Flinders University was founded in 1966, and is named after Matthew Flinders, a British Navigator who was the first person to sail around Australia and identify it as a continent. The university motto is ‘Inspiring Achievement’ and its aim is ‘to make the world a better place by making a positive difference.’
The Flinders University Medicine is relatively small and is closely integrated with local and selected health services around Australia. Flinders Medical School is renowned worldwide for its pioneering curriculum. Flinders Medical School was the first in Australia to develop a 4-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme as an alternative to traditional 5-6 year courses for school leavers. The school is able to offer unique clinical experience in different settings, from big city hospitals to remote communities in both South Australia, the Northern Territory, and beyond. Flinders Uni offers a traditional graduate entry four-year programme but also an undergraduate six-year programme.
The Doctor of Medicine Flinders MD program has a strong focus on cooperative, problem-based learning and hands-on clinical skills. Graduates of the programme have a solid foundation of current medical science and the skills to continue adding to this throughout their professional lives. The MD programme focuses on outstanding clinical and academic teaching that includes clinical medicine, as well as the relevant biomedical science foundation. The School also places emphasis on three vital themes; The Doctor-Patient relationship, Knowledge of Health and Illness and Health Professions and Society.
Being an active member of International Network of Universities and Innovative Research Universities Australia means research is a strong focus in the double degree at Flinders medicine. While also being one of the first medical schools in the northern territory, Flinders was also the first medical school to allow students the opportunity to work a full year of rural clinical practice.
Domestic Applicants | International Applicants | |
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How to apply | SATAC |
Apply online> Find an agent |
Programme Length | 6 years | |
Number of Places | 55 | |
Academic Requirements | ATAR 95.0+ IB |
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Exam Requirements | UCAT | IELTS 7.0+ Pearson 65+ ISAT |
Interview | Traditional | |
Annual Fees | $8,749 AUD | $40,000 AUD |
Application deadline | June 2020 |
Domestic Applicants | International Applicants | |
---|---|---|
How to apply | Direct on university website | Through an agent |
Programme Length | 4 years | |
Number of Places | 106 | |
Academic Requirements | ||
Exam Requirements | GAMSAT: 50+ in all sections | MCAT 492+ |
Interview | Traditional | |
Annual Fees | $10,958 AUD | $74,000 AUD |
Application deadline | June 2020 |
This 6-year double-degree is a direct entry programme from year 12 to MD. In the first year, core topics are introduced in biology to build the groundwork for further understanding through team-based learning and lectures. In year 2, core topics are continued with further emphasis on relation to clinical practice and the study of medicine. Students in their second year will have the opportunity to select electives for further study. In years 3-6, the relationship between a doctor and patient is introduced through practicals and clinical placements as well as exposing students to the field of medicine.
This is a 4 year programme for graduate applicants. The course focuses on four broad themes: Doctor and Patient/Clinical Performance, Knowledge of Health and Illness, Health Professions and Society and Advanced Studies. There is great emphasis on cooperation, problem-based learning, and hands-on clinical skills. In addition to the relevant biomedical sciences, PBL cases introduce aspects of health psychology, epidemiology, public health, ethics, health economics and personal and professional development.
The Flinders University Medicine programme aims to integrate basic science and clinical disciplines and help students recognise the importance of exposure to the principles, practice and findings of medical research. Towards the end of second year, there is a period of intensive clinical skills to prepare students for direct involvement in patient care in the following years.
In the final two years, students mainly work alongside practising clinicians as apprentice doctors within the Flinders Medical Centre and/or its associated teaching sites. Upon completion of the 4 years, students are eligible to qualify for medical registration.
Flinders accepts both domestic and international applications for both its six-year and four-year programmes.
Applicants may apply as undergraduate or graduate applicants. Graduate applicants must have completed a degree in the past 10 years, or be in their final year of their degree by the time of application.
Domestic applicants to the six-year undergraduate programme must have a minimum ATAR score of 95.0, or the International Baccalaureate equivalent.
There is no minimum GPA requirement for graduate applicants to be eligible for admission.
Domestic Applicants applying for the six-year medical programme must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). Results are equally based on marks from each of the four sections of the UCAT (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Decision Making and Abstract Reasoning).
International Applicants applying for the six-year medical programme must sit the International Student Assessment Test (ISAT). This is a 3-hour multiple-choice test created to predict academic success based on intellectual skill and abilities.
Domestic Applicants applying for the four-year medical programme must sit the Graduate Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT). Candidates must have achieved a minimum standard of 50 in each section. The following are the minimum GAMSAT scores of successful applicants:
International Applicants applying for the four-year medical programme must sit the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) . This test is designed to assess problem-solving, critical thinking and knowledge on scientific principles and concepts. Currently, the minimum required score is 492+.
Domestic applicants applying for the six-year programme must apply with SATAC.
International applicants go through an agent in the candidate’s home country or apply directly through the Flinders University website.
All applicants must submit their application by June 2020.
Applicants must submit their application as well as upload a certified copy or official academic transcript, their GAMSAT candidate number (if applicable), and sub-quota documentation if available.
Graduate Applicants will be selected for admission based on their overall GAMSAT score, weighted GPA, and interview score. For Undergraduate applicants, an applicant's entry score is created by combining ATAR/IB (90%) and UCAT score (10%).
For graduate applicants, interview invitations are sent to applicants based on their GAMSAT scores. Applicants must attend the interview in person and are required to arrange and pay for their own travel.
Interviews are conducted in a semi-structured format. Applicants will be interviewed by a small panel and will be approximately 45 minutes. Applicants will be given scenarios and questions that will assess an applicant’s qualities such as:
The QS World University Ranking has placed Flinders University 201st to 250th in the world of medicine.
I chose to do undergraduate medicine as I don't like the fast paced graduate programme and I didn't want to go to university with the uncertainty of not knowing if I would eventually find entry into medicine, which is why I chose Flinders.
It was an obvious choice, I had heard great things about it and it has really good facilities, lecturers, and good links with local hospitals, including rural areas. The university looks after its students really well, with support available whenever I need it. I spend most of my time with other medical students as I only have classes with medical students, there isn’t much mixing with other students like other faculties, which is good and bad, you make really good life friends, but you’re all doctors and only talk about the same stuff.
The one thing I dislike is probably the workload, there’s always something to do, so you have to manage your time really well to keep up with everything. Also once the clinical years kick in, timing goes out the window, you spend all your time in the hospital, with really early starts and late finishes, which can get exhausting. However, at the same time, I love doing medicine, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
My advice would be to be prepared for medical school, life in medicine is not what most students expect when they start so they are a bit shocked, so know what you’re getting yourself into. Apart from that, just make sure you work hard at school and keep your GPA up, but also learn when to relax and how to relax, you’ll need it when you start medicine!
- Vekram – 4th Year Student on the BCS/MD course.
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