Entry support schemes

The Bonded Medical Places (BMP) Scheme is an Australian Government initiative to provide more doctors for areas experiencing doctor shortages. This scheme provides Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) in Australian medical schools, for which recipients are required to work in a district of workforce shortage or Modified Monash Model location 4-7 for a period of time equal to 12 months. It can be worked in blocks of no less than 12 weeks. This period can be completed between commencing internship and five years after fellowship is received.

From 2016, 28.5% of all commencing first year Commonwealth Supported Places in Australian medical schools will be allocated to the scheme.

Candidates will be able to lodge a BMP Expression of Interest when they lodge their JMP direct online university application. Only candidates who are eligible for final selection and who lodge the Expression of Interest by the designated closing date will be considered.

You will be able to check if you have lodged an Expression of Interest for a Bonded Medical Place by going to the Review Submitted Application page. If you wish to update your application to include an Expression of Interest for a Bonded Medical Place please email your request, remembering to include your UMAT number and date of birth.

For further details and requirements on the Bonded Medical Places Scheme, please refer to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

The Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme aims to increase the number of students from rural and remote locations being admitted into our program. Our target is to see 30% of students in the program from rural and remote locations (18 at the University of New England and 33 at the University of Newcastle).

If you're successful in gaining entry through this scheme, there will be a greater expectation for you to complete clinical placements within a rural area.

If you are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident and you can prove you have resided for at least five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively in a rural and/or remote location, you may be eligible to apply.

If you're considering applying for a position under RRAS, please carefully read and ensure you understand the information provided in the RRAS information document and the Joint Medical Program student guide. These documents contain important information regarding your requirements and responsibilities under RRAS.

To be eligible for the RRAS Scheme, you must:

• lodge all three applications outlined in the Joint Medical Program application process, choosing the rural option when you complete the JMP direct university application
• satisfy the minimum academic requirement for admission to the Joint Medical Program
• satisfy the personal assessment qualities (UMAT, MSA and PQA) as outlined in the JMP selection process
• provide a statement from a rural community leader verifying that you have resided in a rural/remote location for at least five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively
• be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident; New Zealand Citizens are ineligible

Enquiries should be directed to:

Each year, up to 17 places are set aside for admission into the program for applicants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Currently there are 66 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in the Joint Medical Program. To date, 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors have graduated from our program.

There are different entry requirements for students who are applying for entry via this scheme. You're not required to lodge the online Joint Medical Program direct university application and aren't required to sit the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Test (UMAT).

To apply as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you must:

• submit an application to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by 31 October 2017
• attend a confirmation of Aboriginality interview
• undertake a day of testing for the Multiple Skills Assessment and Personal Qualities assessment
• attend a series of pre-admission activities, which will be held over a one week period 4 to 8 December 2017

Find out more about applying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student.

Applications will only be accepted from Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents of Australia. Applicants who do not have Australian citizenship must demonstrate their permanent residence status. The international student quota is filled through agreements between specific overseas educational institutions, organisations or through UON's Newcastle International College.