To apply for the Doctor of Medicine, you need to know which entry pathway you're eligible for.
At UQ, the Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a 4-year postgraduate program.
There are several entry routes to our MD program for high school students and university graduates.
Provisional Entry (for school leavers)
If you're in your final year of high school (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent), there are several pathways you can take to apply for provisional entry.
If you're in your final year of high school (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent) on your first attempt, you can apply for the Greater Brisbane provisional entry pathway, offered at UQ.
This pathway guarantees entry into the MD if you:
- successfully complete your first bachelor's degree at UQ within the minimum time required for that degree
- achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 5.0, and
- complete 2 subject prerequisites in cell and tissue biology and systems physiology completed at second year undergraduate level.
You'll be based in the Greater Brisbane area for all 4 years of the MD program.
This pathway is available to both domestic and international applicants.
If you're in your final year of high school (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent) on your first attempt, you can apply for the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathway to Medicine), offered by CQUniversity (CQUni) at their Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses.
The pathway guarantees entry into the MD program at UQ if you:
- successfully complete the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathway to Medicine) at CQUni within the minimum time required for that degree, and
- achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 5.0.
By completing the CQUni Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), you will meet the subject prerequisites for the UQ MD program.
You will be based at the UQ Rural Clinical School in Central Queensland or Wide Bay for all 4 years of the MD program.
See CQUni's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) website for more information.
If you're in your final year of high school (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent) on your first attempt, you can apply for the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway), offered by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) at their Toowoomba campus.
The pathway guarantees entry into the MD program at UQ if you:
- successfully complete the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway) at UniSQ within the minimum time required for that degree, and
- achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 5.0.
By completing the UniSQ Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway), you will meet the subject prerequisites for the UQ MD program.
You will be based at a UQ Rural Clinical School in the Darling Downs – South West region for all 4 years of the MD program.
See UniSQ's Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway) website for more information.
If you're in your final year of high school (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent) on your first attempt and you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, you can apply for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admissions Pathway, offered at UQ.
This pathway guarantees entry into the MD program if you:
- successfully complete your first bachelor's degree at UQ within the minimum time required for that degree
- achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 5.0, and
- complete 2 subject prerequisites in cell and tissue biology and systems physiology completed at second year undergraduate level.
You will be based in the Greater Brisbane area for all 4 years of the MD program.
There is a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Provisional Entry Admissions Pathway for Central Queensland and Wide Bay. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through CQUniversity (CQUni) for this pathway. You will be based at our Rural Clinical School in Central Queensland or Wide Bay for all 4 years of the MD program.
Graduate Entry (for university graduates)
If you've completed, or are in your final year of, a minimum of a 3-year bachelor's degree (6 semesters full-time), you can apply for the Graduate Entry pathway.
This pathway provides direct entry into the MD.
If you’ve completed, or are in your final year, of a minimum 3 year bachelor's degree (equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree), you can apply for the Greater Brisbane Graduate Entry Pathway.
This pathway provides direct entry into the MD program and is available to both domestic and international applicants.
You will be based in the Greater Brisbane area for all 4 years of the MD program.
If you’ve completed, or are in your final year, of a minimum 3 year bachelor's degree (equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree), you can apply for the Central Queensland – Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway.
This pathway provides direct entry into the MD program.
You will be based in Greater Brisbane for year 1, then at the UQ Rural Clinical School in Central Queensland or Wide Bay for years 2-4. From 2025, all 4 years of the MD program will be offered in the Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions.
Applicants who wish to be considered for the Central Queensland – Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway must select UQ as your first, second or third preference as part of their GEMSAS application. Applicants will be considered for entry on a tier system:
- Tier 1: Applicants from Central Queensland (CQ) or Wide Bay (WB). Applicants must have resided in CQ or WB for 5 consecutive years, or 10 years cumulatively.
- Tier 2: Applicants with a rural background. Applicants who have resided in any rural location in Australia for 5 consecutive year, or 10 years cumulatively.
- Tier 3: Any other interested applicants. Any applicant who is interested in the Central Queensland – Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway.
Further information on the Local Government Areas for Tier 1 can be found on our Central Queensland – Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway - location eligibility page.
Visit the GEMSAS site for further information about documentation requirements.
If you've completed, or are in your final year of, a minimum 3 year bachelor's degree (equivalent to an Australian bachelor's degree) and identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, you can apply for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admissions Pathway, offered at UQ.
For the 2023 and 2024 intakes, you will be based in Greater Brisbane for year 1, and can elect whether you will be based in Greater Brisbane, Central Queensland or Wide Bay for years 2-4.
From 2025, you can elect whether you will be based in Greater Brisbane, Central Queensland or Wide Bay for all 4 years of the MD program.
Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway
We’re working on introducing the Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway from Semester 1, 2024, for students who have completed or are in your final year of a 3-year bachelor’s degree.
In the Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway, you’ll complete your first year in Greater Brisbane before moving to our rural clinical schools in the Darling Downs and South West Queensland regions.
At UQ, the Doctor of Medicine (MD) is a 4-year postgraduate program.
There are 2 entry pathways into our MD program:
- Provisional Entry (for school leavers)
- Graduate Entry (for university graduates).
If you're a US citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for the MD-Ochsner program. For advice on applying to this program, see MD-Ochsner admissions.
Provisional Entry (for school leavers)
If you're in your final year of high school (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent), you can apply for the Provisional Entry pathway.
This pathway guarantees entry into the MD if you:
- achieve minimum entry requirements, and
- successfully complete your first bachelor's degree at UQ.
Graduate Entry (for university graduates)
If you've completed, or are in your final year of, a minimum of a 3-year bachelor's degree (6 semesters full-time), you can apply for the Graduate Entry pathway.
This pathway provides direct entry into the MD.