The Bachelor of Medicine (BMed)
Entry Level
Undergraduate
Location
Callaghan Campus (Newcastle) and Armidale (UNE), New South Wales, Australia
Duration
5 years
Important Dates
See UCAT key dates here – only required if the student is not attending the Miroma Bunbilla Pre Entry to Medicine Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Indigenous Entry Pathway
University
The University of Newcastle
School of Medicine and Public Health
Faculty of Health
Upper Level Bowman Building
The University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308
Australia
School of Rural Medicine
Faculty of The Professions
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351
Australia
Contact Information
-
Contacts
General Contacts
Oorala Aboriginal Centre
Student services team
Phone
-
Faculty Contacts
Overview
The University of Newcastle and the University of New England jointly offer the Bachelor of Medicine (BMed) as a five year undergraduate degree referred to as the Joint Medical Program (JMP).
The program is a unique partnership created with the specific aim of addressing the chronic health workforce shortage that exists in remote, rural and regional communities. It delivers a medical program of international standing with early and broad clinical experience and a problem-based learning curriculum. While the curriculum will be the same, students can choose where they would like to study their degree, either in Newcastle or Armidale. The real difference is how students choose to use their surroundings to enrich their university experience and eventually their medical career.
Entry Level
This undergraduate course is an entry level course at the university. Most students go from year 12 but can also apply as a mature age student who has completed one year full time study at university or have completed the YAPUG enabling program at University of Newcastle or TRACKS enabling program at UNE. You can also apply for entry to the JMP if you have completed a degree at University.
Admissions
Important Dates Details
June – UCAT registration closes (only required if the student is not attending the Miroma Bunbilla Pre Entry to Medicine Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).
September – University Applications are due (directly to UoN/UNE and through UAC) For further details click here.
Entry Criteria
Based on academic marks, the outcome of a structured interview, participation and completion of the Miroma Bunbilla pre entry to medicine program.
Preparation Course
The university also offers a tertiary preparation program, called Yapug, to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop academic skills required for undergraduate study. These programs are for school leavers and mature age students who want to build on their current knowledge base and prepare themselves for further studies at university. On completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply for entry into the Bachelor of Medicine – JMP. More information can be found at the Yapug tertiary preparation program link.
TRACKS is a tertiary preparation program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who would like to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake undergraduate studies at UNE. It can be studied either on-campus or by correspondence.
Length of course
5 years
Pathways
Indigenous Entry Pathway
For entry in 2021, applicants who satisfy the minimum academic requirement or who are currently studying and expecting to satisfy the minimum academic requirement will be contacted by the discipline of Indigenous Health and invited to attend the one week Miroma Bunbilla program. The program will be held at the University of Newcastle from early December 2020. Accommodation will be provided for applicants on site at the University of Newcastle.
The program consists of:
- Participation in Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA): The MSA (previously MMI) involves a candidate rotating through a circuit of stations discussing various scenarios with an interviewer and/or undertaking various activities. Further information on the MSA is available online.
- Completion of Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA): Candidates will also be required to complete an online assessment of personal qualities known at the PQA on the same day as their allocated MSA session. The PQA is an online instrument designed to assess a range of personal qualities considered to be important for the study and practice of medicine. Visit the PQA website for more details.
- Confirmation of Aboriginality Interview: During the week of Miroma Bunbilla prospective students will be required to attend an interview with the Elder in Residence and an Aboriginal community member. Confirmation of Aboriginality will be required.
- Participation in a series of other activities: During the week of Miroma Bunbilla prospective students will participate in a series of pre-admission activities including participation in small group problem based learning tutorials, anatomy sessions and basic science resource sessions. Candidates will also prepare for a short verbal presentation based on their problem based learning. As part of the pre-entry program, prospective students will be given the opportunity to meet staff from the Indigenous Health Unit and the chance to talk to students about what studying medicine through the JMP involves.
If an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant does not attend the five day Miroma Bunbilla Program they will not qualify for special entry and will be required to meet all selection criteria including UCAT.
Additional Information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants wishing to be considered for entry into the Bachelor of Medicine – JMP must lodge an application with the Universities Admissions Centre including the Bachelor of Medicine – JMP as a preference.
- Academic eligibility may be based on Year 12 results, partial completion or completion of studies at a university equivalent to 1 year full time. Applicants who provisionally satisfy or satisfy the minimum academic requirement will be invited to attend the Miroma Bunbilla Pre Entry to Medicine Program.
- All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interviews will be conducted at the University of Newcastle during the Miroma Bunbilla Program.
Support
What assistance is available to me?
The Wollotuka Institute
The Wollotuka Institute at the University of Newcastle is designed to consolidate all Indigenous activities of the University into one operational and strategic body. The Institute now operates out of the three main campuses at Callaghan, Ourimbah and Port Macquarie.The services to students that they provide include the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS); study facilities; scholarship and accommodation assistance.
Oorala Aboriginal Centre
The Oorala Aboriginal Centre is a study support and advisory centre for internal and external Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the University of New England. They offer academic advice, tutorial assistance, a computer room, a resource library, tutorial rooms and a student common room for relaxation and study.
University Scholarships
Indigenous Specific Scholarships
Medicine Specific Scholarships – Newcastle
Mainstream Scholarships – Newcastle
Mainstream Scholarships – New England
Accommodation
University Accommodation – Newcastle
Accommodation at University of New England
Stay informed
Discover the LIME Network Newsletter
July 2024 – Issue 49
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