Why should you choose to study Medicine & Health in Australia? Explore opportunities and advantages from the course. Free support from IDP
Studying medicine in Australia is an option that many international students are interested in thanks to its quality education system, training environment associated with clinical practice, and many highly ranked universities in the world.
With IDP, you can be supported from choosing a major, choosing a school, preparing your application, searching for scholarships to studying in Australia.
Australia is a top destination for international students to study medicine, with a hands-on curriculum that is closely supervised by professional councils. Students not only develop academic competencies but also develop strong clinical skills and are ready to enter the competitive job market.
Australian universities focus on combining theoretical knowledge with clinical practice, while investing in facilities, research and highly specialized teaching staff.
For Medicine, the Australian Medical Council (AMC) has a role in accrediting medical training programs, while the Medical Board of Australia regulates the requirements related to practicing registration. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) assists in the management of the registration and practice system under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. Therefore, students need to distinguish between accreditation of training programs and registration of practice after graduation.
According to the QS World University Rankings 2027, many Australian universities are among the top in the world for medical training. This is a great advantage for students to study medicine in Australia in a world-class environment:
UNSW Sydney ranks #19 in the world
University of Melbourne ranked #22 in the world
University of Sydney ranking #28 in the world
Australian National University (ANU) ranks #29 in the world
Monash University ranking #31 in the world
The University of Queensland (UQ) ranks #40 in the world
University of Western Australia (UWA) ranked #77 in the world
Adelaide University ranks #79 in the world
Note: The QS World University Rankings 2027 is an overall university ranking, not a separate ranking for Medicine.
Upon completion of the eligible program of study and meeting the relevant requirements, international students can consider the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) - Post-Higher Education Work stream. The duration of stay and the conditions that apply depend on the qualifications, the circumstances of the applicant, and the visa regulations at the time of application.
This visa can create conditions for eligible students to continue living and working in Australia after graduation, thereby gaining professional experience. However, graduating from a medical major does not mean that they are automatically registered to practice or granted a permanent visa. Learners need to meet specific requirements for occupational registration and immigration.
Entry requirements for medical professions in Australia are relatively competitive and can vary significantly from school to school, program and pathway of study. Some common requirements include:
Academic performance:
Good academic performance at the high school level (usually based on ATAR or equivalent) for the Medicine program for high school students or meet the degree and previous academic performance requirements (GPA) for the Graduate-entry Medicine program.
English:
Meets the English language requirements of each school. Some Medical programs have a high level of IELTS Academic requirements, but scores and skill-specific requirements may vary.
Entrance Test: Some programs use specialized tests such as UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test Australia and New Zealand) or GAMSAT (Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test).
Interview:
Some schools may require applicants to participate in an interview (Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) or other forms of additional assessment.
UCAT ANZ and GAMSAT
UCAT ANZ is used for admissions to a number of Medicine and Dentistry programmes at UCAT ANZ Consortium schools. For the 2027 intake, UCAT ANZ 2026 results are used; however, not all Medicine programmes require this test.
GAMSAT is used in admissions for some Graduate-entry Medicine programs. GAMSAT requirements can vary from school to school and admissions pathway, so applicants need to check the program's specific eligibility before applying.
Due to the high specificity and competitiveness of medical admission requirements, students should directly check the conditions of each school and program before preparing their application.
Students can choose one of two main pathways:
The bachelor's pathway is for students who have graduated from high school and meet the admission requirements of each school. Direct medical programs from high school usually last about 5–6 years, depending on the program structure and the university.
Upon completion of the program, students can receive a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or equivalent Medical degree, depending on the school.
Some programs use UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test Australia and New Zealand) in the admissions process. However, not all Medicine programs require UCAT ANZ; applicants need to check the specific requirements of each institution.
Upon graduation, students need to complete a 12-month supervised internship and meet the requirements of the Medical Board of Australia to be eligible for general registration.
After the internship period, doctors can continue to train in specialized programs if they want to develop in the direction of intensive practice. The duration and requirements of specialized training depend on each field
This is a pathway for students who already have a Bachelor's degree (usually in the science or health sector). The 4-year program offers a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree – which is currently a trend to replace MBBS in many schools.
Entry conditions may include:
Completion of a Bachelor's degree meets the requirements of the school;
Meet academic performance requirements (GPA);
Have
GAMSAT results
if required by the program;
Meet the English language requirement;
Participate in interviews and other forms of assessment according to the school's regulations.
After graduation, students need 1 year of internship and residency training to be granted a practice license. If you want to become a specialist, you will have to continue studying intensive training programs and take the specialized practice certificate exam in each field.
The schools are in the group of 8 schools with strengths in medical research and Life Sciences & Medicine. Below are the QS World University Rankings 2027:
Schools | QS 2027 (World) |
UNSW Sydney | #19 |
University of Melbourne | #=22 |
University of Sydney | #28 |
Australian National University (ANU) | #29 |
Monash University | #31 |
The University of Queensland (UQ) | #=40 |
The University of Western Australia (UWA) | #=77 |
Adelaide University | #79 |
Are you looking for a pathway to study medicine in Australia that suits your study goals and career orientation? IDP can accompany you from choosing a school, studying programs, researching scholarships to preparing study abroad documents and visas.
With experience in supporting students studying in Australia, IDP helps you:
Advise on choosing a school and major that suits your academic ability, goals and budget.
Stay up to date with information about medical programs and
scholarships in Australia
by school.
Guidance on preparing admission documents, scholarship and visa applications.
Provide up-to-date information about studying in Australia and related requirements.
Register for a free 1:1 consultation with IDP to be supported by experts to build a pathway to study medicine in Australia that is suitable for you.
For more: Studying in Australia in Nursing: Conditions and Learning Pathways
