Doctor of Medicine

About Medical Studies at UNSW

UNSW’s Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine is a six-year full-time degree delivered by the Faculty of Medicine. The program is renowned for its dynamic blend of hands-on clinical experience and research-focused learning. Our award-winning double degree will prepare you for the complex and ever-changing medical industry. This is what makes the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine the most popular first preference choice for NSW High School graduates.

From your first year, you'll be immersed in learning in real hospitals and within our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Centre, allowing you to get hands-on experience to develop your clinical skills. Learning from clinicians in clinical environments ensures that you'll be able to apply course content to real-world situations. You’ll experience greater clinical exposure as you progress through your degree, ensuring that you have a well-developed understanding of the healthcare system.

In the fourth year of the degree you'll undertake an Independent Learning Project (ILP) or Honours research project, which will give you the opportunity to engage in meaningful and impactful research. This project will equip you with the skills and knowledge to prepare you to become a change leader in health.

Study Medicine at an Undergraduate Level

We’re one of the few universities in Australia that offers a Medicine degree at an undergraduate level. This means you can enter straight from high school. UNSW’s unique undergraduate degree is an integrated, outcome-based program, producing graduates at the forefront of modernising medicine and improving the quality of life for all.

We proudly offer Access pathways for students from LSES (low socio-economic status) backgrounds and a specific direct entry pathway for Indigenous students.

 Why Study Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine at UNSW 

UNSW Medicine students undertake clinical training in some of Australia’s largest metropolitan and rural hospitals. We’re leading development in the broader Sydney Health Precinct, with a new hub for medical education, training and research being established at the Randwick Health and Education Precinct to drive innovation in partnership with the NSW Government. Our campuses provide cutting-edge learning environments and research centres that translate ground-breaking discoveries into implementable health solutions.

When studying Medicine at UNSW, you’ll experience: 

A world-class learning experience featuring award winning educators, clinicians and leaders in medicine at one of the world’s top 50 medical schools
State-of-the-art facilities which include sophisticated laboratory spaces, advanced exercise physiology suites and flexible and interactive teaching spaces
Impactful and meaningful social equity and inclusion strategies to deliver effective medical research and education to Indigenous and rural communities
The opportunity to study with some of Australia’s best medical researchers across our UNSW affiliated Independent Medical Research Institutes (MRIs)
Valuable exposure to one of the world’s best healthcare systems and work and study as part of interdisciplinary teams on hospital wards
Close engagement with our distinguished alumni community of celebrated doctors and researchers
Student exchange opportunities with our overseas partners, mentoring programs and scholarships
A strong student society, which partners with the Faculty of Medicine to continually improve the student experience and opportunity.

Become a Medical Research Professional

In your fourth year, you'll undertake an Independent Learning Project (ILP) or Honours year. You'll complete a research-focused project on a topic of your choosing, enabling you to develop the skills needed to navigate the evolving medical landscape, whether pursuing a career in clinical practice or research.

You’ll master relevant research methodologies by applying them to your research project. During your ILP, or Honours year, you’ll collect, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, and reach appropriate conclusions supported by evidence. You’ll have the opportunity to report your data, with some students successfully going on to publish their findings in medical and scientific journals.

The professional skills in critical thinking, problem solving, time management, teamwork and research integrity that you’ll acquire, will future-proof you for a successful and fulfilling medical career.

Your Career Opportunities in Medicine

Our graduates go on to pursue diverse and rewarding careers in a wide range of roles across the medical industry, including:

General practice

Speciality practice

Public health

Paediatrics

Cardiology

Oncology

General surgery

Orthopaedics

Pathology

Radiology

Psychiatry

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Infectious diseases

Medical research

Health policy

Medical education

Medical science

Hospital administration

The Medical Workforce will grow at 5.7% per year. Source

Emergency Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Medical Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Paediatrics and Palliative Medicine are some of the fastest growing specialty fields. Source

 Your Program Structure 

Phase 1

Integrated scenario-based learning in biomedical, clinical and social sciences

Phase 1 begins with the Foundations course. This spearheads multi-disciplinary courses taught over the first two years which transition through the life cycle. Basic medical sciences, clinical skills, teamwork, ethical and legal issues, and socio-cultural aspects of health are anchored by clinical scenarios. Clinical and communication skills training commences from Phase 1.

Phase 2

Integrated Clinical Courses and Independent Learning Project (ILP) or Honours

Phase 2 provides increased clinical exposure in hospital placements combined with ongoing learning in biomedical and social sciences.

Phase 3

Clinical Placements

Phase 3 consists of 10 eight-week courses with a clinical focus and includes relevant content from the biomedical sciences and the social sciences. Completion of Phase 3 results in provisional registration, allowing commencement of a hospital internship before being registered as a medical practitioner.

UNSW Medicine offers select students an opportunity to complete the Medicine degree program at the Port Macquarie or Wagga Wagga campuses of our Rural Clinical School.

What Our Graduates Say 

“Knowing that UNSW is a leader in medical research was really crucial in my decision making because I know the medical workforce is getting more and more competitive. UNSW builds research into its medical program, which means once you graduate, you’re in a much better position to get a job.”

Ashna Basu – Recent graduate of the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine degree at UNSW Sydney. Ashna sits on the Australian Medical Association (NSW) Council as a student representative.

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