Prior Degree
All applicants are required to have completed or be in the final year of a bachelors degree, either from an Australian university, or from another tertiary institution of equivalent standard. The degree may be in any area of study and there are no specific topics or subjects required as Medicine prerequisites. For those in the final year of study, satisfactory completion of the degree will be a condition for entry.
Strong performance in the bachelors degree is an important indicator of the intellectual abilities necessary for admission to medicine and in ranking applicants after interview, the weighted grade point average (wGPA) in that degree makes a significant contribution to overall selection score. The wGPA, based on the last 3 full-time equivalent years of study in the most recently completed bachelors degree (including an Honours year if applicable), is determined by weighting final year studies x3, studies in the second last year x2 and studies in the first of the three years x 1.
No other qualifications (eg. M.Sc., Ph.D.) will be included in the wGPA calculations: the varied structures and grading systems of such degrees make valid comparison of grades across different programs and institutions difficult. Higher degrees may, of course, provide experience that is relevant and valuable and thus help a candidate's interview performance.
International applicants do not need to calculate a GPA. The Flinders University International Office will do this, based on official transcripts from undergraduate studies.
Admissions test
All applicants will be required to submit results of a medical school admissions test. The admissions test is essential not only to ensure that commencing students understand the principles and vocabularies of the basic disciplines that underpin the medical course, but also to act as the major discriminator in the admissions process.
International applicants may take either GAMSAT or the North American Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The tests are related in format and content and neither will be given preference in the selection of international students.
GAMSAT is held annually (in March) in all Australian capital cities (and in Townsville) and in selected centres overseas which cater for international candidates and Australian residents living overseas. Information, application forms and sample and practice questions for GAMSAT are available from the GAMSAT website. We are only able to accept applications if GAMSAT results are available by the end of June.
For international applicants MCAT testing will be available on a variety of dates throughout the year. May 31 is the last test date from which results should be available sufficiently close to the Flinders direct application deadline of June 15, 2012. MCAT testing is conducted in numerous overseas countries. Information about MCAT testing is available from the MCAT Program Office. For international applications MCAT scores from the 3 years prior to the June 15 application deadline are acceptable (ie back to August 2009 for an application submitted for 2013). Unfortunately we cannot accept applications unless MCAT results are available by the end of June.
A GAMSAT test score will remain valid for two years. If a candidate attempts the test more than once, the applicant has a choice of which of the two valid total scores will be used. All applicants will be required to achieve a minimum standard in each section of either test in order to be considered further in the admissions process. This threshold will be determined annually after percentile equivalents and relevant statistical information becomes available.
Applications
Details for submission of applications and subsequent steps are outlined under Application and Selection Process for international applicants.
