The University of Sydney

Doctor of Medicine

Graduate
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Details

University Location Sydney, New South Wales
City Population 6 million
Student Population 73,000
Int'l Student Population 10,600
Main Campus Camperdown / Darlington
Program Campus Camperdown campus, Sydney
Program Duration 4 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $88,500 AUD (2023 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake January
Next Available Intake 2024
Application Deadline TBA*
International Places up to 80 (approx 325 total)
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Overview

Established in 1850, the University of Sydney is Australia’s first university. According to the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Medicine), the university is ranked at #2 in Australia and at #19 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 Doctor of Medicine is a four-year graduate-entry course that integrates study of the basic biomedical sciences with clinical sciences and methods. The program comprises eight vertical themes that run through all four years of the degree:

1. Basic and clinical sciences
2. Clinical skills
3. Diagnostics and therapy
4. Research, evidence, and informatics
5. Population health
6. Indigenous health ethics
7. Law and professionalism
8. Interprofessional teamwork

Program

The new Sydney MD curriculum and course structure was launched in 2020 to enhance 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.

Key benefits of the new program:

  • Earlier clinical exposure: The program increases clinical exposure and immersion throughout the degree. You will gain hands-on experience from as early as your second week.
  • Personalized pathways: You will have the opportunity to develop skills in specific areas through elective and selective studies.
  • Research opportunities: The program integrates a substantial research project in year three over a 14-week period with access to some of the world’s leading researchers, institutes and networks.
  • Pre-internship year: The entire fourth year of the program acts as a pre-internship, giving students full clinical immersion.

Year 1: Foundational Knowledge
During Year 1 of study, you will build a strong scientific foundation working through several blocks that cover all body systems. Areas of study include cardiovascular sciences, respiratory sciences, musculoskeletal/immunology, endocrine nutrition, renal urology, gastroenterology, sexual health and reproduction, and neurosciences.

During your first year, you will spend three to four days per week on the main university campus, with one day per week in clinical schools.

Year 2: Core Clinical and Research
In Year 2, you will be introduced to clinical medicine in the hospital and in a community setting with three days per week spent in hospital and one day per week in general practice. You will also have training in research methods during a block which is based on a lifespan approach with weeks dedicated to pediatrics, adolescence, acute and chronic disease presentations, drugs and alcohol, ageing, hematology, and oncology.

Year 3: Specialty Blocks and Research
The focus of Year 3 is on clinical immersion in specialty blocks including child and adolescent health; perinatal and women’s health; psychiatry and addiction medicine; as well as emergency, intensive care, and anesthesia. Following this, you will complete a dedicated 14-week block for your research project.

Year 4: Clinical Practice
The main emphasis in Year 4 is on preparation for practice. This means you will now complete a full-time, extended clinical placement across three different rotations in medicine, surgery, and general practice. You will work as part of the clinical multidisciplinary team under supervision, cementing and integrating the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes you have developed over the course of the program. Increased clinical exposure will prepare you for practice as an intern.

Clinical Placements
While practical clinical experience forms the basis for all learning in the latter two years of the Sydney Doctor of Medicine program, it is accompanied by a structured teaching program. The balance between clerkship-based activities and scheduled sessions varies.

In general, formal teaching sessions reduce in number and frequency as you move through Year 3 and the main emphasis in Year 4 is on preparation for practice. This entails a full-time, extended clinical placement in a hospital medical, surgical, or general practice settings. You will work as part of the clinical multidisciplinary team under supervision, cementing and integrating the knowledge, skills and professional attributes you have developed over the course of the program.

Personalized Pathways

There are several opportunities for you if you wish to extend yourself in areas beyond the program’s main curriculum. The new Sydney MD (from 2020) offers elective extension activities in a range of different disciplines, including anatomy, pathology, radiology, and pediatrics. These placements are offered throughout the program and will help you gain a competitive edge as you position yourself for a specialist role.

Extended Research Opportunities

The medicine program structure has been changed to incorporate a dedicated period in Year 3 to complete a research project. This research block will span 14 weeks during Semester 2 and will allow you to produce a substantial body of work.

Admission Requirements

1. Completed bachelor’s degree
Must have a completed bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of roughly 2.7 /4.0 (approximately 70%). No prerequisite undergraduate subjects are required.*

2. Admissions test
Based on previous intakes, students who didn’t achieve a minimum MCAT score of 505 were not eligible for an interview. As such, OzTREKK will not submit Sydney MD applications with scores below 505. 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 2023 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.

For more information, please read the Sydney Admissions Guide and Sydney Admissions Timeline.

Admission Timeline

*Applications for the 2023 intake closed June 22, 2022. For information about the 2024 intake, please contact OzTREKK.

2023 Intake Timeline

Application deadline: June 22, 2022. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Last date to sit MCAT: June 25, 2022
Interviews: Not applicable

Student Reviews

What do OzTREKK students think about studying Medicine at The University of Sydney? Read on!

1/10

“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.

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 Krishna S
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019
University of Sydney 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.

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 Desmond H
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019
University of Sydney 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.

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 Jagpreet D
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019
University of Sydney 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.

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 Tina L
Doctor of Medicine
The University of Sydney, 2019
University of Sydney 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.

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 Barry B.
The University of Sydney, 2018
University of Sydney 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.

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 Tyrel C.
The University of Sydney, 2018
University of Sydney Tyrel C.
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.

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 Hayden S.
The University of Sydney, 2018
University of Sydney Hayden S.
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.

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 Cynthia C.
The University of Sydney, 2018
University of Sydney Cynthia C.
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.

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 Justine Moreno E.
The University of Sydney, 2018
University of Sydney Justine Moreno E.
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

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. 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.

University of Sydney Advait P.
The University of Sydney, 2018
University of Sydney Advait P.
The University of Sydney, 2018