Rural Access Scheme
If you've lived in a rural or remote area of Australia, our Rural Access Scheme may help boost your selection rank for entry into many of our programs.
Rural and remote areas often have less access to educational opportunities, resources and health services than cities and larger towns.
To help address these challenges, you can receive 2 adjustments to help boost your selection rank for entry into undergraduate programs.
You must still meet all entry requirements for each program you apply for.
If you're eligible for adjustments, your entry score will be converted to a QTAC selection rank, and any adjustments will be added to this rank. Each adjustment equals 1 rank (for example, if your original rank is 79.50, adding 1 adjustment would increase it to 80.50).
Eligibility and how to apply
Choose your circumstances below to find out your eligibility requirements and how to apply.
If you’re attending a rural or remote (non-metropolitan) school, your adjustments will automatically be applied.
You can find if your school is considered non-metropolitan in the ‘Location’ category on the MySchool website.
Check your school's ‘Location’ category
- Go to the MySchool website
- Type in the name of your school or suburb, and click 'Search'
- Find your school in the results list, and click 'View School Profile'
- Under ‘School facts’ find the ‘Location’ of your school. If it is not ‘Major cities’ you will be eligible for this automatic adjustment.
How to apply
You’ll automatically receive the adjustment as part of your QTAC application.
The automatic adjustment is not applicable if you're applying for Doctor of Medicine (Provisional entry) and Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) programs.
Your eligibility is based on the home address used in your QTAC application.
It will be assessed against the Modified Monash Model (MMM). Your home address is eligible if classified in any category from MM 2 to MM 7.
The address you use in your QTAC application must be your primary home at the time. If you're attending boarding school, you can use your family's primary home as your qualifying address. You can't use holiday homes, secondary residences and investment properties to qualify.
Check your address
- Go to the Health Workforce Locator tool (it doesn't matter if you're not applying for a health program).
- In the 'Classification Filter' list, find the Modified Monash Model and select '2019'.
- Select 'Find address'.
- Enter your full address and select it from the list.
- Check the classification that appears under the 'Modified Monash' heading. You're eligible if it's classified in any category from MM 2 to MM 7.
How to apply
If you apply for an eligible program through QTAC, they will contact you about applying for the Rural Access Scheme.
You'll need to provide a supporting document with your rural home address. Follow QTAC's guide to applying for the scheme to ensure you provide the correct documents.
QTAC will use the home address used in your application to assess if you're eligible for the adjustment.
If your address is eligible, you'll receive the 2 adjustment points to your selection rank.
If you’re applying to university after you’ve completed school, your eligibility is based on the home address used in your QTAC application.
It will be assessed against the Modified Monash Model (MMM). Your address is eligible if classified in any category from MM 2 to MM 7.
The address you use in your QTAC application must be your primary home at the time. You can't use holiday homes, secondary residences and investment properties to qualify.
Check your address
- Go to the Health Workforce Locator tool (it doesn't matter if you're not applying for a health program).
- In the 'Classification Filter' list, find the Modified Monash Model and select '2019'.
- Select 'Find address'.
- Enter your full address and select it from the list.
- Check the classification that appears under the 'Modified Monash' heading. You're eligible if it's classified in any category from MM 2 to MM 7.
How to apply
If you apply for an eligible program through QTAC, they will contact you about applying for the Rural Access Scheme.
You'll need to provide a supporting document with your rural home address. Follow QTAC's guide to applying for the scheme to ensure you provide the correct documents.
QTAC will use the home address used in your application to assess if you're eligible for the adjustment.
If your address is eligible, you'll receive the 2 adjustment points to your selection rank.
If you're applying for the Doctor of Medicine (Provisional Entry) or Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours), you'll need to provide documents that prove you lived in a rural or remote area for the time required.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must have lived in a designated rural or remote area for at least:
- 5 years in a row (consecutively), or
- 10 years in total (cumulatively).
It doesn't matter when you lived there, and you don't need to have lived at the same address for the whole time.
Any addresses you use to apply for the scheme must have been your primary home at the time. If you attended boarding school, you can use your family's primary home as your qualifying address. You can't use holiday homes, secondary residences and investment properties to qualify.
How to apply
QTAC will contact you about applying for the Rural Access Scheme.
You'll need to provide a supporting document with your rural home address. Follow QTAC's guide to applying for the scheme to ensure you provide the correct documents.
Each document must display:
- your name (or your parents' or carers' names for certain types of documents)
- the date it was issued
- your home address at the time.
Types of documents you can provide include:
- signed official letters from a school, university, workplace or healthcare professional (such as a doctor or dentist)
- bank statements
- leases or tenancy agreements
- tax documents
- phone, internet, electricity, gas or water bills.
Doctor of Medicine applicants
If you're applying for the Doctor of Medicine (Provisional Entry) pathway, submit your Rural Access Scheme cover sheet and supporting documentation by 30 September. You will then also be considered for the Rural Background Sub-quota.
You may also be eligible for the School Opportunity Scheme.
International students aren't eligible for the Rural Access Scheme.
If you're studying your senior schooling in Australia, you may be eligible for other admission schemes.