Australia: A Host to Top Medical Schools in World

In recent years, many Australian universities have been placed in the list of “Top 50 Medical Schools in the World”. Medical schools in Australia offer high quality of clinical education and training. Their education system and academic curriculum not only provides the students with great exposure in terms of the latest technology in the field of medicine but also with clinical internships and jobs in Australia and all over the world. Many universities have adopted an only graduate-entry pathway for medical students, who must complete an undergraduate degree such as a Bachelor of Science prior to applying for a four-year medical program. However, only a limited number of Australian Medical Schools such as University of New South Wales, Monash University and Adelaide University offer a direct entry into their MBBS program after high school.

Undergraduate level entry programs allow student admissions directly after high school. This is a five year program as compared to graduate program which is for four years. But in the case of a graduate level program you need to have a prior bachelor’s degree of 3-4 years which brings the entire process of attaining a medical degree to 7-8 years. The average age of students after completion of a graduate medical program is 26-27 years, thereafter officially receiving a medical degree which permits them to practice for 5-7 years to become a specialist. Long story short, if you feel that medicine is the career for you, then you might consider the undergraduate level program a better option.

The Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) score is required to apply for undergraduate admission in most of registered medical schools in Australia. It tests you on your critical thinking, problem solving, and non-verbal reasoning skills. With a good score on the UMAT, fairly good grades in high school, and a high university entrance rank you stand a good chance at an admission in a top Australian Medical School. However, there are only a limited number of universities that require international students to give UMAT for entry to medical and health sciences courses, and that too only in specific circumstances. Candidates are advised to go to the websites of the universities to which they wish to apply for further information regarding the mandate of UMAT scores.

The following are a few insights into some of the top medical schools in Australia that offer Undergraduate or Graduate programs or both:

1. University of Melbourne: It is ranked 19th in the world and is one of the oldest medical schools in Australia. The Melbourne Medical School is accredited by Australian Medical Council. The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at Melbourne University is one of its kind, a four year graduate entry medical program that builds on the reputation for excellence in teaching and research. This program enables medical practitioners to excel as world class leaders in the chosen field. The estimated annual tuition fee is $81,300 AUD.

2. Monash University: The Monash School of Medicine is ranked 29th globally and offers Bachelors of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Graduate entry). This course develops through theme studies in personal and specialized development – population  health and illness and scientific basis of clinical practice-all of which come together in professional practice demonstrated in the clinical placements. Entire stress is laid on clinical communication skills and early clinical exposure, and visits to medical practices, community care services and hospitals are key features of the Monash medical degree. The estimated annual tuition fee is $68,600 AUD.

3. University of Sydney : It is ranked as #1 university in Australia and 15th in the world for medical programs. Doctor of medicine (MD) at university of Sydney is a 4-year graduate entry medical program. 1st and 2nd year are spent at main campus at Camperdown. Curriculum for first two years will include clinical knowledge and skills, clinical reasoning and clinical communication and other clinical disciplines of pathology, microbiology and pharmacology. For 3rd and 4th year students are based in their clinical schools/hospitals. The estimated annual tuition fee is $74,000 AUD.

With more than twenty top ranked medical schools in Australia, there are many paths that an aspiring medical student can choose in order to pursue a profession in medicine, each of which offers a course designed to approach the right methodology to study medicine. So, along with your preferred entry type, the choice of university and program is personal and it is important to take time to read all the information available about each of the options. To add to this Australian medical college’s education is regarded well throughout the world, though it doesn’t automatically get official recognition from medical council of various countries. But most of Australian medical graduates get placed in Australia, Asia, UK, Canada and USA after fulfilling the basic requirements for practicing medicine in the respective country.

[Bonus] Read about MBBS in Australia and take the first step towards a successful medical career in Australia.

– Team Leverage