BlogUniversityTop 5 Medical Schools in Australia for 2023 Revealed

Top 5 Medical Schools in Australia for 2023 Revealed

Considering studying medicine at university? Not sure which Australian medical schools to apply to or which ones are the best?

We’ve rounded up the top five medical schools in Australia so you can see how they rank.

See which universities made the list!

#5. The University of Queensland

University of Queensland Medical School

Image sourced from UQ Medicine

Rankings

The University of Queensland School of Medicine ranks at number 5 for top Australian medical schools, according to QS Top Universities Rankings 2023. 

The school is also ranked 59th globally, according to QS Top Universities Rankings 2023.

About

The University of Queensland’s was officially founded in 1936, beginning classes in the Mayne Medical School (pictured above) in 1939, where the primary campus is today.

The Medical School has three primary education areas, including Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, and Medicine.

UQ offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine degree, run primarily from the School of Medicine’s central campus in Herston, close to Brisbane CBD.

As of 2019, UQ’s School of Medicine has 1522 student enrolments, and is under the leadership of 5 medical professors, 8 Head of Mayne academic staff, 10 head of unit coordinators, and 6 staff leading the office of medical education.

There are no undergraduate programs available for medicine, however it is strongly advised to complete a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, sciences, or biomedical sciences. 

UQ also offers over 200 scholarships across the university for prospective students. 

Entry Requirements

There are several ways to enter into UQ’s MD program for both high school students and university graduates:

  1. Provisional Entry (for school leavers)
  2. Graduate Entry (for university graduates)

You can find more information about UQ’s application process.

#4. The University of New South Wales

University of New South Wales Medical School

Image sourced from UNSW Medicine

Rankings

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medical School is ranked 4th in Australian medical schools according to QS Top Universities Rankings 2023. 

UNSW Medicine is also ranked number 52 out of medical schools globally according to QS Top Universities Rankings 2023 by Subject.

About

The UNSW School of Medicine was established in 1960, and partners with health facilities in both Sydney and regional Australia.

The school offers an undergraduate medical program completed at the main Kensington Campus in Sydney’s East.

As of 2019, UNSW Medicine has 1649 student enrolments, and is under the leadership of two Associate Deans and a Deputy Dean, with 13 head teaching staff. 

The school offers a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine for undergraduate students.

This degree is a six-year program and requires a minimum of a Band 4 in English Standard or higher to apply. There is also an option to complete a double degree in arts for the duration of 8 years.

This degree is structured in three phrases:

  1.   Biomedical, clinical, and social sciences
  2.   Integrated clinical courses and Independent Learning Project (ILP) 
  3.   Clinical placements

You can refer to the UNSW handbook for more information.

Entry Requirements

  1. Completion of the University Clinical Aptitude Test (CAT) ANZ 
  2. Complete the application form
  3. Upon the release of the ATARs, selected candidates are invited to attend the Medicine Interview 

Check out more information about entry requirements.

Learn all about what it’s like studying UNSW Medicine!

#3. Monash University

Monash University Medical School

Image sourced from iGem

Rankings

The Monash University School of Medicine is ranked the 3rd best medical school in Australia, according to QS Top Universities Rankings 2023.  

The school is ranked number 40 out of medical schools globally according to QS Top Universities Rankings by Subject 2023. 

Keen to get into Monash or another university? Make sure you’ve got an ATAR goal so that you know what marks you need to achieve this year!

About

Monash University, with campuses in Melbourne and Bendigo, offers a direct-entry 5-year Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine for school leavers.

This is the only course in Victoria that allows for direct-entry into medicine for school leavers.

As of 2019, Monash University Medical School had 1925 students enrolled, and is under the leadership of Professor Peter Ebeling AO.

Monash Medicine has 10 different schools and departments, including a School for Central Clinical School, Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Rural Health, Biomedical Sciences and more.

They have over 30 research centres and institutes from centres for Human Anatomy Education, Inflammatory Diseases, Obesity Research and Education (CORE), Cardiovascular Research and more.

Entry Requirements

Prerequisites for the course include VCE English scores of 30 (English other than EAL) or 35 (EAL) and a Chemistry score of at least 30 in units 3 or 4. 

Selection process for applicants are based upon UCAT results, your ATAR, and an interview process.

The ATAR changes each year as there are minimal places for students in the course — you can find more information about entry requirements here. 

Discover what it’s like studying Monash Medicine!

#2. The University of Sydney

University of Sydney

Image sourced from Uni Reviews

Rankings

The University of Sydney Medical School is ranked number 2 in Australia by QS Top Universities Rankings 2023 

The school is ranked number 25 globally for medicine according to QS Top Universities Rankings by Subject 2023. 

About

The University of Sydney School of Medicine has been training medical professionals since 1856.

The faculty is located on the university’s main Camperdown campus and partners with health facilities in Sydney and in rural communities for student placements.

The faculty teaches many disciplines within medicine, including anaesthesia, surgery, general practice, and emergency medicine to name a few.

As of 2019, The Sydney University School of Medicine had 1139 student enrolments, and is under the leadership of Professor Cheryl Jones.

There are numerous academic staff specialising in a variety of medical fields, such as cancer and cardiovascular research. 

There is a number of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships available. 

Entry Requirements

You can enter via an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

Did you know the top 3 highest paying jobs in Australia all require a Doctor of Medicine? Check out the Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Australia!

Undergraduate

Combined Bachelor of Arts/Doctor of Medicine or combined Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine are both seven-year full-time degrees. There is a limited quota of 30 domestic students and 10 international students intake per year.  

The undergraduate degree selection process is as follows:

  1. Completion of the UCAT ANZ and a minimum ATAR of 99.95
  2. Upon release of ATARs, selected candidates are invited for an interview 
  3. Candidates complete a written assessment 
Postgraduate

Sydney University offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine for post-graduate students, with an annual intake of 300 students per year.

Admission requirements are:

  1. Completed an undergraduate degree, minimum three years
  2. Selected candidates are required to attend an interview

#1. The University of Melbourne

UniMelb

Image sourced from The University of Melbourne

Rankings

The University of Melbourne School of Medicine is ranked as the best Australian Medical School by QS Top Universities Rankings 2023.

The school is ranked 24th globally for medicine according to QS Top Universities Rankings by Subject 2023.

About

Founded in 1862, The University of Melbourne School of Medicine is the oldest medical school in Australia.

The school is part of the university’s Faculty of Dentistry and Health Sciences, located in the university’s Parkville campus.

The school offers a four-year postgraduate medicine degree. 

As of 2019, Melbourne Medical School currently has 1406 students enrolled.

There is a number of scholarships available for this degree.

Entry Requirements

Students applying for the four-year Doctor of Medicine program must meet the following requirements:

  1. Have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline
  2. Prerequisite studies in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.
  3. Sit the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT)
  4. Submit to a multi mini interview.

You can read more about entry requirements to Melbourne Medical School.

Curious about how you can get into one of the top Australian medical schools? Check out our 99+ ATAR scorer guide!

Looking for the Top Brisbane High Schools instead of the top universities? Discover the top performing Brisbane high schools!


Grace Mitchell hopes to one day stand in front of a Year 12 Modern History class teaching the history of the Soviet Union, or have an insightful discussion with a Year 10 English class on race relations in To Kill a Mockingbird. Either way, Grace is beginning her teaching journey studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences)/Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University. Grace loves to learn new things, write short stories and opinion pieces, read, and play contemporary Australian compositions on the clarinet. When she is not learning – if that is possible – Grace loves to sit and watch the sun set.

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