Doctor of Medicine

School of Medicine, Sydney Campus

The Doctor of Medicine of The University of Notre Dame Australia is a four-year postgraduate degree accredited by the Medical Board of Australia on the recommendation of the Australian Medical Council. The School of Medicine has seven clinical schools in Sydney and Melbourne and rural locations in NSW and Victoria. Students undertake clinical placements in the third and fourth years of the program in a wide variety of settings, including aged care facilities, public and private hospitals, general practices and community-based health services.

• Why study this degree?

  As the only medical program offered by a Catholic university in Australia, the Doctor of Medicine aims to develop and train caring and ethical doctors imbued with the values of compassion, respect, and service. All students at Notre Dame undertake a Core Curriculum component of study that involves an exploration of bioethics in the first year of the program.

  The first and second years of your studies provide a solid foundation for your medical degree. You will have the opportunity to undertake problem-based learning tutorials conducted by medically-qualified tutors, clinical and communication skills sessions, workshops, clinical debriefing tutorials and site visits. In second year, you will begin to work on a research-based or professionally-focused project in one of 10 themes such as Clinical Science, Bioethics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Rural Medicine or Medical Leadership and Health Policy.

  In third year, you will undertake a series of clinical placements in Sydney, Melbourne, Lithgow, Wagga Wagga or Ballarat. By actively participating in hospitals and community settings you will engage with patients, their families and the healthcare professionals caring for them. This strong focus on experiential learning is further complemented by a series of weekly 'Back-to-Base Days', in which you will return to your principal Clinical School for short case tutorials, grand rounds, journal club sessions and expert guest lectures.

  Your fourth and final year will see you complete further clinical placements in the Sydney, Melbourne or Rural Clinical Schools. You will explore a range of disciplines in a range of health settings, as well as present your project for examination in the Applied Research Project course of study. Following the fourth year end-of-year examinations, you will commence a four-week elective learning period where you can extend your medical knowledge in an area of personal interest.

• Program summary

  Year One

  • Foundations of a Medical Vocation

  Year Two

  • Foundations of Clinical Practice

  Year Three

  • Apprenticeship in Clinical Practice

  Year Four

  • Preparation for Internship
  • Applied Research Project

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Regulations.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Entry requirements

  Admission to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is available to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders, and New Zealand citizens (Domestic Applicants).

  In 2021, 10 places are available for international students (please see section below for entry requirements). Domestic Applicants will be selected for admission based on the following criteria:

  • Bachelor’s degree (recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework or the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition Guide) completed within the last 10 years, or to be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
  • Personal qualities and motivation to study Medicine at Notre Dame assessed in the Notre Dame portfolio
  • Unweighted GAMSAT average score of 52 or greater
  • Overall Grade Point Average of 5.4 or higher for domestic applicants only
  • The School of Medicine uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and as was the case in 2020, these interviews will be conducted online due to potential interstate access issues arising from the Covid pandemic. For the online version of the MMI, you will be asked five separate interview questions. The interview will be recorded with the use of an online interviewing software tool, SONRU. You can learn more about the use of SONRU for your interview.
    Interviews for the Doctor of Medicine are scheduled for Thursday 23rd September 2021.

  As a guide, students commencing the Doctor of Medicine at Notre Dame Sydney in 2021 have an average GPA of 6.63 and an average GAMSAT score of 65.

  All applicants also submit a two-part application:

  1. GEMSAS Online Application
  2. Notre Dame Portfolio
  3. Portfolio template
  4. Portfolio guide

  Please see the 2022 GEMSAS Admissions Guide available at gemsas.edu.au for further details on admission requirements for the Doctor of Medicine.

  Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders students are able to apply for entry into medicine at Notre Dame, Sydney via:

  The Standard Entry Pathway:
  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can apply for entry to medicine via the GEMSAS process as detailed above.
  
  OR

  The Aboriginal Entry Pathway:
  The School of Medicine, Sydney provides an alternative entry pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Interested students can contact the School of Medicine, Sydney on (02) 8204 4450 for more information.

• Entry requirements for international applicants

  In 2021, 10 places are available for international students (please see section below for entry requirements). International Applicants will be selected for admission based on the following criteria:

  • A Bachelor’s degree that has been recognised as equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree, AQF Level 7 and which has been taught and assessed in English within the last 10 years, or to be in the final year of an eligible Bachelor’s degree.
  • An overall weighted Grade Point Average of 5.2 or higher on a 7 point scale, calculated from the applicant’s most recent three years of undergraduate study.
  • Personal qualities and motivation to study Medicine at Notre Dame assessed in the Notre Dame portfolio.
  • Unweighted average GAMSAT Score: Notre Dame will take an average of the three sections of GAMSAT and an applicant must achieve a score of at least 50 or overall MCAT score of at least 500.
  • Eligible applicants will be interviewed by a panel from the School of Medicine and an International Recruitment Officer, and will be undertaken either in person (preferred) or via Zoom.

  How to apply

  International applicants for the Doctor of Medicine are required to submit the following*:

  • Completed international application form
  • Certified copies of academic transcripts
  • Certified proof of English language proficiency
  • Certified copies of GAMSAT or MCAT results
  • Notre Dame Portfolio
  • Additional documents as outlined in the international application form

  *International applicants should apply directly to the University, not through GEMSAS

  Applications can be submitted online at www.notredame.edu.au/forms/apply, emailed to international@nd.edu.au or submitted via post to:

  International Office
  The University of Notre Dame Australia
  PO Box 1225
  Fremantle WA 6959

  Contact us

  To find out more, visit www.notredame.edu.au or contact the International Office on international@nd.edu.au or +61 8 9433 0531

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  FEE-HELP
  The FEE-HELP loan scheme assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  HECS-HELP
  The HECS-HELP  loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  For further information on fee places and Government loan schemes, or for indicative fees for domestic or international students, please visit our Fees Page.

• Key Dates for Doctor of Medicine 2022 Entry

  May 2021	GEMSAS Applications open
  5pm (AEST) 31 May 2021	Applications close
  Early September	Offers of interviews made
  Late September/Early October	Interviews (Process for the interview or substitution of a suitable alternative will be made on the school’s website)
  Early November	Offers of places made
  17 January 2022	Classes commence

• Professional accreditation

  The Doctor of Medicine (MD) is accredited by the Australian Medical Council as meeting national standards of medical education, permitting graduates to receive provisional registration and become a junior doctor and enter the medical workforce.

• More information

  For more information on the Doctor of Medicine, please call our Prospective Students Office on +61 2 8204 4404 or email sydney@nd.edu.au.