If you’re looking for the easiest medical schools to get into in Australia, this is the place to be. It’s no secret that medical schools are not typically easy to get into and the application process is highly competitive, but knowing medical school acceptance rates in Australia is a solid first step toward achieving your goals. It can also help to compare your GPA performance and other academic scores such as the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) to those of matriculants at the schools that interest you. A GPA is the primary indicator of your academic prowess in your application and narrowing down your options about where to apply can significantly improve your chances of success. It is also possible to learn how to get into medical school with a low GPA.
In this article, we’ll cover the schools in Australia that have the lowest GPA requirements, the different facets of the application process in Australia as well as detailing other ways to make your application stand out if you are dealing with lower or average scores.
Disclaimer: Please note: Although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa.
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Easiest Medical Schools in Australia to Get into
The medical schools in Australia featured in the list below use a 7.0 GPA scale and have the lowest required GPA to be considered for possible interviews in the country. It’s important to note that, while these schools have the lowest overall requirement, the median GPA of those accepted is typically much higher than the minimum listed here. The scores that universities include as their application requirements are the absolute minimum. Your application will not be considered if you score below this threshold.
Do you want to learn how to get into medical school with a low GPA? Watch this video:
Top 9 Easiest Medical Schools in Australia to Get into Based on Minimum Required GPA
University of Adelaide Medical School
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: 90.00
Acceptance Rate: 164 students
GAMSAT: Not required, only accepts through undergraduate programs, UCAT required
The University of Adelaide Medical School focuses on a collaborative environment and is the largest school within the entire university. Unlike the other institutions listed, their program is solely for undergraduate admissions or tertiary transfers from their university. Therefore, graduate assessments such as the GAMSAT are not necessary, but they do evaluate results from the UCAT ANZ. Compared to other schools in Australia, they have a low minimum GPA requirement for higher education applicants and ATAR score for undergraduate applicants.
Deakin University School of Medicine
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: -
Acceptance Rate: 136 students
GAMSAT: Score of 50 in each section
Deakin University offers a potential adjustment for those who had a financial disadvantage throughout their undergraduate study that may have affected their academic performance. With the necessary proof of documentation showing a minimum of 12 months of income support payments, applicants may receive a 2% bonus to their combined GPA and GAMSAT scores.
Griffith University School of Medicine
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: 99.85
Acceptance Rate: 313
GAMSAT: Score of 50 in each section
Griffith University School of Medicine’s program focuses on work-integrated learning and professional placements to integrate theory with practice. This illustrates the university’s commitment to their graduate’s success in the field through unpaid placements at community organizations, hospitals, or other general practices. Those looking for more hands-on learning may have more interest in Griffith’s program.
Macquarie University
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: 85.00
Acceptance Rate: 60 students (255 undergrad)
GAMSAT: Total overall average of 50
As they have fewer overall spots and less of a focus on specific quotas, Macquarie University includes an Indigenous pathway for domestic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Should they choose to apply in this stream, the pathway consists of a 3% bonus applied to their weighted GPA, a case-by-case application consideration for interview, an optional submission of GAMSAT scores, and support throughout the interview process.
Want to know how to get into med school with low GPA? Check out this infographic:
Melbourne Medical School
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: -
Acceptance Rate: 352 students
GAMSAT: Score of 50 in each section
The University of Melbourne’s Medical School offers one of the highest number of places in the country, as they have 177 CSP, 70 BMP, and up to 105 full-fee places. While their application process is fairly standard through the use of GEMSAS, there are also rural or Indigenous pathways available that do not involve the general system. Full-fee places are available to both domestic and international students, instead of being reserved to meet international quotas, however, so that is something to keep in mind if you are applying from outside the country; there may be fewer places reserved for you.
University of Notre Dame Australia School of Medicine, Freemantle MD Program
GPA: 5.2
ATAR: -
Acceptance Rate: 100 students
GAMSAT: Score of 52, with a minimum of 50 in each section
The University of Notre Dame Australia consists of two separate programs, one located in Freemantle and the other in Sydney. They each have a slightly higher required GPA of 5.2 but have over 100 spots available in each campus. There are no transfers between each campus. All applicants must be prepared to study at the campus they apply for. Notre Dame is also known for requiring a medical portfolio in its application that describes the applicant’s personal qualities and their motivation to study medicine.
University of Notre Dame Australia School of Medicine, Sydney MD Program
GPA: 5.2
ATAR: -
Acceptance Rate: 120 students
GAMSAT: Score of 52, with a minimum of 50 in each section
See: University of Notre Dame Australia School of Medicine, Freemantle MD Program
University of Sydney School of Medicine
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: 99.95
Acceptance Rate: Roughly 300
GAMSAT: Score of 50 in each section
At the University of Sydney School of Medicine, rural applicants have a slightly lower minimum GPA requirement of 4.5 for their Doctor of Medicine and Dental Medicine programs. The intake is also approximately 300 students each year. Three quarters of those accepted are from CSP or BMP placements, while about 70 are from among full-fee international students.
University of Queensland Medical School
GPA: 5.0
ATAR: 95.00
Acceptance Rate: 455 students
GAMSAT: Score of 50 in each section, UCAT required only for provisional applicants
The University of Queensland has a large pool of applicants, accepting as many as 455 students per year. The GPA is valued at 50/50 with the multiple mini-interview (MMI) should the applicant make it to that stage, but the GPA is used as a tiebreaker when necessary. There is also the option for provisional entry into their program prior to completing a bachelor’s degree at UQ with some prerequisite courses. This option requires a 95 ATAR score and a competitive UCAT score when applying prior to university study.
Increasing Your Odds of Acceptance at the Easiest Medical Schools in Australia to Get into
It is sometimes difficult to remember that GPA, ATAR, and other academic scores are only one part of a larger, holistic approach to medical school admissions, whether they be located in Australia or elsewhere. That being said, the average GPA of students that end up being accepted is much higher than the cut-off requirement listed on school websites, so it is still extremely important to an applicant’s success. Even if you are aiming for one of the easiest medical schools to get into in Australia, your application can only be helped if you strive to improve your scores while you’re still studying. If you apply with a higher GPA than most applicants, your chances of admission multiply.
If your GPA or ATAR scores barely reach the school’s base requirement, however, focus on the schools that you can feasibly apply to. Having a low GPA for medical school standards does not completely ruin your chances, but it should shift your approach as you begin to apply. For example, Deakin University’s School of Medicine accepts 25% of its applicants from rural backgrounds, in addition to 30 domestic places reserved for those in the Rural Training Stream. Their school has a focus on the workforce needs in rural communities. If that aligns with your background or interests, it may be more beneficial to apply to a school such as Deakin over another.
If you think that’s a good tip, read on for more ways to make it easier to get into medical school in Australia.
Research the Schools
Knowing everything you can about the schools you are applying to is crucial. Learn as much as possible and start the application process as early as possible. Give yourself the time to research and discover what is important to each individual school when it comes to GPA requirements and otherwise. Try and find the school’s mission statement to become aware of what is important to them. Find a way to work this into your application. Some institutions value certain sections over others. In essence, you are creating a profile for each application that is personalized to their particular interests. For instance, the University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to serving unmet needs through programs in areas such as mental health, bioethics, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. If that is your primary focus in medicine, your aligned values with the institution may enhance your chances of acceptance.
Schools that require a personal statement often value it as much as the academic performance part of the application. Therefore, in the case of those schools, a stellar medical school personal statement may favour one applicant over another. In a university where they do not require a personal statement, there would be less of an opportunity for someone with a lower GPA to break through the crowd. Choosing the correct schools that highlight your strengths is vital to boosting the probability of an acceptance.
Research the Application System
Online tools or systems, such as GEMSAS for Australian Universities, can greatly benefit your experience when applying to multiple schools. The GEMSAS system was made to simplify a process that may be overwhelming at first. GEMSAS is essential for those serious about applying to medical school in Australia and can make the selection process easier based on each school’s requirements. It matches students to potential schools and submits a single application to several institutions (a maximum of six) based on the applicant’s preferences.
The trick when using GEMSAS is keeping your application specific enough to appeal to the particular priorities of the schools you are applying to, but also general enough for it to be usable for multiple schools. If you are worried about a low GPA or the intense competition of medical school applications, GEMSAS will match you with the schools that your scores fit the best or where you can use other skills to perfect your application.
While systems such as GEMSAS do make it much easier to navigate complicated medical school admissions, an extra hand can make a world of difference. Would you like to know how finding the best medical school admissions consultant can improve your chances of admission? An expert can help you fill in parts of your application that may be lacking, improve your writing skills, or explain lower GPA scores. In fact, medical school application help can be your key to success when approaching even the easiest schools to get into.
Identify Your Applicant Category
Medical schools in Australia tend to have specific quotas for the students they admit into their programs. While they let in a certain number of incoming applicants each year, there is a total within that larger number representing each respective quota the university must fulfill. Typically, there are three kinds of quotas that can make up the grand total of students admitted, usually referring to where the applicant comes from or the type of funding they may receive.
The majority of accepted applicants are from what is considered a CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place), where studies are partially funded by the Australian government. A BMP (Bonded Medical Place) is slightly less competitive, but in exchange for the funding, the applicant spends time in rural or remote locations, where medical professionals are more necessary. The final category of common quota is FFP (Full Fee Place), which are domestic placements without official governmental support. International students are included in this group.
For those with a slightly lower GPA, BMP may be a good option for you, as this stream is considered less competitive due to its affiliation with workplace shortages. Some schools also offer separate application streams or sub-quotas to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants. Griffith University is an example of a school with very set quotas consisting of 142 CSP, 56 BMP, and up to 35 international places available. Meanwhile, Macquarie only accepts 60 applicants and disregards two of the above categories, only admitting 40 full-fee and 20 international students.
Knowledge about the various quotas in Australian medical schools allows for a better overview of your acceptance chances, which you can use to strategize.
Demonstrate Your Suitability via Experiences
The personal sections of your application can be used to complement or backup GPA and other academic qualifiers. You have years of previous life experience you can use to convey to the admissions committee why you would make a great fit for their medical school. Whether it be a personal statement, award, or reference letter from a trusted source, supporting data should inherently show who you are beyond academic performance.
Schools have various ways of evaluating competencies, some of which may be unique to a particular institution. Some schools in Australia require a medical portfolio, which may consist of a few documents or other extra steps as part of or in addition to the application. Macquarie and University of Notre Dame Australia are two such schools: Macquarie requires a personal statement consisting of answers to targeted questions related to their program, while Notre Dame’s requirements are much more specific. They have a process similar to submitting letters of recommendation, where said referees will corroborate specific personal experiences or achievements that the applicant is prompted to write about. Given that each university has their own additional required documents, make sure you know the specific documents needed and do not submit anything they do not ask for.
Detailing your previous professional, academic, and personal experience in a medical school resume may be beneficial for concisely presenting your qualifications. Meanwhile, the personal statement may be your chance to tell your story and explain why you want to become a doctor. You may also choose to include participation in extracurriculars for medical school that are relevant. Parts of your story and the description of your passion for medicine in your own words may be more appealing to an admission committee as you are assessed against other applicants.
Remember: being near the GPA cut-off doesn’t mean you are entirely out of options if you consider what the easiest medical schools to get into in Australia are really looking for.
Impress at the Interview
Yet another highly common aspect of applying to medical schools in Australia is the medical school interview. Schools in Australia focus heavily on the interview process. If you are granted one at a university, chances are that they are already interested in what you may have to offer. They may have already seen your GPA and decided to interview you regardless, so this would be the perfect opportunity to explain your story in greater detail and further illustrate your communication skills that are necessary for becoming a physician, especially if you did not have to submit a personal statement or portfolio. It may be the difference between getting in or not.
Be sure to take note of the interview style for a particular school. Most schools in Australia use the MMI (multiple mini-interview) format, which requires a high level of preparation and dedication. It is meant to evaluate skills beyond academia and interpersonal behaviours that relate to the field of medicine. The amount of time and number of stations depend on the university. Deakin applicants are interviewed at 10 consecutive stations, spending 5 minutes at each station. At the University of Queensland, there are 8 stations with each interaction being 7 minutes each.
To prepare and to boost your confidence, you can practice answering sample questions, especially if you do not typically enjoy interviews. Having an idea of how long each station will last for the universities you are applying to can aid in the overall timing of your responses. You should practice a lot, and an MMI interview prep course could also dramatically strengthen your performance in this area.
Instead of memorizing answers, try to have a basic idea of what you want to say to sample questions, so the response does not seem too rehearsed. Being yourself and being truthful is a sure-fire way to succeed at a medical school interview. Something is driving you to this profession and this program, so finding the best ways to articulate that drive will surely enhance the impression you make in your medical school interviews.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that no medical school is truly easy to get into. Every medical school is competitive. There are limited spots available for those who soar above the rest. So, while having the highest GPA or GAMSAT score is not everything and there are options for you, it surely will help. Always try to aim as high as possible. That is usually what gets you in the door in the first place.
The process is meant to be challenging because being a doctor itself is challenging. Many of the steps that schools require of applicants are to rightfully assess whether they are legitimately ready not just to study in their program, but to become a resident or work in the high-stress environment of a hospital. It is the first test of many to come once you are in the field.
FAQs
1. Do schools with lower GPA requirements or higher admission rates have a lower quality of education?
No. All medical schools have programs that will lead to a satisfying career in medicine. These schools just simply value different qualities regarding what they look for in applicants or they simply have the room to accept more students into their program.
2. Is the application process expensive?
In Australia, it is not overly expensive, but there are usually costs associated with the application process.
Taking the GAMSAT costs $515.00 (AU), while applying on GEMSAS costs $230.00 (AU).
Travel and other accommodations may be covered depending on your school. Be sure to confirm whether your schools of choice have special considerations.
3. Do Australian medical schools accept international students?
Most of them do. Some even have quotas dedicated specifically to students from out of the country.
If you are applying internationally, always make sure that the school you are applying to will be open to your application.
4. Do I need letters of reference when applying?
It often depends on the school, but most of those in Australia do not require letters of reference.
If you do come across a school that requires them, make sure to ask someone you worked with very closely, either professionally or academically. In essence, they should be able to vouch for your work ethic, skills, or passion for medicine. It is a plus if they have ties to the medical field or academia more generally.
Contact your referees ahead of time to notify them that they may be your reference in the future. Follow any recommendations for how the school wants these letters submitted.
5. What if the schools I am applying to on GEMSAS require different documents?
GEMSAS will match you regardless. Once you fill out the application and rank the schools of your choice, GEMSAS will take care of the rest.
The documentation will not be considered for schools that do not ask for it. If certain schools do not require it, they simply will not take it into account when assessing your application.
6. How many schools should I apply to?
There is never a set amount to how many schools you should apply to, but if you’re using GEMSAS, you will likely apply to six.
The system allows you to rank between three and six schools but applying to six gives you a greater probability of success.
7. What is a Commonwealth Supported Place?
It is one of the more common and competitive placements in Australian medical schools. There is usually a quota for how many students will take these placements in any given year.
The government does pay for some of the fees for students accepted in this placement as a subsidy. An applicant must be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand to be eligible for a CSP.
8. How many times can I take the GAMSAT?
There is no limit to the number of times you can take the GAMSAT. However, if you have taken the test multiple times, you can choose the best score of all the attempts to officially use in your applications.
There is also no set waiting period between tests, given that you are consistently eligible.
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