Medicine

MBBS is probably the best and quickest route that a student could take to become a doctor. It’s also not as known in Canada so even knowing that this program exists is niche and special as a Canadian. Knowledge is genuinely power. Instructors, as mentioned in the previous question put students first. They want us to succeed. There are soo many clubs offered here and I am involved in almost every single one about medicine because there are Balls, Events, and Tips and Tricks night in succeeding in medicine, not just boring meetings once in a fortnight.

JCU is an amazing university where students come first. Everything is accommodating for students, as well as the services that are offered in residences and on campus. Moreover, since this university is a in a small town, there are vouchers and student discounts everywhere you go. And everything is accessible, even in town which is but a 30 min bus ride for 1.50$. They also offer student care, with a GP office on campus, counselling services, post office, hair salon, pharmacy, and everything one could need.

As a current student in the MBBS program at James Cook University, I can say that this journey has been both rewarding and transformative. Here’s my personal take on what makes JCU stand out:

Curriculum and Learning Experience
From day one, the program integrates basic sciences with clinical practice, which I found incredibly beneficial. Instead of waiting years to see patients, we’re in clinical settings early on. This hands-on experience really helps us apply what we learn in lectures to real-world situations. The problem-based learning approach encourages teamwork and critical thinking, which are essential skills in medicine.

Focus on Rural and Remote Health
One of the unique aspects of JCU is its strong emphasis on rural and remote health. I’ve had the chance to participate in placements in various communities, including indigenous health settings. This focus not only broadens our clinical experience but also instills a sense of purpose. It feels great to know we’re being trained to address healthcare disparities.

I couldn’t be happier with my choice to study MBBS at JCU. The combination of practical training, a strong community focus, and supportive faculty creates an environment where we can thrive as future healthcare professionals. If you’re looking for a program that prepares you for real-world challenges while fostering a sense of purpose, I highly recommend JCU.

My advice for future Canadian or American students coming into the MBBS program at JCU is to not be afraid. Embrace the journey ahead! The transition to studying medicine in a different country can feel daunting, but you’ll find that people here are incredibly welcoming and always willing to help.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your professors and classmates; they genuinely want to see you succeed. Building a support network is key, so make lots of friends. These connections will not only enrich your experience but also provide you with a valuable support system during the challenges of medical school. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey—everyone is in it together, and collaborating with others can make all the difference. Enjoy every moment, and best of luck!

I like the supportive teaching staff and placement opportunities. Being close to a renowned hospital is inspiring too. However, class material is unorganized, and the rest of the university feels rather small and uneventful relative to most Canadian schools. Don’t expect great resource organization by the medical school, but expect supportive teaching staff. Also, reach out and get to know upper year Canadian med schoolmates because we’d love to help and get to know our incoming Canadians!

UWA is a good school. The campus is beautiful and Perth is lovely. The instruction we receive at the medical school is decent. There is a mixed bag of professors ranging from excellent to sub-par. As with lots of medical schools, it requires a lot of self-teaching. There is a variety of experiences afforded to students, and I appreciate the emphasis placed on personal development and problem solving.

I love living on the Gold Coast, so much you can do around the uni. Level 6 study rooms are very popular and if you want one you will probably have to go to uni early. Library is ok, the quiet spaces are way better than the common areas. The program is very unorganized and I feel like there’s always budget cuts. You’ll find a great bond with the other students in your cohort because you’re all going through the same things. The set pathways for the first yr and a half are so odd to me but you’ll find your friends regardless!

A large ability to learn on our own time, with most lectures being recorded. Most of the instructors are very knowledgeable and approachable. Sometimes course structure feels disjointed but they have done a lot to improve it since the change last year. Campus facilities are average but access to outdoor facilities are amazing. There are many club and event opportunities. Location of the university is ok, close to the city but still have to take the bus or drive all the way around because of the river. Prepare to use a lot of your time learning and reviewing outside of class. It is quite easy to make friends especially within the cohort do not worry about making friends.

Macquarie University’s MD program has good clinical skills facilities. You have enough tools and resources to practice your clinical skills. The anatomy component (especially if it is your first exposure) is the most challenging and does not have much extra support or studying access outside your scheduled labs. There are many opportunities to join clubs and there are events that occur almost every month for student engagement. I love the small cohort component the most as we build stronger connections to our peers which helps build a supportive system in a difficult program. I disliked the organization of the program as it could be improved upon. Most of the lectures for applied sciences are online, self-directed. The application of these lectures are taught in anatomy practicals. These together are fast paced learning and can be difficult for those learning anatomy and physiology for the first time. The clinical practice component is more enjoyable as it is hands-on learning within smaller tutorial groups where you practice on one another, on models, and we learn from clinicians directly. If you can get exposure to anatomy and physiology earlier, I would recommend that.

Great facilities and teaching, good learning experience. However administration is very slow and there are many delays. Great education and program but be prepared to work hard and take initiative for administrative tasks.

Good instructors, all online recorded lectures, not too much workload. Very supportive, big, many facilities, but buildings are a bit outdated/not modern, many hills & staircases.

The instructors for my first year have been pretty good! They are easy to approach and are each very enthusiastic and passionate about the module they teach. The clinical skills training I think is the most valuable and exciting! Communication skills, Vital signs, Basic life support are just some of the things we covered in our first year as a medical student for the Clinical aspects. I also underwent my first placement at a sports clinic which was pretty exciting and great way to get first hand experience on our careers! There are a number facilities on campus. I am mostly a gym/basketball person. They have outdoor basketball courts which is great but I was sad to realize that there was no indoor basketball courts! The gym is not the fanciest but it does the job! All in all, it has the facilities but you just got to make it work! Do not hesitate to fulfill your careers and aspirations by taking on a new chapter in your life in Australia!

Amazing! Lots of focus on what you actually need for a future in medicine. Smaller cohorts in classes, so great opportunities for questions and collaboration. Good, accessible.

The facilities on Deakin Waurn Campus are great in terms of anatomy and pathology labs and group learning space. The only downside is a lack of comfortable study space for medical students only. I’m not a super club oriented person but there are SO many medical clubs available as well as just general hobby clubs on campus! I love how supportive the school and teachers are, they will always understand if you have a health issue going on and always want you to prioritize yourself and your wellbeing. They always reach out to people who struggled after assignments to get a plan in place on how to get back on track. They are also up front about assignments and their rubrics etc., The only downside for me is the sheet number of non-medicine related written assignments they require which take a lot of time.

The University of Sydney is a great place to learn. My experience as a first-year student in the Doctor of Dental Medicine course has been very positive. Teachers are very friendly and seem to love what they do. It makes the learning experience all the better.

Really lovely campus, probably one of the most beautiful in the world. Good facilities and plentiful student resources. Quality of teaching and curriculum structure could be improved, but faculty are willing to listen and make changes accordingly.

The instructors in the Doctor of Medicine are often clinicians/industry experts that have a wealth of knowledge. I will admit, some are not meant to be teachers, however you will soon learn which instructors are good, and which ones that you might want to…find external study resources for. The hands on training is phenomenal, even as a small uni, they still manage to have great simulation facilities and even cadaver labs. The course structure will be very confusing at first, given that it is spiral and PBL based. What this means is that each week there is a different theme for medicine the PBLs are based on, and that is what we learn for that week. The spiral refers to the way the topics comeback around later in the year, thus some PBLs may have some overlapping topics (which is good, because then you can apply what you have learned in the past). This is in contrast with other schools… who do block learning (this involves having a single block for topics such as cardio, GI, neuro, etc.). While some people may love this method, I much prefer Notre Dame’s spiral method (we have a saying here. “Trust in the spiral”). Additionally, the medical society and the staff are incredibly supportive (like, I don’t recall ever having this much support before). The upper years are happy to share their knowledge with you, and there are even resources from previous years that worked well for the students in the past. The medical society is great at hosting events that bring together all the students to make you feel quite included.

Although Notre Dame is a smaller school itself, UNDA in Sydney is quite small compared to the one in Fremantle. This could initially be concerning to students (i.e., accreditation, reputation, etc.), but you will soon realise that being at a smaller university has many advantages. For one, you will have so many more opportunities to get involved compared to the big schools. The bigger schools may have a more competitive process for things, whereas UNDA is happy to have you involved wherever you can be. The facilities are quite nice as well. There are courtyards that you can relax at, basketball hoop, study spots, etc. Student Life (the team that handles things related to students) often hosts events exclusively for international students as well, so keep an eye out for those!

The program allows us to get lots of clinical exposure starting early on and the blocks are structured in a week to week structure that is consistent. There are program specific clubs to get involved in and lots of events to network and meet new people in upper years as well as working professionals. The program is structured so that there are no barrier exams and we get to be in a clinical setting starting from year 1. Beautiful campus. Lots of clubs and events to get involved in. Not a lot of food options and everything on campus is pricey.

I like that the university is small but that also has its drawbacks. At this moment, I do not feel like cattle in a farm but an exotic bird at a rich person’s home where I do get individual attention. I like to go to the gym but there isn’t one at the university which was a bit challenging but the university set up a partnership with a local gym. I am not a fan of their grading system since most of the grading occurs at the end of the year and that leaves little room for error throughout the year. I would say that medical school is hard, in general, wherever you go. I would recommend this university because they seem to be more holistic in their approach towards medicine in that they want compassionate doctors and not just doctors who know the technical information.

The instructors are great but it might be challenging getting used to the Australian accent in the beginning. There are a variety of instructors from different fields. There isn’t too much hands-on training in first year, mainly learning the fundamental concepts and shadowing a doctor. The course follows the PBL model with Spiral learning. There are great student clubs but I personally have been trying to limit that and focus on the coursework since it is a lot. I would attend events whenever I can like surgical events, emergency medicine and chaplaincy. I love that they bring in very accomplished people for their lectures and events. Some speakers won awards from the army, others from the government, others from different countries. It definitely is a humbling experience to be in the same room as these change makers.

I would personally recommend studying Anatomy, Histology and practicing some clinical skills before coming here. These are the areas I personally spend more time on so it might save you some stress when you get here. Apart from that, things are expensive over here if you are Canadian. I would say that this is a good option in the grade scheme of things as you can work afterwards as a junior doctor to potentially pay of any debt and the education is valued.

Great student population and excellent research opportunities. General feeling of a lack of support from the university itself… I highly recommend using third party lecture sources for your learning. GP and hospital placements are fantastic though, very supportive educators at these sites, and plenty of opportunities to learn on site. Probably the highlight of my experience so far. There are quite a few student interest clubs and sports clubs, which is a plus.

Monash University, specifically the grad med program, is a very close-knit group experience that takes away the stress from getting specific grades and actually gives you the proper hands-on training as early as possible to become better medical professionals, something most others schools do not offer. Instructors are very calm and patient and absolutely willing to teach.

JCU is a great university. The course is run over six years so it’s more relaxed than condensed 4 year courses. You start placement in 1st year which is amazing getting that clinical experience early. Most universities don’t start placement till second or third year medicine. I love the early clinical exposure, especially in rural and tropical health settings. Instructors are experienced and approachable, though some could be more accessible. The course structure is intense but well-organized, blending theory and practice from the start.

I love it! The people, the class content, the amount of work, etc. Though it depends on the class, work generally moves quickly so you need to stay on top of it. Come at it with a positive attitude and an open mind!

I appreciated the efficiency of the team in getting back to me as well as the constant updates in information about making this big move. When I received my first acceptance, I was so happy!

The student body is amazing, supportive, and very friendly. The staff at the school of medicine care about their students, and actually listen to feedback and work so that you feel well supported in your journey to becoming a doctor. The program is engaging, with lots of face-to-face time with staff, and fellow students. There is a wide-variety of teaching methodologies implemented within the course, from anatomy labs, to small-groups, to didactic lectures. This ensures that there is something for everyone at the school. Of course, given the nature of medicine – the course is fast-paced, and stressful at times. But the school, and your peers, offer tremendous support during these times. My only critique is that the school is looking to remove some teaching sessions which involve how to think critically in the clinical space. I thought that this aspect of the course was extremely beneficial, and I am sad that it may be removed. The student body is, however, working to retain this aspect of the course.

Deakin university offers beautiful campuses, and study spaces, in Geelong. The proximity to major cities (Melbourne), tourist attractions (Torquay Beaches), and national parks (You Yangs, Grampians) makes it a wonderful spot to study.

The profs are amazing and they help you so much. You really feel a sense of community here. It’s been an amazing experience and I’m learning so much here. Everyone is extremely nice and I feel so supported.

The UQ medicine program started off a bit chaotic in that the faculty was not entirely transparent about what was important to focus on, whether readings were mandatory etc. The classes felt disjointed and content was spread over different disciplines. However, after the first few weeks, the order of things was a lot more clear and the learning/teaching was more streamlined. It’s valuable to take advice from upper years, but always take it with a grain of salt as the program was changed significantly last year and changes are constantly being made. That being said, faculty is very open to feedback and take constructive criticism from students. There are some amazing facilitators and tutors who have made my experience with the medical content very fun and enjoyable. There are lots of clubs and events to be a part of so there is always something to do depending on your interest. The cohort is also very diverse with a large chunk from the USA & Canada, so I always feel very much at home. Overall, the content can be tough but it is manageable and I’ve made some amazing friends and memories this year!

The UQ campus is very beautiful! The campus is quite large so it can take 10-15 mins to get from one side to the other. Buildings are air-conditioned during the summer but it can also get very cold so carry a light sweater! There’s three ways to get on campus – two bus stops as well as a ferry stop which is pretty unique! Plenty of clubs and teams to get involved in depending on your interest so you’re spoiled for choice. There’s also lots of pretty great study spots and libraries, but they can get busy around exam time as with most universities.

The course structure is a mix of lecture, labs, and small group learning. Tutors are matched up with each small group and they bring their real life experience to help us learn and work through case studies. There are many school events that take place to keep students engaged and included. I dislike the structure of the classes/ lectures as the lecturers don’t always get through the content in their time slot. I also find that sometimes lecturers assume that students have prior knowledge regarding complex topics. So sometimes it is necessary to do my own research after lectures to ensure that I understand the basic before the complexities.

The international students at Notre Dame are incredibly supported by staff and faculty. The transition to living and going to school in Australia was made seamless by the abundance of support received from the university. Notre Dame also does small group learning which is my favourite parts of the week. Collaborating with peers is encouraged and facilitated by tutors. Be open to new experiences and come with an open mind. You potentially get to be in the program that you have always wanted and while you’re at it you get to see a new and beautiful country.

Campus is huge and beautiful with lots of food options, amenities, and kind people. The campus is very diverse as well which will make any student comfortable. Many clubs, groups, and events happening every week to cater to any student with any interests. Heavy on medical school prep, can be hard but it all help prepare you for medical school, or dental school! The courses structure are great and many options available with different teaching styles to cater to different learning types. Lots of hands on training which is very interesting to learn and very fun.

Attending Flinders in Adelaide has been a great experience. The campus is big with lots of amenities, the medical studies take place in the hospital on campus which is convenient. The teaching is a mix of academics, researchers and senior clinicians. However, there is a massive emphasis on self directed learning- meaning you need to find your own resources to cover the material that will be tested. So this is something to take note of if you don’t do well with self directed learning. Although, one of the benefits of this is the class schedule is very flexible. Many of my classmates (including myself) work part time during the week and we have access to all lecture material via recordings.

The course itself has been good so far. There are heaps of program specific clubs and societies- everything from medical student music society, surgical society, women in health, psych society, etc. The teaching is a mix between live lectures and pre-recorded lectures, taught by clinicians, researcher, or academics. However, there is a large emphasis and need for self-directed learning. The hands on skills start in first year with learning cardio and respiratory exams, otoscopy, vitals and history taking.

One massive perk for Flinders is they are one of the only medical programs in Australia that still have cadaver dissection for anatomy. Many schools utilize cadavers but at Flinders, you work in a group and complete all of the dissection on your assigned body, you work with the same cadaver body for over a year! Be prepared for a lot of self-directed learning, you have to be disciplined with it or you could fall behind quickly. The class size is about 200 which means lots of friends to be made! Adelaide is a great city with beaches, good food and right near the vineyards.

Supportive staff and a small-ish cohort, lots of opportunity to get involved in the learning process and other ways to get involved outside of classes. Course structure is broken down nicely, you find that a lot of the content that you learn initially keeps coming up in different blocks, and the concepts build on each other. Really enjoy the clinical teaching when they have doctors from the region come in and give lectures.

Sometimes feels like the ratio of instructors/support staff to students is lacking in the lab settings, was less of an issue in the first semesters when we had upper year students in the labs able to answer questions as well.

Lots of different clubs you can join that are specific to different interests you may have (GP, Paeds, OBGYN, Surg, EMD etc.) and they host heaps of events throughout the semester which is a good way to connect with other students who may have similar interests. Take advantage of the support that is provided to you early and try to get involved in some clubs to try and keep a bit of balance between studying and not studying.

I like the social environment of the school, there’s lots of events, and the other students both and my year and upper years are super supportive and open to sharing notes and study strategies, which makes for a great learning environment. I feel like I’m overall learning what I need to. It just feels a bit unorganized sometimes, and a lot of lecture time is devoted to things that yes are helpful but not testable, and sometimes I wish they would spend more time on teaching us instead of expecting you to learn it outside of class time.

The school is well-equipped, but the campus is very large, and the cohort is big. Most instructors are excellent, passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. Problems arise in trying to organize the timetable for the entire cohort and satisfy every student.

This new program is a bit of a hiccup and there was a lot to navigate through this first year, but the program and content itself is superb. I love that we get early engagement with patients and learn how to do physical examinations, history taking, and other clinical skills.

The University of Sydney has been amazing. I love the teaching, the small clinical school sizes, the independent learning, the campus, the city and the opportunities.

I like the facilities and services, and campus is beautiful. There are definitely a lot of benefits of this program…. there were some kinks to work out especially in the beginning, however communication with the faculty is much improved now. It’s working better now and I’m liking it more now!

The Sydney medical program is modern. Education structure enables you to work at your own pace and take care of yourself with extracurricular activities. Exposure to patients and in first year gives you more time to get used to actually interacting with patients, and you learn more about how medical care in a hospital works. USyd campus is most beautiful campus. Sydney weather is amazing. Dislike: Expensive.

Like the physical campus, majority of the classes are good, bit challenging though because they have started this brand new program which really wasn’t what I was anticipating when entering Medical school, like the small groups we are assigned as that gives you a sense of belonging and friendship when learning (groups of 10), dislike that some of the classes are taught in workshop format and not many students engage in the discussions. Go in with an open mind and don’t let others opinions on the program impact your learning experience, if you’re enjoying it then enjoy it! You worked hard to get here.

Campus is well maintained and student activities are constant. Enthusiastic professors and good mix of lectures/labs/small group workshops. The lecture/assessment schedule could be revised as workload fluxes quite a bit during the semester, making for some light weeks and some stressful weeks. Used spaced repetition to keep on top of content, go to the WAMSS social events, play a sport or join a club, and schedule in beach days.

I like that being a top tier school I get lots of opportunities for research, networking, etc. with top doctors. I wish the MD students had more resources on campus, such as more and nicer study space. I like that the new program has become pass/fail so I can dedicate more time to networking opportunities and extracurriculars. This year they started a new program and it definitely has a lot of hiccups that I wish we didn’t have to endure and it is very difficult to do the extra study required for USMLE. …check out events held by clubs like UQ Incision, Radiology Interest Group, etc. and get out there and participate because you learn so much, it’s a lot of fun, and they are things you can add to your CV!

UQ is amazing—teaching, resources, opportunities…everything is cutting edge. It’s really an amazing institution. It’s a dream come true to study medicine. Are you kidding me? Dislike?? I love it!

I like the class sizes. It’s very close-knit and I really like how the staff is willing to listen and respond to our concerns. Teaching methods, especially guest lectures, need improvement, as well as scheduling/timetabling needs improvement. You’ll definitely feel welcomed on campus because there are already so many people from Canada here in the medical program.

Beautiful campus, so close to transport and shops, well funded facilities for the medicine program! It’s rewarding to have chosen a program with a smaller cohort where I can be known by my peers and tutors. The program itself is innovative and values global health, clinical competence and collaboration. Students even got to have small group meetings with the university’s Vice Chancellor who formerly practiced as a paediatric geneticist to ask questions and hear about his career, wisdom, and the design of the program!

Like: class size, city, curriculum, teaching methods and course materials—they are pretty straight forward about it! A little disorganized in terms of scheduling.

Big campus, great city, awesome people, small class sizes, professors are all well-known clinicians, and lots of activities and clubs, but not much support for international students.

I love the campus and, the facilities and the location of the university. I dislike the disorganization of the administration at times. Program has been very enjoyable so far. I do enjoy the extra time being spent on developing clinical skills in our first year.

It was very clear method of applying. The team at OzTREKK were able to get back to me quickly with any inquiries. They also provided updated emails and helped guide me through the admission process.

Campus itself is really nice, amazing facilities and lecture halls/clinical rooms. I do dislike that gym memberships are not included in tuition; tuition is of course very high and it should be included as it was at [my old university]. Great support systems and very good lecturers/clinical tutors. Nothing I particularly dislike, medical school is tough and so it can be frustrating at times academically but that’s to be expected!

I love how we get exposed to placements and clinical skills in first year. Not much to dislike! [I recommend you] start practicing a good work ethic because once you fall behind it’s difficult to catch up again. But also remember it’s okay to have some fun. You just need to find a good balance.

Love location, easy of access, school community feel. Like class since new course outline, so they’re still working out some organization kinks. Most teachers are good, but there are so many online resources that are also good, so find what works for you. Look into additional resources AnKing, Ninja Nerd, Boards and Beyond,

Love the city. Classmates and teachers are great too. Love the course. Dislikes include sometimes vague expectations and wish there were more patient interactions. Like dissection and clinical skills classes. Dislike that class sizes are bigger than I anticipated. Australia is a great option. The people here are great and the teachers are approachable. Much more laid back compared to Canadian institutions.

I like that the campus has many nice facilities and is also very scenic. I also like that the University is big and well established. I like that there is a large cohort with many different students to connect with, and in particular I like that there is a large international student cohort. I also like that there are opportunities to do rotations internationally in 3rd and 4th year. What I dislike is that this year the program has been re-designed so things are not super smooth yet and a lot of things can be done to improve such as adjusting course material to be more medical science focused, etc. Try to connect with current students here and get advice from them on how to adjust to adjust to living in Brisbane and transition into starting the program. There are many medical clubs that med students may be interested in such as the GP club, the surgery one, etc.

University of Melbourne allows MD1s to do placements in first year which is unheard of at a lot of Canadian Medical Schools. The course is pass/fail as well and the hospitals are all really good quality. Lecture qualities aren’t really useful, so a lot of independent learning is required, but the tutors are really keen to help and the peer support is outstanding. Everyone’s in it together. There is a lot of background knowledge required at the University of Melbourne. There’s no need to do extra prep before starting, but be prepared for a steep learning curve and don’t feel discouraged. Make sure you stay active in peer tutoring because it’s so valuable! The upper years are so helpful.

I like the events held for medical students throughout the school year. I like the schedule mixture of lectures, labs, and practicals. The biggest adjustment for myself was not medical school but moving to a new country knowing no one. Go out and make friends with EVERYONE not just fellow Canadians. Do what you like to do. I used to sing, so I joined the medical theatre club.

Likes – fairly close to city center (15 min bus), large beautiful campus like back in Canada, the weather, supplemental exams are given so you can have a second chance before officially failing a course, if you fail a course you can still repeat and continue in medicine (lots of worst-case backup plans if things don’t go as planned), professors are extremely approachable and helpful, libraries open 24/7.

Nice facilities. Small classes allow great instructor interactions, hands-on experiences and better connections with classmates. Medicine is challenging but very doable. You have been studying hard and if you keep doing that you will have no problems.

Love it here. Love the program. Tip: Prepare months before arrival.

I like the campus, facilities, peers, many of the learning experiences. The organization between subjects sometimes feels disconnected. Large cohort has positive and negative aspects – you are bound to find people you get along with, but the size of the cohort takes away from the intimacy of the program. Make yourself aware of the possibilities post grad, what is required for your goals, and the reality of the challenges to getting there (e.g., matching back to Canada).

I like the amount of support students get, I dislike how terrible their budgeting is. I like the hands on nature, but I dislike the other younger kids that clearly shouldn’t have been admitted. Get ready to study outside all day, it’s hot. Don’t worry about making friends, you’re now the exotic one!

Receptive staff, very supportive peers, good facilities. Dislike: needs more study areas, more plug points, certain staff members have poor teaching skills. Come in with an open, positive attitude because building community will make or break your experience. Don’t be afraid to make friends with the Australians too, because it’ll be very tempting to stay in Canadian circles. Work hard, but remember this is a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s important to have fun and socialize.

I love UQ and Australia. Although this year has been a bit challenging with the role out of the new program, I think it’s to be expected that not everything will be perfect. I have mostly enjoyed the classes, and getting to live abroad. Class size can be a little overwhelming. In addition, I was placed in a “learning community” which is significantly out of town and requires a car for transport by year 3. This is an additional expense that I did not initially account for. For future students: Continue to stay focused, find a mutually beneficial group of friends to avoid the hysteria. It’s what you make of it!

Rapid communication, available to assist with applications and any clarifications.

The online lectures let me stay ahead one week all year in terms of content which really helped with stress levels and overall learning experience for me. Very self paced. They put the onus on us as students to study for our success essentially on our own timeline. A lot of the lectures are quite outdated.

Like: small cohort, good teaching staff Like: living on campus with friends; Dislike: rural setting, difficult to get to places.

I love the university. The staff are great and the curriculum is excellent.

Great teachers and straight to the subject. Dislike – No meal plan. Lots to study, high quality education.

I like the small class sizes (professors get to know you on a personal level), love TBL learning (MD at Flinders is split into blocks).

Small classes (just under 100 for the cohort but 20-40 for tutorials), very welcoming and friendly staff and student community, love being rural in first year, lots of hands-on learning (clinical skills, placement at the hospital, and cadaver labs). Being in Churchill for first year has been a really calm place to study but still has a solid library, study spaces, and gym facilities.

Unfortunately, there’s the expectation that students travel to Melbourne 1-3 times per month for the cadaver session. The program is fast-paced and stressful because it’s just one year of class-based learning before three years on placement, but we get enough holiday time.

They picked me up right from the airport when I landed, kept me updated with Covid info, have beautiful campuses, really tight knit student groups.

I love how helpful, kind and accommodating everyone is in the med cohort. The profs are also amazing and supportive, which has made the program enjoyable so far. The entire university shares one library and it is often tough to find a spot to study. I love that there is no competition at all amongst the students. This creates a very collaborative environment. Griffith med focuses a lot on communication skills so I am learning much more than just the science of medicine. The instructors are quite supportive.

The campus is amazing and we have great pathology labs & cadaver labs. Smaller class size compared to some other universities is a big bonus, instructors are great and I feel really well-supported by the dean of medicine & international sub-dean.

Facilities are good, services are good as well. In terms of organized activities the student body is tight knit. More opportunities are given in later years, which I can understand. It is nice to have the home group structure at JCU, it really connects the students. The rural aspect isn’t as jarring as it sounded on paper and overall I love JCU. Class sizes are perfect. They are not too large nor small. Teaching methods are fair yet tough, though this is expected given it is medical school. There is a lot of content but it is fair even for someone out of high school. Staying motivated and just connecting with others is important.

Flinders is a great option for medical school because it is laid back in the sense that they want everyone to pass, and if you put in effort you will do well. Adelaide is a relaxed placed to live in, it is not too busy or big. I like how the design is for students to learn, pass fail grading method, not high pressure, but I dislike how it is a bit disorganized and outdated.

Why did I chose Deakin? They definitely value their students and really want to get to know us each and talk with us like they are our peers. They really see us as their equals. We learned from them and they learned from us and I really liked that.

I like the facilities and the teachers who actually do care about their students. Emphasis on mental health is very important and is actually followed through on.

Class size and course material are great. The instructors so far that I have had have been great. The teaching method going forward at Griffith for Med is changing from small group to large group sessions which would affect how people learn.

Good campus, good program. Decent class size.

I like the new facilities and the science teaching.

lots of services, good culture, needs more support for internationals, help with studying (how to study more effectively). decent class size (130) small groups for building connections. Quite a few clubs available. Im part of the Skill it Kitchen – learn to plan and make affordable and nutritious foods.

Great facilities, instructors and program, especially the dissection component. Be prepared to undergo a lot of self-regulated learning i.e finding own resources, learning from peers, etc.

Facilities on campus have been great. Educational materials are also great. (Personally) dislike how small the campus is compared to Canadian universities. Instructors and staff are fantastic and open. I wish class sizes would be smaller.

Big North American cohort. I truly like Brisbane as a city and think it is a great city to do a med degree. Almost all classes and lectures can be done async. The admin is pretty terrible.  The course material is fine. No school truly has great lectures or resources. Most depend on online material. I think it is flexible enough that lets you get what you need out of it. I think exams are pretty fair, there are no tricks.

It has a beautiful campus but its far from the ocean compared to others. Its very comprehensive and attentive to the students, but I feel like some of the exam questions they use are very specific to the program and not useful anywhere else

It’s in an amazing location, being super close to the inner city. It has a very unique clinical placement program for first-year students.

The UQ campus and Brisbane are beautiful and I love studying and living here. UQ has so many supports in place for students like myself with accessibility needs, even more so than Canadian unis I think. There’s less Canadian-specific support or clubs than I expected, at least in the med program, but that doesn’t mean guidance and information don’t exist. A lot of the lectures and activities are online coming out of COVID, which can’t really be helped, but on the plus side it’s worked wonders for a flexible schedule which I’ve been using to explore clubs and research-participation opportunities.

The classes have been mostly online and recorded with the option to attend in-person, which has been amazing for my schedule and accessibility needs. I really enjoy the Case Based Learning groups where we do more clinically-relevant problem solving and Clinical Practice, but I believe both are changing with the new curriculum next year for the incoming cohort. The lectures are wide in scope and can feel a little disjointed with the plethora of information, but the more practical classes are fascinating. I was ok just coming out of a Biomedical Sciences degree, but some friends who haven’t studied anatomy in a while struggled to keep up with the fast pace. Regardless of any challenges however, there’s so many resources given to the students, whether its meeting with profs, using library or med hub resources, or those passed down from cohort to cohort, if you have the drive to learn, you’ll do just fine.

I love my university. I always wanted to be doctor and this program is perfect for me.

Instructors do care. They put in effort in improving their delivery based on our feedback – very receptive to our feedback. Teaching methods are ok – a little inconsistent sometimes with what is “expected” to cover in a sub-module vs what a specific clinician teaches. Tutors for Case Based learning and Clinical practice are amazing and so knowledgeable.

Great community, lots of events, lots of other international students; class sizes are a bit big.

Griffith Med Society is amazing. The supportive community, great location, plenty of activities to do and balanced lifestyle. Only downside is that sometimes it gets really hot here in GC. Class size is just right. Everyone is friendly and cooperative. Med school is hard, but with good company and supportive environment makes everything durable.

Really like the small cohort, the internship in India, the way the program is done (online lectures and in person group activities). You’ll need to be on top of things as a lot has to be done not in class (watching lectures, reading, rework).

The program is standard, and I think it teaches you everything you need to know. You will have to self-study anatomy (there’ an Anki deck in the Drive which is amazing) and keep up with it so you can find the Gross Anatomy Facility useful. The professors are clinicians and academics, so sometimes they can be a hit or miss with regards to their teaching style. The professor (Suja) who teaches Pathology, which is a huge part of the curriculum, is one of the best teachers I have ever had and is incredibly helpful. I don’t think the exams are too difficult if you manage to keep up with material and study throughout the semester; I would definitely recommend using Notion to create Anki decks for every lecture and reviewing them the same day so you won’t fall behind. I also purchased the Step 1 First Aid book which gives you everything that is taught in lectures but reworded, so you can organize your information and get some clarity if the lecture doesn’t make sense. The Cased Based Learning groups which you get assigned to in the beginning of the year are the group you do everything with, from tutorials to clin prac, and CBL sessions themselves are also helpful if you remain on top of the material taught that week. As you go through a case, you will discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment methods for the patient which can help consolidate a lot of the information for you. I definitely think the more you put into this program and your time in Australia, the more you will get out of it. Stay excited!

Stay on top of your lectures as it will make studying for the exams much easier. Go out and have fun, you’re still living your life here, don’t put it on pause for the sake of education!! Get a counsellor and discuss your struggles. The 10 months go by WAY TOO FAST, I feel like I was just arriving to Australia but now First Year is almost done! And trust me, don’t stress too hard if you’re having a difficult time, it will work out just fine.

It’s a gorgeous campus and there are no complaints regarding the services available. You can get free counselling 10x a year which I think is crucial for medical students; I would highly recommend it as starting out with the course load and maintaining your pace while living in a new country can become challenging as you go on. The opportunity for research through the student research portal is also amazing, I didn’t have to cold-email 50 professors to get 0 research opportunities!

I like the university culture and environment.  I like that we have a hybrid learning model and can watch our lectures from home, this frees up a lot of time. I don’t like that the class size is so large because it makes it difficult to get to know people.

The med program at Macquarie is well funded. The building where we have most of our tutorials is new and has great technology. Having the clinic/hospital next door gives you a more rounded experience that most other students wouldn’t get. The tutors are friendly and you learn a lot from them. The program is quite fast paced (as expected) and Macquarie is one of the only universities that doesn’t give students a week off before final exams.

The class sizes are great, compare to other programs. Our cohort has about 70 people, which allows for smaller groups and more time with tutors. The course material can be a bit dense and overwhelming but that’s pretty normal for med school. Each week, we get approx 6 hours worth of online lectures that must be watched, so staying up to date with those, along with your other courses, is a must. Some of the instructors are involved with the program and are constantly around, while other instructors only teach for 1-3 weeks, depending on what block we’re on. The quality of teaching can vary from instructor to instructor.

I’m at Griffith University.  The location of the university is stellar, only a 10 minute tram ride from surfers paradise beach. Tuition is the cheapest I believe of all the Australian medical schools, and the medical building is relatively new and offers modern facilities. All lectures are recorded or pre-recorded, and none of them are mandatory to watch live. if you fail anything there are multiple opportunities to redo the assessment. Program is very supportive of you and wants you to succeed. Anatomy part of the course is great, many cadavers to study off of [and] communication skills training is very thorough. Exams are pass/fail the first two years so you don’t need to worry about maintaining a percentage average (this takes a huge amount of stress away).

Campus itself is quite nice with lots of trees and nature interspersed within it. Very friendly atmosphere. There are two gyms which spreads out the student pop. One of the gyms is open 24/7 so there are no time restrictions on when you may want to work out. very nice outdoor swimming pool, beach volleyball court, basketball court, and two tennis courts. There’s also a race track with all the track and field amenities. lots of places to study and chill. Multiple cafes and places to get food.

I’m glad I accepted my JCU offer and I’m loving it here—the people are super friendly and welcoming. There are lots of Canadians here and the culture is amazing. The material is super fun too. I’ve already attended 2 clinical skills sessions and I just can’t believe I’ve begun my med journey which used to be a dream at one point.

Griffith takes a more holistic approach to medicine and structures the learning directly towards clinical practice, right from day 1. In addition, Griffith combines ethics, stats, and law right in with the medical sciences, which helps us approach cases and patients with a broader understanding.

Great program! Very supportive program with professors always keen to help. So much cool stuff to learn!

University of Sydney is an amazing University with everything a student can ask for. The only issue that I have is that it can be hard to find spaces to study since there is a huge student population. I am definitely enjoying the program at USYD. This is because there are amazing lectures both at the main campus and the teaching hospitals. The only issue is that the program is being changed to an online based one with MD2020 so not everyone is on board with online teaching.

Great weather in Sydney, well renowned institution, and great emphasis on research projects…. The early clinical exposure is really good and allows us to apply our theoretical learning into real clinical and practical applications.

I like USYD. It is a great program with a long history of success. I am enjoying it. I feel like I’m learning a lot and feel that the clinical introduction from an early date has been beneficial to our learning.  Take advantage of all the events that happen to make friends and get the most out of the program.

I do like my university. It is a world-class university in a wonderful city. I love how supportive the students are to each other. The Usyd Med program has such a family-like culture where everyone wants you to do well.

Love it. Weather is great, the cohort is friendly and the campus is really nice. Cons: I recommend self learning (recommended readings on your own and using additional resource like boards and beyond/pathoma even if you are not going to do USMLE). Also, the campus needs more study space. Love the content we are learning and I have a greater appreciation for the medical profession. You will see that some kids in the program are absolutely brilliant and are willing to help you out if you ask.

Yes UQ and the people there are great. There’s some stuff that the students complain about, but I’ve never been to another med school, and I imagine each has their flaws. I realize the rankings are relatively irrelevant, and what you put in is what you’re going to get out anyway…. Certainly some room for improvement, but overall, lots of good instructors and lecturers, and very comprehensive information is supplied.

University of Melbourne is a very good school and their campus is beautiful full of all the amenities that a student might need. It’s also within walking distance to the core business district making it easy to get access to all the city has to offer. Melbourne’s MD program is ranked as one of the best in the world and it’s clear to see why. There are many methods deployed to teach the content. From lectures, to anatomy dissections to lab practicals. With only year being pre clinical, having the extra year being in the hospitals is definitely helpful to becoming a better medical professional!

MQ is a really nice campus, the MD program is a little isolated (closer to the hospital) but that’s okay. It’s in a part of Sydney that doesn’t require you to live deep in the big city which is really nice. Being so close to the mall makes it easy to do all the life things outside of school too (ie. banking, phone plans, grocery shopping – you can do all of that on your lunch or before going home). The MQMD program is fantastic. Being so small it really feels like a little family. The faculty know each of us as individual people and supports us as such. Since it is new there are admin bumps and hiccups – but that happens at every school – and the faculty is really open to feedback.

Love Macquarie University. The campus is beautiful and there is a strong support network available to anyone who needs it. The MD program has been great. With the small class size and great team of staff around us, they give you the tools to succeed, especially in such a stressful program.

I have really nothing but good things to say about the program so far. Griffith has a great med program and the difference from other schools is becoming more apparent (we have the biggest/best funded cadaver/specimen lab in the country, there is a big emphasis on clinical application of knowledge like x-ray interpretation and clinical reasoning from day one). I think I made the right choice coming here.

The facilities are state of the art, the staff are very clearly invested and engaged, and the program takes a very holistic approach. The program relies heavily on self-directed learning which means you’re given guidelines of what you’re expected to know and its up to you to go and learn that information. Some material is supported in lecture but the main idea is to train you to be able to acquire medical knowledge on your own once you’re a practicing physician. I think some students struggle with this but I enjoy the freedom/responsibility given to us and the opposition to spoon-fed teaching like other courses use. 

Gold Coast is also a great place to live, the weather is amazing so it does feel like you’re on holiday most of the time. I’m definitely looking forward to second year though where we have more clinical rotations and hospital shifts.

The medical program itself and my interactions with other students and faculty have really increased my confidence in my abilities. Australia is a beautiful country that has a lot to offer. There is fantastic clinical exposure, an amazing cohort of students I call colleagues and friends, and a supportive faculty who are passionate about teaching and training the next generation of doctors.

Griffith is super supportive of their students. We have had 11 sessions on studying smart, making sure we know who to go to for help, the various resources and support systems on available to us. In almost every one of our intro lectures, each instructor encourages us to send feedback. From my experience in school this genuine invitation for feedback is almost unheard of.

It is very obvious that Griffith really cares about their students. It’s also more obvious that Griffith values students who are not only intelligent, but also personable, empathetic and team-players. It is a very innovative take on medical curriculum and I can see how much effort the admin has put into the program.

Monash is a great place where live and make friends. It is more than just studying, indeed there are an infinite number of clubs to join and different activities to do. The program is very careful about its students well being and correct coping with the amount of studying to do. Students are then constantly monitored, to be sure that all the support they need is given to them. The people are extremely friendly and welcoming. It is really easy to make friends and share facts, learning about others’ great life events. The weather has also been terrific so far.

Fantastic school, really good opportunity to learn clinical skills.

Right into the hospital ASAP. I get a lot of clinical experience. Additionally, there are many different learning activities so I rarely get tired of any. For example, the pathology labs, the team-based learning classes, clinical days, anatomy labs, lectures, and seminars.

Pros: large university with a very active campus so there is always something going on within the med program and beyond. World class lecturers teaching challenging material is very cool and rewarding. The anatomy labs and cadavers are an amazing tool to study anatomy and the staff is incredible. Cons: Organization of the lecture material sometimes seems thrown together without much thought so flow throughout a block of study can be a bit scattered.

I like how hands on and practical it is from the first weeks of the program and the variety of learning environments offered through the program. The campus is quite large and busy, and there aren’t any devoted spaces for medical students to study or congregate on the main campus outside of lectures. There is a graduate library, but it is small and fills with people in other programs near the ends of their semesters.

The Sydney medical program can be a bit disorganized, but it is very hands on and you are expected to learn things quite fast. Definitely a challenging course but worthwhile.

The University of Sydney is a well-renowened university and the campus is very nice and walkable. The students are well-supported by staff. We have a close relationship with some of the staff, especially at our clinical schools. Despite being away from home, I always feel like someone is looking out for me.

The University is huge, well established and with some very supportive and experienced faculty. Some aspects of the program are disorganised. Time tables change often depending on the block of study and this ends up keeping us on our toes regarding how to study each block. This is especially true when lectures get switched around in an order where more complex topics end up being covered before the intro lectures. The clinical days are extremely useful learning opportunities. One has the opportunity to learn a great deal from the doctors at the clinical school especially if one is able to spend some extra-curricular time there.

I love the university and program. The university has a lot of events and things on campus to help you destress during exam time. It’s also very beautiful with lots of cute coffee shops to do homework at. The one awful thing about UQ is how unbelievably crowded it is. Finding a place on campus to study can be impossible and the place for medical students on the main st. Lucia campus is too small and almost always full to capacity. This is my own big problem with the university. The program is usually fantastic. I love the small groups for learning and the anatomy practicals (although there should be double the amount we’re getting) and the clinical coaching at the hospital. The large class size hasn’t been an issue as far as I’m concerned because everything is done in smaller groups out of lecture. The one problem is sometimes the modules can be disorganized and you might get a little lost if you don’t have the motivation to learn on your own time and search for your own resources. Also, from year to year they’ve been changing the exam formats and it seems like they’re not really sure about how they want to test you. There’s certainly a lot of support though with fellow class mates and the small group tutors if you need it.

The program always teaches me something new everyday. I enjoy hearing from doctors in various disciplines. I have found it valuable to learn about epidemiology and Australian healthcare system. I have found the peer tutorials at UQ valuable part of my learning. I wish there was more teaching done in anatomy practicals rather than self-learning. Also more time in anatomy facility would be awesome.

Everything is actually really really good. I’m surprised at the resources UQ pours into its students. Like, my old university was technically higher ranked on a lot of global indexes, but they didn’t really care as much about students as they do here.

I like the way the program is set up, and the administration seems very open to feedback and suggestions. The clinical coaches and tutors are all great.

Living in Australia is incredible and I’m so happy with my decision to move here. The warm weather, and great people, close friendships have all been worth it. The university of Queensland is a beautiful large campus. Very clean, lots of activity, and feels very vibrant. There’s lots to do on campus to get involved with events, food, etc. It’s a little quiet on late evenings/weekends. The program is great! It’s certainly challenging but very well organized. The program takes student feedback regularly and seriously and is constantly making changes to accommodate our needs. We have many good lecturers and mentors.

The people are very kind and interesting. The program allows for a lot more clinical experience than other programs.

Griffith puts a huge focus on communication skills with patients, and has a strong reputation for its graduates being better skilled in that regard.

The supportive and friendly environment with extensive clinical and research opportunities at the University of Melbourne provided the best starting point for my medical career. Not only did I get a taste of a different healthcare culture, I also had the opportunity to practice and build on my clinical knowledge and hands-on procedural experiences.

I love my program. The clinical skills part is the most intriguing aspect. Do not underestimate the workload, but also don’t let it swallow up your whole life. Balance is key. Also get to know others outside of the program. Being surrounded only by medical peers sometimes can be draining.

I like everything about the program and the university. The only downside I have found is that it was different than getting education in North America and the standards are much higher. It is going well, I took to it fairly quickly though I still adapt to new things every day.

I like the amount of clinical work they make you do which really prepares you for the field. The transitioning process is easier than expected and as long as one stays on top of the school work, it is also manageable.