Are you thinking about studying medicine and making a difference in your rural or regional community?
The University of Queensland offers multiple pathways to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) in rural and regional Queensland through our Rural Clinical School. This gives you the opportunity to study close to home while making a real difference to the lives and health of the people you've grown up with.
The clinical exposure that we had in the pathway program was second to none. I'm not sure you would find that anywhere else. Being able to go out into placements in the GPs and hospitals... it really sets you up well moving forward into your medical program with UQ.
What are UQ's options to study medicine in regional Queensland?
UQ provides several rural pathways into the Doctor of Medicine:
- Central Queensland – Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway (RMP)
- Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway (DD–SWMP)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway in Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and Darling Downs South West.
These pathways allow you to complete all your medical education in regional areas including Central Queensland (Rockhampton/Gladstone), Wide Bay (Bundaberg/Hervey Bay), and Darling Downs South West (Toowoomba).
Studying medicine at the Rural Clinical School has been a dream, combining the comfort of home with my long-term goal of working in regional Australia. The close-knit environment of a smaller medical school has deeply enriched my education, offering unparalleled support from both staff and peers. I truly couldn’t imagine a better place to begin my journey as a doctor.
Regional Medical Pathway (RMP)
The Regional Medical Pathway is a unique collaboration between UQ, CQUniversity, and the Central Queensland & Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services. It’s a community of educators, mentors, clinicians and advocates committed to improving health outcomes across Central Queensland and Wide Bay by offering end-to-end medical education.
For high school students
You can enrol in CQUniversity's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), which offers direct entry into UQ’s Doctor of Medicine*. This allows you to complete your full medical education within the Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions.
*You must successfully complete CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Medical Science within 3 years and with a GPA of 5.0+ to gain direct entry into UQ's MD program.
For graduate entry students
If you’ve completed a degree (or you're in your final year), you can apply for the Regional Medical Pathway through the graduate entry pathway. This means you'll complete your Doctor of Medicine at Regional Clinical Units in Rockhampton or Bundaberg with some optional MD years in Hervey Bay.
There will also be future opportunities to complete some of your rural Doctor of Medicine in Gladstone.
My experience as a Regional Medical Pathway student has been nothing short of amazing! As a Rockhampton local, it has been particularly rewarding to continue my medical education in the community I have called home for the past decade. This unique journey has not only provided me with invaluable insights into regional health care but has also illuminated what patient care truly involves in a regional context.
Darling Downs – South West Medical Pathway
The DD–SW Medical Pathway is a collaboration between UQ, University of Southern Queensland, Darling Downs Health, and South West Hospital and Health Service. It provides end-to-end medical training in the Darling Downs and South West Queensland regions, supporting rural and regional workforce needs.
For high school students
You can enrol in UniSQ's Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway), which offers direct entry into UQ’s Doctor of Medicine*. This allows you to complete your full medical education within the Darling Downs South West region.
*You must successfully complete UniSQ's Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences within 3 years and with a GPA of 5.0+ to gain direct entry into UQ's MD program.
For graduate entry students
If you’ve completed a degree (or you're in your final year), you can apply for the graduate entry pathway of the DD–SW Medical Pathway. This means you'll complete your Doctor of Medicine at our Regional Clinical Unit in Toowoomba.
These medical pathways provide local students across our regional and rural footprints with the opportunity to remain in their hometowns while completing their entire medical education, helping grow the next generation of homegrown doctors, right where they are needed most.
As a local, studying in Toowoomba has been a great way to reconnect with family and friends while pursuing my dream career. The Rural Clinical School provides a wonderfully tight-knit and welcoming environment, where everyone is treated as part of the team. I enjoy taking my mind off study by staying active, whether that is hiking the surrounding escarpment or relaxing in the many parks and gardens.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway
UQ's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Doctor of Medicine (MD) pathways provide exciting opportunities for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to study medicine in regional Queensland.
At UQ, we're committed to helping grow the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors throughout Queensland.
In addition to the regions listed, you can also study the Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander Pathway in Greater Brisbane.
Studying medicine has been one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve ever done. My advice to anyone considering this path is simple: don’t let an unconventional start convince you that you’re incapable. If you care deeply about people and are willing to work hard, it is absolutely possible.
Ready to start your medical journey?
Explore UQ's rural pathways to medicine today, and discover how you can live, study and thrive in regional Queensland.
