouble passing the GAMSAT or the MCAT, which is a compulsory requirement for admission.
What I am trying to say is if you have a bachelor’s degree in biology or psychology and clear the GAMSAT, then you can become a doctor in Australia.
Admission Process to Study medicine in Australia
Documents required:
- Transcripts and GPA from your high school/bachelor’s degree.
- Scores from relevant exams – GAMSAT and MCAT
- Interview
- Admission Essays
The Process:
- The information above must be submitted to the International Office of the University.
- Based on applications received, universities create a merit list after combining your GPA of three years’ academic performance and your MCAT/GAMSAT scores.
- Shortlisted candidates will receive an invitation for a Skype interview.
- Candidate selection is followed by admission to the program.
MBBS and MD programs in Australian medical schools begin in January. Students should apply a year in advance, and often the deadline is around September of the previous year. Candidates whose applications are submitted after the university’s deadline will be considered for the next-to-next session. For instance, January 2023 admissions would close in September 2022. After September 2022, applications will be considered for January 2024 intake.
What makes MBBS in Australia so appealing?
In spite of the difficulty of MBBS admissions in Australia, many international students dream of becoming doctors here. Australia is a great place to study MBBS for the following reasons:
- The Australian MBBS degree is recognized worldwide, so students can practice anywhere in the world with it.
- Academically strong international students can benefit from MBBS + MD in Australia.
- For MBBS admission in Australia, NEET is also accepted in many cases.
- In addition to general practitioners, there are opportunities to become a therapist, a surgeon, an optometrist, etc.
- MBBS graduates from Australia earn an average salary of AUD 85,000 per year.
Australian MBBS Course Details
There are three main steps to MBBS in Australia – Scientific Basis of Medicine, Clinical Practice & Medical Professional Development, and Personal Development. According to university requirements, MBBS entry requirements in Australia vary. Listed below are the top 5 colleges for Australian MBBS Course, with their respective details.
| Universities | Duration | Course Fees | Admission Requirements | ELP Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Monash University | 5 Years | AUD 797,000 per annum | Indian Students with 65% in class | IELTS: 7.0 PTE: 65 TOEFL iBT: 94 |
| 2. UNSW Sydney | 6 Years | AUD 485,750 | Indian Students with 97% in class UCAT ANZ or ISAT or SAT: 1370 | IELTS: 7.0 PTE: 65 TOEFL iBT: 94 |
| 3. University of Queensland | 6 Years | AUD 324,608 | A GPA of 5 in subjects of Physics | IELTS: 7.0 |
| 4. University of Adelaide | 6 Years | AUD 324,608 | Completed high school level Cher | IELTS: 7.0 PTE: 65 TOEFL iBT: 94 |
| 5. University of Melbourne | 4 Years | AUD 349,223 | An Undergraduate degree in any | IELTS (Academic) TOEFL iBT PTE |
Scholarship Details for Studying Medicine in Australia
The Medical Council of Australia accredits the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or MBBS course in Australia. Medical students who wish to have a career in medicine often choose to study MBBS in Australia. For international students studying MBBS in Australia, the average total fee per year is around $300,000.
However, many universities in Australia offers different types of scholarships to ease out the troubles of students who want to study in Australia but have insufficient funds. Here is a list of some of the scholarships entailing the details:
| Scholarship | Applicable for | Max scholarship per student | No. of awards | Scholarship type | Special restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jared J. Davis Grant | All Universities in Australia | Rs. 74.390 (1,000 USD) | 1 | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 2. QS Undergraduate Scholarship | All Universities in Australia | Rs. 4,11,700 (5,000 USD) | 1 | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 3. Dr. Jade Malay High Achiever Scholarship | All Universities in Australia | Rs. 82,340 (1,000 USD) | 2 | Merit based | Only for Woman |
| 4. Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships | All Universities in Australia | Not Available | Varies | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 5. Griffith Remarkable Scholarship | Western Sydney Universities in Australia | Rs. 3,16,899 (5,667 AUD) | Varies | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 6. VU Alumni Discount | Victoria Universities in Australia | Rs. 1,99,519 (3,820 AUD) | Varies | Need & Merit | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 7. ACU International Student Scholarship | Australian Catholic Universities in Australia | Rs.8,69,731 (16,160 AUD) | Varies | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 8. The Vue Ville Future Technology Scholarship 2020 | All Universities in Australia | Rs. 37,195 (500 USD) | 1 | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 9. Mawista Scholarships | Western Sydney Universities in Australia | Rs. 3,35,520 (6,000 AUD) | Varies | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 10. Monah International Scholarship for Excellence | Monash Universities in Australia | Rs. 5,19,700 (10,000 AUD) | 10 | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 11. South Asia Excellence Scholarship | The University of Newcastle in Australia | Rs. 5,59,200 (10,000 AUD) | Varies | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
| 12. VU Global Leaders Scholarship (Undergraduate) | Victoria Universities in Australia | Rs. 3,94,972 (7,600 AUD) | Varies | Merit based | No Special Restriction applicable |
Job Roles After Medicine Study in Australia
As a result of their field of specialization and practical knowledge, international students can find jobs in the following fields after MBBS in Australia:
| Job Roles | Annual Salaries |
|---|---|
| Doctor/ Medical Practitioner | AUD 124,400 |
| Psychiatrist | AUD 130,730 |
| Medical Researcher | AUD 84,000 |
| Physiologist | AUD 79,000 |
| Medical Scientist | AUD 79,500 |
| Immunologist | AUD 368,800 |
| Surgeon | AUD 162,650 |
| Coroner | AUD 93,000 |
MBBS in Australia Related Degrees
If an international student is unable to get into MBBS in Australia, he/she may apply for other related courses. These are like:
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Bachelor of Oral Health
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Doctor of Medicine
- Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences
- Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced)
- Bachelor of Medical Studies
- Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (H)
Conclusion
There is, therefore, an excellent international reputation for quality training and research in Australian medical schools. According to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, eleven Australian universities rank among the top 150 in medicine. Among these, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Monash University, UNSW Sydney, and the University of Queensland rank high.
I hope this article will help you in getting an idea about the structure of medicine courses in Australia, eligibility, exams required, and validity. Additionally, you get to know the universities that rank at the top, course details, fees, and job roles of students.