Open Foundation Students

Excellence through Equity Pathway to Medicine

Equity of access to and participation in higher education is a core value of the University of Newcastle, with a mission to provide education for students from a variety of backgrounds.

The University of Newcastle is committed to enabling and supporting medical practitioners dedicated to the highest quality practice embedded in a commitment to equity.

The Excellence through Equity (EtE) Pathway to Medicine opens opportunities for people who bring many diverse experiences, including having navigated educational disadvantage and social inequalities, who wish to study the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine(Joint Medical Program). Through the pathway, up to six places will be available to Open Foundation students who meet the EtE Selection Criteria.

This initiative will be piloted until the end of 2025.

Eligibility

All applicants for the Excellence Through Equity Pathway to Medicine must be able to:

  1. Demonstrate socioeconomic disadvantage including financial hardship, and at least two of the following equity indicators:
    • Regional, rural, remote or isolated area
    • Carer responsibilities
    • A non-English speaking background or English language difficulty
    • Refugee status
    • Sole parent responsibilities
    • Personal illness or disability
    • Experience of domestic and family violence and/or significant form of trauma
    • Out-of-home care experience
    • School type/environment
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
    • A childhood history of disadvantaged (parental/carer/family) circumstances
    • Suffered discrimination in educational history
    • Minority ethnic background
  2. Provide a Personal Statement, which is a short reflective piece to highlight each applicant’s interest in, enthusiasm for and understanding of Medicine. It will also be an opportunity for applicants to set out challenges they have faced that have affected their education and perhaps enhanced or enriched their understanding of and/or passion for Medicine

Current Enabling Students

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 Open Foundation program.

In addition to the eligibility criteria above, current enabling students must also:

  • Meet the ATAR equivalent based on the average mark received in their enabling courses

Past Enabling Students

Past Enabling students will not have places set aside for them, but can benefit from a lower UCAT ANZ threshold if they are able to satisfy the eligibility criteria above in addition to:

  • Have completed their Enabling Program in the last five years
  • Have completed a minimum of one year full-time equivalent (80 units) tertiary study
  • Meet the standard minimum academic criteria
Info Session

Info Session

Excellence through Equity Pathway to Medicine

Learn everything you need to know about the Excellence Through Equity Pathway to Medicine and hear from JMP students who entered Medicine via this pathway. 

Watch now

How to Apply

Learn more

New pathway will boost access and equity for aspiring Medicine students

A ground-breaking opportunity was announced by the University of Newcastle for students who have overcome major life challenges to study Medicine.

Read the full news item

Meeting the eligibility criteria outlined above does not guarantee you an offer into the Joint Medical Program (JMP). Eligible applicants will be assessed via a competitive process which includes an assessment of personal qualities (Multiple Skills Assessment) and offers to the available places will be made based on these assessments.

1This Pathway is a pilot and will be reviewed at the end of 2025.