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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathways

Achieve your career goals in medicine and health
Learn more about our courses and pathway options to start planning a career in medicine and health.

Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Medicine

For applicants with a bachelor's degree and GAMSAT results

Applicants must have:

  • Completed a previous degree or be in the final year of a bachelor’s degree to be considered
  • Have their qualifications assessed and the Grade Point Average (GPA) for their tertiary studies calculated, by the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) through its Qualifications Assessment Service (QAS)
  • Have achieved at least a GPA of 4.5 (7-point numeric scale)

Applicants with a lower mark who can demonstrate improvement over the duration of their tertiary studies will be considered eligible for admission, particularly if:

  • Their final year of most recent tertiary study demonstrates high-level skills, with approval from the Advisory Committee on Indigenous Admissions (ACIA) at the Sydney Medical School
  • The "two-year" rule requiring students to have completed their previous degree with at least two years in their awarding institution will be waived

Applicants must have sat their GAMSAT examination. It is preferred that applicants have:

  • Achieved a minimum score of 50 in each section of the GAMSAT
  • Have passed the GAMSAT III (science) paper*

*Applicants may still be considered eligible for admission if this result is not achieved, with approval from the ACIA only.

For more detailed information on the application process please see the MD and DMD Domestic Admissions Guide (pdf, 1.4MB).

Pending academic board approval

Applicants must have completed a postgraduate degree within three years before 1 January of the year in which the applicant is seeking admission, which is either:

The applicants’ GPA (as calculated by UAC) should be at least a GPA of 4.5 (7-point numeric scale), but applicants with a lower mark who can demonstrate improvement over the duration of their tertiary studies will be considered eligible for admission, particularly if their final year of most recent tertiary study demonstrates high-level skills, with approval from the ACIA. 

This pathway does not require the completion of a bachelor's degree or the undertaking of the GAMSAT examination.

Indigenous applicants for Doctor of Medicine are encouraged to contact us on +61 2 8627 9424 or med.iheu@sydney.edu.au for more information and support.

For more detailed information on the application process please see the MD and DMD Domestic Admissions Guide (pdf, 1.4MB).

Doctor of Dental Medicine

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Oral Health will be eligible to apply for entry into the Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine

Indigenous applicants with an ATAR of 85 or higher will be invited to attend the assessment day interview. If successful at the interview they will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine

Indigenous applicants with an ATAR of 90 or higher will be invited to attend the assessment day interview. If successful at the interview they will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine

Indigenous applicants with an ATAR of 90 or higher will be invited to attend the assessment day interview. If successful at the interview they will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

Bachelor of Oral Health

The Faculty of Medicine and Health has recently approved a direct entry pathway for Indigenous applicants wishing to enter the Bachelor of Oral Health

To be eligible, applicants will need to have completed a HLT35021 - Certificate III in Dental Assisting (pdf, 415KB) course through TAFE NSW, and apply through our Gadigal entry scheme.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Oral Health will be eligible to apply for entry into the Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion

This program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers who either:

  • Already have a role in promoting the health of their communities 
  • Wish to gain experience or skills in this field

It is designed to give practitioners the knowledge and skills they need to help prevent illness and injury or reduce the harms associated with these conditions.

Particular focus on:

  • Community participation and empowerment
  • Is guided by the principles of social justice and social inclusion

100% online course delivery
The course is offered through our interactive online learning environment, giving you the flexibility to tailor your study schedule around your lifestyle. We also offer full-time and part-time options, allowing you to decide your study load.

Learn more about the degree.

Support programs

The Gadigal Program is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students as both an admissions pathway and a support program. Whether you’re currently in Year 12 or not, the program can help you gain entry to a course with a lower minimum ATAR requirement and provides ongoing support while you’re studying.

Complete your application online here.