Doctor of Medicine

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at Griffith University is a GRADUATE ENTRY program. As such, ALL applicants are to have completed or be in the final year of completing an undergraduate degree before they are eligible to apply for entry.

Applicants to the MD are encouraged from all degree backgrounds.

The medical selection criteria comprise three essential components:

1. completion of a Bachelor degree or other 'key degree' (see below) achieving an overall GPA of 5.0 or above on a 7-point scale calculated using the GEMSAS schema.
2. performance in a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) - applicants must achieve a minimum score of 50 in each GAMSAT section or 123 in each MCAT section.
3. performance in an interview with the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The GPA will be added to the admissions test score (50:50) by converting GPA and admissions test result to a percentage score, in order to rank applicants and to determine whether applicants are shortlisted for an interview.

Key degree

Applicants must have achieved a minimum GPA of 5.0 (using a 7 point scale) in their most recent Bachelor or other key degree. A key degree is a Bachelor degree, Honours degree, Masters (coursework or research) or a PhD.

Applicants are ranked based on selections rank derived from a 50/50 combination of an unweighted GPA (converted to a percentage) and the overall admissions test score (also from 100). This combination rank means that a lower admissions test score may be offset by a higher GPA and vice versa (within the minimum requirement limits).

Griffith recognises two year accelerated bachelor degrees or one year conversion degrees for the purposes of admission to Medicine. However, these degrees MUST be complete at the time of application.

For completed Bachelor degrees, the GPA will be calculated using the GEMSAS grading schema and will be calculated over the final three years of full-time study. Applicants who are in the final year of a Bachelor degree at the time of application will have a GPA calculated over all grades available to date.

The GPA for completed Honours degrees will have a final year GPA applied according to the classification awarded (as per the conversion table from the GEMSAS Admissions Guide, available at the GEMSAS website). The balance of the GPA calculation will be based on the final two years of the undergraduate degree.

Completed Masters by Research only (where the degree is non-graded) will receive a GPA of 7.0 for the duration of equivalent full-time study up to a maximum of two years. The balance of the GPA calculation will be based on the final one or two years of the undergraduate degree.

Completed Masters by Coursework (or a combination of coursework and research) will have a GPA calculated from the graded components of the program for the duration of equivalent full-time years of study in the program with the balance of the GPA calculation being based on the final one or two years of the undergraduate degree.

Completed PhDs will receive an overall GPA of 7.0.

The key degree must have been completed within 10 years of the projected commencement date. Applicants whose key degree was completed outside the 10 year period are considered for admission if they have completed, with a passing GPA, the equivalent of one year of full time tertiary study at Diploma level or higher within the past 10 years.

Graduate Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT)

All applicants may apply using a valid GAMSAT score. The minimum GAMSAT score for applications to be considered further is 50/50/50. 

GAMSAT scores are required to be no more than four years old at the time of application. 

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

Only International students may apply using an MCAT score. The minimum MCAT score for applications to be considered further is 8 in every section for MCAT tests taken pre-2015 or 123 in every section for tests taken from 2015 onwards.

MCAT scores are required to be no more than two years old at the time of application.

MD/PhD pathway

Applications for admission are to be submitted to the Dean of Medicine during Year 2/Trimester 2 of study in the Doctor of Medicine program. Applicants to the MD/PhDs pathway should have:

• a numerical score equivalent to a Distinction for Year 1 of the MD;
• approval by the Head of School and satisfying the admission requirements as detailed in the Higher Degree Research policy:
  • a Bachelor degree with first-class Honours or second-class Honours (Division A); or
  • a Masters degree incorporating a significant research component from a recognised institution; or
  • a record of research, such as publication authorship, research employment, or a qualification granted by a professional or other body deemed by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School, to be of a standard comparable to a Bachelor degree with second-class Honours (Division A).

An International student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a person with permanent residency status in Australia.

International students wishing to undertake this program require a student visa to study in Australia or another visa type which does not preclude them from studying in Australia.

International students apply for admission through Griffith International* and all applications must include:

• Evidence of English language proficiency, and
• GAMSAT score no more than four years old at the time of application, OR
• MCAT score no more than two years old at the time of application.

There are limited places available for this program. Selection for admission is competitive as the number of applicants generally exceeds the places available.

Confirmation of a place in this program will be sent to applicants, when they have accepted the offer, and met all conditions listed in the offer. When the limit is reached and there are no available places, applicants will be notified that the program is full.

Applicants awarded an offer are not permitted to defer an offer and should reapply for the next available intake.

Applicants awarded a confirmed place are not permitted to defer or change campus. Should you be unable to arrive on time to commence this program, you must re-apply for entry in the next available intake.

International - Application process

All applications must be received by Griffith International before 31 July 2024 (AEST) to be considered for entry into this program in 2025 and must include English language test results (if required) and valid GAMSAT/MCAT scores.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a country other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, the United States of America or South Africa or undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for admission to this program are as follows:

• a minimum overall band score of 7.0 on IELTS (Academic) with a minimum of 7.0 in each sub-score;
• OR the Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 94 (minimum score of 24 for listening and reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking);
• OR a minimum overall score of 65 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 65;
• OR successful completion of at least two years of secondary and your entire tertiary studies taught and assessed solely in English from a recognised country*;
• OR successful completion of at least two years in the last five years of tertiary study taught and assessed solely in English from a recognised country* prior to commencement.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

* Recognised countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Applicants should refer to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for the English Language Skills Standard for all Doctor of Medicine graduates seeking registration as an Intern.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) pathway is not accepted for this program.

The above requirements are HIGHER than the requirements stipulated in University policy. Applicants should refer to the following procedure for further information:

• Admission Procedure

Normally credit will not be granted in this program. However, credit transfer in lieu of prior studies will only be awarded in instances where the relevant Dean or nominee determines that the study is equivalent in level and content to courses in the program. Such studies normally would have been completed in an equivalent medical program.