Assured Pathway entry to Medicine and Dental Medicine for international students
This page is for international school leaver applicants to the Assured Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Dental Medicine. If you are not an international or school leaver applicant, view other application requirements.
School leavers may be eligible to apply for an Assured Pathway to Medicine or an Assured Pathway to Dentistry. Entry is on a competitive basis, with places being offered to the highest-ranking applicants. To be considered for a place, applicants must meet minimum eligibility requirements and must not have commenced any tertiary studies, including university degree studies or vocational training at diploma level or above.
Successful applicants who gain an Assured Pathway place will commence UWA undergraduate studies and progress to their postgraduate degree without the need to sit a graduate admissions test or undergo further interviews. An International Assured Pathway place in the postgraduate MD or DMD is conditional on:
- successful completion of a UWA bachelor’s degree meeting minimum academic requirements; and
- retention of international student status.
International Assured Pathway students will first complete a three year UWA Bachelor's degree, and then a postgraduate qualification (Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Dental Medicine). The total minimum course duration is 6 years.
Applicants should ensure their application preferences reflect their true career aspirations. A course offer for an Assured Pathway to Dentistry or an Assured Pathway to Medicine is specific to that course and cannot be transferred from one to the other.
International entry requirements
Entry into the Assured Pathway is competitive. Applicants will be ranked according to their academic performance, admissions test and interview score, with the highest-ranking applicants being offered a place.
Details regarding eligibility requirements, application timelines and the selection process are below.
- Application timelines and due dates
-
- Timelines are under review for International applications for 2024 commencement in the Assured Pathway into Medicine and the Assured Pathway into Dentistry. Sign up here to receive updated information as it becomes available.
- Applications are via UWA’s online application system. International students may also apply via an authorised international education agent.
- Applicants whose final results are not available by the application closing date must submit Predicted ATAR information. Forms will be available during the application period.
- Applicants must register for and sit the ISAT prior to the application closing date. ISAT results remain valid for two years (as at the application closing date). For 2024 commencement the latest ISAT dates are Test Window 1 (23 January - 3 February 2023, registrations close 9 January 2023) and Test Window 2 (1 May - 12 May 2023, registrations close 17 April 2023).
- Applicants should use their name as it appears on their passport when submitting their application and when registering for the ISAT.
- Late applications will not be considered.
Interview period
Applicants will be provided with more information as it becomes available.
Course offers, commencement and deferral
- Course offer timelines to be advised.
- Applicants who attain a place in the Assured Pathway to Medicine or Dentistry will commence their UWA bachelor’s degree in Semester 1 (late February).
- Applicants who are offered an International Assured Pathway to Medicine or Dentistry may be eligible to defer commencement for one year. Students who are required to fulfil a national service obligation may defer for up to two years.
- An offer for an Assured Pathway is specific to either Medicine or Dentistry and cannot be transferred.
- Minimum ATAR or equivalent
-
Academic minimum requirements must be met in order to be eligible for consideration. Applicants who have completed studies other than ATAR will have their final results converted to their ATAR equivalent. More information can be found here: international and overseas qualifications.
Applicants who will not have their final results by the application closing date can apply based on a predicted result provided by their school. Course offers will be conditional on the actual result being consistent with the predicted result. A predicted ATAR form will be available for download during the application period.The ATAR minimum to be considered for 2024 commencement is currently under review. Sign up here to receive updated information as it becomes available.
- International school leaver status
-
Assured Pathways are exclusive to school leaver applicants, that is, completing or recently completed Australian year 12 or equivalent, or undertaking a national service obligation directly following school completion, and have not commenced in university studies or vocational training at AQF diploma level or above.
- Applicants must have international student status. That is, applicants who have Australian or New Zealand Citizenship, or Australian Permanent Residency, including dual citizenship holders, must apply via TISC for a domestic place.
- Applicants must not have commenced tertiary studies, including university degree studies or vocational training at diploma level or above. Applicants who have commenced in tertiary studies may apply via Graduate Entry.
- Assured Pathways are not available via Mature Age Entry. Mature Age applicants may work towards Graduate Entry. (Students who will technically reach Mature Age status while in progress of a national service obligation will be considered as school leaver applicants.)
- International Student Admissions Test (ISAT)
-
- International students who plan to apply for an Assured Pathway to the MD or an Assured Pathway to the DMD must sit the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) before the application closing date.
- To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet or exceed the 25th percentile in both sections of the test: Critical reasoning and Quantitative reasoning.
- For 2024 commencement, ISAT scores will be accepted from tests sat during 2021, 2022, and 2023 test windows 1 and 2 (23 January - 3 February 2023/1 May - 12 May 2023). Results from later 2023 test windows cannot be accepted in support of applications for 2024 commencement.
- Applicants may sit the test once within a 12-month period. For applicants who have more than one valid result, the higher score will be used (not necessarily the most recent score).
- Applicants must provide their ISAT registration number as part of their application.
- When registering for ISAT, applicants should use their name as shown on their passport.
- Refer to ISAT information provided by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) including preparation strategies, registration, test dates and test venues.
- As the test measures skills acquired over a period of time rather than particular subject knowledge, we recommend applicants prepare for the ISAT using the sample questions provided on the official ISAT website. Reading widely and engaging critically with written material will also help to improve speed of reading comprehension and analytical skills.
- UWA does not endorse third party preparation courses, including those held on University premises.
- English language competency requirement
-
All Assured Pathway applicants are required to meet the standard English language competency level for The University of Western Australia.
- Eyesight requirements – DMD only
- Applicants are recommended to have an eye examination to determine if they have any vision defects which will interfere with their ability to practise as a dentist. Students must meet these visual requirements. Vision defects that can be corrected, such as by the wearing of glasses, should be done so prior to enrolment. Colour blindness may affect the ability to become a dentist and it is strongly advised that affected applicants seek advice from an ophthalmologist.
- Inherent requirements – MD only
- Students who aspire to pursue medicine as a career should review the inherent requirements [PDF, 156KB].
- Interview
-
- Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on their ISAT score and predicted or actual ATAR.
- The interview allows shortlisted candidates to display some of the personal qualities considered desirable in medical and dental practitioners, and increase their competitiveness for a place.
- The interview will assess candidates on a variety of attributes such as accountability, ethical and moral judgement, communication skills, management skills, problem solving, self-awareness, teamwork/collaboration, conflict resolution, empathy, resilience.
- Applicants will be notified regarding their eligibility for interview after the application closing date.
- Arrangements and approximate timelines for the 2023-2024 admissions period to be advised.
- Final ranking
-
Final ranking for course offers will be based on ATAR or equivalent (30%), interview (50%) and ISAT score (20%).
- Prerequisite and recommended subjects
-
Assured Pathway students must undertake a UWA bachelor’s degree before commencing the MD or DMD. In addition to English language competency requirements, there may be other prerequisites. In most cases, students who have not undertaken prerequisite subjects may undertake bridging units as part of their bachelor’s degree studies.
The following ATAR or equivalent subjects are recommended, or may be taken as Level 1 university units:- Chemistry
- Biology or Human Biology
- Maths Applications or higher
- Physics
Students who plan to apply for a Assured Pathway into Medicine or Dentistry should prioritise getting the highest possible marks rather than particular subjects.
- Changes to citizenship or residency status
-
If you have applied or are intending to apply for Australian Permanent Residency or Citizenship, be aware of the following implications for your application:
- If you receive an offer for an international place and there is a change to your residency status before you commence, your offer will lapse. You will need to re-apply for a domestic place.
- If your residency status will change before the TISC Medicine and Dentistry application deadline (late September), refer to information regarding domestic applications for the Assured Pathway to Medicine/Dentistry.
- Should you receive an offer and commence in the Direct Pathway as an international student and your residency status changes while in progress of your bachelor’s degree, you will lose your assured international place in your postgraduate professional course. You can complete your UWA bachelor’s degree as a domestic student and apply via graduate entry for a domestic place in your chosen professional postgraduate degree. Refer to information regarding graduate entry into Medicine and Dentistry.
- If your residency status changes after you have commenced in the MD or DMD, you cannot be guaranteed a domestic place in that course. If a domestic place were not available, you would be able to complete the course but would be subject to international fees.
- Internship and registration for medical practitioners
-
Registration upon completion: Doctor of Medicine
On completion of the MD, graduates will have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree ensuring they have a well-rounded skill set as well as the specialist skills needed in their professional career.
For registration as a medical practitioner in Australia, all graduates are required to complete a pre-registration internship in an approved hospital, followed by a period of specialist training (e.g. surgeon, general practitioner). Doctors may undertake further specialist training after registering as a medical practitioner (e.g. psychiatry, neurology). The Australian Medical Association provides information regarding the registration process.
Priority for internships is given to graduates who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. The Department of Health has advised that due to an increase in Australian medical graduates, it is likely there will be limited internship opportunities for international graduates. As per previous years, international graduates who wish to undertake internship in Australia are only accommodated if sufficient intern places are available. International graduates may also look into requirements to undertake internships in their home country.
Graduates who did not complete the majority of their education in English in a recognised country may be subject to additional English Language requirements for registration. For further information, refer to the Medical Board.
Section 19AB limits Medicare access for Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs) and Foreign Graduates of an Accredited Medical School (FGAMS) who became permanent Australian residents or citizens on or after 1 January 1997.
Refer to the Australian Department of Health for information regarding registration to practice medicine in Australia.
- Registration for dental practitioners
-
Registration upon completion: Doctor of Dental Medicine
On completion of the DMD, graduates will have both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree ensuring they have a well-rounded skill set as well as the specialist skills needed in their professional career.
On successful completion of the DMD, graduates will be able to register with the Dental Board of Australia, or with overseas Dental Boards with reciprocal arrangements, and enter the profession immediately. Registered Dentists may choose to later undertake further specialist training (e.g. orthodontics, oral pathology).
Graduates who did not complete the majority of their education in English in a recognised country may be subject to additional English Language requirements for registration. Refer to the Dental Board of Australia for information regarding registration to practice dentistry in Australia.