South Australia Rural Medical Program

Applicants will be offered a place at either Mt Gambier or the Riverland as their home campus for years 1 and 2. 

The first two years of the course aims to start to develop the student's basic biomedical knowledge, the application of that knowledge and to demonstrate their ability to;

• make simple decisions about patients
• communicate
• understand the Australian Health Care System
• become a self-regulated learner
• become a responsible group member and leader
• demonstrate appropriate professionalism

Students will be required to live in the region they are offered in years 1 and 2, in order to attend regular face to face teaching, including a mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, practical sessions, project work and independent study.  

There is no relocation assistance or subsidised accommodation available for students moving to their home campus. Students needing accommodation are strongly encouraged to contact local real estate agents in preparation. 

Year 3 of the program includes a longitudinal work integrated learning clinical placement offered as a continuum over the year.  This placement is based on the highly successful initiative by Flinders University to introduce medical students to the rigours, benefits, challenges and rewards of rural and regional medicine.

The program, formerly known as the MD Rural Stream, has produced medical professionals of the highest standard, many returning to regional locations to make their homes within the community. 

The broad, integrated, flexible nature of the clinical years will ideally suit students who thrive in a learning environment that encourages and supports self-regulated learning, learning in small groups, agility, autonomy, responsibility and cooperative involvement in the ongoing care and life of individuals, their families and rural communities.

Students will be principally attached to a general practice but will make extensive use of other rural health care facilities, including hospitals, community outreach agencies, Aboriginal medical services and health centres.

Students will preference to study years 3 and 4 in one of the following rural regions. 

• Riverland
• Greater Green Triangle
• Hills, Mallee, Fleurieu
• Barossa Valley

Preferences will be considered but are not guaranteed.

For students who are allocated to a different rural region in years 3 and 4, a relocation reimbursement will be available. The University offers subsidised accommodation across the regions for clinical placements.

Year 4 in the program includes work integrated learning clinical placements offered as a continuum over the year. Students undertake supervised experience within a variety of disciplines and participate in a range of activities in clinical settings, attend lectures, tutorials and undertake self-directed learning. Students will focus on acquiring important knowledge and principles in all clinical disciplines and developing their ability to diagnose and manage common clinical problems.

Students will undertake 6 x 6 week rotations in various disciplines within the rural clinical setting.

They will also participate in intensives and intern shadowing to prepare them for internship.

Yes — access to a vehicle is strongly recommended.

Public transport in rural South Australia is limited, and students are responsible for getting to placements and scheduled learning activities.

Students gain hands-on experience in:

• Rural general practice
• Local hospitals
• Community health services
• Ward rounds
• Specialist clinics
• Supervised procedural work
• Emergency and inpatient care

Students have access to dedicated rural campus support staff, onsite rural counsellors, academic support services, health and wellbeing services and online student support resources. More information is available via the Support and Services Directory

Students are encouraged to become part of the local community through sporting clubs, rotary and service clubs, volunteering, arts and music groups, local events and Flinders student clubs and regional activities.

Flinders University is a leader in providing medical education and established the first South Australian Rural Clinical School in Renmark in 1997. The SARM program is the first of its kind in South Australia where students can complete their entire degree outside of metropolitan Adelaide.  

Up to 60 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are offered each year. 30 places will be offered in Mount Gambier and 30 offered in Renmark. Priority entry is given to South Australian rural residents, particularly residents of the regions where the program is offered including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander residents. South Australians from other locations are strongly encouraged to apply as are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants from anywhere in Australia. Rural residents from other Australian States and Territories and applicants with a strong interest in working rurally following graduation are also eligible to apply.

The program is not available to international applicants.

Click here Flinders University MD Domestic Application Guide 2027 for further information on how to apply.

No. Due to strict allocation of places in the Doctor of Medicine program, there is no availability to transfer from the SARM Program to the Flinders Medical Program run in metropolitan SA or the Northern Territory Medical Program. There might be potential to undertake clinical placements (years 3 and 4) in the NT, however this is by negotiation. 

There are formal exit pathways out of the MD under extenuating circumstances.