School of Medicine: Application Process for Domestic Students
The School of Medicine seeks to graduate students who wish to make a special contribution to society.
The Fremantle School of Medicine admitted its first cohort of students in 2005.
Notre Dame will grant admission to 100 domestic students in 2009.
The 100 places are divided up as follows:
- 73 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) places;
- 3 Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme (MRBSS) places;
- 24 Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme places.
- Selection into the course is based on a composite score derived from several components in the selection process. These are detailed below:
Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Applicants must have achieved a minimum GPA of 5.00 in order to be eligible. The GPA is based on the final three full-time equivalent years of the most recently completed Bachelors degree.
- A bonus of up to 0.5 may be added to the GPA for applicants who have completed a Masters or PhD degree at time of application. This is at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
- Applicants who are in the final year of a Bachelors degree at the time of application and who do well in the other components of the selection process may be offered provisional admission, subject to completion of their degree in the year of application with a final GPA of the required standard for admission.
- Applicants who have completed their Bachelors degree more than 10 years previously are considered only if they provide evidence of a subsequent tertiary qualification at Bachelors, Masters or PhD level completed within 5 years of the end of the year of application to Notre Dame. Applicants whose Bachelor’s degree is older than the above may make application in the form of a letter to the Selection Committee requesting special consideration and citing reasons for this. Acceptance or otherwise of this extraordinary application will be at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
- Applicants who have successfully completed Masters or PhD degrees without previously completing a Bachelors degree will be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT)
Applicants must have achieved a minimum score of 50 in all sections of the GAMSAT examination to be considered for interview. The minimum Overall GAMSAT Score necessary to qualify for an invitation to interview and section scores may vary slightly from year to year.
Interview
Applicants are selected for interview on the basis of their GPA, Overall GAMSAT Score and Rural University Index (RUI) combined. Preference may be shown to applicants from a rural background as detailed in the School of Medicine Supplementary Information Form. In addition, “near miss” applicants may be granted an interview where they possess outstanding personal qualities reflected in a history of community or other service or other exceptional abilities likely to be relevant to the practice of Medicine.
Interviews will be held in Fremantle, Western Australia in October 2008. Applicants are responsible for any and all expenses relating to travel to and from the interview site. Interviews will follow a semi-structured format. Each applicant will meet a team of three interviewers for 40 minutes. The interview gives each candidate the opportunity to demonstrate commitment to Medicine as a career and a life’s vocation, as well as personal qualities consistent with the aims and philosophy of the School of Medicine. Where possible, each interview panel will consist of a medical practitioner, academic and community representative. All interviewers undergo detailed training in the interview assessment.
Offers
Following interviews applicants are ranked using a combined score calculated from:
- Interview Score
- GAMSAT Score
- GPA
- RUI
These scores will allow a ranking of applicants that will serve as the basis for deciding offers. The Selection Committee may also take into account information provided on the ‘ School of Medicine Supplementary Information Form’ in determining the final ranking of applicants to be offered places. The School anticipates that the majority of offers will be made by mid-November. If required, a limited number of additional offers may be made in December 2008.
Deferral
Applicants should note that offers of a place are made for a specified year only. There is no possibility of deferring the offer. Applicants who do not accept the offer, must re-apply if they wish to undertake the course in a subsequent year.
Applicants in special categories
Rural consideration
All applicants to Notre Dame are required to complete information about their background, schooling and rural experiences as part of the ‘ School of Medicine Supplementary Information Form’. This information may be used in the selection process because a commitment to addressing shortages in areas of unmet need in Australian medicine is part of the Mission of the School.
International students
Currently, The University of Notre Dame School of Medicine does not have places available for international admission. It is the hope of the School, however, that international students will be able to apply for admission in the future. Prospective International students are encouraged to register their interest with the University through its website.
Indigenous applicants
Notre Dame is committed to encouraging motivated indigenous students to apply for selection into the School of Medicine. Every assistance and encouragement will be forthcoming form the University. A specified selection pathway for such students is being developed. For 2008, any prospective students who believe they are suitable for consideration should make application in writing to the Dean of Medicine enclosing a personal statement with personal academic history.
It is the responsibility of all applicants to meet the deadlines set by the School for each step in the application process.
CHECK LIST FOR APPLICATION
Once you have sat the GAMSAT you will need to be sure you have completed the following to apply to The University of Notre Dame Australia.
Have you:
- Completed GMAC application form and included application fee □ TO ACER
- Included a full original academic transcript □ TO ACER
- Completed the GMAC academic record and GPA forms □ TO ACER
- Completed your Notre Dame supplementary information form □ TO UNDA
- Completed your personal statement of 300 words □ TO UNDA
- Included a full original academic transcript □ TO UNDA
Items 1-3 should be sent directly to ACER. Items 4-6 should be sent directly to The University of Notre Dame Australia. Failure to comply with all of the above will result in your application not being considered.
Please note that all information is valid as at 1 May 2008 and all applicants are asked to check the website for updates. www.nd.edu.au
