Applying for Medicine/Dentistry as an International Student
11 months ago by Chris
Australia has some of the best medical universities in the world. All universities accept international students, and courses are internationally recognized. You are considered an international applicant if you are:
- Not an Australian citizen
- Not a New Zealand citizen
- Not an Australian permanent resident
Applicants should check the health registration organization in their home country to see whether successful completion of the medical course in Australia will qualify them to practice / register as a doctor in their own country.
Entry into medical courses is very competitive, both for local and international students. Each university differs in its requirements. Universities may rank students on their:
- Academic qualifications
- Admission test results
- Interview scores
We will discuss each of these in turn.
Academic qualifications
Qualifications and scores
It is important that students check whether the university they are applying to will recognize their academic qualifications. Often the university will have a list of accepted qualifications for each country. Universities may not accept secondary school qualifications from certain countries, and will only accept tertiary qualifications. Some universities may only accept secondary school qualifications for their course. For example, Monash University only accepts students who have completed their Year 12 studies (or equivalent) no more than two years prior.
Applicants who have started tertiary study can only consider applying via the graduate entry route.
For those academic qualifications that are accepted by universities, there will be a minimum score / achievement threshold that is required.
Prerequisite subjects
In addition, some universities may require applicants to have studied certain subjects. For example, the University of Adelaide requires the successful completion of one subject chosen from Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, whereas Curtin’s prerequisite is Chemistry.
English language
Students also need to check the English language requirements of the university. The university may only accept certain tests, e.g., IELTS Academic, TOEFL, and may require a pass at a certain level.
Admission tests
Types of admission test
As an international student, you may be required to undertake an aptitude test/admissions test. Different tests are required depending on the university and level of entry. Examples of admissions tests that are required include:
- UCAT ANZ - University Clinical Aptitude Test
- ISAT - International Student Admission Test
- MCAT - Medical College Admissions Test
- GAMSAT - Graduate Medical School Admissions Test
The results of UCAT are only valid for one admissions cycle. The results of ISAT are considered current for 2 years. MCAT scores are valid for 3 years and GAMSAT results are valid for 4 years. It is the candidate's responsibility to register, pay for and sit the relevant aptitude tests before the application closing date of each university.
How universities use admissions tests
Each university differs in how they use admissions tests for entry into their medical courses for international students.
For example, for undergraduate entry into medicine:
- UCAT ANZ is required for Adelaide University, Newcastle University, the University of Queensland and Curtin University
- ISAT is required for Monash University and Western Sydney University
- Some universities allow students to sit either the ISAT or the UCAT, for example, UNSW
- The university of Tasmania requires that international students sit the ISAT, UCAT or MCAT
For graduate entry into medicine:
- The University of Tasmania requires applicants to sit MCAT
- Griffith University, the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia allow international students to sit either MCAT or GAMSAT
- Students applying to Monash are only required to show academic records and pass an interview (they are not required to sit MCAT)
Interview scores
Some universities will invite potential candidates to an online interview. In the interview, students may be asked direct questions about their own qualities or experience or be presented with a series of scenarios and questions to demonstrate personal qualities.
Some universities, for example, Monash, Newcastle and the University of Queensland, use the MMI style (Multiple Mini Interview). This is where there are several rotating stations, with one to two interviewers in each station. Some universities such as UNSW may use a panel interview style, where you will spend the entire interview with the same 2 or 3 interviewers in one session. Some universities do not require interviews, basing their assessment on academic qualifications, required prerequisites and admissions test results, for example, Tasmania.
In addition to an interview, Curtin university also requires applicants to sit the Casper test.
Application process
Students should apply online to each university, having electronic copies of requested official documents. Australian-based international students may also need to apply to the relevant Tertiary Admissions Centre. For example, for direct entry to Monash University, students should apply to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
Successful students will receive an offer from the university via email. If students applied through an agent, an offer will be forwarded to the agent’s email submitted in their application. To accept the offer students must carefully follow the guidelines detailed in their offer letter.
Final word
Australian universities offer high quality medical and dental degrees. The application process can be complicated, as each university has its own requirements. Furthermore, your own personal situation, such as where you are from and what qualifications you have, can influence the pathway into medicine. It is advisable to contact the admissions officer of each university you are interested in to find out the exact requirements.
