Rural Training Stream

Addressing workforce needs and advancing the health and wellbeing of regional, rural and remote areas is a priority for Deakin’s School of Medicine. We’re committed to rural Western Victoria and its associated training partners, and in recognition of this relationship we prioritise entry for applicants from this region.

When you accept a place in the Rural Training Stream (RTS), we’ll require a written commitment from you to complete all four years of the MD course at a rural training site allocated by the School of Medicine. Here’s what to expect during your studies.

Year 1 and 2

Year 1 and 2 are delivered through a blend of online and face-to-face learning. There is a minimum requirement of two days of mandatory face-to-face attendance each week of the semester, based primarily at either Deakin’s Warrnambool Campus or East Grampians Health Service, Ararat.

Following acceptance of the course offer, you’ll be asked to provide a preference for one of these two training sites (we can’t guarantee you’ll receive that allocation). If you’re based at both Warrnambool and Ararat sites, you’ll be required to attend Waurn Ponds Campus occasionally.

Year 3 and 4

At this stage of the course, you’ll be allocated to one or more of Deakin’s rural clinical schools: Ballarat, Warrnambool or the Rural Community Clinical School. Clinical school allocations will take place in the second semester of Year 1 based on your preferences and availability of places. Clinical school allocation is independent of the Year 1 and 2 training location.

Please note: Geelong and Eastern Health Clinical Schools are not available training locations for RTS students.

Entry to the RTS is based on a tiered priority system, aligned with your rural residency profile. Places will first be allocated to eligible Tier 1 applicants, and if places remain, to Tier 2 applicants and finally Tier 3 applicants. To meet the eligibility criteria for each tier, you must provide evidence of having resided for at least 10 years cumulatively or any five years consecutively after birth entirely within the nominated tier.

Tier 1: Deakin’s rural footprint as defined by location in the geographic area (see definition below).

Tier 2: MM 2-7 in Rural Victoria.

Tier 3: MM 2-7 in other areas of Rural Australia.

Deakin rural footprint (Tier 1)

The Deakin University footprint is all locations in the Western Victorian Primary Health Network area that are classified as MM3-MM6 (large rural towns, medium rural towns, small rural towns, remote communities). It also includes MM2 (regional centres) locations surrounding and including Ballarat, given Ballarat is the location of one of Deakin’s rural clinical schools.

All other MM1 and MM2 locations within the Western Victorian Primary Health Network area and the MM3 and MM4 locations on the Bellarine Peninsula are excluded from the Deakin University rural footprint (Tier 1).

If you answer YES to the following questions, you are eligible for Tier 1 of the RTS.

1. Is your rural location for this application within the Western Victoria Primary Health Network?
2. Is your rural location for this application classified as MM3-MM6, or is it MM2 in or surrounding Ballarat?
3. Can you provide evidence of residing in this location after birth for 5 years continuously or 10 years cumulatively?

The application process for admission to the Doctor of Medicine RTS is administered by the Graduate Entry Medical School Admissions System (GEMSAS). Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on selection criteria and availability of places in the course.

For more information, read the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) policy.

Eligible Tier 1 applicants

Here’s how we assess Tier 1 applicants:

• Academic performance in an approved bachelor, honours, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters by coursework with a final GPA (weighted) of 5.0 or greater.^*
• Written application demonstrating rural community connection, involvement, commitment to rural training and evidence of readiness for postgraduate study.
• Interview performance.

Eligible Tier 2 and Tier 3 applicants

Here’s how we assess Tier 2 and 3 applicants:

• Academic performance in an approved bachelor, honours, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters by coursework completed no more than 10 years before the course commencement date.^* If your degree was completed outside this 10-year period you may be considered if you have completed relevant further higher education study.^{^}
• A final GPA (weighted) of 5.0 or greater.
• A minimum score of 50 in each of the three sections of the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT), and an overall score of 50 or greater. The score on the GAMSAT must have been obtained no more than four years before the course commencement date.
• Written application demonstrating rural community connection, involvement, commitment to rural training and evidence of readiness for postgraduate study.
• Interview performance.

Adjustments (bonuses)

You may be eligible for adjustments (bonuses) which will count toward your aggregate score for interview consideration. For detailed information, please refer to the GEMSAS Admissions Guide.

Check the English language requirements

You must meet the minimum English language requirements.