Home / Future students / Medical Program / Local applicants / FAQs

Questions most frequently asked by prospective local students

Before you apply

The GPA requirement

Making your application

The admission process – from interview to offer

The admission process – if you receive an offer

Finding out more

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Before you apply

Q. Can I apply as a local student?
A. Local students are citizens or permanent residents of Australia or citizens of New Zealand. Permanent residents of New Zealand are not categorised as local students for admission into Australian universities.

Q. I have dual Australian citizenship – do I apply as a local or an international?
A. If you have Australian citizenship then you must apply as a local student.

Q. I have a Bachelor degree and want to apply for entry to the University of Sydney Medical Program, what do I need to do?
A. The very first thing you need to do is make sure that you obtained a credit average or better in your first degree. Check our information on GPA for details. Your next step is to sit for the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT). To obtain some information and register for the test you will need to contact the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) who will tell you when and where the GAMSAT is held.

  1. Visit the website for the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test.
  2. Register online for GAMSAT.
  3. Sit the admissions test.

Q. When am I eligible to apply?
A. You are eligible to apply in the final year of your Bachelor degree or after you have completed your Bachelor degree.

Q. I am currently completing Year 12. Can I apply for admission into the USydMP?
A. The USydMP is a graduate entry program, that is, you will need to have a Bachelor degree to gain entry.
High school students are invited to enrol in a three-year bachelor's degree at the University of Sydney, or any other university. Provided you achieve the required GPA throughout this degree and in all three sections of the GAMSAT your application will be considered.

The Medical Program spans four years, which means that you can obtain two degrees from the University of Sydney in seven years. It is worthwhile noting that your first degree can be in any discipline that is of interest to you and does not have to be in science or medical science.

School leavers may be interested in the Combined Medicine programs. Students will be able to combine an approved undergraduate degree with the University's four-year graduate-entry Medical Program. This entry route is highly competitive.

Q. Do I need to have a science degree to apply? Are there preferred Bachelor degrees?
A. No. We do not have preferred Bachelor degrees. Applicants who have backgrounds in the science, arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering, commerce, etc will be considered equally.

No specific courses or subjects are prescribed as prerequisites. There is no preference or advanced standing offered to applicants with particular first degrees and no exemptions are offered.

Q. I am an Australian permanent resident and have sat for the MCAT already - can I use my results from the MCAT instead of having to sit for the GAMSAT?
A. No. Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens must sit the GAMSAT in order to be eligible.

Q. Is there an age limit for entry into the University of Sydney Medical Program?
A. No - there is no age limit, but your Bachelor degree should have been completed no more than 10 years ago.

Q. I completed my Bachelor degree longer than 10 years ago, but have recently completed a Graduate Diploma at my local university, am I still eligible to apply?
A. Applicants for the University of Sydney Medical Program whose Bachelor degree was conferred 10 or more years before 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the USydMP must have obtained either a second Bachelor degree or a Graduate Diploma or a Master or PhD degree in the past 10 years. (i.e. 2009 entry, an applicant's first Bachelor degree must not be conferred earlier than 1 January 1999. Otherwise, an applicant needs to obtain a Graduate Diploma or a Master or PhD degree which must not be conferred earlier than 1 January 1999.)

Q. What is the annual quota?
A. The Faculty's quota of students who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia and for New Zealand citizens can be found under Local applicants - Offers.

Only Australian citizens or permanent residents are eligible for MRBSS places and BMPs. New Zealand citizens must be Australian permanent residents to be eligible to apply.

Contact details to obtain further information on the Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships Scheme:

Phone: MRBSS hotline (freecall) 1800 248 720
Email:
Website: Department of Health and Ageing - MRB Scholarships
Contact details to obtain further information on the Bonded Medical Places:
Phone: BMP hotline (freecall) 1800 987 104
Email:
Website: Department of Health and Ageing - BMP Scheme
Q. I am already studying medicine, can I transfer to the USydMP?
A. Transfer of enrolment between medical schools is not possible except in very exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the deans/heads of the two schools involved. For more information see our information on deferrals and transfers.

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The GPA requirement

Q. What does GPA mean?
A. Grade Point Average.

Q. How do I calculate my GPA?
A. Detailed instructions for calculating your GPA for each year of study are in the conversion tables in the Admissions Guide provided by ACER. Guidelines for calculating your GPA are outlined under Admission - Grade Point Average.

Q. Should I include the subjects I failed or discontinued in the GPA calculations?
A. Yes. All information contained in your official academic transcripts will be included.

The grade allocated by ACER for a failed subject is zero.

Q. I am in my final year of a 3-year Bachelor degree. Which years do I use to calculate my GPA?
A. Your GPA is calculated on the 3 most recent years of study. Your results from Year 1 would be GPA1, Year 2 would be GPA2 and you would leave GPA3 blank because you are still studying.

As a general rule, if you are enrolled in the final year of your degree in 2008, you will not be able to calculate a GPA3 during the application period.

Q. I am currently doing an Honours year. Which years do I use to calculate my GPA?
A. Your GPA is calculated on the 3 most recent years of study. Your results from Year 2 would be GPA1, Year 3 would be GPA2 and you would leave GPA3 blank because you are still enrolled in your Honours year.

Q. I am in my final year of a 5-year combined degree. Which years do I use to calculate my GPA?
A. Your GPA is calculated on the 3 most recent calendar years of study. Your GPA would be calculated on the 3rd, 4th and 5th years of your study. If you are completing your final year, you would leave GPA3 blank.

Q. Can I count postgraduate coursework studies (e.g. masters or diploma) towards my GPA?
A. No.

Q. Can I count postgraduate research studies (e.g. Masters or PhD) towards my GPA?
A. If you have been awarded a PhD or a Masters degree by research this is deemed to meet the GPA requirement – see our information on GPA for details.

Q. I am an Australian citizen, but I obtained my Bachelor degree at an overseas institution. Can I still apply?
A. Yes. Send the transcript from your Bachelor degree with your hard copy application to ACER.

Q. I have calculated my GPA and it is less than 5.5. What can I do?
A. If you are in the final year of your Bachelor degree and you expect to achieve good marks in your final year, then you can delay applying until next year, when the final year marks can be used as part of the GPA calculation.

You may be able to improve your GPA by completing an Honours year. Otherwise you would need to complete another Bachelor degree and achieve a GPA of 5.5 or better in order to be eligible.

You may want to consider other medical schools, as some have a minimum GPA requirement less than 5.5.

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Making your application

Q. I've sat the GAMSAT, what next?
A. All applications are made through ACER’s online application system. You need to read the online Admissions Guide, fill out the online application form AND submit your academic transcripts, any other required documents and a printout of the confirmation email to the Graduate Admissions Centre at ACER. ACER will then forward your application to the medical school of your choice.

Q. I sat the GAMSAT this year and last year. Last year my score was higher, but the percentile was lower – which score should I use?
A. Interviews are offered based on GAMSAT overall score, and percentiles are not considered. It would be advisable to apply with your higher score.

Q. I have filled out the online application. Do I still need to send in a hard copy application?
A. Yes! You must submit a hard copy application to ACER, including all items detailed in the Admissions Guide.

Q. I come from a rural background. How do I apply for "rural facilitated entry"?
A. On the ACER online application, indicate that you are from a rural background. You must also provide proof of your rural origin – see our Rural origin applicants webpage for details.

You must include the original documents in your hard copy application to ACER.

Q. If I apply for “rural facilitated entry” does that mean I have to accept a rural bonded place?
A. You have the same choice of places as all other applicants.

Q. I come from a rural background. My GPA is >5.5 and I have a high GAMSAT mark. Is it worthwhile for me to apply for "rural facilitated entry"?
A. Yes, because rural origin applicants are considered separately, both before and after interview. Applying as a rural origin applicant is to your advantage.

Q. Can I apply for both Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Sydney?
A. Yes. You MUST complete two separate online application forms should you wish to apply for both Medicine and Dentistry at the USyd. You MUST also submit two sets of transcripts and two copies of the confirmation email to ACER. Please send each application in a separate envelope.

Your applications will be considered independently by both Faculties. In 2008 applicants who have applied to both Medicine and Dentistry will be required to attend one interview only. It is possible that you may eventually been offered a place in both the University of Sydney Medial Program (USydMP) and Bachelor of Dentistry Program (BDent).

Q. If I put the University of Sydney as my second preference, will I be considered if I don’t make the cut-off for my first preference school?
A. Yes. If you are not offered an interview by your first preference school, then your application will be passed on to us, and you will be considered on exactly the same criteria as those who put the University of Sydney as their first preference. If you meet the GPA and GAMSAT requirements, you will be offered an interview.

Please note that if you are offered an interview by your first preference school, then your application cannot subsequently be considered by the University of Sydney.

Q. If I put the University of Sydney as my first preference and I don’t meet the GAMSAT cutoff, will you pass on my application to my second preference school?
A. Yes, we will pass on your application. It is up to your second preference school whether they will consider your application – check with them directly to find out their policy.

Q. Will the University or ACER return my academic transcript and any other documents?
A. No. As stated in the Admission Guide, transcripts will not be returned.

The admission process – from interview to offer

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Q. When will I hear whether I am going to be invited to attend an interview?
A. Invitations to attend an interview are usually sent out in August.

Q. Is it important for me to check my email?
A. Yes! All correspondence with the University will be by email. Please ensure that you include an email address in your application which you can use to receive mail.

Some email messages/attachments may not be accepted or may be flagged as spam by some email providers (e.g. Hotmail or Yahoo). Applicants are advised not to provide a Hotmail or Yahoo or similar address for the purposes of admission and are responsible for any delays caused by the above problem.

Q. How do I find out the time and location of my interview?
A. In 2008 interviews will be held in Sydney in the week of 29 September – 3 October. If you are offered an interview you will be invited to book online for your interview time.

Q. When do I choose what kind of place (CSP, MRBSS, BMP etc.) I wish to be considered for?
A. When you book your interview online you will also be required to choose your preferences for the types of places you wish to be considered for. Please make this decision carefully, as you cannot change your preferences after the interview bookings system has closed.

For more information on the types of places, check the information on our website on quotas and fees.

Q. If I am not offered a place in the USydMP after interview, will you pass on my application to my next preference school?
A. Yes, we will pass on your application. It is up to your second preference school whether they will consider your application – check with them directly to find out their policy.

Q. What are Clinical Schools?
A. From the very first week of the medical program, students have patient contact in the various Clinical Schools: Westmead, Nepean, Central, Concord and Northern Clinical Schools provide students with invaluable clinical experience in a variety of settings. All students are allocated to a Clinical School and attend there for all clinical teaching.

Q. How much time is spent at the Clinical School?
A. In Stages 1 and 2 you will be at your Clinical School one day per week. The other days will be spent at the Camperdown campus for Problem Based Learning sesssion (PBLs) and lectures etc.

In Stage 3 (Years 3 & 4) the focus of teaching becomes strongly clinical and you will be at your Clinical School full time.

Q. Where are the Clinical Schools located?
A. Our Clinical Schools are located all over Sydney – see map for details.

Q. Do I get to choose which Clinical School I go to?
A. You will be asked to select your preferences for your Clinical School when you make your interview booking. We strongly recommend that you research the various Clinical Schools well in advance so that you can make an informed choice. Start with our information on the Clinical Schools. Please make this decision carefully, as you cannot change your preferences after the interview bookings system has closed

Q. Am I guaranteed to get my first preference Clinical School?
A. No. Some schools will be first preference for more applicants than they can accommodate, so some students will be allocated to Schools further down their preference list. When you accept your offer you must agree to accept the Clinical School allocation you are given.

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The admission process – if you receive an offer

Q. When will I know whether I have been offered a place in the University of Sydney Medical Program?
A. Offers are made in October/November for enrolment in February.

Q. Is it possible for me to defer my place?
A. You may request deferral and all requests will be considered on a case by case basis. See our deferral information for the grounds for deferral that will be considered.

Q. I have been offered a Bonded Medical Place. Is there any way I can transfer to another kind of place?
A. No. If you accept a MRBSS or BMP, you are unable to transfer to any other type of place.

Q. I have been offered a Bonded Medical Place. What documentation do I have to return and where to? What is the deadline?
A. You must lodge the 2 copies of your contract with the government. An envelope with the mailing address will be provided with the contracts.

You must return your acceptance for to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney (the address is on the form).

The due date for the acceptance form and the contracts is stated on the acceptance form. You must lodge the contracts before you can accept your place in the USydMP.

Q. I received a vaccination card in the mail. What do I do with it?
A. This card should be completed by your medical practitioner. More information can be found in the documentation which was enclosed with the card. It is advisable to consult with your GP as soon as you receive the vaccination card, as the requirements may take some time. Don’t leave it to the last minute!

Q. Can I study part-time?
A. No. The USydMP is offered on a full-time basis only.

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Finding out more

Q. How can I find out more about the University of Sydney Medical Program?
A. Browse this site, or for any further information, please contact:

Admissions Officer
Email:
Tel: + 612 9351 3132
Fax: +61 2 9351 3196
Q. Please send me an application form and test information.
A. You need to contact the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER). All applications to Australian graduate entry medical schools are administered by ACER. Contact details are:
Graduate Medical Admissions Centre
Australian Council for Educational Research
Private Bag 55 Camberwell
Vic 3124 Australia
Phone: +61 3 9277 5529/5710
Fax: + 61 3 9277 5757
Email:
Web: www.gamsat.acer.edu.au

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