Griffith University Doctor of Medicine (MD)

The Griffith Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is designed to upgrade communication skills and equip students with an overall understanding of medical science. Griffith Medical Graduates receive full registration from the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency once they have completed a subsequent year doing a clinical internship in the Australian Hospital System.

Griffith’s Medical degree is a four-year, full-time course and is an AQF Level 9 Masters Extended Degree.

Griffith’s medical degree occurs on-campus in small group settings and utilises problem-based learning tutorials (PBL) and clinical skills laboratories to mentor the students. Additionally, students in their second month of the medical degree receive placements in hospitals and community groups one day per week to build a strong clinical foundation.

Students will develop communication skills and learn in-depth about medicine in its diverse social and ethical context. Additionally, students will participate in extensive clinical placements in healthcare facilities varying from rural settings to the Gold Coast University Hospital and the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

In the latter years of the Griffith MD program, students spend time in a professional environment and also undertake medical placements at various locations. Placements may vary from a community organisation to general practice or a hospital.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the Doctor of Medicine program and must have completed or been in their final year of completing an undergraduate degree. Applicants from a diverse range of undergraduate degrees are encouraged to apply for the MD program. The selection criteria comprise of three basic components:

1. Achieving an unweighted GPA score of 5.0 or above on a 7-point scale calculated by the GEMSAS.
2. A satisfactory performance in the GAMSAT with a minimum score of 50 in each GAMSAT section (domestic and international students) or international students can undertake the MCAT and attain a minimum score of 123 in each MCAT section.
3. Performance in the Griffith University Multi-Station Admissions Assessment (GUMSAA)

All applicants must have completed any key undergraduate degree within 10 years of the determined commencement date. Applicants holding an undergraduate degree outside the 10-year mark will be considered for admission if they have completed (with a passing GPA score) an equivalent one year of full-time higher education in the past 10 years.

GPA and GAMSAT scoring for Griffith University Medical School

The university will add the GPA to the GAMSAT score and convert them to a percentage score (50:50) to rank the applicants for GUMSAA. A combination of an unweighted GPA and the overall GAMSAT score forms the basis for applicants to receive an interview offer. This combination rank is key to enter the medicine program at Griffith University. For instance, a lower GPA score may be offset by a higher GAMSAT score and vice-versa, provided it is within the minimum required limit.

All GAMSAT scores have a validity of no more than four years at the time of the application process.

The Griffith University Multi-Station Admissions Assessment (GUMSAA) analyses the applicant’s personal and professional attributes. Griffith University's medical interview process is given immense importance to rank applicants for an offer. The GUMSAA is devised in a manner to assess the applicant’s qualities such as:

• Communication skills
• Empathy and patience
• Ethical judgment
• Professionalism
• Decision making
• Motivation
• Willingness to learn
• Leadership skills
• Personal management and self-assessment skills
• Positive social behaviour

Successful domestic applicants are invited for the GUMSAA interview on the 21 September 2024 and the interviews are scheduled to occur online for 2025 MD intake. The GUMSAA will be conducted at Griffith University on the Gold Coast and can last approximately three hours.

The GUMSAA Interviewer is recruited from the following groups:

• Academic staff of Griffith University
• Clinicians
• Community representatives

The assessors are not provided any specific details about the applicant, including GAMSAT and GPA scores. There are no references, resumes, portfolios, or related documents submitted with the applications or required to be brought in by the applicant at the time of interview.

Domestic applicants who meet the entry requirements to study medicine at Griffith can apply for admission via the GEMSAS portal and nominate in your application if you intend to consider the Griffith University Rural Priority Access Scheme.

To apply for the program, domestic applicants must follow four steps:

1. Complete an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 5.0 or better on a 7-point scale.
2. Register for and take the GAMSAT.
3. Apply for entry to the Griffith School of Medicine and Dentistry via GEMSAS, indicating if they want to be considered under the Griffith University Rural Priority Access Scheme.
4. Attend a multiple station assessment at the Griffith School of Medicine and Dentistry if invited.

Applicants must have a valid GAMSAT ID number. Information and registration for GAMSAT can be found on the ACER website. No direct entry applications for new students are accepted. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants should refer to Griffith University First Peoples' Health Pathway.

For the MD/PhD pathway, different closing dates apply:

• Expressions of Interest from Year 1 MD students: December 1 (submitted to the Dean of Medicine).
• Applications from Year 2 MD students: June 1 (submitted to the Dean of Medicine).
• HDR Candidature and Scholarship Applications from Year 2 MD students: September 6 (submitted to the Griffith Graduate Research School).

Applications for this pathway are submitted to the Dean of Medicine during Year 2/Trimester 2 of study in the Doctor of Medicine program.

International students interested in enrolling in this program must possess a valid student visa for studying in Australia or an equivalent visa allowing study in the country.

Applications are submitted through Griffith International and must include evidence of English proficiency along with either a GAMSAT score (not older than four years) or an MCAT score (not older than two years).

Admission is competitive due to limited available spots, with selection based on meeting admission criteria. Successful applicants receive confirmation upon acceptance, completion of requirements, and payment. Deferrals are not permitted; applicants unable to start on time must reapply for the next intake.

All applications must be submitted by July 31, 2024 (AEST) for consideration for the 2025 intake, including required test results and valid GAMSAT/MCAT scores.

The Griffith University Medical degree offers up to 142 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) for domestic students that the Australian Government subsidies. The CSPs have reserved 56 places to Bonded Medical Places (BMPs) that require domestic students to practice in areas of workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote regions within Australia.

Up to 35 places are allocated for international students responsible for paying their tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in at the census date. The annual tuition fee is calculated based on a standard full-time study load, usually 80 credit points (CP), approximately ranging over two full-time trimesters.

NOTE: Full-Fee Paying Places are currently unavailable for domestic students in the MD program.

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