University of Wollongong
Graduate Medicine
Contact Details
| Telephone | 1300 367 869 (within Australia) + 61 2 4221 3218 (International) |
| Web | https://www.uow.edu.au/science-medicine-health/schools-entities/gsm/doctor-of-medicine/ |
The UOW Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The Doctor of Medicine at UOW aims to produce knowledgeable, caring, and competent graduates, who are well prepared to practise medicine under supervision as interns and subsequently to commence postgraduate specialist training in any area of medicine. UOW offers a four-year full-time program of study and encourages applications from a diverse range of backgrounds.
The UOW Graduate School of Medicine aims to enrol applicants who have a high level of achievement in a higher education program of study, personal qualities that are important for success as a medical student and as a future medical practitioner, and a commitment and desire to contribute to health outcomes in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
Detailed information about the UOW MD program offered in the Graduate School of Medicine (GSM) is available at the UOW Doctor of Medicine website.
Applicants are strongly advised to review this website for more information.
We encourage all interested applicants to also register on the UOW MD Admissions mailing list to receive regular updates and information during the admissions cycle. Register here
Places available in 2027
Approximately 109 places will be available, which includes up to 15 places for international students.
| CSP | 37 |
| CSP (rural end-to-end) | 30 |
| BMP | 27 |
| International | 15 |
UOW MD Admissions Information webinars
UOW MD Admissions information sessions will be held on the following dates to inform and assist applicants for all pathways.
Four online webinars are scheduled for the following dates:
- Monday 23 March 2026 at 6 pm – 8 pm AEDT
- Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 6 pm – 8 pm AEST
- Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 6 pm – 8 pm AEST
- Admissions Bonus Q&A drop-in webinar Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 6 pm – 8 pm AEST
Two in-person information sessions will also be held at our Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands campuses in May, including a tour of facilities and an opportunity to meet current students.
- Shoalhaven Campus - Monday 11 May 2026 at 6 pm – 8 pm AEST
- Southern Highlands Campus – Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 6 pm – 8 pm AEST
UOW Open Day will be held on the Wollongong campus in June – join the mailing list for more information.
Registration for webinars and in-person sessions is required.
More details are available on the UOW Doctor of Medicine website or contact MD Enquiries
Pathways
UOW MD program offers two pathways into the MD program via GEMSAS:
- General Entry Pathway for domestic applicants who do not have a rural origin and
- Rural Entry Pathway for applicants from a rural origin.
Two additional direct pathways are also available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants and for International applicants. More information is available later in this guide and on the UOW Doctor of Medicine website.
Rural applicants
UOW MD program offers a Rural Entry Pathway for students of rural origin.
As a rurally focused program, the majority of places in the UOW MD program are reserved for students of rural origin.
In the past, the majority of eligible Rural Entry Pathway applicants who selected the UOW MD program as their first preference in their GEMSAS application were successful in interviewing and receiving an offer to study medicine at UOW. We strongly encourage Rural Entry Pathway applicants from all states and territories to apply to the UOW MD program as their first preference in GEMSAS to maximise their chances of selection.
As the only medical school in NSW awarded Commonwealth funding in 2024 for a rural end-to-end program, UOW will offer a guaranteed interview to Rural Entry Pathway applicants who have a demonstrated rural origin in NSW, select the UOW MD program as their first preference in their GEMSAS application, and who meet all minimum admission requirements.
Rural Entry Pathway applicants are ranked separately to General Entry Pathway applicants. To be eligible for consideration in the Rural Entry Pathway, applicants will need to demonstrate residency in a MM2-MM7 area for 5 years consecutively or 10 years cumulatively. To meet this eligibility, applicants will need to complete the Rurality question in the GEMSAS Application Form and submit supporting documentation to GEMSAS by the due date.
Applicants can check MMM status using the Health Workforce Locator (select Modified Monash 2023). For more information on documentary evidence required to demonstrate rural residency, see the earlier section on Rurality in this Medicine Admissions Guide.
Within the Rural Entry Pathway, a rurality adjustment will be applied to all rural applications based on the remoteness of their residence according to the Modified Monash criteria. This is in addition to the bonuses in the GSM Admissions Bonus Form.
Rurality adjustment will be applied by the GSM in the following three tiers with the most remote applicants receiving the largest bonus:
- Regional applicants - MM2
- Rural applicants - MM3 to MM5
- Remote applicants - MM6 and MM7
Applicants are not required to submit additional information to the GSM – this adjustment will be applied automatically to all rural applicants based on the GEMSAS assessed rural classification.
More information is available on the UOW Doctor of Medicine website.
Medical Education Tracks and place types
The UOW MD program offers two medical education tracks: the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track, where all parts of the MD program are undertaken in a rural location, and the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track, which offers a combination of campus-based learning and clinical placements across regional, rural and remote NSW. Within the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track, a subset of students will participate in the Health Access Stream, which provides additional learning experiences focused on health access.
UOW MD Program – Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track
UOW offers Commonwealth Supported Places (unbonded CSP and bonded BMP) under the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education track.
Students in the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track will be based at either the UOW Wollongong campus, UOW Southern Highlands campus or UOW Shoalhaven campus for Phase 1 (first 18 months) of the program. After Phase 1, students will then be allocated by the GSM to placements within NSW. Placements will be in regional, rural, and remote areas within NSW where the GSM has a clinical education/training site. UOW education/training sites currently include the Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands, Illawarra, Murrumbidgee, Clarence Valley, Northern Rivers, Central West, and Outback regions of NSW. These regions may change in the future. Students will need to relocate to the allocated site for the duration of the clinical placement.
Rural Entry Pathway students in all tracks may nominate to Return to Origin for Phase 3 longitudinal placement if their home community is located near one of our GSM teaching hubs.
The Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track consists of a total of 54 places. These places are allocated across the General Entry pathway, Rural Entry Pathway and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway. A minimum of 32 places will be available for Rural Entry Pathway students.
Two place types are available:
- Commonwealth Supported Place Unbonded - (CSP)
- Commonwealth Supported Place Bonded Medical Program - (BMP)
Please refer to the UOW Doctor of Medicine website for further details.
UOW MD Program – Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track (Health Access Stream)
The Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track (Health Access Stream) is designed for students with a strong interest in general practice, rural generalism, community-based healthcare and access to health. The Health Access Stream sits within the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track and follows the same overall program structure, with a stronger focus on community-based healthcare in settings with limitations to patient access within the Illawarra–Shoalhaven region.
Students in this Stream will be based on the UOW Wollongong campus, in Phase 1, and as part of their medical education will undertake learning experiences in general practice and community health settings focused primarily in the Illawarra, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions.
The Health Access Stream aims to support students who are motivated to improve access to healthcare and who are interested in a medical career in general practice and primary care. It particularly encourages applications from students who bring lived experience of rural, regional, or communities that experience challenges accessing healthcare, as well as students who have experienced educational or financial disadvantage. The Stream also seeks to support and expand the First Nations medical workforce.
Students in the Health Access Stream will benefit from learning experiences and exposure to community-based medicine and general practitioners, and opportunities to work closely with local health services and communities. The program aims to prepare graduates who will contribute to primary care and who are committed to strengthening the GP workforce and improving access to healthcare where the need is greatest.
Factors considered in selection
Places in this Stream are limited and in selecting students for this track, the Graduate School of Medicine may consider factors such as:
- demonstrated interest in general practice or rural generalism
- lived experience in rural, regional, or communities with barriers to accessing healthcare
- financial disadvantage
- applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
The Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track (Health Access Stream) consists of a total of 10 places in addition to the 54 standard Combined Track places. These places are allocated across the General Entry pathway, Rural Entry Pathway and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway. A minimum of 6 places will be available for Rural Entry Pathway students.
UOW MD Program – Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track
UOW also offers Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP-E2E) under the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track. Students in the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track will be based at UOW Shoalhaven campus or UOW Southern Highlands campus for Phase 1 (first 18 months) of the program. After Phase 1, students will be allocated by the GSM to placements within NSW. Placements will be in regional, rural, and remote areas within NSW where the GSM has a clinical education/training site. Rural end to end students must reside and study in a rural NSW location, as determined by the medical school, for the duration of the entire four-year program.
Students in the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track are offered priority access to GSM accommodation during Year 1 of the program to ease their transition to rural living in the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands. Additionally, students in the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track will be given priority allocation to remain at their allocated base campus, where possible, for Phase 3 (a one-year longitudinal placement).
The Rural End-to End Medical Education Track consists of a total of 30 places. These places are allocated across the General Entry Pathway, Rural Entry Pathway and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway A minimum of 17 places will be available for Rural Entry Pathway students.
One place type is available:
- Commonwealth Supported Place - rural end-to-end (CSP-RE2E)
Please refer to the UOW Doctor of Medicine website for further details.
Nominating place and track types
At the time of GEMSAS application, applicants will provide a preliminary indication of their selected place type, campus type and medical education track for the UOW MD program. ALL APPLICANTS must also submit a completed Campus, place type, and Med Ed track Nomination Form directly to UOW to confirm and finalise their application.
The form can be accessed online: UOW Campus place type and med ed track nomination form and must be submitted by 5 pm AEST Sunday 27 September 2026.
Applicants may submit the form multiple times if their preferences change before the deadline. Any new submission will override the previous selection on record. Late submissions will not be accepted.
If an applicant does not nominate a certain track and place type, and that is the only place available, they will not be made an offer from UOW. Acceptance of a UOW MD place indicates acceptance of the track and place type allocation. Transfer between tracks or place types is not possible at time of offer or at any time a student is enrolled in the four years of the program.
If an applicant refuses an offer of a particular place type, then that offer (of that place type) will be made to the next applicant.
Acceptance of a UOW MD place indicates acceptance of the track and place type allocation. Transfer between tracks or place types is not possible at time of offer or at any time a student is enrolled in the four years of the program.
For more information on place types and tracks, please see the UOW Doctor of Medicine website.
Admission criteria
Admission to the UOW MD degree for domestic applicants via the General Entry Pathway (non-rural applicants) and the Rural Entry Pathway (rural applicants) is based on:
- A weighted Grade Point Average (GPA) from a valid qualifying degree
- A valid GAMSAT score
- A valid Casper score
- UOW MD Admissions bonuses
- An Interview (Multiple Mini Interview) score
Separate pathways also exist for International applicants and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Admission criteria and application processes vary for these pathways. (see UOW Doctor of Medicine website for more details)
Grade Point Average and degree requirements
For 2027 entry, GPA scores will be used as a qualifying hurdle for interview offers. GPA scores will not be used in ranking for interview or place offers once the hurdle has been met. Applicants must have a weighted GPA of 5.5 or above (on a 7-point scale) at the time of being selected for interview to be eligible to apply.
All applicants must have completed (or be in their final year of study at time of application) an undergraduate degree at AQF7 or above consisting of at least three years duration when studied full-time, or equivalent (FTE). To be classed as a valid qualifying degree, the undergraduate degree must be from an Australian university or an equivalent overseas Bachelor qualification from an institution that is recognised under the framework and guidelines set by the Australian Department of Education (DE) (previously AEI-NOOSR). All valid qualifying degrees need to be completed by COB 23 December 2026.
A weighted GPA calculation is used for admission to the MD program. This means most recent results are weighted more heavily:
- Final GPA Year (most recent) = Weighted x 3
- Final-1 GPA Year (2nd most recent) = Weighted x 2
- Final-2 GPA Year (3rd most recent) = Weighted x 1
The GPA calculation is based on three years of full-time equivalent study (3.0 FTE) in the most recent eligible degree (or combination of degrees, if applicable). For the purpose of the GPA calculation, eligible degrees include Bachelor, Honours, Graduate Diploma and Master by Coursework programs. Course results from eligible degrees will be included in the GPA calculation if the degree is already completed or due to be completed by COB 23 December in the year of application.
If the most recent eligible degree comprises less than 3.0 FTE worth of study, course results from the next-most-recent eligible degree(s) may be used to make up the remainder of the 3.0 FTE. For example, if an applicant has completed a 1-year standalone Honours degree after their Bachelor degree, their GPA would be calculated using 1.0 FTE worth of results from the Honours program (Final GPA Year) and the remaining 2.0 FTE worth of results would be taken from the last two years of the Bachelor degree (Final-1 and Final-2 GPA Years).
If the duration of a degree exceeds the equivalent of 3 full-time years of study, only the courses comprising the last 3.0 FTE worth of study will be used in the GPA calculation. For example, for a 5-year combined degree, the GPA calculation will only include the last 3 years of study and will not include the first 2 years.
Where an applicant is completing the final year of their degree in 2026, the current year of study will only be included in the GPA calculation if at least 0.375 FTE worth of graded course results from Semester/Trimester 1 2026 are available to be used in the calculation. If at least 0.375 FTE worth of graded results are not yet available, the Final GPA Year will be excluded from the calculation and the GPA will be calculated using only the Final-1 (x2) and Final-2 (x1) GPA Years.
Ungraded Pass (UGP/CRS) results will not be included in the GPA calculation. UOW will include UGP in the ‘credit count’ for a particular GPA year, however, these are excluded from the calculation and that particular GPA ‘year’ will be calculated based on the available graded course results only.
An applicant must have a minimum of 0.375 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) worth of graded results available for a GPA to be calculated for that particular GPA ‘year’, i.e.: if 1.0FTE is the equivalent of 8 courses (or 48 credits with 6 credits per course), then using this module, an applicant must have a minimum of 3 courses (0.375 FTE) that are graded (not UGP/CRS) for that year.
Please note Graduate Certificates, Masters by Research, PhDs, non-award study and study completed below AQF Level 7 will not be included in the GPA calculation. Exception: credit awarded towards a completed Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree from a Graduate Certificate can be considered in the GPA calculation, up to the amount of credit awarded towards the Postgraduate Diploma/Masters degree.
Previous medical study
Applicants who have completed medical studies in another country or qualified physicians are not considered eligible for entry to the UOW MD program. Applicants who have incomplete medical studies previously in Australia or overseas are not eligible for entry to the UOW MD program. Applicants with incomplete medical studies who are humanitarian visa holders should contact the GSM for advice on their eligibility.
Transferring into the UOW Doctor of Medicine from another medical program is not possible.
Duration of qualification
UOW does not normally recognise two-year FTE Bachelor degrees or one year FTE conversion degrees as valid qualifying degrees for the purposes of entry to the Doctor of Medicine program. Graduate entry two-year programs, or applicants who have completed the equivalent of a three-year FTE Bachelor degree but have been awarded credit for prior academic learning may be exempt from this rule. Please contact UOW GSM for more information if degree is less than three years FTE in duration. Accelerated three year FTE Bachelor degrees are accepted as valid qualifying degrees by UOW; that is, a degree consisting of three full time equivalent years but completed in two years from a recognised institution.
Currency of qualification
Applicants are required to have graduated from their undergraduate degree within ten years of the closing date of applications for their degree to be considered a valid qualifying degree.
Applicants whose undergraduate degree was completed outside the ten-year period may still be considered for admission if they have successfully completed the equivalent of one year full-time tertiary study at Graduate Diploma level or higher at a recognised university within the last ten years. If no postgraduate study has been completed in the last ten years, applicants can apply for a waiver of this rule if they can demonstrate through other activities that they hold current high level academic skills.
To request an academic currency waiver, applicants need to complete the Academic Currency Waiver Form, and upload a copy of their university transcripts, Curriculum Vitae (CV), and any other documentation in support of their request for assessment. This should be submitted as early as possible, but must be submitted by 20 May 2026 - prior to the closing date of applications.
Applicants who are required to be assessed for currency of qualification due to the ten-year rule will be deemed ineligible for consideration of an interview and place at UOW for 2027 entry if:
- An applicant submits a waiver request that is not approved by the Graduate School of Medicine.
- An applicant does not submit a waiver request at all.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit a waiver request. Late submissions of a waiver request are not accepted.
GAMSAT
For 2027 entry, GAMSAT score will be used as a qualifying hurdle for interview offers. GAMSAT score will not be used in ranking for interview or place offers once the hurdle has been met.
Domestic applicants need a minimum score of 50 overall, with no individual section score below 50, in the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT).
No other entrance examination is accepted for domestic applicants.
Casper
For 2027 entry, 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.
Casper is a standardised, online assessment of non-cognitive skills, interpersonal characteristics, and personal qualities that are important for success as a medical student and as a future medical practitioner.
As an online situational judgement test, Casper is designed to assess areas such as ethics, empathy, and communication. Applicants must complete the Casper test during the testing periods identified for UOW MD applicants. Applicants without a valid Casper score are not eligible for entry to the MD program, regardless of their competitiveness against other entry criteria.
Casper testing dates for UOW MD domestic applicants for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle are:
- Sunday 12 April 2026 at 10:00am-12:00pm AEST
- Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 7:00pm-9:00pm AEST
- Thursday 14 May 2026 at 7:00pm-9:00pm AEST
- Thursday 11 June 2026 at 7:00pm-9:00pm AEST**
It is recommended that applicants register to take the test on the first available date in case of emergencies or technical difficulties. Applicants without a Casper score will not be considered.
** While this test date is AFTER applications close with GEMSAS, it is still available for applicants for this admissions cycle, providing applicants have completed and submitted the rest of the GEMSAS application as per the GEMSAS deadlines. The 11 June 2026 test is the LAST test result accepted for domestic applicants for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.
For more information on Casper including practice test content, technical requirements, fees, and registration see the Acuity Insights website.
UOW Admissions Bonuses
UOW MD Admissions bonuses have been designed to reflect the principles underlying MD program admissions. For 2027 entry, Admissions bonuses are combined with Casper score to rank for interview offers, and combined with interview score to rank for place offers.
All bonuses are weighted equally, bonuses are cumulative, and applicants may apply for as many bonuses as they are eligible. More information on the bonuses and application process can be found on the UOW Doctor of Medicine website
The following text outlines the principles for MD program admissions, and a general summary of the eligibility requirements. Full and specific details of the bonus eligibility and documentary requirements can be found in the UOW MD Admissions bonus guide - which must be downloaded from the UOW Doctor of Medicine website Please note many bonuses have specified equivalencies for applicants from Aotearoa New Zealand – check the guide for more details.
Bonus 1. UOW First Preference Applicant
UOW welcomes applicants who believe the MD program at UOW offers the very best in medical education.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who select the UOW MD program as their first preference in their GEMSAS application.
Bonus 2. Registered Health Professionals
UOW values interprofessional education and believes that applicants who already have health qualifications and are working in a health profession are likely to become doctors who work well in multi-disciplinary teams.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who hold current practising registration in any AHPRA-registered health profession, or current practising accreditation as an Accredited Practising Dietitian (DA), Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (SPA), or Accredited Exercise Physiologist (ESSA).
Bonus 3. Service Commitment
UOW believes that applicants who have shown a sustained commitment to service and demonstrate qualities of persistence, accountability, and professionalism are likely to succeed in medicine.
Eligibility Summary: Applicants with two or more consecutive years of active volunteer service with eligible Australian state or national service organisations, or two or more consecutive years of full-time continuous service with state or national emergency services or the Australian Defence Force.
Bonus 4. Sustained Work Experience
UOW believes that applicants who have shown a sustained commitment in work environments have qualities of persistence, accountability, and professionalism that provide a strong foundation for the study of medicine and a career in medicine.
Eligibility summary: Applicants with two or more consecutive years of sustained paid employment in any industry.
Bonus 5. Rural Work Experience
UOW is committed to rural medical education and believes that applicants working in rural locations have a strong connection to rural communities and that these applicants are more likely to practice in rural locations.
Eligibility summary: Applicants with two or more consecutive years of sustained paid employment in any industry while living and working in a rural (MMM2–MMM7) area.
Bonus 6. Rural High School Education
UOW believes that applicants who were educated at a rural high school have a strong connection to rural communities and that these applicants are more likely to return to rural locations. UOW also wishes to mitigate inequality of educational opportunities.
Eligibility summary: Applicants with four or more years of education at a rural high school in Australia (MMM2–MMM7), while residing in a rural area during the period of attendance.
Bonus 7. Illawarra Local Resident MM1
UOW has a commitment to the local communities in which it is located.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who currently live in the MM1 Wollongong area (Helensburgh to Shellharbour) and have resided in the area for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to application.
Bonus 8. NSW Rural Resident MM2-7
UOW has a commitment to health service provision for rural NSW.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who have resided in a rural area in NSW (MM2-7) for at least 5 consecutive years (or 10 cumulative years).
Bonus 9. UOW Graduate and BONUS 10. UOW Graduate + Academic Excellence
UOW believes in the quality of UOW graduates and has a commitment to those graduates whether they come from pre-medicine, engineering, arts, or any other UOW degree. Additionally, UOW recognizes local academic excellence.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who are graduates of a UOW undergraduate or postgraduate degree may be eligible for Bonus 9, depending on their length of study (see Bonus Guide for more details). Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria for Bonus 9 and achieve an overall weighted GPA of 6.5 or higher may also be eligible for Bonus 10.
Bonus 11. Indigenous Health Graduate
UOW is committed to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and believes that applicants who are working towards increasing their understanding of Indigenous Health are more likely to contribute to Cultural Safety in healthcare environments and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who have completed a postgraduate qualification specialising in Indigenous Health from an Australian university (or Māori Health qualification for applicants from Aotearoa New Zealand) may be eligible for Bonus 11.
Bonus 12. Financial disadvantage
UOW recognises that financial hardship can create barriers to accessing higher education and is committed to supporting equitable access to medical education. Applicants who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage can bring valuable perspectives to the medical profession and contribute to a socially responsive healthcare workforce.
Eligibility summary: Applicants who can demonstrate receipt of eligible Centrelink income support payments for a minimum qualifying period within the past five years may be eligible for Bonus 12.
Additional information:
Check the UOW MD Admissions Bonus Guide for full details on all bonuses and eligibility requirements.
Applicants wishing to apply for ANY admissions bonus must complete the UOW MD Admissions Bonus Form, even if no additional documentary evidence is required. The UOW MD Admissions Bonus Form will be available, along with electronic uploading of documents, when GEMSAS applications open on 1 May 2026. The Bonus Form must be completed, and all documentary evidence uploaded, by 5PM AEST on Monday 15 June 2026. Please refer to the UOW MD Admissions bonus guide for the link to the Admissions bonus form, and for further instructions regarding evidence requirements for UOW MD Admissions bonuses.
Bonuses will not be granted if:
- UOW MD Admissions Bonus Form is incomplete.
- Required documentary evidence is not uploaded or contains incomplete information.
- Documents are uploaded in an incorrect format.
- Bonus criteria is not met.
In these circumstances the GEMSAS application will continue to be assessed, however without the addition of any UOW admissions bonuses.
Admissions Interview
Applicants who meet the qualifying threshold hurdles for GPA and GAMSAT performance are ranked for interview using an algorithm of 50% Casper score and 50% UOW MD Admissions bonuses.
For 2027 entry, domestic interviews will be conducted in an online multiple-mini-interview (MMI) format in the week commencing 17 September 2026 The interview is a structured 8-station process involving live interviewers.
Interviews will reflect UOW’s values in medical education and are blueprinted to assess areas such as communication skills, empathetic and ethical approach, reflective manner, teamwork, and decision-making skills in clinical and community contexts. Important principles such as the delivery of health care to rural, regional and remote communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health will also be assessed.
Further information about the interview process will be forwarded in early September to applicants who receive an interview offer.
Offers
The UOW MD admissions interview score is combined with the UOW MD Admissions bonuses to rank applicants for place offers in an algorithm of 70% interview score and 30% admissions bonuses. If an applicant has been interviewed at another GEMSAS Medical School, their interview score will be standardised and used in place of the UOW interview score. GPA, GAMSAT, and Casper results are not included in the weighting formula for offer of a place.
Offers are made in early November with a small number of subsequent offers in December and January (if required). Offers are made for a specific place type, campus, and year only.
Candidates who do not respond to their official Letter of Offer by the required due date specified by UOW will have the offer rescinded. The offer may be allocated to the next eligible applicant in a subsequent offer round, at the discretion of the University.
Offers to applicants completing their degree in 2026 will be conditional on maintenance of the minimum required weighted GPA of 5.5. Evidence of completion must be produced for offer conditions to be cleared. Valid qualifying degrees used in GPA calculation must be completed by COB 23 December 2026.
Course Commencement
In person attendance will be required for all students from course commencement on 25 January 2027.
Campus allocation
The MD program at the University of Wollongong is conducted at three campuses during Phase 1 (the first 18 months of the program). These campuses are Wollongong, Shoalhaven (Nowra), and Southern Highlands (Moss Vale).
Students in the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track will commence the program at Shoalhaven, Wollongong, or Southern Highlands campus before being allocated to placements in regional, rural, and remote areas within NSW. Placements are determined by the medical school.
Students in the Rural-Regional Combined Medical Education Track (Health Access Stream) will be based on the Wollongong campus in Phase 1, and as part of their medical education will undertake learning experiences in general practice and community health settings focused primarily in the Illawarra, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions. Placements are determined by the medical school.
Students in the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track will commence the program at Shoalhaven or Southern Highlands campus and will be required to reside and study in a rural NSW location, as determined by the medical school, for the duration of the entire four-year program.
Students in Phase 1 will attend most classes at their allocated base campus and will engage in placements in their local community. In addition, regardless of their base campus, all students will be required to travel to Wollongong campus for anatomy lessons on average once per week, and all-cohort teaching sessions at Shoalhaven campus on average once per fortnight. Students based on rural campuses and living in rural areas may be eligible for subsidies to assist with these travel costs.
In later Phases of the MD program all UOW medical students will undertake clinical placements in medical facilities within NSW including many and varied regional, rural, and remote communities and will be required to relocate and reside to these communities. Students in the Rural End-to-End Medical Education Track will undertake all their medical education in rural communities.
For these extended placements, allocation may include priority pathways such as Return to Rural Origin (for eligible Rural Pathway students), Return to Community (for First Nations Students), and the Rural End-to-End track. These initiatives are designed to support continuity of training in rural and community settings and align with the program’s commitment to rural and regional health.
The UOW MD program is a distributed program across several campuses and hubs across NSW. All students enrolled in the UOW Doctor of Medicine are required to undertake clinical placements in regional, rural and remote communities across NSW in order to meet the requirements of the program. Students can expect to undertake rural clinical placements in each phase of the program. Placements will vary in duration, including extended placements of up to one academic year, and may require relocation and residence in the allocated community for that period. Therefore, all students must be prepared for, and able to, relocate to any allocated GSM clinical teaching site across rural NSW for part of the program, including for placements of up to one year.
Nominating campuses
At the time of GEMSAS application, applicants will provide a preliminary indication of their selected place type, campus type and medical education track for the UOW MD program. ALL APPLICANTS must also submit a completed Campus, place type, and Med Ed track Nomination Form directly to UOW to confirm and finalise their application.
The form can be accessed online: UOW Campus place type and med ed track nomination form and must be submitted by 5:00 PM AEST 27 September 2026. Applicants may submit the form multiple times if their preferences change before the deadline. Any new submission will override the previous selection on record. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Applicants who are limited in their ability to study at all campuses may be less likely to be successful in gaining an offer.
Acceptance of a UOW MD place indicates acceptance of the campus allocation. Transfer between campuses will not be considered. If an applicant does not accept an offer at a particular campus, then that offer (at that campus) will be made to the next applicant.
Refer to the UOW Doctor of Medicine website for further information regarding UOW campuses, regions and communities in which we teach.
Deferral
Offers of a place are made for a specified year only and course commencement can only occur in January (Semester 1) of each calendar year.
Deferral of a place is not possible.
Applicants who do not, or are unable to accept an offer, must re-apply if they wish to undertake the course in a subsequent year.
Additional Admissions Information
For more information regarding
- Additional MD program requirements
- Inherent requirements for medicine
- Student fees
- Scholarships opportunities
Please refer to the UOW Doctor of Medicine website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
The University of Wollongong is dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve a career as a doctor. We are passionate about having a dedicated pathway that enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to enrol and complete the Doctor of Medicine. We provide access to a variety of scholarship opportunities. We aim that 15% of places in the program be filled by students from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to get in touch with the Graduate School of Medicine for advice and assistance with the application process, or if they are considering enrolling in the MD program at any point in the future.
Applicants for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway are encouraged to apply to the UOW MD program via the direct application process. There is no application fee for direct applications and documents can be submitted electronically via the UOW MD Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway application form. Direct applications open on 1 March 2026 and close on 31 August 2026.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are not required to sit Casper or GAMSAT.
For more information on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway entry, including admission criteria, process, and scholarships available please refer to the UOW Doctor of Medicine website or email
International Applicants
UOW GSM offers 15 International places via the International Entry Pathway and applications are assessed directly by UOW.
Applicants for the International Entry pathway must apply to the UOW MD program via the direct application process. There is no application fee for direct applications and documents can be submitted electronically via the UOW MD International Entry Pathway application form. Direct applications will open on 1 March 2026 and close on 31 August 2026. No late applications will be accepted. Further details on documentation required is available on the UOW Doctor of Medicine website.
Kuwaiti citizens who are sponsored by the Kuwaiti Cultural Office may be eligible for 5 reserved International places – contact the Graduate School of Medicine for more information.
We encourage any international applicants to contact the Graduate School of Medicine on