Rural Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine

As part of the University of Melbourne’s commitment to rural health, the Melbourne Medical School in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences offers a Rural Pathway option within the Doctor of Medicine.

This pathway is for students from a rural background who are committed to undertaking their medical education  wholly in rural setting and becoming a part of rural and regional Australia's medical workforce.

Watch the video below to learn more about the pathway and what makes it unique.

• There are a total of 30 Commonwealth-Supported places (Bonded Medical Places) available for admission into the Doctor of Medicine through the Rural Pathway.
• The Rural Pathway includes undergraduate entry and graduate entry options:

Rural Pathway (Undergraduate Entry)

• 15 places are reserved each intake for graduates of La Trobe University’s Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medical) degree, based in Bendigo and Wodonga. Students must apply through VTAC or UAC and enquiries should be directed to La Trobe University.

Rural Pathway (Graduate Entry)

• A further 15 places are available for students who have completed an undergraduate degree and are able to demonstrate their rural origins. An interview is required for this entry, which explores their aptitude for medical studies and their commitment to rural practice. Applicants for these 15 places need to apply for the Doctor of Medicine directly through the University of Melbourne (and not through GEMSAS).

Satisfying the entry requirements does not guarantee an offer to study.

How to apply

Applications for the 2025 intake will open in May 2024.

Find out more

Doctor of Medicine Rural Pathway Information Session: 2025 Intake

When:  Thursday 18 April 2024, 6.00-7.00pm (Melbourne, Australia Time)

Hear from key academics at the Melbourne Medical School and learn more about the MD Rural Pathway. This will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions, meet our current students and find out more about their MD Rural Pathway experiences.

Watch recording

Please contact us if you have an enquiry about the MD Rural Pathway.

Eligible applicants from a rural background who wish to apply to the University of Melbourne under the MD Rural Pathway (Graduate Entry) option are required to submit an application directly via the University.

Program eligibility

To be eligible for selection, you must meet the following requirements:

• Within the past 10 years, completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline;
• Provide evidence of having resided rurally or regionally, according to principal home address, for at least 5 years consecutively or 10 years cumulatively;
• Minimum GPA of 5 – depending on GPA results, you may be invited to a rural-specific Multi Mini Interview (MMI).

MD Rural Pathway (Graduate Entry) applicants are not required to undertake the GAMSAT.

Frequently asked questions

Meet Yong Deng – Doctor of Medicine (Rural Pathway) student

Yong completed his first year of the Doctor of Medicine degree in Shepparton as part of the first cohort of the Rural Pathway program. Prior to embarking on his second year, we spoke to Yong about his time so far and how he found his first year of the Doctor of Medicine (Rural Pathway). You can read the full interview below:

Meet Yong Deng

About Rural Health

The Department of Rural Health operates within the Melbourne Medical School at the University of Melbourne.

Our purpose is to provide professional health education and research training in rural areas with an aim to increase the rural health workforce. We work closely with the local community and healthcare partners to deliver on a shared vision to increase, support and retain the rural health workforce. Our partnerships and community involvement underpin our teaching and research.

Explore Rural Health

More information

• Doctor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne

Eligible applicants from a rural background who wish to apply for the MD Rural Pathway (Undergraduate Entry) option should refer to the information contained on La Trobe University's Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) webpage. If you have any questions about the requirements for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) course, please contact La Trobe University.