Doctor of Medicine (Joint Program)
Western Sydney University / Charles Sturt University
Courses included
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This course has been cancelled
About
Applications for this course close midnight AEST Friday 29 September 2023. You cannot select this course as a preference after this date.
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) Joint Program in Medicine is a five-year undergraduate program offered jointly by Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University.
Applicants can only receive one offer to the Joint Medical Program, to study at either Western Sydney University (Campbelltown campus) or Charles Sturt University (Orange campus). Your preference of campus (submitted via your UAC application) will be considered but cannot be guaranteed and is fixed as of the closing date. The campus offered will be subject to the availability of places and the preferences of other eligible applicants.
The course is structured around problem-based learning. The first two years of learning focus on the basic sciences (pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, population health and biochemistry), clinical skills and evidence-based medicine. An e-portfolio commences in the first year and runs through all five years of the course.
Clinical learning begins in the first weeks of this highly practical course. In your third, fourth and fifth years you’ll extend your professional skills through full-time clinical and community placements covering the broad range of general, specialist medical and inter-professional training. This will include surgery, medicine, critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, general practice and medicine in context rotations.
Every student in the Doctor of Medicine program is required to undertake an individual research project. Projects are selected during the second part of Year 2, to be completed over Years 3, 4 and 5.
Medicine is a physically and mentally challenging profession in which practitioners are often required to put the interests of their patients above their own. You must be prepared to commit to a lifetime of service and continuous learning.
While medical education will provide candidates with the foundation of knowledge, attitude, skills and behaviours required to practise medicine, it is recognised that there are certain inherent requirements that are necessary to progress through the curriculum and ultimately receive the Doctor of Medicine (MD). Review the inherent requirement statements for Medicine and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.
Areas of study
Clinical medical and surgical specialties, health in the community, hospital-based medicine, medical sciences, mental health, patient care, population health, research and medicine in context, women’s and children’s health.
Career opportunities
Medical practice, public health, medical education and research. Most medical graduates undertake at least several years of postgraduate vocational training before starting independent practice in their chosen area.
Professional recognition
Graduates will be eligible for registration by the Medical Board of Australia and its equivalent in New Zealand. Following successful completion of a period of accredited internship training, general registration as a medical practitioner can be approved.
An internship of one year (completed after five years of University study) is a requirement of registration as a medical practitioner in Australia. Internships are organised by the Health Education and Training Institute for internship positions in NSW.
All students must ensure they meet the Medical Board of Australia English language skills for initial registration. For further details regarding English language proficiency refer to the Medical Board of Australia Registration Standards: English Language Skills.
Practical experience
Patient contact and clinical learning begins in the first weeks and continues throughout the program. In Years 3, 4 and 5 you will rotate through clinical placements. You may be required to undertake these placements at locations away from your enrolment location and in NSW Health facilities. You will be subject to NSW Health policies and procedures.
You will be responsible for all travel and other expenses during placements that are away from your enrolment location.
During the clinical years, some students enrolled at Western Sydney University may be required to spend several clinical rotations in rural settings outside the Sydney metropolitan area. As a requirement of funding from the Department of Health, approximately 25% of students will have the opportunity to undertake 12 months of study at one of our rural clinical schools, based at Bathurst and Lismore, where subsidised accommodation is available. In the event of there being a shortfall of students volunteering to undertake such rural placements, the School will conduct a ballot to determine which students will undertake those placements.
It is important to note that transfers between Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University programs are not allowed.
An internship of one year (completed after five years of University study) is a requirement of registration as a medical practitioner in Australia. Internships are organised by the Health Education and Training Institute for internship positions in NSW.
Fees and charges
The Australian Government subsidises the tuition fee for this course. The remaining balance is paid by the student. Current Western Sydney University fee information.
Essential requirements for admission
UCAT/interview: In addition to submitting a UAC application, you must:
- have registered and sat for the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australian and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ). For details, visit the UCAT website.
- submit a UAC application and include 725505 Doctor of Medicine - Charles Sturt University/Western Sydney University as one of your preferences by midnight AEST Friday 29 September 2023 (Late applications will not be considered).
- if invited based on your UCAT results, participate in an online interview for Campbelltown campus or Orange campus in November 2023.
- be selected in competition with other eligible applicants. Selection is based on:
- academic merit
- results of UCAT
- performance at a multistation mini interview.
If you are successful, you cannot defer this program.
Also check the special requirements and policies for this course.
Admission criteria
Applicants with recent secondary education
Minimum ATAR (or eqv): 95.50 unless you meet the criteria for Greater Western Sydney residence requirements, in which case the minimum ATAR required is 93.50. If you meet the Rural Entry Admission requirements, the minimum ATAR required is 91.50.
Recommended studies: Chemistry.
Applicants with higher education study
Applicants with a completed undergraduate degree must attain a grade point average of at least 5.5 (non-Greater Western Sydney graduates), 5.2 (Greater Western Sydney graduates) or 4.9 (Rural Entry Scheme graduates). Applicants with an incomplete degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or coursework masters can refer to Doctor of Medicine applicant information.
All applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements.
Applicants currently (or previously) enrolled in a medical degree (leading to registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), including a combined medical degree, are not eligible to apply via this pathway. These applicants must apply via the Transfer Request process.
For all rural entry applicants
Rural Entry applicants
REAS applicants must have lived in an Australian Statistical Geography Standard - Remoteness Area (ASGS-RA) of 2 to 5 for a minimum of 5 years consecutively or 10 cumulative years, commencing from the age of 5.
For applicants applying to the Campbelltown campus
The Rural Entry Admission Scheme (REAS) offers a minimum of 15 places specifically for rural students to study medicine at Western Sydney University. It is open to current school leavers, non-current school leavers and graduates.
Area (ASGS-RA) of 2 to 5 for a minimum of 5 years consecutively or 10 cumulative years, commencing from the age of 5 to immediately prior to commencing the Doctor of Medicine.
The School of Medicine requires all REAS applicants to provide documentation confirming their eligibility to apply as a rural applicant. Applicants must upload a completed Community Member Confirmation form as part of their UAC application.
Download the Community Member Confirmation form.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
For applicants applying to the Campbelltown campus
Western Sydney University is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors. There is a different pathway process for those who apply as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants.
We encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait applicants to email the School of Medicine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support office at atsifuturedoctors@westernsydney.edu.au or call the Student Central Infoline on 1300 668 370 to discuss your interest in applying.
Student profile
Access information on the background of students in this course.
Further information
View all details of this course on the Western Sydney University website.
Western Sydney University degrees
The academic content of all programs is subject to routine review.
ATAR profile
ATAR-based offers only (semester 1, 2023)
Use all ATAR profile data as a guide only; it provides a broad overview of the ATARs and selection ranks of previous Year 12 students admitted into that course. ATARs and selection ranks required for entry in 2023 may be different. If you are unsure about including a course among your preferences, contact the relevant institution.
- This ATAR profile table is in line with Commonwealth Government transparency requirements. It is based on offers to recent school leavers (ie completed Year 12 in the last 2 years) who were selected solely or partly on their ATAR. Note that some institutions further differentiate this information on their websites.
- The ATAR values exclude any adjustment factors.
- The selection ranks include the ATAR and any adjustment factors.
Abbreviations
– = data is not available.<5 = less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made.
N/A = no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
NC = new course
NP = Not provided by institution
NR = No reportable profile
NS = No Semester 1 offers
NN = Unavailable (other)
NO = Entry on other criteria
Student profile
Course updates
Courses are added and cancelled throughout the admissions year and course details are subject to change. Check the UAC course search regularly.
Course information
All classes are offered during the day unless otherwise specified.
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