Choosing a medical school in Australia
There are several factors that students will consider when choosing which medical school to apply for in Australia. Places are extremely competitive, and it is important you pick the correct choices for your own personal circumstances.
The different types of medical degree – the MD or MBBS?
A degree from a medical school in Australia will generally be accepted worldwide. There may be further obstacles depending on the country you wish to work in, for example having to complete an exam that is needed for licensing and possibly an initial period of work under supervision, but that is the topic for another blog.
In Australia medical school admission can be as an undergraduate or postgraduate. As the name implies postgraduate implies you have an undergraduate degree. Postgraduate students should also be able to apply for an undergraduate programme.
If you apply for postgraduate entry you may have so sit further examinations, such as the GAMSAT, complete a portfolio and attend an interview. Also, the medical school may have minimum academic requirements relating to your undergraduate degree and the subjects they permit.
The MD, which stands for Doctor of Medicine, in some countries is regarded as an undergraduate medical degree and in others as a postgraduate research doctorate. The MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery is also an undergraduate degree commonly used in the United Kingdom and other commonwealth countries. The MD has a larger research component.
What should I be looking for in a medical school?
The choice of medical school is an important decision as you will be likely be spending several years in the same environment and area. Here are a few factors you need to consider. Bear in mind you must always check whether you meet the entry requirements of that particular medical school whether this is the ATAR cut off, minimum GPA, UCAT and GAMSAT scores for example.
Is the medical school based in a rural or inner-city area? This is likely to affect the type of cases you will learn. There may be a focus on indigenous medicine, or the area may have a higher proportion of deprivation.
What is the method of learning in the medical school?
Some methods of learning are more suited to certain students. For example, if you are an introvert type of student and prefer to work on your own in your own time, a course heavily focused on group work and multiple compulsory lectures may not be your style.
Whilst there are definitions of how medical schools teach (such as problem-based learning and case-based learning) in reality there is more to have a more hybrid model of teaching. Does the medical school provide clinical contact with patients early in the programme? How much clinical face to face teaching is there? What is the level of support?
How does the medical school rank in league tables?
You will find several league tables that will attempt to rank medical schools using various methods. In general, I would tend to lean towards rankings that look at what is relevant to you as a student, for example student satisfaction. This can look at the quality of teaching and level of support available to students, as well as perhaps an assessment of the facilities.
Some rankings will look at the level of research and reputation of the medical school. However, ask yourself – does the fact that the medical school have a high reputation for research somehow translate into a better standard of teaching for students?
What about the facilities for students and physical location of the medical school?
Some students prefer large campus type universities, other a smaller more close-knit environment. Many students will choose medical schools located closer to home. You will need to look at the cost of accommodation as well as food and travel.
Students will look at the facilities that the universities offer, such as sports and leisure. Students that have a disability may wish to enquire what support is available on a personal basis.
It is also worth looking at competition ratios – how many students apply for how many places?
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