Applications Open | School of Rural Medicine | Charles Sturt Orange Campus

Regional students strongly encouraged to apply for the new Doctor of Medicine – applications now open

After years of lobbying, planning and building, the School of Rural Medicine is about to become a reality, opening its doors at Charles Sturt University’s Orange Campus in February next year. Thanks to the support of our communities, we will now be able to “grow our own” doctors right here in regional NSW.

Applications for prospective students for the Doctor of Medicine are now open. Applicants from rural and regional backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply through the rural entry admission scheme. Rural and regional students will need to submit a community member confirmation form as part of their UAC application.

Students have until Wednesday 30 September to apply for the course through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC). Under the Rural Entry Admissions Scheme, the ATAR requirement for rural and regional applicants is 91.5. For non-rural applicants, the ATAR requirement is 95.5

The first cohort of 37 students will commence their studies in Orange in February next year. All of the teaching and clinical placements for the course will take place in rural and regional areas of NSW. The curriculum for the course has been designed for rural contexts, taking into account the healthcare needs of rural communities and the capabilities of local health services.

Students will be taught in a supportive community environment, which includes state-of-the-art teaching facilities, small class sizes, and a personalised teaching approach.

The program will also include a multidisciplinary approach where students are provided with opportunities to learn and train alongside Charles Sturt’s allied health and nursing students. Many of the lecturers, tutors and supervisors will be practising rural and regional medical doctors and allied health professionals.

This is a very exciting time for Charles Sturt University. Establishing a full Doctor of Medicine degree in the heart of regional NSW is a game-changer for health in our communities.