University of Sydney Doctor of Medicine (MD)
With a close focus on excellence in education, research, and healthcare advocacy, The University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is a prestigious four-year, full-time graduate entry course designed for students who have completed their undergraduate degree. With an annual intake of 300 students, USyd Medical School provides a diverse range of opportunities, including Commonwealth Supported Places, Bonded Medical Places, and full-fee places for international students in the Metropolitan stream.
With a 30% acceptance rate into USyd’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, it has remained steadfast in its commitment to nurturing compassionate, highly skilled professionals who excel in their fields and contribute positively to healthcare.
In light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the admission process for the University of Sydney School of Medicine has undergone significant adjustments, including changes to entry requirements and updates to GAMSAT cutoffs and GPA calculations. USyd remain committed to ensuring a fair and transparent application process while upholding high levels of academic excellence and professionalism.
- A comprehensive research project for hands-on medical research experience in year three with access to world leading researchers, institutes and networks.
- An elective term, available both within Australia and overseas, for global exposure.
- A 5-week pre-internship, preparing year four students for their upcoming internship.
- The Dubbo stream, emphasising rural health around Dubbo, NSW.
- Early clinical exposure as students will gain hands-on experience from as early as second week.
- All students, upon enrolment, have access to a foundational knowledge course, which guarantees that they meet the prerequisite understanding in anatomy, physiology, molecular, and cell biology.
- An innovative curriculum with small group, team-based learning and integrating theory with practice.
USyd Med Clinical Placement
Students at USyd Medicine enjoy the privilege of diverse clinical experiences facilitated by placements across Metropolitan and Rural Clinical Schools. This strategic placement ensures a comprehensive exposure to healthcare settings, ranging from urban centers to remote areas, equipping students with a broad spectrum of medical practice insights and competencies. Rural placements offer students exposure to a wide range of clinical issues that may not be encountered in urban settings, enriching student learning experience.
Participating Clinical schools include both Metropolitan and Rural hospitals and clinics
Is University of Sydney Apart of GEMSAS?
The University of Sydney is one of three Australian universities that are not part of GEMSAS.
This means that applicants can submit an application to USyd without sacrificing opportunities to apply elsewhere, or vice versa. This flexibility makes applying to USyd a low-risk endeavor, with minimal drawbacks aside from the associated application fees. Other Non-GEMSAS schools include Monash University and Flinders University.
It’s important to note that GPA is calculated by Universities Admission Centre (UAC). This means additional costs and different system of grading GPA than GEMSAS universities.
For more information about GEMSAS and universities in the GEMSAS system, please read here.
USyd Cohort Details and Program Capacity
The program features a cohort comprising 300 domestic students alongside an extra 70 international students enrolled in full-fee positions. Within the domestic cohort, there are 210 students benefiting from Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), while 90 secure Bonded Medical Places (BMP). Moreover, the Dubbo stream offers 24 positions, reflecting USyd's dedication to addressing rural healthcare challenges and preparing future medical practitioners to serve diverse communities.
For undergraduate admissions, exceptional high school graduates have the opportunity to apply. These degrees offer a limited number of places, with only 30 available for domestic students and 10 for international students. Additionally, the seven-year double degree medicine pathway integrates the Doctor of Medicine (MD) with an undergraduate degree in either arts or science.
USyd’s Dubbo Stream
The University of Sydney Medical faculty has introduced the Dubbo Stream in the MD program. The Dubbo Stream has been developed under the Australian Government Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network (MDMSN) initiative and is one of five satellite medical programs in rural NSW and Victoria.The aim of the MDMSN is to give students a broad understanding of rural life, the health of rural communities, and the organisation and delivery of rural and remote health services, with the goal of encouraging more practitioners to consider a career in rural or remote medical practice. Clinical teaching is centred at the newly redeveloped Dubbo Hospital, which has a wide range of specialist capabilities.
Every year, 24 places are offered in the Dubbo Stream and it is only available to students eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places. There are pathways available for Indigenous students and those with rural backgrounds.
USyd Entry Requirements for Domestic Applicants
Applicants applying for the MD course at USyd Medical School must have a bachelor's degree with at least 3 years full-time equivalent and must complete the bachelor’s degree by the 1st of January in the year that they intend to commence the MD course.
The course’s bachelor degree’s prerequisite is not limited to a biomedical sciences degree. Applicants can apply with any completed bachelor's degree - provided that they meet the prerequisite understanding in anatomy, physiology, molecular, and cell biology. But the University of Sydney does offer a foundational knowledge course for all students on enrolment to ensure that they meet the assumed knowledge to complete the MD course.
Therefore, if an applicant wishes to apply for admission in 2025, you cannot undertake an exchange or study abroad program in the second half of 2024, or enrol in summer school in 2024-2025.
To be eligible for admission to the MD course, applicants must have:
- A bachelor’s degree accredited at Level 7 under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) or a bachelor’s degree accredited at Level 8 under the AQF, from an Australian university or self-accredited educational institution; Or
- A bachelor’s degree from an overseas institution if the degree is equivalent to the standard of an (Australian Bachelor’s degree)
- Achieved a qualifying bachelor’s degree with a satisfactory minimum GPA score of 5.0/7.0 during the application process. Please note that GPA is is a 5.0/7.0 hurdle that applicant must meet.
- Achieved 50 in each section of the GAMSAT to be eligible for the admission process.
Despite any conflicting guidance from ACER or GAMSAT, the University of Sydney will exclusively consider GAMSAT results from one or more of the following test dates for admission to the MD program in 2025:
- September 2022
- March 2023
- September 2023
- March 2024
Additionally, applicants for the Dubbo Stream must submit a Personal Statement using the provided template, showcasing genuine interest, intention, and aptitude for practicing medicine in rural and regional areas. It's important to note that the Dubbo Stream is only open to domestic applicants.
USyd Entry Requirements for International Applicants
International Applicants wanting to pursue their Doctor of Medicine course from the University of Sydney must have a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years full-time equivalence of study at an accredited educational institution. The applicants must have completed the degree after the 1st January 2024 to be considered eligible for entry into the medical course in 2025.
NOTE: Each section of the GAMSAT will be used to rank the applicants. Neither overall GAMSAT score nor average GAMSAT score will be taken into consideration during the assessment of applicants for the University of Sydney MD course.
USyd Indigenous Applicants Entry Requirements
The USyd Medical Course offers an Indigenous Facilitated Admission Pathway for applicants with a bachelor’s degree and a valid GAMSAT score. This specific pathway is also available to Australian citizens of rural origin defined by the Australian Government.
Domestic Applicants USyd Medicine Admission Process
Domestic applicants must submit only an online application before the closing date for the applications.
Students must apply for a QAS (Qualification Assessment Service) through the UAC (Universities Admissions Centre) within the application period in the year of application, followed by an online MD application that must be directly submitted to the University of Sydney.
The Faculty Admissions Office will assess application files and QAS reports (passed on by the UAC) to determine whether an application is eligible, and valid in late July for admission to the University of Sydney MD course. Applicants who meet the GPA requirements and receive the required GAMSAT score will be invited to confirmation their spot online.
International Applicants USyd Medicine Admission Process
International applicants interested to apply for the MD program at University of Sydney must submit an online application only. Students must submit an online MD application form directly to the University or apply through an authorised university agent. Online applications for international students, Doctor of Medicine Graduate-Entry program usually opens in late April, however this may be subject to change.
Finally, all international students must submit valid admissions test results with their application, that includes:
- A GAMSAT score of at least 50 in each section; Or
- At least 500 in the new MCAT exam.
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is held across multiple international locations. During the time of your application, students must enter the correct AAMC ID number and the current verification code on the online application form.
The applicants must then forward their MCAT exam results to the University Admissions Office no later than the end of July.
University of Sydney Medicine Application Dates for Domestic Applicants
University of Sydney Medicine Application Dates for International Applicants
The primary point to emphasize is that there isn't a straightforward "overall" or "average" GAMSAT score that can solely determine one's chances. This is because scoring 70 in Section 3, for instance, may not hold the same weight as scoring 70 in Section 1, as per the USyd entry scheme. But why is this the case?
While a score of 70 in Section 3 is commendable, it's relatively common among test-takers, resulting in a less remarkable ranking for that section. Conversely, achieving a score of 70 in Section 1 is exceptional, as it's not as easily attained by many, thereby ensuring an impressive ranking for Section 1 that boosts an applicant's position during the USyd Merged Rank process.
Therefore, instead of focusing solely on an overall or average GAMSAT score, it's crucial to consider how each individual section score contributes to one's application.
However, if we were to establish a general guideline, we anticipate that successful applicants typically score around 3-5 points higher than the standard average GAMSAT score required for securing an interview at USyd, which is approximately 69. Hence, most successful applicants are expected to achieve scores around the low 70s.
Nevertheless, it's important to note that this guideline is quite rigid and may not fully reflect the nuances of the USyd admission scheme in previous years. To gain a more accurate understanding of score expectations, it's essential to analyze past data. This is where our USyd 2023 Medicine Calculator becomes invaluable, providing insights into past trends and serving as a useful tool for prospective applicants.
How will USyd look at GAMSAT scores?
Instead of simply looking at the highest overall or average GAMSAT score, the Faculty of Medicine at USyd will consider the following while determining who will get a position for medicine:
- Candidates that did not attain a 5.0/7.0 GPA or higher, and/or failed to achieve a score of at least 50 in each section of the GAMSAT automatically be declined a position at USyd medicine.
- Once the applicants have been shortlisted, they will be ranked in the following order:
- First, the USyd medicine faculty will rank every Section 1 GAMSAT score that they have received.
- Next, they will rank every Section 2 GAMSAT score.
- Finally, they will rank every Section 3 GAMSAT score.
- The Merged Rank is generated with these three ranks. This process involves averaging a given applicant’ rank to get one final, overall rank.
For instance: Let’s assume Suzie’s rank (not to be confused with GAMSAT Score) for Section 1, 2 and 3 is 58, 105, 209 respectively.
Her Merged Rank will be calculated as follows:
(58 + 105 + 209)/3 = 124
This tells us that Suzie’s Merged Rank value is 124, according to the USyd 2024 entry ranking system. Considering USyd allows up to 300 students each year, about 225 people get into the CSP spot, it looks like Suzie is a successful applicant and has gained a position into 2025 medicine at USyd.
The 2025 USyd Doctor of Medicine Probability-Of-Offer Calculator
In short, our thousands and thousands of anonymous data points have allowed us to use meta-analysis techniques to determine the average and standard deviations scores for each section of the GAMSAT.
This then allows us to determine your rank for each individual section. Then, taking into consideration factors such as the number of people that apply to the USyd Doctor of Medicine and how many positions they have on offer, we emulate the Merged Rank that USyd generates.
Finally, this emulated Merged Rank gives us a likelihood of you receiving an offer for the Doctor of Medicine at The University of Sydney.
To find out about your odds of receiving an admission offer at USyd, use the USyd Medicine Entry Calculator to begin pursuing medicine in 2025!
For the 2025 entry into the University of Sydney's Doctor of Medicine program, there was no Interview, instead, the selection process placed a greater emphasis on the GAMSAT ranking process, particularly focusing on the scores from Sections 1 and 2 of the GAMSAT.
Why is USyd Getting Rid of Med Interviews?
Getting rid of interviews for 2025 entry clearly means there is a loss for applicants to demonstrate who they are as a person outside of the GAMSAT.
The new USyd ranking process does however place more emphasis on Section 1 scores, and Section 2 to a lesser extent. But, why is this the case? The average and standard deviation for Section 1 is a lot smaller than that of Section 3. What this means is scoring high in Section 1 will put you at a higher Section 1 rank than it does for the same score in Section 3, simply because Section 3 has a higher average and also a greater spread.
In essence, we can crudely summarise this process as USyd valuing Section 1 more than Section 3 for 2025 entry.
Additionally, the USyd are using Section 1 (and Section 2 to a lesser extent) almost as a proxy for the skills we’d normally be able to identify from a USyd MMI. As a result, they are being more sensitive to higher Section 1 scores than they are for Section 3.
Does this mean a high Section 3 score is a disadvantage? Definitely not. It simply means it’s just not as much of an advantage as the same score in Section 1.
University of Sydney Medicine Course Fees
The USyd Medical course considers most domestic students with an undergraduate degree eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). A CSP ensures that your course fees are partially supported by the Australian Government leaving you to pay a Student Contribution Amount (SCA).
Students opting for the Australian Full Fee (AFF) may be eligible for FEE-HELP, a government fund assisting students to access a loan to help cover all or part of their tuition fees. This is a fixed amount that a student can borrow in their lifetime, known as the FEE-HELP Limit.
International students follow different methods of paying their fees at USyd. When applicants are offered a place to study, they must deposit an amount equivalent to the first semester tuition fees. This will officially secure the applicant’s place and will allow you to further apply for a visa.
NOTE: The total amount that needs to be paid will be confirmed in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Please note that UYSD is not currently offering full-fee placements as of current. However please check the university’s website for more information.
What To Do Next?
To find out about your odds of receiving an admission offer at USyd, use the USyd Medicine Entry Calculator to begin pursuing medicine in 2025!
