The Bonded Medical Program provides students with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a medical course at an Australian university in return for a commitment to work in eligible regional, rural and remote areas for a specified period after completion of their medical course. This commitment is referred to as a Return of Service Obligation (RoSO).

Participants of the Bonded Medical Program are subject to Part VD of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Act) and must abide by the Health Insurance (Bonded Medical Program) Rule 2020 (Rule).

You should obtain independent legal advice before agreeing to opt in to the Program.

Further information is available at www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/reformed-bonded-programs

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 Prospectus. 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 (UCAT ANZ, 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 75 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in the Joint Medical Program. To date, 105 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 University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ).

To be eligible for consideration for admission to the JMP as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you must:

• submit an application to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by 31 October 2020
• 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 30 November to 4 December 2020

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

Applicants applying on the basis of secondary examination results (that is, applicants who have not completed one full-time year - 1 EFTSL - of tertiary studies) and who have completed their Year 12 examination at a school in a designated rural/remote location in Australia, regardless of the year the examination was undertaken, will be considered for entry under the Rural Bonus Scheme. Determination of eligibility for the Rural Bonus Scheme will be based on the address (including street and postcode) of the high school attended.

The JMP uses the Australia Statistical Geography Standard - Remoteness Area (ASGS-RA 2016) to determine a schools rural/remote status.  Schools located in areas classified as RA2 to RA5 will be considered to be rural/remote.  Applicants are able to assess their eligibility for the Rural Bonus Scheme by entering their school’s street address (not PO Box) in the ASGS-RA (2016) locator map.

Applicants who are eligible to be considered under the Rural Bonus Scheme will be assessed as having satisfied the minimum academic requirement if their ATAR is 91.4 or greater (rather than the standard minimum requirement of 94.3) – refer Academic Eligibility.

From 2021 up to 6 places will be set aside for admission into the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) for current students in the Newstep and Open Foundation programs at the University of Newcastle.

Students who have already graduated from a Newstep or Open Foundation program, completed an additional 12 months study, and meet the criteria will also be eligible for this pathway.

Find out more about applying as a Newstep or Open Foundation student

The Joint Medical Program has targeted international student cohorts who are eligible to apply for direct admission to the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine program.

International students currently undertaking either secondary or tertiary studies both onshore or offshore are now eligible to apply for the program. The Joint Medical Program welcomes applications from onshore international applicants.  See here for further details.