Thinking about studying medicine in Australia? You’ve come to the right place. Australia is an incredibly popular study destination, perfect for those looking to gain a globally recognised qualification in a country boasting top universities, vibrant cities, unique wildlife,  golden beaches, and warm weather. Australia is also a long-desired destination for medical students in particular as the country offers world-renowned universities for medical degrees, high salaries, and a laid-back lifestyle. 

To help you in your quest of finding the right university in the land down under, we’ve used the QS World University Rankings 2021 to take a closer look at the best medical schools in Australia. Of course, some universities will be considered better than others so let’s take a look at the institutions sitting in the top 10 positions for medical universities in Australia. They are:

1. University of Melbourne (18^th globally)

2. University of Sydney (19^th globally)

3. Monash University (36^th globally)

4. University of New South Wales (45^th globally)

5. University of Queensland (51^st globally)

6. Australian National University (92^nd globally)

7. University of Adelaide (102^nd globally)

8. University of Western Australia (127^th globally)

9. University of Newcastle (132^nd globally)

10. Deakin University (201^st-250^th globally)

Before we delve into the top three Australian medical schools, make sure you also read our guides on what to expect when studying medicine and the 10 benefits of becoming a doctor.

University of Melbourne 

The highest-ranking and oldest medical school in Australia, the University of Melbourne is internationally recognised for excellent teaching, impactful research, and its influence on policy. The medical school has a range of departments including:

• Surgery
• Medicine
• Radiology 
• General Practice
• Critical care
• Clinical pathology
• Cardiometabolic health
• Infectious diseases
• Obstetrics and gynaecology 
• Paediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Rural health

The university is home to 65,000 students in total, with 30,000 being international. The city itself is a seven-time winner of The Economist’s World’s Most Liveable City award. This diverse student community and esteemed global reputation makes Melbourne a particularly desirable place to live, work and study.

For entry onto a medical degree in Australia, you will need top grades in addition to sitting for aptitude tests, proof of English language proficiency and an impressive interview. Make sure you check with the university for specific entry requirements for the year and month you wish to start.

University of Sydney

Located in the capital of New South Wales, the University of Sydney has an excellent medical department, placing 2^nd in Australia (QS rankings 2021). The faculty of medicine and health encompasses dentistry, medical sciences, medicine, pharmacy, nursing and midwifery, public health, and health sciences. The University of Sydney also ranks 4^th in the world for graduate employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020).

At the undergraduate level, the medical school only accepts 30 domestic and 10 international applicants each year. This programme is a seven-year double degree pathway that combines the undergraduate degree with the Doctor of Medicine (MD). However, you can also apply for the Doctor of Medicine if you have completed a bachelor’s degree prior.

To be accepted onto the MD programme your bachelor’s degree does not necessarily need to be biomedical sciences. This allows for a more diverse student cohort. You might also find it interesting that 22 per cent of medical students were international in 2020.

Monash University

The Monash University medical school accepts 70 international students each year with one intake in February. The course is a combined Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine lasting for five years. The application process considers several factors including:

• ISAT score (International Students Admissions Test) - 170 or above, minimum of 165 in both critical reasoning and quantitative reasoning 
• Interview
• Academic performance 
• IELTS score (7.0 or above with no band lower than 6.5) or,
• TOEFL (587) or if internet-based, with an overall score of 94, 24 in writing and no section lower than 20.

For more specific academic requirements, we advise checking the university website directly.

Monash University has a large number of research centres, clinics and institutes all working to tackle some of the world’s most pressing research issues within the medical field. The university has contributed to vital research areas such as cancer research, Alzheimer’s, IVF, and infectious diseases.

Monash University medical school ranks 36^th in the world, nursing ranks 15^th and pharmacology and pharmacy ranks 2^nd. So, you can see that Monash university performs exceptionally well across a variety of medical fields, not only in Australia, but around the world. 

Hopefully, this has given you some useful insight into the best universities for medicine in Australia. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for or want to keep browsing, use our course matcher tool to find a course and university.

Make sure you also stay up to date with the latest news in international education during your research for any important updates.