The University of Sydney

Doctor of Medicine

Graduate

Details

University Location Sydney, New South Wales
City Population 5.3 million
Student Population 73,000
Int'l Student Population 10,600
Main Campus Camperdown / Darlington
Program Campus Camperdown / Darlington
Program Duration 4 years
Estimated Annual Tuition AUD$93,500 (2025 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake January
Next Available Intake 2026
Application Deadline TBA*
International Places up to 80 (approx 325 total)

Overview

Established in 1850, the University of Sydney is Australia’s first university. According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Medicine), the university is ranked at #2 in Australia and at #26 in the world. The Sydney Medical School aims to give you a strong foundation for your future in medicine, whether in clinical practice, research, or public health.

The university’s research is focused on both discovery and translating discoveries into improved healthcare, with major programs of research into diseases and health challenges of national and international significance.

Why should you consider studying medicine at the University of Sydney?

  • Ranked 26th in the world for medicine: (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
  • Sydney is a global top-20 university: (QS World University Rankings 2024)
  • Diverse student cohort: A biomedical science degree is not a prerequisite. Students come from a variety of educational backgrounds.
  • Preparation for entry: A foundational knowledge course is available to all students on enrolment to ensure assumed knowledge in anatomy, physiology, molecular and cell biology is met.
  • Innovative curriculum: Sydney focuses on small group, team-based learning and integrating theory with practice.
  • Early clinical contact: You’ll gain hands-on experience from as early as your second week through Sydney’s extensive network of clinical schools.
  • Placements: You’ll have access to placement opportunities in both rural and international settings to develop your experience in a wide range of medical environments.
  • Research excellence and training: You’ll have access to some of the world’s leading researchers, institutes, and networks.
  • Study abroad opportunities: Sydney Medical School has extensive international connections. You can undertake a 4- to 8-week clinical or research placement overseas during your elective term.

Program

The University of Sydney Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a postgraduate coursework degree that will provide you with clinical and research training to develop the skills needed to be responsive to the health needs of individuals, families and communities and committed to improving the health care system at all levels.

The Sydney MD curriculum and course structure enhances learning opportunities through earlier clinical exposure, added personalization options, new research opportunities, and immersive clinical placements in the last year of the program, preparing you for practice as a doctor.

Over 4 years, you will complete core units according to a prescribed course of study, covering 8 vertical themes:

  • Basic and clinical sciences
  • Clinical skills
  • Diagnostics and therapy
  • Research, evidence and informatics
  • Population health
  • Indigenous health
  • Ethics and law
  • Professionalism and interprofessional teamwork

The Sydney MD requires you to complete 16.5 hours per week over 140 weeks, for a total of 2,310 hours.

Clinical Placements
In the Sydney medical program, you’ll participate in clinical training and experience in health care facilities throughout your studies. In particular, you will undertake clinical training in the Sydney Medical School’s clinical schools.

Clinical placements are a major component the Sydney MD, and is integral to gaining your professional accreditation. In most courses, course-required placements are embedded from the first year and increase as you progress in your degree.

Elective placements are also offered throughout clinical schools to internal and external medical students in their final year of study who wish to expand their knowledge in a specialty area or across a variety of clinical settings.

Admission Requirements

1. Completed bachelor’s degree
Must have a completed bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of roughly 2.7/4.0. No prerequisite undergraduate subjects are required.**

2. Admissions test
Based on previous intakes, students who didn’t achieve a minimum MCAT score of 507 were not eligible for an interview. As such, OzTREKK will not submit Sydney MD applications with scores below 507. MCAT scores are valid from up to 3 years of program commencement. GAMSAT will also be accepted. After meeting the GPA requirement, all applicants are then ranked against each other based on their MCAT results.

3. Interview
Sydney will not have interviews for the 2025 intake; however, with equally ranked students, Sydney may implement an interview or situational judgement test to break the tie.

Online Learning Module
**Assumed knowledge includes anatomy, physiology, and molecular/cellular biology. Sydney Medicine offers a free, interactive online foundational knowledge course designed to support their diverse student cohort. Available prior to the commencement of the academic year and throughout the first year, this course will prepare students with the required biomedical knowledge.

Admission Timeline

*Applications for the 2025 intake closed June 18, 2024. For information about the 2026 intake, please contact OzTREKK.

2025 Intake Application Timeline

Application deadline: June 18, 2024. Applications are closed.
Last date to sit MCAT: June 22, 2024. If you’re writing after May 16, 2024, please send us your AAMC MCAT sit date confirmation.

1/15

“The school is well-equipped”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Chih Chieh S
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2023

“I love the teaching, the small clinical school sizes”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Shanthiya B
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2023

“…you learn more about how medical care in a hospital works”

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.  

university of sydney black and white logo Nikita A
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2023

“…professors are all well-known clinicians”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Mary S
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2023

“…this program is perfect for me.”

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

university of sydney black and white logo Vaikunth C
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2022

“I am definitely enjoying the program at USYD”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Krishna S
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019

“The early clinical exposure is really good”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Desmond H
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019

“I’m learning a lot and feel that the clinical introduction from an early date has been beneficial”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Jagpreet D
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019

“The Usyd Med program has such a family-like culture”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Tina L
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019

“I get a lot of clinical experience.”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Barry B.
The University of Sydney, 2018

“World class lecturers teaching challenging material is very cool and rewarding.”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Tyrel C.
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2018

“I like how hands on and practical it is…”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Hayden S.
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2018

“Definitely a challenging course but worthwhile.”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Cynthia C.
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2018

“We have a close relationship with some of the staff, especially at our clinical schools.”

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.

university of sydney black and white logo Justine Moreno E.
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2018

“The clinical days are extremely useful learning opportunities.”

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. O... Read More

university of sydney black and white logo Advait P.
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2018