Medical Program details

All applicants must meet a minimum GPA of 5.0 or an ATAR of 85, with no exceptions.

We will use either your ATAR or GPA, whichever is higher. Please note you must have completed one (1) year (or more) of full-time equivalent study to be eligible to apply with your GPA. 

CDU will enforce the exclusions from other Universities for one year from the commencement of the exclusion. Once the one year has elapsed, you are eligible to apply for the next available intake.

The course requires in-person attendance in Darwin. If you are offered a place, you will need to reside in Darwin. Sub-quotas also apply.

Adjustment factors are included in the ATAR score. For more information on adjustment factors, please visit SATAC’s Individual adjustments FAQs – SATAC. 

No, no credit transfers are permitted in the CDU Menzies Medical Program.

No, there are no additional tests required for entry into the CDU Menzies Medical Program. 

Once you have completed one (1) year (or more) of full-time equivalent study in your chosen undergraduate program, your academic rank will be assessed on the GPA from that program. You would then be able to apply for the Bachelor of Clinical Science Medicine/Doctor of Medicine as a current Higher Education student applicant.

Once you complete at least one (1) year of full-time equivalent study in an undergraduate program, your academic rank will be based on your GPA from that program. At that point, you may apply for the Bachelor of Clinical Science/Doctor of Medicine as a current Higher Education student applicant. 

Choosing a health-related course can be beneficial, but we encourage you to select a field or course that genuinely interests you. This way, if you are not admitted to the medical program in the future, you can continue pursuing a career path you are passionate about. 

At this stage, applications are only open to domestic students. However, we plan to open places to international students in the future, and we will provide updates as those opportunities become available. 

We welcome applications from academically qualified students with medical, mental health, or learning conditions. All applicants must meet the program's academic criteria and the inherent requirements. 

Support is available from both the Medical Program team and CDU’s broader student services. 

We encourage you to reach out to the Medical Support team by email at medicalprogram@cdu.edu.au or explore the available services on the Life, health and wellbeing page.

Current Year 12 students must upload their Year 11 and Year 12 (Semester 1) reports to their SATAC application.

Reports should include specific grades (e.g., A–E or 100%–0%). Unfortunately, reports with only "Pass/Fail" or "Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)" grades cannot be considered for shortlisting.

Step 1: Submit the SATAC application and all required evidence

• Apply via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) to begin your application.
• Upload all required evidence to support your academic merit and eligibility for any subquotas directly to your SATAC application.

Important: Failure to submit all required evidence by the deadline will make your application ineligible for assessment and shortlisting for an interview.

Make sure you have:

• Uploaded all required evidence to your SATAC application.
• Completed and submitted your CDU Menzies Medical Program Application Pack.

Next steps:

• Monitor your email regularly in case CDU or SATAC contacts you to request additional information.
• Shortlisting for interviews will be communicated via email in November—keep an eye on your inbox.

For more details about the application process, visit the FAQs on the SATAC website.

Any scholarships specifically available to medical students will be emailed directly to eligible students. Additionally, CDU offers a range of scholarships open to all students. 

For more information, visit Scholarships at CDU and explore the Scholarship Finder page. 

• NT First Nation applicants are able to apply under both NT First Nations and NT Residents.
• First Nations - Rest of Australia applicants are able to apply under Rural and Remote (MM4 - MM7) if they meet these requirements.
• NT Residents/Rural and Remote applicants are not able to apply under both NT Residents and Rural and Remote.

Yes, you are eligible to apply. However, you will only be considered if all the available places cannot be filled by applicants who meet the requirements of the other sub-quotas. 

If you are applying under the First Nations sub-quota but are unable to obtain your common seal, please reach out to our Medical Program team at medicalprogram@cdu.edu.au for guidance. 

We understand that circumstances may vary, and we are happy to assist you through the process. However, if you are still unable to provide the common seal after receiving assistance, unfortunately, you will not be eligible for consideration under this sub-quota.

You are welcome to apply under another sub-quota if applicable. 

Once all applications have been received and assessed, the CDU Menzies Medical Program will identify which applicants will be invited to interview.

If you are shortlisted, you will receive an interview invitation email two weeks before the interview dates. This email will include a link for you to book an interview slot that suits you.

Shortlisted applicants will be sent a link to book their interview time. 

Only those who reside outside of Greater Darwin are permitted to book an online meeting. 

All other applicants are required to attend the Casuarina campus. 

You are welcome to bring any support people to the campus with you, however they will not be able to attend the interview room with you.

You should attend the interview in neat, professional attire. This includes those doing their interview online. 

Unfortunately, interview feedback or interview scores cannot be provided to applicants.  

We cannot advise you which options you should choose or how you should order your preferences. We do recommend, however, that you order your preferences based on which courses you are most interested in. You can only receive one offer in each SATAC round, and that will be the highest listed course you are selected for.  

The first round of offers is sent out in mid-January. 

If you do not receive an offer in this round, offers will continue to be sent until all places are filled.In some cases, this may be after the course has commenced.

For a full list of offer dates, please refer to Key dates – SATAC

Please follow the instructions provided in your letter of offer by the due date.  

No, this course does not allow deferrals. 

Admission to medical programs is highly competitive. While a strong ATAR (or GPA) is important, it only contributes 50% to your overall ranking. The other 50% is based on your interview performance.

This means that even with a high ATAR, an offer is not guaranteed if your combined score does not rank highly enough compared to other applicants.

We understand that not receiving an offer can be disappointing, especially given the competitive nature of medicine. With limited spots in the program, it is not unusual for many qualified candidates to reapply in subsequent years. 

If you are still determined to pursue a career in medicine, we encourage you to apply again next year. 

In the meantime, considering an alternative course in health could be a valuable step. When choosing an alternative course to study, we recommend you choose a health course that best appeals to you as a future career, so if you don’t get a place in the medical program in the following year, you can continue the journey you start to a career that you’re passionate to do.  

No, the course is offered full-time, face-to-face only at the Casuarina campus. 

In years 3, 4 and 5, you will also be required to complete placements in various NT locations, including Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek, and smaller communities. 

A typical weekly timetable for a first-year medical student often includes:

• 5-6 hours of lectures: Covering subjects such as anatomy and physiology.
• 3-4 hours of lab work: Hands-on learning to deepen understanding of theoretical concepts.
• 4-6 hours of small-group tutorials: For example, problem-based learning sessions.
• Self-directed study: Additional time dedicated to consolidating knowledge and preparing for assessments.

This mix of structured classes and independent study allows students to build a strong foundation in medical concepts while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Each day will differ depending on classes/tutorials/labs/clinical placements, but most days you will be expected to start between 8.00 am - 9.00 am and finish around 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm. 

Some days, there will be more free study sessions throughout the day. 

Intensive clinical placement will begin in Year 3. However, you will have the opportunity to attend some clinical settings in Years 1 and 2. 

Yes, certain vaccinations will be required. A complete immunisation schedule will be provided once you receive an offer for the course.

In addition, the following will also be necessary:

• First Aid Certificate
• Working with Children Card
• National Police Checks.

Please note that all vaccinations and clearances are the responsibility of the student and must be funded by the student.

Yes, there will be expenses associated with clinical placements in remote and rural settings, including travel, accommodation, and living costs.

However, students will have access to subsidies, scholarships, and other forms of support to help ease the financial burden of these placements.