University of Wollongong Doctor of Medicine Program (MD) 2025 Guide

The University of Wollongong Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

UOW Medicine is committed to generating excellent medical graduates committed to improving community health and are skilled to work in a diverse range of settings, particularly in rural and regional Australia.

Students will be allowed to study either at the Wollongong campus or UOW’s Shoalhaven Campus. Students opting to study medicine at the Shoalhaven Campus will have the privilege of educational resources, tutors and placements with local doctors, and access to the Shoalhaven District Hospital.

Please note that for 2025 medical school intake, GEMSAS has announced that Portfolios are no longer part of the application process, with the University of Wollongong (UoW) being the last medical school to remove them from its application, marking a significant change in postgraduate medical admissions in Australia.

For more information, please read our comprehensive updated GEMSAS 2025 guide.

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) course at the University of Wollongong (UOW) integrates input from local medical healthcare practitioners across diverse educational, clinical, and research components within the medical field. The curriculum employs a variety of teaching techniques, including clinical teachings in hospitals, wards, and general practice settings, as well as large and small group clinical presentations, seminars, tutorials, and small group work. These methods are aimed at enhancing learning effectiveness and preparing students for their future careers in the healthcare workforce.

The UOW MD course spans four years, with each academic year lasting approximately 42 weeks. In the first year, students can expect around 25 hours of structured learning experience per week, supplemented by an additional 20-30 hours of self-directed learning. As students progress through the program, those in the fourth year will engage in regular full-time clinical work.

The learning experience at UOW Medicine is enriched through small group activities, clinical skills laboratories, anatomy laboratories, and clinical placements. The course welcomes graduates from diverse academic backgrounds, and no preference is given to any particular undergraduate degree. This approach ensures a comprehensive and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for successful careers in the medical profession.

Admission to the University of Wollongong's Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree for domestic applicants is determined by several criteria:

1. Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA): Applicants must have a weighted GPA of greater than 5.5 on a 7-point scale from a valid qualifying undergraduate degree. The GPA serves as a qualifying hurdle for interview offers, and it must be completed by December 31, 2024.
2. Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT): Domestic applicants need a minimum overall score of 50 in GAMSAT, with no individual section score below 50. The GAMSAT score serves as a qualifying hurdle for interview offers.
3. Casper Score: Applicants must complete the Casper test during the specified testing periods for UOW MD applicants. Casper scores are combined with UOW MD Admissions bonuses to rank for interview offers. A minimum eligible Casper score is set annually, reflecting the application cohort.
4. UOW MD Admissions Bonuses: These bonuses are combined with Casper scores to determine interview offers and with interview scores to determine place offers
5. Interview (Multiple Mini Interview) Score: Applicants who meet the qualifying hurdles in GPA and GAMSAT will be assessed based on their interview performance in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). The MMI score, along with Casper scores and UOW MD Admissions bonuses, is used to rank candidates for interview offers.

Applicants must have completed (or be in their final year of study at the time of application) an undergraduate degree at AQF7 or above, consisting of at least three years of full-time study, from an Australian university or an equivalent overseas Bachelor qualification recognized by the Australian Department of Education, Skills, and Employment.

It's important to note that GPA and GAMSAT scores serve as qualifying hurdles for interview offers for the 2025 entry, and they will not be used in ranking for interview or place offers once the hurdles have been met.

Admission to the University of Wollongong's Doctor of Medicine (MD) program for all rural domestic applicants is the same to the general domestic entry way.

However, to be considered for the Rural Entry pathway, applicants must demonstrate residency in a MM2-MM7 area for either five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively. Applicants must complete the Rurality question in the GEMSAS Application Form and submit supporting documentation to GEMSAS by the specified deadline to meet this eligibility requirement.

Admission to the University of Wollongong's Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree via the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway is based on the following criteria:

1. Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA): Applicants must have a weighted GPA from a valid qualifying degree. Specific standards for GPA are outlined in the eligibility section.
2. Confirmation of Aboriginality: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants must provide confirmation of their Aboriginality.
3. Interview (Multiple Mini Interview) Score: Applicants must participate in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) process and achieve an acceptable score. Details regarding MMI eligibility and standards can be found in the corresponding section.
4. UOW GSM Community Interview: Applicants in this pathway must undergo a UOW Graduate School of Medicine (GSM) Community Interview. This interview assesses the applicant's suitability for entry into the UOW MD program and includes participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, as well as University of Wollongong staff.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are exempt from sitting the Casper or GAMSAT exams.

Overall, applicants in this pathway are evaluated based on their GPA, MMI score, and performance in the UOW GSM Community Interview.

Admission to the University of Wollongong's Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree for international applicants is based on the following criteria:

1. Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA): Applicants must have a weighted GPA from a valid qualifying undergraduate degree. The undergraduate degree must meet specified criteria, including completion by December 31, 2024.
2. Valid GAMSAT or MCAT Score: International applicants can submit scores from the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) or the Medical Colleges Admissions Test (MCAT). These scores are used as a qualifying hurdle for interview offers.
3. Valid Casper Score: International applicants are required to obtain a valid score in the Casper test. Casper scores are used to rank international applicants for interview offers.
4. Interview (Multiple Mini Interview) Score: Applicants must participate in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) process and achieve an acceptable score.
5. Evidence of English Proficiency: International applicants must provide evidence of English proficiency. Specific requirements for English proficiency may vary and should be confirmed with the university.

Applicants must ensure that their qualifications meet the specified criteria and that they submit required scores and documentation within the application deadlines. GAMSAT or MCAT scores must meet minimum standards set by the university. Additionally, Casper scores are used annually to reflect the application cohort.

NOTE: Students must have taken both the GAMSAT and MCAT within two years at the time of the application process.

For the 2025 entry, the University of Wollongong (UOW) MD program offers admissions bonuses designed to align with the program's admission principles.

Applicants must complete the UOW MD Admissions Bonus Form and provide necessary evidence by the specified deadline. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may result in the application not receiving the bonuses. Additionally, false statements or misleading information may lead to serious consequences, including cancellation of the application.

For type of evidence needed as proof for each bonus, please visit the University of Wollongong’s website.

UOW has adopted the Altus Suite assessment model, which is a standardised, multi-part online assessment that gives all candidates a fair shot at demonstrating their competencies and personal values, beyond their academic grades. In this two-part model, students encounter the CASPer assessment that can approximately go on for 100-120 minutes and is an open-response situational judgement test, followed by the 'Snapshot', a 15-minute one-way video with standardised interview questions.

Domestic applicants must complete the CASPer test during the testing period allocated for students applying to the UoW MD program. For 2025 entry, CASPer test score will act as the primary hurdle for interview selection.  In addition to this, all students must sit the Snapshot interview in order to be considered for a medical place.

The following key dates have been chosen to conduct the CASPer test for 2024-2025 academic year:

• Tuesday, 16 April 2024
• Wednesday, 1 May 2024
• Sunday, 26 May 2024
• Thursday, 6 June 2024

For the 2025 entry, GAMSAT scores will serve as a qualifying hurdle for interview offers. Once this hurdle has been met, GAMSAT scores will not be used in the ranking for interview or placement offers.

Domestic applicants must achieve a minimum score of 50 overall in the GAMSAT, with no individual section score below 50. Other entrance examinations are not accepted for domestic applicants. Applicants who meet the qualifying thresholds for GPA and GAMSAT performance will be ranked for interview using an algorithm that considers 50% Casper score and 50% UOW MD Admissions bonuses.

For the 2025 entry, domestic interviews will be conducted online in a multiple-mini-interview (MMI) format during the week commencing on September 23, 2024. Interviewees will be assessed on various areas including communication skills, empathetic and ethical approach, reflective manner, teamwork, and decision-making skills.

Further details about the interview process will be provided in early September to applicants who receive an interview offer.

The eligibility criteria for international applicants are similar to the entry requirements mentioned above for domestic applicants. However, international applicants have the choice to either sit the GAMSAT or MCAT exam.

All international applicants must receive a GAMSAT (UK and Ireland) minimum score of 50 for each of the three sections and an overall score of 50 to be considered for the MD course at UOW. Applicants opting MCAT must have achieved a minimum overall score of 495 to be eligible to pursue medicine at UOW.

All domestic applicants must apply through GEMSAS. Refer to the GEMSAS Admissions Guide for 2024-2025 to know further information regarding the selection process.

The international applicants must download and complete the Postgraduate coursework application form and attach supporting documents to the application form while submitting it to [UOW Future Students](http://buttercms.com/post/future-students@uow.edu.au.).

For UOW MD admissions, the interview score is combined with UOW MD Admissions bonuses to rank applicants for placement offers. This ranking is determined by an algorithm comprising 70% interview score and 30% admissions bonuses. If an applicant has been interviewed at another GEMSAS school, their interview score will be standardized and used instead of the UOW interview score.

Weightings for GPA, GAMSAT, and Casper results are not included in the formula for offering a place. Offers are typically made in early November, with a small number of subsequent offers in December and January if necessary. Offers are specific to a particular place type, campus, and year only.

Candidates who receive an official Letter of Offer must respond by the specified due date set by UOW. Failure to respond by the deadline may result in the offer being rescinded, and it may be offered to the next eligible applicant in a subsequent offer round at the discretion of the University.

For applicants completing their degree in 2024, offers will be conditional on maintaining a minimum required weighted GPA of 5.5. Evidence of degree completion must be provided to clear offer conditions. Valid qualifying degrees used in GPA calculation must be completed by December 31, 2024.

Interview Offers and Dates for Medicine

NOTE: Kindly note that these dates are subject to change according to the UoW's announcements.

The UOW Medicine coursework offers domestic students the opportunity to apply for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Under the Australian Government’s postgraduate funding model, some places at UOW are reserved for CSPs, and the remaining is allocated for full-fee paying places (FFPs).

For the international students, the tuition fees for medicine are calculated as per credit point for the study.

What Should You Read Next?

Now that you have read about the application process for medicine at the University of Wollongong check out Fraser’s Medical Interview Offer Calculator to predict the likelihood of receiving interview offers from your highest preference medical school!