Deakin University Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Deakin University's Doctor of Medicine (MD) program empowers students to pursue their aspirations of becoming medical practitioners, offering diverse career opportunities ranging from general practice to surgery, pathology, or paediatrics. Emphasising rural and regional medicine, Indigenous health enhancement, and patient-centered communication and service, the MD course at Deakin University prepares graduates for fulfilling careers.

The program is designed to facilitate internships at various hospitals in Victoria and interstate, enabling graduates to attain registration as Medical Practitioners accredited by the Australian Medical Council.

Deakin Doctor of Medicine Course Information

The Doctor of Medicine program at Deakin University spans four years of full-time study and is tailored for graduate entry, catering exclusively to individuals who have already obtained an undergraduate degree.

Acknowledging the value of diverse backgrounds and experiences, Deakin appreciates the contributions that applicants with varied academic and professional backgrounds bring to both the MD program and their prospective medical careers. Consequently, there are no specific prerequisite training requirements. Applicants are welcome regardless of their bachelor's-level qualification, which may range from fields as diverse as nursing, music, engineering, or physiotherapy.

Embark on a journey with a comprehensive two-year focus on the fundamental aspects of medicine at Deakin University's Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. During this period, students will delve into medical sciences, clinical competencies, public health, medical ethics and law, as well as Indigenous health. Within a supportive learning environment, students will tackle real-world challenges that mirror those encountered in their future career, while honing their foundational clinical skills, clinical reasoning, and essential human qualities crucial for delivering exceptional person-centered care.

The initial two years of the MD program at Deakin University unfold at the Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong. Nestled in a rural landscape, this setting offers students early exposure to clinical experiences, enriching their educational journey from the outset.

In years three and four of the program, students engage in rigorous clinical training within services affiliated with one of five clinical schools: Barwon Health (Geelong), Warrnambool, Ballarat, Eastern Health (Melbourne), or the Rural Community Clinical School. Under the guidance of seasoned faculty, students immerse themselves in hands-on clinical experiences.

The culmination of the course in Year 4 features two five-week rotations: an elective opportunity that can be pursued either within Australia or overseas, and a pre-internship placement at a hospital. This final phase provides students with firsthand exposure to the daily realities of working as medical interns, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future roles.

There are three entry streams available at Deakin University for students enrolling into the Doctor of Medicine programme: the General Entry Stream, Rural Training Entry System, and the Indigenous Entry System.

The application process for admission via the General Entry System is administered by the GEMSAS. To be eligible for the General Entry Stream, applicants must either have:

• Received an academic performance in an approved Bachelor, Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters by coursework completed no more than 10 years before the course commencement date.

OR

• An academic degree completed outside this 10 year duration may be considered if you have completed relevant Higher Education study from an institution recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework or equivalent overseas institution determined by Deakin.
• A final GPA (weighted) score of at least 5.0
• Successful performance in the Deakin University medicine Interview

Domestic general stream applicants apply through GEMSAS and are selected for Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) based on the following criteria:

• A final GPA (weighted) of 5.0 or higher in an approved bachelor, honours, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, or masters by coursework. The GPA is calculated based on the most recent three full-time-equivalent years of study.
• Performance in the GAMSAT, with a minimum score of 50 in each of the three sections and an overall score of 50 or higher.
• Applicable adjustments based on information provided in the GEMSAS application form.

Applicants must hold a completed bachelor's degree (with a minimum weighted GPA of 5.0) or be in the final year of a bachelor's degree (scheduled for completion by 31 December in the year of application) to be considered.

General stream applicants are ranked for MMI offers based on equal weighting of GPA, GAMSAT score, and any adjustment factors specified in GEMSAS.

Following the MMI, a final aggregate score is calculated, comprising equal weighting of GPA, GAMSAT, applicable adjustments (50%), and MMI interview score (50%). Applicants are ranked according to their final aggregate score, and course offers are made based on ranked order and the number of available places.

NOTE: In 2024, the average GPA of our student intake was 6.67, and the average GAMSAT score was 67.5.

The Doctor of Medicine course at Deakin University sets aside up to 5% of domestic positions specifically for Indigenous Australian applicants. These applicants have the opportunity for direct entry through the Indigenous Entry stream (IES), regardless of their undergraduate degree, and are not required to excel in the GAMSAT.

To qualify for this stream, applicants must hold:

• A bachelor's degree or a combination of a bachelor's and a higher-level coursework postgraduate degree completed within the last 10 years prior to the course commencement date.
• Additionally, applicants must maintain a final GPA (weighted) of 5.0 or higher on a 7.0 scale. Any completion of higher-level postgraduate coursework programs will be factored into the GPA calculation.

OR

• If the undergraduate degree was completed outside the 10-year period, applicants may still be considered if they have successfully completed the equivalent of 0.5 years of tertiary study (e.g., one semester at full-time equivalent study or two semesters of part-time study) at the honours or graduate certificate level, or higher, at a recognized Australian university or Higher Education Institution.
• Postgraduate study should have concluded no more than 10 years prior to the course commencement date.
• A GPA of 5.0 or higher is still required.

For further details regarding academic requirements, additional criteria, and the application process for this stream, interested individuals should refer to the Deakin University Indigenous Entry Stream on the official Deakin website.

Applicants for the Indigenous Entry Stream must directly apply to the School of Medicine through the IES and demonstrate eligibility as an Indigenous Australian.

An aggregate score is then assigned, considering:

• Academic performance in an approved bachelor, Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Masters by coursework, with a final GPA (weighted) of 5.0 or higher. The GPA is assessed based on the most recent three full-time-equivalent years (FTE) of study.
• Information provided in the IES application form.
• Performance in an interview.

Offers are extended to applicants based on rank order and the availability of positions within the IES.

The Rural Training Stream (RTS) applicants at Deakin University apply through GEMSAS and are categorized into three tiers based on their rural background:

Selection for the MMI interview is determined by the following factors:

• The number of interview places available
• Tier order (tier 1 > tier 2 > tier 3)
• Ranked order within each tier based on the aggregate score applicable to their assigned tier

Following the MMI, offers for the RTS are made based on:

• The number of RTS places available
• Tier order (tier 1 > tier 2 > tier 3)
• Ranked order within each tier based on the aggregate score applicable to their assigned tier (50%) + MMI score (50%)

Applicants in Tier 1 must demonstrate 5 years of continuous or 10 years of cumulative residence in Deakin's rural footprint. They are assessed based on their GPA, applicable adjustments, and a written application score. Tier 1 applicants are ranked for MMI offer based on GPA + any adjustment factors specified + written application score.

Applicants in Tiers 2 and 3 must demonstrate 5 years of continuous or 10 years of cumulative residence in their respective rural areas. They are assessed based on their GPA, GAMSAT performance, and a written application score. Tier 2 and 3 applicants are ranked for MMI offer based on equal weighting of GPA + GAMSAT + adjustments (if applicable) + written application score.

Following the MMI, final aggregate scores are calculated for each tier, and applicants are ranked accordingly. Offers are then made based on ranked order and the availability of places.

Applicants may be eligible for adjustments (bonuses) based on rural/regional residency. Applicants meeting defined rural and regional residency criteria can receive additional points added to their combined GPA and GAMSAT score.

For more information, applicants are encouraged to visit Deakin's School of Medicine Rural Training Stream (RTS) webpage.

Deakin medical school also offers a series of ‘adjustment bonuses’ to increase certain applicant’s chances of being successful in their application.

To know more about the eligibility criteria, visit the Deakin University Medicine Program.

NOTE: As the course at Deakin University is capped, course transfer applications from other Medical Schools will be declined.

Both the GPA and GAMSAT results are determining factors to receive the Deakin Uni Medicine Interview Offers, prior to final ranking for a place in the MD course. In 2020, Covid-19 disruptions majorly impacted students' learning and Deakin University has employed a transparent approach to assessing applicants to the Doctor of Medicine, by changing the formula to calculate the GPA.

The calculation of GPA will not include students’ 2020 results. To compensate for the removal of the 2020 results awarded to students, GPA will be calculated for applicants at different stages of studies:

• Applicants completing their study in 2020 will have their GPA calculated on their two most recent years of study prior to 2020.
• Applicants in their final year of study in 2020 who have completed at least 0.25 Full-time equivalent (FTE) of their final-year requirements prior to 2020, will have their GPA calculated: Final - 2 x1, Final - 1 x2 and Final x3 / 6.
• Applicants studying in the final year of their qualifying degree in 2020 who have completed less than 0.25 FTE of their final year requirements will have the GPA calculated as: Final - 1 and Final - 2 years only. Years will be progressively weighted x5 and x1 / 6 to give more weight to recent results.
• For applicants currently pursuing a standalone honours degree, the final-year GPA will be calculated using numerical subject grades, if at least 0.25 FTE (2units) was available prior to 2020. If there are no results available, the GPA calculated will be: Final 2 years of study in their undergraduate degree with x1 and x5 / 6 weighting applied.

This practice of excluding the 2020 results in the GPA calculation will impact Deakin University medicine selection for a period of 10 years.

In saying that, only those degrees completed before 31 July 2022 and the GPA scores acquired before this date will amount towards the GPA calculations for 2023 medicine entry.

Applicants must register to sit the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions test (GAMSAT) to assess their capacity to undertake the medicine program. Visit the GAMSAT website to register for the examination.

A minimum score of 50 in  each of the three sections and an overall score of 50 or greater. The score on the GAMSAT must have been obtained no more than two years prior to the course commencement date.

For students applying from overseas, the MCAT requirement set by Deakin is a minimum of 125 per MCAT section in order to be considered for a medical degree.

To apply for the Deakin University MD course, all applicants must follow the standard procedure to enter via the Graduate Entry Medical School Admission System (GEMSAS). Visit the GEMSAS website to start your application.

Eligible applicants are invited to perform at the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) at Deakin, which consists of 10 consecutive mini stations with five minutes at each station addressing key skills, such as:

• Communication skills
• Commitment to Rural and Regional medical practice
• Evidence-based Practice
• Teamwork
• Determination for a career in Medicine
• Strong-willed to social justice
• Professionalism and Empathy
• Effective use of resources
• Health promotion

For more information on how to ace the MMI interview, please read here.

Deakin medicine interview offers are released in early September and will be sent to a maximum of 220 applicants based on their GAMSAT + GPA scores (50:50) with additional weighting to adjustment bonuses (as mentioned above).

Deakin Uni MMI results are sent out in November, with offers of up to 97 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and 39 Bonded Medical Places (BMP) to successful applicants. Domestic applicants paying Australian Full Fee (AFF) have no capped number of places available.

About 15 places have been reserved for international students planning to enter Deakin medical school in the 2025 academic year.

What Should You Read Next?

Now that you have read the application process for medicine at Deakin University,  check out Fraser’s Guide to Medical School Applications for information on GPA, GAMSAT, and Portfolio etc. or alternatively try our Medical Interview Offer Calculator to predict the likelihood of receiving an interview from your desired med school!