Graduate entry to Medicine and Dentistry

This page is for graduate entry for domestic and international applicants to Medicine or Dentistry. If you are a school leaver and have not commenced tertiary studies, please refer to Assured Pathway application requirements.

Bachelor degree holders or students who are in their first bachelor’s degree may be eligible to apply for graduate entry into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) or the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Students who are in progress of their first bachelor’s degree may apply during their final year, with any course offer being conditional on completion of all bachelor’s degree requirements by 31 December of the application year.

Graduate entry into the MD and DMD is a competitive process based on GPA, GAMSAT (or equivalent) score and an interview process. Places are limited and are awarded to the highest-ranking applicants.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for admission into the MD or DMD, an applicant must have:

• a bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA. Recognised bachelor’s degrees are those conferred by Australian universities or higher education institutions recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework or the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR). While academic results from postgraduate study will be taken into account, postgraduate studies undertaken without a bachelor’s degree cannot be accepted as an equivalent qualification
• the equivalent of HMS Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5.5, and
• a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) overall score of at least 55 for the MD, 50 for the DMD and no section score less than 50 for domestic applicants.

International applicants for the MD or DMD may sit the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in place of the GAMSAT and require an overall minimum MCAT score of 492 with no section under 123, or a minimum GAMSAT score of 50 with no section under 50.  International applicants for the DMD may submit Canadian or American Dental Association Dental Admissions Test results (DAT/CDAT). Refer to information below regarding Graduate Admissions Tests for further details.

Applicants are initially ranked according to GPA and GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT (equally weighted), with the highest-ranking applicants being offered an interview.  Due to COVID19 disruptions the usual interview process for International students is under review.  Applicants will be provided with updated information as it becomes available.

After the interviews, candidates will be ranked by GPA, GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT and interview score (equally weighted), with the highest-ranking applicants being offered a place. Rural applicants will be ranked based on GAMSAT, GPA interview and rurality rating (equally weighted).

Please refer to the information below for details regarding the admissions and selection process.  The HMS Admissions team will be happy to assist with any further queries.

Application timelines and due dates

Application deadlines

• For domestic students, including Rural eligible applicants, graduate applications for the Doctor of Medicine are via GEMSAS. Domestic applications for entry to the MD will open and close in line with the GEMSAS timeline.
• Domestic applications for the Doctor of Dental Medicine open on 1 March and close on 31 May the year prior to commencement. Applications are via UWA’s online application system. 
• Applicants who may be eligible to apply via an Indigenous pathway should contact the Faculty Admissions team or the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) regarding this pathway.
• Applicants who may be eligible to apply as a Rural applicant for the Doctor of Dental Medicine should submit the Graduate Rural Eligibility form to the Faculty Admissions Team by the application closing date.  
• International applications for the Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Medicine open on 1 March and close on 31 May the year prior to commencement. Applications are via UWA’s online application system. International students may also apply via an authorised international education agent. (Agents please note that the International supplementary form is no longer required.)

Submission of GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT scores

All domestic applicants to the MD and DMD require a valid GAMSAT score.

International applicants to the MD and DMD may submit a GAMSAT or MCAT score. International applicants to the DMD may submit a DAT or CDAT score. 

For details regarding validity periods and information for applicants impacted by COVID19 disruptions, please refer to the above heading Graduate Admissions Test for Medicine and Dentistry (GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT).

Applicants who hold more than one valid admissions test score may choose to use their best score in support of their application (not necessarily the most recent).

Interview periods

• Interviews for domestic applicants will take place in Perth during late September.  Candidates will be notified if changes are required due to COVID19 disruptions.
• Interviews for international applicants – arrangements are under review due to COVID19 disruptions.
• Applicants who are eligible for Indigenous entry should contact the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) regarding interview timelines for the current admissions period.

Course offers, commencement and deferral

• For international applicants, offers for the MD and DMD usually commence late August/early September, however there may be delays due to COVID19 disruptions.  Offers are on a rolling basis and continue until all places are filled.
• For domestic applicants, offers for the MD and DMD will commence during November. MD offer rounds will be according to the GEMSAS timeline. Timing of DMD subsequent round offers will depend on the outcome of previous rounds.
• The MD and DMD courses commence late January.
• Applicants should consider their personal circumstances and apply for the MD and DMD in an admissions period where they are prepared to commence should they receive an offer:
  • An offer for a place in the MD cannot be deferred; if an applicant cannot commence, their offer will lapse and they must re-apply and compete for a place in a later admissions period.
  • An offer for a place in the DMD cannot be deferred; if an applicant cannot commence, their offer will lapse and they must re-apply and compete for a place in a later admissions period.

Eligibility criteria

Domestic
Australian citizens (including dual citizenship holders), permanent residents and New Zealand citizens must apply for a domestic place.

Rural (Domestic)
The Rural program is part of a Federal Government initiative to address rural and remote areas of workforce shortage in allied healthcare. To be eligible, an applicant’s principal home address must have been in an Australian Statistical Geographic Standard Remoteness Area (ASGS-RA) 2-5 (2016) for any five years consecutively or at least 10 years cumulatively. A search engine for towns in areas can be found on the DoctorConnect website – click on ASGS Remoteness Areas 2016. 

Graduate applicants for the DMD, DPM, DOpt and/or MPharm who believe they fit the rural definition must submit the Graduate Rural Eligibility form (PDF 240KB) in order to be considered for a rural place.  Domestic MD applicants will indicate their eligibility via GEMSAS. Contact the HMS Admissions team for further information. 

Indigenous (Domestic)
Applicants who identify as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are accepted as such by the community in which they live, or have lived, are eligible for consideration as an Indigenous applicant. Applicants must provide a person or organisation who can verify their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status. Applicants should contact the HMS Admissions team or the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) for information regarding this pathway.

International
Applicants who are not Australian citizens, permanent residents or New Zealand citizens, must apply for an international place. International students who have applied or are intending to apply for Australian permanent residency or citizenship need to be aware of the following:

• An offer for an international place will lapse if the applicant’s residency status changes before commencement. Applicants in this situation will need to re-apply during the next admissions period for a domestic place.
• A student whose residency status changes after commencement cannot be guaranteed a domestic place in a course subject to quotas.

Quotas

• MD Domestic – Around 63 places including Bonded Medical Places (BMPs) are available. Thirty per cent of domestic places will be allocated to eligible rural students and up to 10 per cent of places are available to applicants eligible for Indigenous pathways.

• MD International – Around eight places.
• DMD Domestic – Up to 30 places. Ten per cent of domestic places will be allocated to eligible rural students and a small number of places are available to applicants eligible for Indigenous pathways.
• DMD International – About three places.

Graduate Admissions Test for Medicine and Dentistry (GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT)

GAMSAT

Domestic applicants for the MD or the DMD must submit a valid GAMSAT score. GAMSAT scores are valid for two years and must be valid as at the closing date of applications. Information regarding testing dates and locations is available on the GAMSAT website.

There are three sections to the test: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences; Written Communication; and Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences. The third section assumes knowledge equivalent to at least first-year university-level chemistry and biology, and A-level/Leaving Certificate/Year 12 physics. View information regarding GAMSAT preparation strategy on their website. Further information regarding GAMSAT preparation can be found below under prerequisites/recommended prior study.

GAMSAT minimum requirements

• Domestic MD: overall score of 55 with no section under 50
• Domestic DMD: overall score of 50 with no section under 50
• International MD and DMD: overall score of 50 with no section under 50

MCAT

International graduate applicants to the MD and/or DMD may submit an MCAT result in place of GAMSAT. The MCAT is a standardised, multiple‐choice examination designed to assess the examinee’s problem solving, critical thinking and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to health studies including verbal reasoning, physical sciences and biological sciences. Information on the test including preparation strategies can be found on the MCAT website.

MCAT scores are valid for two years and the test must be sat before the application closing date. Applicants who do not yet have their result may submit their application with their MCAT ID and provide the result by or soon after the 31 May application closing date.  (Current applicants please contact the HMS Admissions team with any queries regarding MCAT validity for 2022 commencement.)

MCAT minimum requirements: 

• International MD and DMD: overall score of 492 with no section under 123

DAT

International applicants for the DMD may submit results from Canadian or American Dental Association Dental Admissions Test (CDAT/DAT). Results must be valid as at the application closing date*. Due to the availability of test dates, results may be valid for slightly longer than two years. Contact the Faculty Admissions team for advice.

(Current applicants please contact the HMS Admissions team with any queries regarding DAT validity for 2022 commencement.)Grade Point Average (GPA) – calculation method

Details regarding the Health & Medical Sciences Selection GPA (HMS GPA) calculation method are available on the GEMSAS website and should be considered alongside information below regarding UWA’s HMS GPA calculation method.

HMS GPA calculation method

• Applicants must show they have achieved the course-specific minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) in order to be considered.
• Each year is weighted equally: (“GPA most recent year” + “GPA 2nd most recent year” + “GPA 3rd most recent year”)/3.
• No preference or scaling is given to particular universities or fields of study.
• Special consideration cannot be granted as part of the admissions process. GPA will be calculated from an applicant’s results as they appear on their transcript.
• The HMS GPA as calculated by UWA may differ to that calculated according to the GEMSAS instructions.

What is included in the HMS GPA calculation

UWA’s HMS GPA is calculated from university study undertaken in the most recent three years. A full time equivalent (FTE) will be calculated for students who have studied part time or overloaded. As an example, three years of full-time or equivalent study at UWA is 144 credit points, at Curtin it is 600 credit points, at ECU it is 360 credit points, at Murdoch it is 72 credit points.

The calculation is from units taken in chronological order, regardless of exemptions, credit or advanced standing which may have been applied to the most recent degree.

The HMS GPA calculation includes recognised bachelor’s, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master’s by coursework, completed honours, completed master’s by research and completed PhD levels of study. Note that in order for honours or other research degree studies to be included in the HMS GPA calculation, it must be completed by the end of semester one of the application year. See information below regarding the treatment of research degree studies.

Recognised degrees are those conferred by Australian or overseas universities or higher education institutions recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), or the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR).

Domestic MD applicants who have undertaken additional study (whether postgraduate or additional bachelor level study) should indicate this on the GEMSAS application (when prompted to by the application questions). All other applicants should indicate this on their UWA application form and provide transcripts for studies not undertaken at UWA.

Accelerated degrees and conversion courses

UWA will accept recognised two-year accelerated bachelor’s degrees and one-year conversion degrees for the purpose of graduate admission into Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatric Medicine, Pharmacy and Optometry. Applicants who are in progress of a one-year conversion degree must complete that course before applying, unless they also hold a previously completed bachelor’s degree.

Postgraduate degrees by research

Applicants with a completed PhD at time of application will be awarded a HMS GPA of 7.0. Applicants with a completed master’s by research at time of application will be awarded a bonus of 0.2 to be added to their overall HMS GPA. Incomplete honours, master’s by research and PhDs are not considered in the HMS GPA calculation. In order to be included, all research degree requirements must be met by semester one of the application year.

Applicants who only hold higher degrees

All applicants require a recognised bachelor’s degree for graduate entry into UWA’s MD, DMD, DPM and MPharm. Applicants who have completed a higher degree but have not completed a recognised bachelor’s degree will not be eligible for consideration.

COVID19 – Treatment of Results from Semester 1 2020

Due to COVID19 disruptions in the first half of 2020, some universities have given students the option to have their results shown as either a graded result or as an ungraded pass/fail, while some universities have elected to issue only ungraded pass/fail results. 

Due to this disparity, all results obtained from studies undertaken during Semester 1 2020, and concurrent non-standard study periods, will be treated as ungraded pass/fail in the HMS GPA calculation (more information regarding treatment of ungraded pass/fail results is shown below).  This does not apply to Summer units completed during January 2020, Semester 2 2020 or concurrent non-standard study periods. 

This decision has been taken so as not to unfairly disadvantage applicants whose institutions did not provide the option for a graded result.

Ungraded passes

The credit value/unit weighting of ungraded passes will count towards the three years of FTE study; however, the result itself is left out of the calculation. For example, if a student has 0.125 FTE of ungraded pass in a particular year, that year’s HMS GPA will be based on 0.875 FTE of results. The exception is where an applicant has more than one year or FTE of ungraded passes within their most recent three years FTE. In this instance, the calculation will include results from older study where available.

Ungraded fails

Both the result and credit value/weighting of ungraded fails are included in the HMS GPA calculation. An ungraded fail will confer a GPA result of 0 for that unit.

Minimal results in the current year of study

Where an applicant has 0.25 FTE (or less) of results for their final HMS GPA year, the calculation will include older study. Where no older study is available, the HMS GPA will be calculated from only the GPA 2nd most recent and GPA 3rd most recent years. Where there has been no older study, and if an applicant is made an offer, it will be conditional upon their performance in all enrolled units which had been incomplete during the application year (see information below about conditional offers).

Exchange studies

The HMS GPA calculation will use the results that appear on the home university’s transcript. In most cases, such studies are shown as an ungraded pass or an ungraded fail. If an applicant has ungraded pass/fail units amounting to more than one year FTE of their most recent three FTE years of study, the HMS Admission team may require the applicant to provide the host university’s actual graded results.

Credit/Exemptions/Advanced Standing

The HMS GPA is calculated from units that an applicant has undertaken in the most recent three years FTE, regardless of credit/exemptions/advanced standing units which have been applied to the most recent degree. For example, if an applicant previously completed 1.5 years FTE, and then transferred into a different degree with credit/exemption/advanced standing applied for 1 years FTE, and has since then completed a further 1.5 years FTE in the new degree, the most chronologically recent 1.5 years FTE from the previous recognised degree studies will be included in the calculation. This will include any Fail results which fall within the most recent 3 years FTE.

Repeated units/subjects

Applicants who successfully complete a unit and subsequently repeat the same unit (or an equivalent unit) will not have the repeated unit included in their HMS GPA calculation, whether or not the unit was taken as part of degree studies. If the applicant has repeated a unit due to failing the first time, then the standard HMS GPA rules apply. That is, all units completed within the most recent three years of valid full time or equivalent study will be included in the calculation, including the fail result if it falls within the most recent three years FTE.

Not for degree studies

Results from individual units which are not taken as part of a degree are not included in the HMS GPA calculation, excepting where not-for-degree study constitutes more than 0.5 year of FTE study.

As an example, where an applicant’s study includes 4 Access UWA undergraduate units within the most recent three years, these would not be included as the 4 units are equivalent to 0.5 year of FTE study. If 5 Access UWA undergraduate units have been undertaken within the most recent three years or full-time equivalent, these would be included in the HMS GPA calculation, as this exceeds 0.5 years of FTE study.Eyesight requirements – DMD onlyApplicants are recommended to have an eye examination to determine if they have any vision defects which will interfere with their ability to practise as a dentist. Students must meet these visual requirements. Vision defects that can be corrected, such as by the wearing of glasses, should be done so prior to enrolment. Colour blindness may affect the ability to become a dentist and it is strongly advised that affected applicants seek advice from an ophthalmologist.Inherent requirements – MD onlyStudents who aspire to pursue medicine as a career should review the inherent requirements [PDF, 156KB].English language competency requirement

To fulfil the English Language Competency requirement applicants must have:

• Completed 2+ years or full time equivalent tertiary study in English only at an institution in Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, Ireland, Canada (except Quebec), and New Zealand; OR
• IELTS Academic with overall score of 7.0 and no band less than 7.0 (IELTS Indicator will be accepted during the 2020-2021 admissions period):
  • from one test sitting; or
  • a maximum of two test sittings within a six month period only if:
    • a minimum overall score of 7.0 is achieved in each sitting; and
    • a minimum score of 7.0 in each band across the two sittings; and
    • no score below 6.5 in any band.

Applicants who have completed English A-Levels in Singapore are required to submit a IELTS result. ELC requirements must be met by the application closing date. Prerequisites and recommended prior study

Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree before commencing the MD or DMD. There are no preferred bachelor’s courses or specific prerequisites; however, there are recommended subjects in order to best prepare for the GAMSAT or MCAT.

Be aware that UWA does not endorse third party GAMSAT preparation courses or materials, including third party courses which may be held on UWA premises.  It is advisable to instead build knowledge through university studies. 

Recommended prior study

It is recommended that applicants have undertaken at least:

• Physics to Year 12 ATAR level (or equivalent)
• Chemistry to first-year university level (including completion of Year 12 level chemistry)
• Biology or Human Biology at first-year university level

These subjects are not prerequisite; however, completion of these subjects will help prepare applicants for Medicine or Dentistry studies, as well as for the GAMSAT. Refer to the GAMSAT website for further information regarding preparation strategy.

Recommended UWA units

These units may be incorporated into any UWA bachelor’s degree as major, elective or broadening units. Note these are recommendations and options; it is not a requirement to undertake every listed unit.  Some units have prerequisites – refer to the linked unit details. The unit details will also help you compare your own academic background if you have not studied at UWA.

Biology

ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human 
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human 
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology 
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology 
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell

Chemistry

CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics 
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity 
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (required for students who have not completed ATAR Chemistry or equivalent)
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry

Physics (for those without ATAR Physics)

PHYS1021 Applied Physics A 
PHYS1030 Physics Bridging UnitInterviews

• Applicants will be shortlisted for an interview based on their GAMSAT or equivalent score and GPA. 
• The interview allows applicants to display some of the personal qualities considered desirable in medical and dental practitioners, and increase their competitiveness for a place. 
• Approximately two to three candidates are interviewed for every dental place and approximately one to two candidates are interviewed for every graduate medicine place.
• Shortlisted applicants are notified one to two weeks prior to the interview by email.
• Applicants who accept their interview will be provided with detailed interview information and preparation material prior to the interview.
• Due to COVID19 disruptions the usual interview process for International students is under review. International applicants will be provided with more information as it becomes available. 
• Domestic applicants will be kept informed should changes become necessary due to COVID19 restrictions.

Timing

• Interviews for domestic graduate applicants are held in Perth during late September.  Applicants will be notified should changes to the process be required due to COVID19 disruptions.
• Domestic candidates should allow two-and-a-half hours, including registration, preparation and the actual interview process.
• Applicants are required to attend their interview in person within their given interview period and are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements. 
• Interviews for international graduate applicants are held in Perth and specified overseas locations during July and early August (venues subject to availability).  Due to COVID19 disruptions the usual interview process for International students is under review.  Applicants will be provided with more information when it becomes available.

The interview process

Domestic medicine and dentistry applicants are interviewed in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. The MMI is an interview process that was developed at McMaster University in Canada and is now used by many Australian and international medical schools. 
The UWA MMI model consists of eight stations. An 11-minute time period is allocated to each station, consisting of three minutes’ preparation and eight minutes for responding. Five of the stations will consist of sets of questions, based on a preamble/scenario presented in the three-minute preparation time. The remaining stations are for the Graduate Presentation Exercise, Graduate Presentation Preparation and a rest station. 

International applicants will be interviewed by a panel comprising two University representatives.

The usual process on the day is as follows:

1. Registration including statement of confidentiality.
2. Interview pre-reading. 
3. Preparation for the Graduate Presentation Exercise (domestic applicants). This is a presentation on a topic provided on the day.
4. Undertake the interview. All applicants will be asked exactly the same questions in exactly the same manner.

Applicants who qualify for an interview for graduate entry into both Medicine and Dentistry, will be interviewed based on their higher preference. 

What to bring and wear

• Photographic ID – passport/driver’s licence/school card 
• Mobile phones and other personal effects cannot be carried throughout the interview and will be placed in a secure location. Interviewees may prefer to leave such items at home.
• Interviewees may carry bottled water and a jacket or cardigan throughout the interview.
• Dress as if attending a job interview – clothes that feel comfortable and look smart. Layers are advisable in case the venue is cool or warm. 
• Interviewees should not wear any uniform, accessories or badge that identifies membership of a particular organisation. This is to avoid the perception that bias has entered the selection process.

Confidentiality

Interviewees will be asked to sign a statement of confidentiality as part of the registration process, indicating their agreement not to disclose information about the interview. 

UWA staff, student helpers and interviewers will not disclose information regarding an applicant’s interview, responses or performance, including to other UWA staff or the applicant’s family. Information from the interview is not placed on an applicant’s student file whether or not they accept an offer to study at UWA.

The interviewers

Interviewers may be representatives from the community or from the University. Interviewers receive regular training to ensure consistency in the way questions are asked and responses assessed. 

The assessment is evidence based. The interviewers can only rate interviewees on what they say in response to interview questions. The interviewers will take notes throughout the interview; this is to note what the interviewee has said. Interviewers have a comprehensive set of evidence-based measures with which to rate an interviewee’s responses and formulate a score directly after each interviewee completes each station. The final score is aggregated from results across the Graduate Presentation Exercise and the four criteria.

Domestic applicants: One interviewer will assess applicants in each station. The interviewer may be a representative from the community or from the University. A second interviewer may be present in a station room to observe or for training purposes. They do not have a formal role in the assessment of the applicant.

International applicants: A panel comprising two University representatives will interview each applicant. A third interviewer may be present in a station room to observe or for training purposes. They do not have a formal role in the assessment of the applicant.

Interview criteria

Each year the following criteria will be used in the interview:

• Communication skills
• Presentation skills (domestic applicants)
• Motivation/commitment to a career in Medicine or Dentistry (based on higher preference if eligible for both)

Each year the remaining criteria are selected from:  awareness of social diversity; provision of assistance; self-awareness; trust and trustworthiness; values and ethics; working with others.  Applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be advised of which criteria will be included for that year.

Interview questions will not be based on clinical or scientific scenarios which would require specific medical, dental or scientific knowledge. The questions are designed to encourage interviewees to think and to explain their reasoning. The questions may be scenario based, awareness based or experience based, but the assessment is evidence based. The interviewer can only rate interviewees on what they say. It is therefore important to give more than one-sentence answers, and that interviewees draw on their own experiences and knowledge to address a topic and provide appropriate examples.

The interviewers will read the questions as they are written to ensure every applicant is asked exactly the same question in the same way. Applicants will need to respond to the specific questions asked. There are no generic questions or opportunities for applicants to list their achievements and skills outside the scope of the questions. 

Interview preparation

• There are many ways to address a question; interviewers are not looking for one specific ‘correct’ answer. Be prepared to articulate your motivation and commitment to working as a health professional in your higher preferenced field. Have some background information about your preferred career and the course. 
• Familiarise yourself with the interview topics. Consider how your own life experiences may reflect aspects of these topics. Find opportunities to discuss the topics with your family, peers and different people in your community. 
• The University of Western Australia does not recommend or endorse third party commercial interview preparation courses, including those held on University premises. The Medical and Dental Schools do not release any information relating to UWA interview questions to any third party, and interview questions within the topics will be different each year. Furthermore, interviewers and interviewees are required to sign confidentiality agreements regarding the interview process. Therefore, third party preparation course providers do not have access to any information which is not already freely available to applicants.
• Applicants may benefit more from generic interview preparation rather than interview preparation which purports to aim specifically at UWA Medicine or Dentistry. 
• Applicants who rehearse detailed answers to specific questions risk not addressing the question they are actually asked on the day. 

 Final ranking

• Final ranking for non-rural domestic applicants to the MD and DMD will be based equally on GAMSAT, GPA and interview.
• Final ranking for rural applicants to the MD and DMD will be based equally on GAMSAT, GPA, interview and a rurality ranking.
• Final ranking for applicants who are eligible for Indigenous entry will be based on GPA and interview by the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH).
• Final ranking for international applicants to the MD and DMD will be based equally on GAMSAT (or equivalent), GPA and interview. Due to COVID19 disruptions the 2021-2022 interview process for International students cannot take place as usual.  Applicants will be provided with updated information as it becomes available.

Degree completion – conditional offers

Applicants who are eligible for a course offer during the final year of their initial bachelor’s degree will be made a conditional offer requiring them to:

• attain a minimum GPA of 5.5 for semester two of the final year of their degree; and
• complete their bachelor’s degree requirements by the end of the year prior to commencement. 

Applicants who are in progress of their initial bachelor’s degree and undertake a course of action that will result in receiving late results may not meet offer conditions. Therefore applicants must take care when undertaking any course of action which could delay the receipt of results or degree completion. This may include undertaking deferred/supplementary exams, undertaking units that fall outside normal semesters (e.g. summer units or trimester units) or going on exchange during the final year of study. Applicants who do not complete all requirements for their initial bachelor’s degree by the 31 December deadline will have their offer withdrawn.Previous average scores for graduate entry into the MD and DMD

Previous year statistics are provided as indicative information only and do not predict or preclude outcomes for subsequent years. Results significantly lower than previous averages may be less realistically competitive for a place. Results equal to or higher than previous averages do not guarantee an interview or course offer. The statistics provided pertain to the domestic cohort. Information regarding international admissions outcomes is not provided due to the relatively small cohort. 

Doctor of Medicine Graduate Entry (not including Rural) – scores for applicants who received an offer for 2020 commencement GAMSAT

• Highest 84 (2019 commencement Highest 84)
• Lowest 65 (2019 commencement Lowest 64)
• Average 72.3 (2019 commencement Average 71.33)
• Median 71.5 (2019 commencement Median 71)

GPA

• Highest 7.00 (2019 commencement Highest 7.00)
• Lowest 6.44 (2019 commencement Lowest 6.55)
• Average 6.87 (2019 commencement Average 6.91)
• Median 6.94 (2019 commencement Median 6.94)

Final ranking for graduate entry is by GPA, GAMSAT and interview score, equally weighted.

Doctor of Medicine Rural Graduate Entry – scores for successful applicants who received an offer for 2020 commencement
 GAMSAT

• Highest 75 (2019 commencement Highest 73)
• Lowest 56 (2019 commencement Lowest 58)
• Average 64.7 (2019 commencement Average 64.4)
• Median 65.0 (2019 commencement Median 63.5)

GPA

• Highest 7.00 (2019 commencement Highest 7.00)
• Lowest 6.23 (2019 commencement Lowest 6.10)
• Average 6.77 (2019 commencement Average 6.58)
• Median 6.76 (2019 commencement Median 6.56)

Final ranking for rural graduate entry is by GPA, GAMSAT, interview score and rurality ranking, equally weighted.

Doctor of Dental Medicine

Applicants who received a course offer for 2020 commencement had a median GAMSAT of 65 (average GAMSAT of 65.44) and a median GPA of 6.73 (average GPA 6.71).

Due to the very small cohort, information regarding successful rural DMD applicants is not provided.  Final ranking for course offers is by GPA, GAMSAT and interview score, equally weighted, and for successful Rural applicants includes a rurality ranking.Bonded Medical Places – Domestic MD only

The Australian Government’s Bonded Program aims to provide more Australian trained doctors where there are workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote Australia. In accordance with the Department of Health and Ageing, 28.5 per cent of all Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) in UWA’s Doctor of Medicine have been designated as Bonded Medical Places (BMPs).

Bonded Places will be allocated according to the ranked list. Applicants are not required to specify a preference for a Bonded Medical Place.

MD students who have accepted a Bonded Medical Place agree to work in an area of workforce shortage for a period specified by the Department of Health after they have graduated. Depending on the specialisation, areas of workforce shortage may be in remote, rural or urban locations. This period can be completed between commencing internship and five years after fellowship is achieved.

Further information on the current BMP Scheme, including the Deed of Agreement, is available on the Department of Health BMP website.Curriculum

• The UWA MD is a four-year course. Full details of the course structure are available in the UWA Handbook.
• The UWA DMD is a four-year course. Full details of the course structure are available in the UWA Handbook.

Internship and registration for medical practitioners

Registration upon completion: Doctor of Medicine

On completion of the MD, graduates will have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree ensuring they have a well-rounded skill set as well as the specialist skills needed in their professional career.

For registration as a medical practitioner in Australia, all graduates are required to complete a pre-registration internship in an approved hospital, followed by a period of specialist training (e.g. surgeon, general practitioner). Doctors may undertake further specialist training after registering as a medical practitioner (e.g. psychiatry, neurology). The Australian Medical Association provides information regarding the registration process.

Priority for internships is given to graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. The Department of Health has advised that due to an increase in Australian medical graduates, it is likely there will be limited internship opportunities for international graduates. As per previous years, international graduates who wish to undertake internship in Australia are only accommodated if sufficient intern places are available. International graduates may also look into requirements to undertake internships in their home country.

Graduates who did not complete the majority of their education in English in a recognised country may be subject to additional English Language requirements for registration. For further information, refer to the Medical Board.

Section 19AB limits Medicare access for Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs) and Foreign Graduates of an Accredited Medical School (FGAMS) who became permanent Australian residents or citizens on or after 1 January 1997.  

Refer to the Australian Department of Health for information regarding registration to practice medicine in Australia.Registration for dental practitioners

Registration upon completion: Doctor of Dental Medicine

On completion of the DMD, graduates will have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree ensuring they have a well-rounded skill set as well as the specialist skills needed in their professional career.

On successful completion of the DMD, graduates will be able to register with the Dental Board of Australia, or with overseas Dental Boards with reciprocal arrangements, and enter the profession immediately. Registered Dentists may choose to later undertake further specialist training (e.g. orthodontics, oral pathology).

Graduates who did not complete the majority of their education in English in a recognised country may be subject to additional English Language requirements for registration. Refer to the Dental Board of Australia for information regarding registration to practice dentistry in Australia.Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Pathway

Registered and practicing dental or medical practitioners who are interested in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) specialty may be eligible to apply for graduate entry into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) via the OMFS pathway. 

Applications for 2022 commencement are now open and will close on 16 July 2021.  To apply, download the OMFS application form and submit via email to the HMS Admissions Team.  

This Pathway offers an alternate entry pathway to the UWA dentistry and medicine courses for eligible applicants. It does not guarantee a place in the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons OMFS training programme which is the registrable qualification for practice as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. 

Applicants who have already completed a dental degree and who hold both unrestricted registration and a Medical Provider Number, may be able to apply for a specified sub quota of medicine places.  

Applicants who have already completed a medical degree and who hold both unrestricted registration and a Medical Provider Number, may be able to apply for a specified sub quota of dentistry places.

In order to be eligible for consideration, applicants require a minimum HMS calculated GPA of 5.5.  Refer to information regarding the calculation method under the ‘Grade point average’ heading above.

In both cases, selection for interview is based on HMS GPA.  GAMSAT is not required. A short-list of candidates will be interviewed and will need to attend an interview in Perth in person.  The offer of a place will be based on GPA and interview score.

Applicants who apply through this pathway cannot also lodge a separate application for standard graduate entry. 

This pathway is reviewed each year.  Contact the HMS Admissions team if you require further information or clarification.

Assured Pathway entry to Medicine and Dentistry for domestic applicants

This page is for domestic school-leaver applicants to the Assured Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine or the Assured Pathway to the Doctor of Dental Medicine. If you are not a domestic school leaver, view other application requirements.

The Assured Pathway to Medicine and Assured Pathway to Dental Medicine are available for high-achieving domestic school leavers. Eligible school-leaver applications are via TISC, and will open in line with TISC timelines and close late September for medicine and dentistry. You must apply as a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen.  

Successful applicants will receive a conditional place in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) or the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). An Assured Pathway place in the MD or DMD is conditional upon successful completion of a UWA bachelor’s degree with a minimum HMS Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5. Students with an Assured Pathway place are not required to sit a graduate admissions test or undergo further interviews in order to take up their place.

Should you accept an offer, your Assured Pathway is specific to a particular postgraduate course. You cannot automatically transfer your Assured Pathway place to a different postgraduate course. If your career aspirations change, you may apply for graduate entry into a different course. Should you attain a graduate place in a different course, or otherwise change your mind, you may withdraw from your Assured Pathway place.

Entry requirements

• Minimum ATAR of 99 or equivalent for High Academic Achievers; Minimum ATAR of 96 or equivalent for Rural or Broadway applicants (refer to eligibility criteria below)
• Suitable UCAT ANZ score
• Interview
• English language competency
• Eyesight Requirements for the DMD, and Inherent Requirements for the MD 

Thoroughly read through all sections for a detailed understanding of the requirements.

Overview of the application process – presentation for school leavers

Overview of the application process – presentation for school leavers

https://youtu.be/ySzsjYcl0fs

This presentation provides an overview of the admissions process for HMS Assured Pathways for school leavers, and is a supplement to the detailed information below. 

The HMS Admissions team are here to help you with any queries you or your parents may have.Application process and timelines

• Applicants must register for and sit UCAT ANZ (registrations usually close during May, test sittings take place during July).
• Applicants are required to lodge a TISC application, entering the relevant TISC course code(s).
• Applications for the Assured Pathway to Medicine and the Assured Pathway to Dentistry will open early to mid-August and will close late September according to TISC deadlines.
• Rural eligibility form must be submitted to the HMS Admissions team by the Medicine and Dentistry TISC deadline.
• Refer to the TISC guide for current course codes and application deadlines.

Admission and selection processes may be amended should changes become necessary due to COVID19 restrictions.

Western Australian applicants are also required to submit predicted ATAR information. After applications close, the HMS Admissions team will provide the Predicted ATAR form to all applicants who have indicated a WA address on their TISC application. WA applicants who have not yet sat their final exams are required to submit a predicted result which is provided by their school. The form will include detailed instructions including steps required for students who have already completed their final exams.

Eligible applicants who are based outside Western Australia are interviewed during January and are therefore not required to submit a predicted result.

Applicants will be contacted after the WACE exams are complete regarding eligibility for interview. Applicants who are based outside Western Australia will be contacted after final ATAR results have been released.

Interviews will take place during:

• Late November/Early December for WA-based applicants who are eligible based on UCAT ANZ and predicted ATAR or equivalent (or actual score where available)
• Early January for WA-based applicants who are eligible based on UCAT ANZ and actual ATAR (or equivalent)
• Mid to late January for applicants based outside WA who are eligible based on UCAT ANZ and actual ATAR (or equivalent)

Course offers will be as per TISC timelines.

Download the checklist for 2021-2022 domestic school leaver applicants.Eligibility criteria

High Academic Achievers

This quota is for school leavers with a minimum ATAR of 99.

Rural

The Rural program is part of a Government initiative to address rural and remote areas of workforce shortage in medical, dental and allied healthcare.
To be eligible, an applicant’s principal home address must have been in an Australian Standard Geographical Remoteness Area ASGC-RA 2-5 (2016) for any five years consecutively or at least 10 years cumulatively.  A search engine for towns in areas can be found on the DoctorConnect website by clicking the link under Search the Maps for ASGS-RA (2016).

School-leaver applicants to the Assured Pathway who believe they fit the rural definition must submit the Rural Eligibility Form to HMS Admissions before the TISC closing date for Medicine and Dentistry (late September, refer to TISC website for updated information on deadlines). Note that this form is in addition to applying via TISC by the deadline. TISC applications open early to mid August each year. Contact the HMS Admissions team should you have further queries.

Broadway

Broadway UWA is designed to ensure access to UWA courses is available to the broadest range of students with the potential to succeed at university. The main goal of the program is to increase the diversity in the student cohorts and to promote equity in the selection of students.

Specified schools are invited to participate in this program. You are eligible for consideration as a Broadway Assured Pathway applicant if you have undertaken your entire Year 12 studies, including WACE, at a UWA Broadway school.  

Broadway eligible school-leaver applicants will indicate their school as part of their TISC application, and must apply by the TISC closing date for Medicine and Dentistry (late September, refer to TISC website for updated information on deadlines). Contact the HMS Admissions team should you have further queries.

Indigenous

Applicants who identify as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are accepted as such by the community in which they live, or have lived are eligible for consideration as an Indigenous Assured Pathway applicant. Applicants must provide a person or organisation who can verify their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status. Contact the Faculty Admissions team or the School of Indigenous Studies for information regarding this pathway.UCAT ANZ – University Clinical Aptitude Test

All applicants to the domestic High Academic Achievement, Rural and Broadway Assured Pathways to Medicine and Dentistry must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ). UCAT ANZ must be sat during the application year, that is, the year prior to commencement in the Assured Pathway. UCAT ANZ assesses a range of abilities identified as important by university medical and dental schools for success in their programs or courses, and later as a clinician.

The UCAT ANZ is a two-hour computer-based test. Candidates will sit the test at Pearson VUE test centres located in Australia, New Zealand and some overseas centres. Refer to the UCAT ANZ website for a list of test locations.

The UCAT ANZ will be offered on a range of dates and venues throughout the month of July and early August.

To sit the test, you will need to register for UCAT ANZ and book a test date, time and location.

Details of the test format, including how to register and what to expect on test day are available on the UCAT ANZ website.

Free, comprehensive preparation materials, including an online guide, tutorials, question banks and practice tests are available on the UCAT ANZ official website.

All resources contained on the UCAT ANZ website are FREE. Candidates should be aware that while third party organisations may charge fees for books, courses and coaching, these organisations do not have access to any information which is not already freely available.  UWA does not recommend or endorse any commercially available courses offering admissions test preparation, including those held on UWA grounds.

UCAT ANZ results

Invitations for interview will be based on UCAT ANZ performance with the condition that applicants are also predicted to meet or have met the minimum academic threshold (ATAR or equivalent). 

Applicants should not base decisions regarding the current admissions year on results from previous years, particularly with the implementation of UCAT ANZ in place of UMAT.

Applicants must sit UCAT ANZ the year of application (that is, the year prior to commencement). The UCAT ANZ score cannot be carried over from a previous application year.

COVID19 and the 2021-2022 admissions cycle

Pearson VUE will make arrangements for testing to be carried out in compliance with any COVID19 restrictions which may be in place at that time.  Candidates who have registered for the test will be kept informed should any further changes become necessary as the situation develops.

Be aware that should the COVID19 situation develop such that UWA is unable to carry out interviews, it is possible that results from the Situational Judgement section of UCAT ANZ may be used as part of the selection process. Applicants will be kept informed of any changes that may become necessary.English language competency requirementAll Assured Pathway applicants are required to meet the standard English language competency level for The University of Western Australia.Prerequisite and recommended subjects

Assured Pathway students must complete a UWA bachelor’s degree before commencing the MD or DMD. In addition to English language competency requirements, there may be other prerequisites depending on the chosen major. In most cases, students who have not undertaken prerequisite subjects may undertake bridging units as part of their bachelor’s degree studies.

The following ATAR or equivalent subjects are recommended, or may be taken as Level 1 university units:
• Chemistry 
• Biology or Human Biology 
• Maths Applications or above

Students who plan to apply for a Assured Pathway into the MD or DMD should prioritise getting their highest possible marks.Assured Pathway – Bonded medical places

The Government’s Bonded Programs aim to provide more Australian trained doctors where there are workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote Australia. In accordance with the Department of Health and Ageing, 28.5 per cent of all Commonwealth-supported places (CSPs) in UWA’s MD have been designated as bonded medical places (BMPs).

Bonded places will be allocated according to the ranked list. Applicants are not required to specify a preference for a BMP.

MD students who have accepted a Bonded Medical Place agree to work in an area of workforce shortage for a period specified by the Department of Health after they have graduated. Depending on the specialisation, areas of workforce shortage may be in remote, rural or urban locations. This period can be completed between commencing internship and five years after fellowship is achieved.

Further information on the current BMP Scheme, including the Deed of Agreement, is available on the Department of Health BMP website.

Applicants who accept a Bonded Place in the Assured Pathway to Medicine will not be contractually bound to their Bonded Medical Place until ready to commence in the MD. Students with a Bonded Assured Pathway place who would prefer an unbonded place in the MD may sit the GAMSAT and apply via graduate entry.Interviews

• Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on their UCAT ANZ score and predicted or actual ATAR.
• The interview allows applicants to display some of the personal qualities considered desirable in medical and dental practitioners, and increase their competitiveness for a place.
• WA-based applicants are notified after the WACE exams (mid-late November) regarding their eligibility for interview.
• Applicants based outside WA are notified after the ATAR actual results are released (late December/early January) regarding their eligibility for interview.
• Applicants who accept their interview will be provided with detailed interview information and preparation material prior to the interview.
• The Faculty interviews approximately two to three candidates for every available place.
• Should the COVID19 situation develop such that we are unable to carry out interviews it is possible that results from the Situational Judgement section of UCAT ANZ may be used as part of the selection process. Applicants will be kept informed of any changes that may become necessary due to COVID19 restrictions.

Timing and location

• Interviews for domestic Assured Pathway applicants are held in Perth.
• WA-based applicants who are eligible based on their UCAT score and predicted ATAR will be interviewed late November/early December.
• WA-based applicants who are eligible based on their UCAT but do not have an eligible predicted ATAR will be placed on an academic reserve list to be interviewed early January should their actual ATAR meet the minimum.
• Applicants not based in WA will be interviewed late January.
• Candidates should allow two-and-a-half hours, including registration, preparation and the actual interview process.
• Applicants must attend their interview in person within their given interview period and are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.
• Applicants unable to attend within their given interview period cannot be guaranteed an alternative interview period.

The interview process

For domestic applicants, interviews are in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. The MMI is an interview process developed at McMaster University in Canada and is now used by many Australian and international medical schools.

The UWA MMI model consists of eight stations. An 11-minute time period is allocated to each station, consisting of three minutes’ preparation and eight minutes for responding. Five of the stations will consist of sets of questions, based on a preamble/scenario presented in the three-minute preparation time. The remaining stations are for the Explaining Skill Exercise, Explaining Skills Preparation, and a rest station.

The usual process on the day is as follows:

1. Registration including statement of confidentiality.
2. Interview pre-reading.
3. Preparation for the Explaining Skills Exercise. This is a short verbal presentation on a basic topic chosen by the interviewee from a list provided on the day.
4. Undertake the MMI. All applicants will be asked exactly the same questions in exactly the same manner.

Student helpers who are usually current medical or dental students will assist with the interview process. Interviewees will have the opportunity to talk with student helpers about their personal experiences studying medicine or dentistry at UWA.

Applicants who qualify for an interview for both medicine and dentistry will be interviewed based on their higher preference. The results from that interview will then be used for other eligible courses.

Applicants shortlisted for an interview will be sent further information about the day and the nature of the interview closer to the interview period.

What to bring and wear

• Photographic ID – passport/driver’s licence/school card
• Mobile phones and other personal effects cannot be carried throughout the interview and will be placed in a secure location. Interviewees may prefer to leave such items at home.
• Interviewees may carry bottled water and a jacket or cardigan throughout the interview.
• Dress as if attending a job interview – clothes that feel comfortable and look smart. Layers are advisable in case the venue is cool or warm.
• Interviewees should not wear any uniform, accessories or badge that identifies membership of a particular organisation. This is to avoid the perception that bias has entered the selection process.

Confidentiality

Interviewees will be asked to sign a statement of confidentiality as part of the registration process, indicating their agreement not to disclose information about the interview.

UWA staff, student helpers and interviewers will not disclose information regarding an applicant’s interview, responses or performance, including to other UWA staff or the applicant’s family. Information from the interview is not placed on an applicant’s student file whether or not they accept an offer to study at UWA.

The interviewers

Interviewers may be representatives from the community or from the University. Interviewers receive regular training to ensure consistency in the way questions are asked and responses assessed. One interviewer will assess applicants in each station. A second interviewer may be present in a station room for training purposes. In this case, the second interviewer will be an observer only and will not have a formal role in the assessment of the applicant.

The assessment is evidence based. The interviewers can only rate interviewees on what they say in response to interview questions. The interviewers will take notes throughout the interview; however, this is to note what the interviewee has said. Interviewers have a comprehensive set of evidence-based measures with which to rate an interviewee’s responses and formulate a score directly after each interviewee completes each station. The final score is aggregated from results across the four criteria stations and the Explaining Skills Exercise station.

Interview criteria

There are seven criteria used in the interview each year; three of which are constant:

Communication skills
Explaining skills
Motivation/commitment to a career in Medicine or Dentistry.

Previously criteria have been selected from: awareness of social diversity; provision of assistance; self-awareness; trust and trustworthiness; values and ethics; working with others. Applicants who accept their invitation to be interviewed will be provided information about interview criteria.

Interview questions will not be based on clinical or scientific scenarios which would require specific medical, dental or scientific knowledge. The questions are designed to encourage interviewees to think and to explain their reasoning. The questions may be scenario based, awareness based, or experientially based, but the assessment is evidence based. The interviewer can only rate interviewees on what they say. It is therefore important to give more than one-sentence answers, and that interviewees draw on their own experiences and knowledge to address a topic and provide appropriate examples.

The interviewers will read the questions as they are written to ensure every applicant is asked exactly the same question in the same way. Applicants will need to respond to the specific questions asked. There are no generic questions or opportunities for applicants to list their achievements and skills outside the scope of the questions.

Interview preparation and third party courses

There are many ways to address a question; interviewers are not looking for one specific ‘correct’ answer. Be prepared to articulate your motivation and commitment to working as a health professional in your higher preferenced field. Have some background information about your preferred career, the course and about going to university.

Familiarise yourself with the interview topics. Consider how your own life experiences may reflect aspects of these topics. Find opportunities to discuss the topics with your family, peers and different people in your community.

The University of Western Australia does not recommend or endorse third party interview preparation courses, including those held on University premises. The Faculty does not release any information relating to UWA interview questions to any third party, and interview questions within the topics will be different each year. Furthermore, interviewers and interviewees are required to sign confidentiality agreements regarding the interview process. Therefore, third party preparation course providers do not have access to any information which is not already freely available to applicants.

Applicants may benefit more from generic interview preparation rather than interview preparation which purports to aim specifically at UWA Medicine or Dentistry.

Applicants who rehearse detailed answers to specific questions risk not addressing the question they are actually asked on the day. Eyesight requirements – DMD only

Applicants are recommended to have an eye examination to determine if they have any vision defects which will interfere with their ability to practise as a dentist. Students must meet these visual requirements. Vision defects that can be corrected, such as by the wearing of glasses, should be done so prior to enrolment. Colour blindness may affect the ability to become a dentist and it is strongly advised that affected applicants seek advice from an ophthalmologist.Inherent requirements – MD onlyStudents who aspire to pursue medicine as a career should review the inherent requirements [PDF, 156KB].Final ranking and availability of places

• Final ranking will be based on ATAR or equivalent, interview and UCAT ANZ score weighted equally.
• Final ranking for Rural applicants will be based on ATAR or equivalent, interview, UCAT ANZ score, and rurality rating weighted equally.
• About 145 places across the various quotas will be offered for the Assured Pathway into the MD, with up to 30% being offered to eligible Rural applicants.
• About 36 places across the various quotas will be offered for the Assured Pathway into the DMD, with up to 10% being offered to eligible Rural applicants.

Course Structure and Curriculum

Assured Pathway students will undertake a UWA bachelor’s degree of their choice before progressing to the MD or DMD. The most popular option is to undertake the Bachelor of Biomedical Science. On completion of their bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 5.5 Assured Pathway students will progress into the Doctor of Medicine or the Doctor of Dental Medicine. Assured Pathway students are eligible for a 3+3 option. The minimum period to complete both degrees is six years.

Students on a Assured Pathway may choose to undertake any UWA bachelor’s degree. This provides our students with the opportunity to build a unique skill set that will suit their interests and support their long-term career goals. Students who have an interest in research may like to undertake an honours year before proceeding to their postgraduate professional studies. Students who undertake an honours year, including those enrolled in the Bachelor of Philosophy, will take a minimum of seven years to complete both degrees.

Students choose a major from the degree-specific majors and may choose to add a second major from any field. This allows students to combine diverse interests for a unique degree. A student who has an interest in global health management may like to major in Population Health along with Political Science and International Relations. Students with an interest in public health promotion may combine a Biomedical Science major with Science Communication or Communication and Media Studies. Students who aspire to run their own practice may like to incorporate a major from the Bachelor of Commerce to build their business skills.

Students on a Assured Pathway are not required to sit the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) in order to take up their place in the MD or DMD.  In order to be fully prepared for their postgraduate studies, Assured Pathway students may like to incorporate chemistry, biology and physics units into their UWA bachelor’s degree as major, complementary, elective or broadening units.Internship and registration for medical practitioners

Registration upon completion: Doctor of Medicine

On completion of the MD, graduates will have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree ensuring they have a well-rounded skill set as well as the specialist skills needed in their professional career.

For registration as a medical practitioner in Australia, all graduates are required to complete a pre-registration internship in an approved hospital, followed by a period of specialist training (e.g. surgeon, general practitioner). Doctors may undertake further specialist training after registering as a medical practitioner (e.g. psychiatry, neurology). The Australian Medical Association provides information regarding the registration process.

Priority for internships is given to graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. The Department of Health has advised that due to an increase in Australian medical graduates, it is likely there will be limited internship opportunities for international graduates. As per previous years, international graduates who wish to undertake internship in Australia are only accommodated if sufficient intern places are available. International graduates may also look into requirements to undertake internships in their home country.

Graduates who did not complete the majority of their education in English in a recognised country may be subject to additional English Language requirements for registration. For further information, refer to the Medical Board.

Section 19AB limits Medicare access for Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs) and Foreign Graduates of an Accredited Medical School (FGAMS) who became permanent Australian residents or citizens on or after 1 January 1997.  

Refer to the Australian Department of Health for information regarding registration to practice medicine in Australia.Registration for dental practitioners

Registration upon completion: Doctor of Dental Medicine

On completion of the DMD, graduates will have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree ensuring they have a well-rounded skill set as well as the specialist skills needed in their professional career.

On successful completion of the DMD, graduates will be able to register with the Dental Board of Australia, or with overseas Dental Boards with reciprocal arrangements, and enter the profession immediately. Registered Dentists may choose to later undertake further specialist training (e.g. orthodontics, oral pathology).

Graduates who did not complete the majority of their education in English in a recognised country may be subject to additional English Language requirements for registration. Refer to the Dental Board of Australia for information regarding registration to practice dentistry in Australia.