Doctorate (PhD)
School of Medicine, Sydney Campus
The Doctor of Medicine of The University of Notre Dame Australia is a four-year postgraduate degree accredited by the Medical Board of Australia on the recommendation of the Australian Medical Council. The School of Medicine has seven clinical schools in Sydney and Melbourne and rural locations in NSW and Victoria. Students undertake clinical placements in the third and fourth years of the program in a wide variety of settings, including aged care facilities, public and private hospitals, general practices and community-based health services.
Admission to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is available to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders, and New Zealand citizens (Domestic Applicants).
In 2023, 26 places are available for international students (please see the section below for entry requirements). Domestic Applicants will be selected for admission based on the following criteria:
As a guide, students commencing the Doctor of Medicine at Notre Dame Sydney in 2022 have an average GPA of 6.6 and an average GAMSAT score of 65.9.
Applicants must also complete and submit a GEMSAS Online Application, which includes the Notre Dame Portfolio. Please refer to the Portfolio Template and Portfolio Guide for further information on completing the Notre Dame Portfolio.
Please see the 2023 GEMSAS Admissions Guide for further details on admission requirements for the Doctor of Medicine.
Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders students are able to apply for entry into medicine at Notre Dame, Sydney via:
The Standard Entry Pathway:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can apply for entry to medicine via the GEMSAS process as detailed above.
OR
The Aboriginal Entry Pathway:
The School of Medicine, Sydney provides an alternative entry pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Interested students can contact the School of Medicine, Sydney on (02) 8204 4450 for more information.
In 2023, 26 places are available for international students at the Sydney Campus (please see section below for entry requirements). International Applicants will be selected for admission based on the following criteria:
How to apply
International applicants for the Doctor of Medicine are required to submit the following*:
*International applicants should apply directly to the University, not through GEMSAS
Applications can be submitted online at www.notredame.edu.au/forms/apply
Contact us
To find out more, visit www.notredame.edu.au or contact the International Office on international@nd.edu.au or +61 8 9433 0531
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As the only medical program offered by a Catholic university in Australia, the Doctor of Medicine aims to develop and train caring and ethical doctors imbued with the values of compassion, respect, and service. All students at Notre Dame undertake a Core Curriculum component of study that involves an exploration of bioethics in the first year of the program.
The first and second years of your studies provide a solid foundation for your medical degree. You will have the opportunity to undertake problem-based learning tutorials conducted by medically-qualified tutors, clinical and communication skills sessions, workshops, clinical debriefing tutorials and site visits. In second year, you will begin to work on a research-based or professionally-focused project in one of 10 themes such as Clinical Science, Bioethics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Rural Medicine or Medical Leadership and Health Policy.
In third year, you will undertake a series of clinical placements in Sydney, Melbourne, Lithgow, Wagga Wagga or Ballarat. By actively participating in hospitals and community settings you will engage with patients, their families and the healthcare professionals caring for them. This strong focus on experiential learning is further complemented by a series of weekly 'Back-to-Base Days', in which you will return to your principal Clinical School for short case tutorials, grand rounds, journal club sessions and expert guest lectures.
Your fourth and final year will see you complete further clinical placements in the Sydney, Melbourne or Rural Clinical Schools. You will explore a range of disciplines in a range of health settings, as well as present your project for examination in the Applied Research Project course of study. Following the fourth year end-of-year examinations, you will commence a four-week elective learning period where you can extend your medical knowledge in an area of personal interest.
Medicine Information Session
Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Regulations.