Postgraduate

Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine (MD) graduates from UWA will be committed to the wellbeing of the patient, community and society as responsible, accountable, scholarly, capable, caring and culturally safe doctors.

Contact us

Address

Student Central

The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009

Telephone

131 UWA (131 892)

International

(+61 8) 6488 1000

Hours

8.30am - 5pm AWST, Monday - Friday

Frequently asked questions

Events you may be interested in

Show more events

Careers and further study

Explore the career opportunities available to you.

Career Pathways

For registration as a medical practitioner in Australia, all graduates are required to complete a 12-month pre-registration internship in an approved clinical setting. Priority for internships is given to all Australian citizens and permanent residents. At present international graduates are only accommodated if sufficient intern places are available. 
Following graduation from the MD, further studies can be undertaken with a professional college for specialisation in a medical discipline, such as anaesthesia, obstetrics or psychiatry.
For registration as a medical practitioner in Australia, all graduates are required to complete a 12-month pre-registration internship in an approved clinical setting. Priority for internships is given to all Australian citizens and permanent residents. At present international graduates are only accommodated if sufficient intern places are available. 
Following graduation from the MD, further studies can be undertaken with a professional college for specialisation in a medical discipline, such as anaesthesia, obstetrics or psychiatry.

Further Study

Following graduation from the MD, further studies can be undertaken with a professional college for specialisation in a medical discipline. Graduates can also enrol in the academic Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master's or Doctorate courses, including but not limited to: 
Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education, Graduate Diploma in Health Professions Education, Master of Health Professions Education, Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases, Master of Infectious Diseases, Graduate Diploma in Neonatology, Master of Neonatology, Graduate Certificate in Rural and Remote Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy.
Following graduation from the MD, further studies can be undertaken with a professional college for specialisation in a medical discipline. Graduates can also enrol in the academic Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master's or Doctorate courses, including but not limited to: 
Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education, Graduate Diploma in Health Professions Education, Master of Health Professions Education, Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases, Master of Infectious Diseases, Graduate Diploma in Neonatology, Master of Neonatology, Graduate Certificate in Rural and Remote Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.

Domestic Student Fees for Full-Fee Paying Places

If you're not eligible for a Commonwealth-supported places, you will be charged a for Full-Fee Paying place. For Full-Fee Paying places, students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load.

Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course. Visit the Fee Calculator and select your course type to find out more. Fees are subject to annual indexation. More information on how fees are calculated.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee
2024
$85,800.00
2025
$90,900.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Find out more about international student tuition fees and visit the fee calculator for the relevant course fees.

Fees are subject to annual indexation.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Admission requirements

If you’re interested in furthering your career by studying this postgraduate course, find out the admission details below

Domestic School Leaver

School leaver entry to Medicine for domestic applicants

Australian citizens (including dual citizenship holders), permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are domestic students.

You may be eligible to apply for a school leaver place if you are currently completing high school ATAR (or equivalent level studies) or on a gap year, and have not commenced in university degree studies or vocational training at diploma level or above.

Domestic school leaver entry is a competitive process based on ATAR or equivalent, UCAT ANZ score and an interview process.

Domestic School Leaver
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place. 

Graduate applicants require at least two successful years of full-time or equivalent degree studies undertaken in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America. Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0. For more information visit ELC requirements.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Bonded Medical Program

The Australian Government’s Bonded Medical Program aims to provide more Australian trained doctors where there are workforce shortages, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australia. 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LEAVER

School leaver entry to Medicine for international students

International school leavers do not hold Australian citizenship, permanent residency or New Zealand citizenship and are currently completing high school ATAR (or equivalent level studies) or a gap year, and have not commenced in university degree studies or vocational training at diploma level or above. Further information regarding International student status can be found below under the heading Which entry pathway is for me?

International school leaver entry is a competitive process based on ATAR or equivalent, ISAT score and an interview process.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LEAVER
QUOTA ELIGIBILITY

Which entry pathway is for me?

Your quota eligibility will define your entry pathway, minimum requirements for consideration, as well as how you will apply. You will be ranked for course offers against other eligible applicants within your quota, and you may be eligible for one or more subquotas within this course. 
QUOTA ELIGIBILITY

MD - availability of places

There are 206 domestic places in this course and a further 40 places for international students. 50% of places are allocated via school leaver entry and all remaining places via graduate entry.

Within the domestic quota up to 10% of places are allocated for Indigenous students, and 30% for Rural students. Twenty of the school leaver places are allocated to students from Broadway schools.

28.5% of all domestic places are Bonded Medical Places.

University graduate

Graduate entry to Medicine

Bachelor degree holders or students who are close to completing their first bachelor’s degree may be eligible to apply for graduate entry into the Doctor of Medicine (MD). 

Graduate entry into the MD is a competitive process based on GPA, GAMSAT (or equivalent) score and an interview process.

University graduate
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Graduate entry: GPA calculation and accepted degrees

The selection GPA (sGPA) forms part of the eligibility and selection criteria for graduate entry into this course. The UWA Admissions team will calculate the sGPA. Applicants must meet the specified minimum sGPA to be considered for a place in this course.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Interview

The interview allows shortlisted candidates to display some of the personal qualities considered desirable in health care practitioners.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

Inherent Requirements

The UWA Medical School supports the national framework outlined in Every Doctor, Every Setting and the MDANZ Inclusive Medical Education. We prioritise the well-being of all our medical students and foster a nurturing and supportive learning environment. 

If you’re a prospective student and have any concerns about fulfilling the inherent requirements of the course, the Medical School will assess your situation and explore ways to make teaching and assessments more accessible on an individual basis. 

If you have any concerns or queries, contact the UWA Admissions team via email to seek further information and/or support.

How to apply

The application process to the Doctor of Medicine is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Refer to the below regarding application processes for each of the pathways to study the Doctor of Medicine at UWA. More information regarding admission requirements and prerequisites for each pathway can be found on the 'Admission Requirements' tab.

Domestic Pathways to the Doctor of Medicine

  • Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC. Refer to TISC Online for current course codes and application deadlines. 
  • Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline. All domestic applicants must submit a valid GAMSAT score by the application closing date.

International Pathways to the Doctor of Medicine

Course details

As a doctor, you will need to fulfil a number of roles including that of a professional, leader, advocate, clinician, educator and scholar, and these key roles form the themes around which the UWA Doctor of Medicine curriculum is structured. As well as undertaking relevant biomedical science learning and development of clinical knowledge and skills reasoning, you will develop effective communication, leadership and teamwork skills for collaborative patient care. You may also pursue opportunities for depth of study in areas of your interest, through electives, selectives, extension and scholarly activity. This course prepares graduates with the professional attributes required for successful medical internships.
Doctor of Medicine

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time only
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • January
Weekly contact time
  • There will be approximately 20 hours per week of face-to-face contact time, in addition to at least 20 hours per week of personal study and completion of online modules. Each academic year is 42 weeks long. Weekly contact time section applies to the first three semesters of the course. For Semesters 4 to 8, the contact time is full time, with contact up to 40 hours per week plus some after hours and weekend placements.
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 91850
CRICOS code
  • 089788A
Doctor of Medicine
Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time only
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • January
Weekly contact time
  • There will be approximately 20 hours per week of face-to-face contact time, in addition to at least 20 hours per week of personal study and completion of online modules. Each academic year is 42 weeks long. Weekly contact time section applies to the first three semesters of the course. For Semesters 4 to 8, the contact time is full time, with contact up to 40 hours per week plus some after hours and weekend placements.
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 91850
CRICOS code
  • 089788A
Full time/part time duration
  • 4 years
Doctor of Medicine

Important dates

Intake Periods
  • January
Application Open
Application Close
  • Domestic school leaver applications close end of September in line with TISC timelines.
  • International school leaver applications for 2025 commencement close 30 June 2024.
  • Graduate applications for domestic students close end May in line with GEMSAS application timelines.
  • Graduate applications for international students for 2025 commencement close 30 April 2024, with a second application round closing 30 June 2024.

Refer to Admissions Requirements for information on eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Course Accreditation

 

The Doctor of Medicine (91850) is accredited by The Australian Medical Council (AMC). Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration to practice as a doctor in Australia and New Zealand.  

HEAR FROM A GRADUATING STUDENT

Doctor of Medicine graduate Catherine Nguyen

About the course

The UWA Doctor of Medicine (MD) aims to produce graduates committed to the wellbeing of the patient, community and society as responsible, accountable, scholarly, capable and caring doctors.
Doctor of Medicine

Top reasons to study Medicine at UWA

  • At the UWA Medical School we offer cutting edge education and research opportunities, industry connections and state-of-the-art facilities at QEII, producing some of Australia’s finest medicine graduates.
  • We are WA’s first and highest ranked medical program where we teach a modern medical curriculum with more clinical time than any other program. We're highly ranked in clinical medicine: 34th globally and 3rd in Australia (GRAS 2024). 
  • UWA is the only Australian medical school to have a longitudinal mentoring program whereby all medical students have a qualified health profession as a clinical mentor involved in the student’s professional development for the duration of the course, from day one. 
  • You are taught by leaders in research, and will experience immersive hands-on learning whilst shaping the future of healthcare. 
  • You will have the opportunity to collaborate with renowned institutes like the Lions Eye Institute, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, PathWest, The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, and The Kids Research Institute Australia, ensuring a rich, hands-on learning experience alongside leading researchers and clinicians.
  • We have a strong emphasis on teamwork and mentorship which will help you develop essential skills and build professional networks.
Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine six core themes

The course is structured around six core themes:

  • Professional
  • Leader
  • Advocate
  • Clinician
  • Educator
  • Scholar

Six core theme in the Doctor of Medicine: Professional, Leader, Advocate, Clinician, Educator, Scholar

Clinician Student Professional Development and Mentoring Program

UWA is the only Australian Medical School to have a longitudinal mentoring program whereby all medical students have a clinical mentor involved in students’ professional development for the duration of the course.

Yogesh Jeelall

Yogesh Jeelall

Course structure

Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units. Refer to the course structure for more information.

Year 1
Students who have not completed the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Placement Major MJD-IMSCP must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 48 points from this group, as advised by the School(s):
Year 2
Take all units (48 points):
Year 3
Integrated Medical Practice Units. Students take Group 3A except for students electing: (a) Aboriginal Health specialisation or Rural Clinical School - take Group 3B (b) electing Rural Health specialisation - take either Group 3A or 3B. Scholarly activity units: Students: (a) electing Aboriginal Health specialisation - take Group 3C (b) electing Rural Health specialisation - take either Group 3D or 3E (c) electing Rural Clinical School - take Group 3F, 3G, 3H, 3I or 3J (d)not electing (a), (b), or (c) - take Group 3F, 3G, 3H, 3I or 3J.
Take Integrated Medical Practice units according to the year 3 rule:
Take Integrated Medical Practice units according to the Year 3 rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take Units according to the Year 3 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Year 4
Scholarly Activity Units. Take 6 points from Group 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F or 4G in the same option stream as units taken in year 3.
Take all units (42 points):
Take all units (42 points):
Take unit from Group 4A:
Take units according to the Year 4 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 4 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 4 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 4 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
Take units according to the Year 4 Scholarly Activity unit rule:
HEAR FROM OUR CURRENT STUDENTS

Doctor of Medicine clinical placement experience

Doctor of Medicine - Shev Dias
HEAR FROM OUR CURRENT STUDENTS

Doctor of Medicine final year preparation for Internship Ward Simulation

Remy - UWA MD student on ward simulation

Becoming a doctor

There are four steps to becoming a specialist doctor.

Diagram illustrating the four steps to becoming a specialist doctor. Bachelor degree (3-four years), Doctor of Medicine (3-4 years), Junior hospital doctor (2-3 years), Specialist training (3-5 years)

International Student Story

International Student Story
Clubs and Societies

Western Australian Student Society (WAMSS)

  • The Western Australian Student Society (WAMSS) has been the peak representative body of UWA medical students since it was founded in 1946.
  • WAMSS contributes significantly to student events and welfare. Their flagship events include the Annual Medical Dinner, Allied Health, and Red Party.
  • In collaboration with the Western Australian Medical Students Society (WAMSS) and the UniMentor program, UWA Medical School has expanded the UWA Student Services UniMentor program specifically for medical students. The Student MeDMentoring runs parallel to the Clinician-Student mentoring.
Clubs and Societies