Flinders University Doctor of Medicine 2023

Is Flinders University good for Medicine?

The Flinders Uni Doctor of Medicine program is a four-year postgraduate medical course that prepares students to join the medical workforce, particularly in rural and regional Australia. This Doctor of Medicine course provides students with an opportunity to develop their knowledge, communication skills and diversify their medical practice.

Flinders University Medicine sets a benchmark, both locally and globally, amongst other Australian medical schools to be at the forefront of innovation, research and educating aspiring doctors. Hence, it is safe to say that Flinders University medicine ranking holds the number one spot in South Australia for its reputation in teaching, student-teacher interaction, student support and in encouraging international students to pursue Medicine. 

Flinders University School of Medicine offers three entry pathways for students to choose from. However, it is paramount to understand that not all students qualify to apply via all three pathways:

1. Undergraduate entry pathway - Double degree with Flinders University Bachelor of Clinical Sciences
2. Undergraduate via double degree with Bachelor of Clinical Sciences offered in a joint medical program in the Northern Territory by Flinders Uni and Charles Darwin Uni.
3. Graduate Entry pathway

Therefore, eligibility criteria is a crucial factor to know whether or not you can enter this medical school. 

This article will shed light on the course structure, entry requirements, course fees, application process, and relevant key dates for Flinders University graduate entry only.

Flinders Doctor of Medicine: Course Overview

Flinders University Medicine is a four-year full-time program designed for students who have completed their bachelor's degree, compared to a six-year full-time Flinders University undergraduate medicine specifically meant for high school leavers. The Doctor of Medicine postgraduate degree aims to strengthen a student's medical profile by providing diverse hospital internships, clinical-scenario based experiences and scope to upgrade research skills to practice medicine locally and globally.

The Flinders Uni Doctor of Medicine aims to:

• Integrate basic science and clinical methods into practice and discoveries within medical research;
• Provide a structured approach towards simulated learning, early patient care and interpreting clinical scenarios in-person at the Flinders Medical Centre;
• Encourage students to undertake clinical knowledge in hospital settings and community environments spread across Adelaide, South Australia, Western Victoria and Northern Territory;
• Improve knowledge around the community and social health;
• Recognise and diagnose multi-faceted illness;
• Implementing strategies to improve patient care and service as part of the medical practice;
• Motivate students to undertake working within collaborative team settings and ensure each student becomes attuned to a professional attitude..

Conducted in affiliation with the Australian Medical Council,  Flinders Uni Medicine has four  Graduate Outcome Statements, pathways that graduates excel in:

1. Science and Scholarship - Medical graduates can pursue pathways to become a scientist and a scholar.
2. Health advocacy - Med school graduates have the potential to improve community health and safety.
3.  Professionalism and leadership - Medical graduates can initiate self-learning and collaborative learning within their enterprises.

Flinders Medicine: Entry Requirements

Only those applicants with a most recent bachelor's degree from an Australian University or any tertiary institution of the equivalent standard or have completed a one year Honours qualification are deemed eligible for entry via the Graduate entry pathway. 

For international students who are in their final year of bachelor's degree or have pursued their studies from an overseas educational institution (such as international applicants), Flinders Uni assesses their overseas qualifications to determine the student's ability to study at their university.

Domestic Applicants

You qualify as a domestic applicant if you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or Humanitarian visa holder. This is purely for medical places offered in South Australia and the Northern Territory. It should be noted that you can apply only to places available in South Australia if you are a New Zealand citizen. 

Now let's dive into the eligibility criteria for domestic applicants applying to the MD program at Flinders Uni:

1. Students must submit official academic transcripts - GPA score of 5.5 or higher to the university.
2. All students must sit the GAMSAT exam and achieve a minimum GAMSAT score of 50 in each Section 1, Section 2 , and Section 3.
3. Based on the GAMSAT scores, Flinders University Medicine will invite students for a medical interview.
4. The final offer is granted to those students who performed well in the GAMSAT and proved their non-cognitive skills during the Flinders Medicine Interview.

International Applicants

You can apply as an international applicant provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and English language requirements. Similar to domestic applicants, you must submit official academic transcripts from a recent key bachelor's degree that you received from an overseas educational institution. 

The eligibility criteria for international applicants applying to the MD program at Flinders Uni goes as follows:

1. Academic transcripts - GPA score of 5.0 out of 7.0 is required.
2. Have a valid GAMSAT score of 50 in each Section or a valid  MCAT score of 123 in each Section, with an overall score of 492 or higher.
3. English language competency required.
4. Based on their academic scores and admission test results, students will receive the Flinders Medicine Interview Offers.

Do you wish to predict your odds of receiving an interview offer from your preferenced medical school? Try our Medical Interview Calculator to get an accurate score to get a medical interview!

Flinders Medicine 2022: Medical School Interview Guide

Successful applicants will receive an online link to book their preferred date and time for the interview. Applicants from Adelaide and Darwin will be interviewed in person. The interview format is semi-structured, which uses a standard set of scenarios and questions for all applicants to evaluate their qualities to succeed both in med school and subsequent medical practice.

These are some of the qualities the university assess an applicant on:

• Quality of motivation 
• Learning style and team skills
• Communication skills
• Pro-social attitude
• Personal management and self-evaluation skills
• Approach to decision-making

Whilst a small panel of interviewers will conduct the interviews for domestic applicants, there is however generally a single interviewer for international applicants. Interviewers are not provided with any academic achievement or related information about the applicant besides the applicant's names. The semi-structured panel interview lasts approximately 45-50 minutes for both domestic and international applicants, the latter receive a Skype link to conduct the interview.

Applicants must receive 50% and above out of a total score of 100 in the medical interview to receive a medical offer to the Flinders University Medicine program.

Flinders Medical School in Australia: Application Process

All domestic applicants eligible to apply to the Flinders Doctor of Medicine must apply directly via the university's online application portal. Additionally, applicants must submit one application for either the Doctor of Medicine locations to confirm their preferences: Bedford Park - South Australian Medical Program, CSP and/or Darwin - Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP).

Note: NTMP is based in Northern Territory and expects students to practice a four-year return of service post-graduation, during which the student cannot transfer to SA. The NT Government fully funds these medical places. 

International applicants, on the other hand, must submit their application form directly to Flinders University via the International Application System. Applicants can also opt to apply via a Flinders University recognised agent.

Flinders Medicine: Course Fees

For all domestic students, the Doctor of Medicine Flinders Uni offers two types of medical places: Bonded Commonwealth Supported Places and the Non-Bonded Commonwealth Supported Places. 

First, let's understand how Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) work. The Australian Government has taken the initiative to financially support domestic applicants by covering a part of the tuition fee as a subsidy and not a loan. This is known as the CSP. As a component of the CSP program, the Bonded Medical Program in the MD course requires every applicant to commit to working in eligible regional, rural and remote areas for a specified duration of time upon completing their medical degree. The commitment is known as Return of Service Obligation (RoSO). Students who successfully enrol via this program must pay an annual indicative fee of AUD 11,300.

Want to know more about the types of medical school places available in Australia? Read our article now!

International students are ineligible for a CSP or a BMP and must look into Full-fee paying places available within the Flinders Doctor of Medicine.

Where To From Here?

We hope our detailed medical interview guide about Flinders University was helpful, here’s a range of Free Resources, for you to help you through your medical school journey!

Alternatively, here’s are a few more relevant articles for you to read:

1. Medical School Tuition Fees Explained
2. How to prepare for a medical interview - Solo preparation
3. What is problem-based learning in medicine?
4. Medical School Interviews: Why are they hard?
5. Get to know your interviewer: Who does the med school interviewing?

At Fraser’s we also offer a range of student-friendly interview prep courses for you to perform well at your medical school interview!