It sounds strange but if you want to study medicine in Queensland, the capital city is not the best place to go. Throughout the state, we found many campuses offering courses in medical studies. Granted, most of them were affiliated with the University of Queensland. That's one of the best schools to study medicine in Queensland but it's by no means the only one.
Medical studies aside, Queensland has many claims to its name. This Australian state is larger than all but 15 countries, and it's Australia's second-largest state and its third most populous. Queensland's capital city is also Australia's third largest city but that might soon change.
Brisbane's growth rate doubles that of Sydney's, in part because opportunities to study medicine in Sydney aren't as plentiful.
Queensland is also a popular tourist destination. With entrancing city names like Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and access to the Great Barrier Reef, many dream of visiting.
Tourism helps make Queensland Australia's third-largest economy; mining and agriculture play significant roles, too. Students from all over the world make their way there in droves, making international education one of the state's economic pillars.
Study Medicine in Queensland at James Cook University
International and domestic students are equally welcome to study medicine at James Cook University (JCU). The idea for this public university came about in 1957 because there were no higher education opportunities in North Queensland. Any student wanting a university education had to move to Brisbane. Thus, in 1961, the Townsville campus welcomed its first students.
Forty years later, in 2001, JCU opened its School of Medicine. Today, both the Cairns and Townsville campuses offer an assortment of medical degrees, including veterinary medicine. But the school's Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is their most sought-after program. It demands a six-year commitment and is open to domestic and international students.
To qualify for acceptance into the program, domestic students should have no less than an 89.75 Australian Tertiary Admissions Rating (ATAR). But you might have a hard time earning your place with that low a rating; the median ATAR is 98.4. Besides this academic strength, you must also demonstrate the attributes and skills that prove you are a quality candidate. Your chance to shine in this area comes during a series of multi-mini interviews.
International students must also prove their academic strengths but they must further present proof of their English language capabilities. They should present an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of no less than 7. Otherwise, the application process is no different than for domestic students.
JCU estimates the total per-year cost for the MBBS to be lower than medical study programs in Adelaide. Domestic students can expect to pay around A$33,600 per year; international students should budget for about three times that amount.
JCU makes scholarships and bursaries available to all students, based on need and/or merit.
Study Medicine in Queensland: Griffith University
Admittedly, JCU doesn't rank very well in either global or national rankings. Griffith University has a much better standing in Australian rankings and on the QS tables. This public university opened its doors in 1975; from the outset, this school has led the way in research innovation. To wit, Griffith was the first university in Australia to offer a degree in Environmental Science.
This school also led the way with its innovative Asian Studies program; one of the first of its kind in Australia. By contrast, the university's medical study programs started late.
Thirty years after welcoming its first students, Griffith opened its School of Medicine and Dentistry. This school has wasted no time putting together a catalogue of graduate-entry medical study programs; some of the best in Australia.
Many students prefer to start their medical studies as soon as they finish high school, so Griffith offers a choice of undergraduate medical degrees. Three of those seven degree plans are honours courses, which pave the way for higher-degree research programs. Also, Griffith offers entry into their Bachelor of Biomedical Science through Australia's Vocational Education and Training (VET) program.
For domestic students, ATAR requirements depend on the program they choose. For instance, the Bachelor of Biomedical Science only requires an 81 ATAR. By contrast, the Bachelor of Medical Science program demands a 99.95 ATAR. Their difference lies in future career opportunities.
International students are welcome in all of Griffith's medical studies programs. They must provide at least a 6.5 IELTS score; they will also have to register with Australian medical studies authorities. Part of these courses involves hands-on experience in patient care, so these students must submit to the same screenings as domestic students.
As with every medical studies program from Perth to Sydney, international students will pay at least three times more than native Australians. A domestic student can expect to pay as little as A$8,500 in tuition per year for undergraduate studies in medicine.
But like JCU, Griffith University has scholarships and bursaries available for qualified students.
Study Medicine in Queensland at Central Queensland University
For that matter, you could study at Central Queensland University in every Australian state or territory. CQU, as it is called, carries the unique distinction of having a campus in every mainland state. You might think that to have that kind of presence, a school must have a long history. In fact, CQU was established in 1967, only a few years before Griffith University.
If you wanted to study medicine in Melbourne, you could not do so on that city's CQU campus. For now, CQU's medical faculty is limited to the school's Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses, and they are in Queensland. These campuses' most popular medical study program, Bachelor of Medical Science, provides a pathway to further studies in medicine.
CQU is fairly strict about who may apply. This degree program is open to learners just finishing high school; those getting ready to sit ATAR exams.
On that score, the admissions office won't consider anyone with less than a 95 ATAR. Besides academic requirements, successful applicants will meet this school's long list of inherent requirements.
International students may also apply; they too should be in their final year of compulsory education. But CQU will accept applications from candidates more than five years beyond their final compulsory learning stage. Also, applicants from countries whose language is other than English must furnish proof of English language capability. An IELTS result of 7 or higher will satisfy that criterion.
This three-year, full-time program comprises 23 study units, none of which are electives. Your first year covers the foundation of medical science; you'll learn about anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. For the rest of the program, you will expand on those subjects to learn cell biology, pathophysiology and medical imaging.
Tuition fees vary depending on the study program you select. For instance, the Bachelor of Medical Science degree costs A$8,629/year if the student is 'Commonwealth Supported Place' (CSP).
As always, international students should budget for between three and five times the costs domestic students will pay. But CQU has a long list of bursaries, stipends and scholarships to help offset some costs.
Study Medicine at the University of Queensland
In this article's introduction, we mentioned that Brisbane is growing faster than Sydney because of fewer opportunities to study medicine. You might have chuckled at that bit or wondered what we meant so now, we explain. The University of Queensland Brisbane campus makes it a point to welcome international students. That might be thanks to this university's partnerships with 28 other institutes abroad.
Studying medicine at the University of Queensland carries a certain prestige. This school ranks in the Top 50 institutions worldwide; in Australia, it takes fifth place on the QS list. Besides its stellar medical studies programs, this university is also renowned for its engineering and business syllabi.
Applicants have a range of medicine and related courses to choose from, from physiology to dietetics. As we've been comparing biomedical science degrees across this territory, let's go over this program's admissions requirements. We were struck by how low the ATAR threshold is; 82 is enough for you to merit consideration. International students should present an International Baccalaureate (IB) score of no less than 29.75.
Through lectures, laboratory work and research, you'll learn foundational medical information such as cells, their structures and functions. You'll learn how to analyse scientific data and study microbiology and principles of immunology. This school invites students to pursue double degrees; you may add a science track to round out your studies.
Fees are slightly lower there than at the other schools we've featured. One year of tuition costs a domestic student a little more than A$8,100. Unfortunately, the costs international students bear are six times more than that of domestic students. But, as with all the other schools, this university offers generous and plentiful scholarships, bursaries and stipends.
Future doctors in Queensland have far more pathways into their careers than those who want to study medicine in Canberra. They have a choice of programs and universities, and most degree plans are flexible.
Choosing which pathway might be the hardest part of studying medicine in Queensland!
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