Study at Bond University

Application & Entry Procedures

MBBS

Course Overview | Course Structure | Application & Entry Procedures

Application & Entry Procedures

Information for Year 12 & Non-degree Applicants

Information for Graduate Applicants

Information for International Applicants

Special considerations regarding selection

Further Entry Requirements

Year 12 & Non-degree Applicants

Entrants will be ranked in the top 10th centile of those successfully completing Year 12. Students must pass Year 12 English, Chemistry and a Mathematics subject (Maths B in Queensland, or equivalent).

Successful completion of Year 12 Biology is highly recommended, but is not compulsory.

Year 12 or equivalent results will be valid only for five years.

Students who do not meet these prerequisites should discuss their options with an admissions manager. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the Recruitment and Admissions Committee may allow students with equivalent subjects to apply for admission.

All undergraduate candidates must sit the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Test (UMAT). This test is part of the selections procedure for most undergraduate medical programs in Australia and New Zealand and has been specifically designed to complement other parts of the admissions process, such as academic performance at Year 12 level. The UMAT tests non-academic attributes such as critical thinking, reasoning and communication skills. It is not an IQ test, nor does it assume any prior knowledge of any subjects at secondary level.

Applicants will generally sit the UMAT in the year preceding entry to the Bond University Medical Program, although results are valid for two years. The UMAT is held simultaneously at a number of centres around Australia, usually around the end of July. Applicants must register to sit the UMAT and pay any fees associated with sitting the test. This test is an independent assessment of applicants’ suitability to undertake Medicine and, as such, Bond University takes no responsibility for the test. However, a valid UMAT score is required before any application for general admission to the MBBS program at Bond University can be considered. Further information about the UMAT can be obtained from the website, www.acer.edu.au/unitest/umat.

There are three sections to the UMAT: Logical reasoning and problem solving; Interaction skills and non-verbal reasoning.

Candidates will also need to apply through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for the Bond University Medical Program. Applications will be open early February 2008 ONLY, with selection for interview (see below) occurring until mid February. See the MBBS timeline. Initial offers will be made early March with additional offer rounds in late March, April and May, if necessary. Check the QTAC website at www.qtac.edu.au for details of the application process. See important dates and deadlines.

Every prospective applicant may request an initial meeting with an Admissions Manager in their home state. The purpose of this meeting is to assess the candidate’s general suitability to enter Bond University. Candidates may arrange a meeting with an Admissions Manager at any time after the UMAT results become available. Contact details are available at www.bond.edu.au//contact/am-domestic.html

Approximately 120 students will be interviewed for the Bond MBBS at Bond University February 2008. Interview selection is dependent on a combination of an applicates UMAT and Year 12 results (minimum Tertiary entrance score in the top 10th centile in their home state). Most interviews will take place in February 2008. See important dates and deadlines. Travel and other costs are the responsibility of the applicant.

Interviews will be conducted by a panel of two people – one of whom will be a medical practitioner. Each panel will have one male and one female member. All panel members will undergo a training program to ensure that they are very familiar with the objectives and conduct of the interview. The interview is semi-structured and will assess attributes such as communication, emotional intelligence, listening, leadership and ethical decision-making. In addition, general suitability for the Bond University Medical Program will be assessed.

In the event that the members of the interview panel are unable to reach a consensus about an applicant’s performance in the interview, members of the Recruitment and Admissions Committee will review the interview before making a final decision. In this event, the score awarded by the Admissions Committee will be the final score awarded to the applicant.

Offers will be made to successful applicants on the basis of UMAT scores, interview performance and Year 12 results (equally weighted). Students will be expected to be ready to begin studies in the May semester and must have met all other criteria for admission to Bond University. Final decisions on admission will be made by the Recruitment and Admissions Committee. An offer of a place in the Bond University Medical Program is valid only for the year in which it is made. If an applicant does not wish to take up an offer immediately he/she must reapply at a later time and undergo the selection process again. Candidates cannot defer admission into the program.

Graduate Applicants

The Bond University Medical Program is primarily an undergraduate program. However, this will not preclude admission of students who have already successfully completed a degree from a university approved by the Admissions Committee. Graduate admission will be based upon Grade Point Average (GPA) and score in a similar structured interview to that undertaken by undergraduate applicants. It is expected that entry for graduates will be very competitive and students with a GPA of less than a credit standard are unlikely to be selected for interview. In the case of graduates with more than one tertiary qualification, the GPA of their most recent degree will be used.

Applicants with a degree in any discipline may apply for admission, but will need to confirm that they have completed studies that are equivalent to the pre-requisites for entry: Year 12 Chemistry, English and Mathematics within the last 9 years.

Graduates who completed their studies more than nine years prior to their proposed application to the Bond University Medical Program will need to complete either a Postgraduate Certificate in a science or biomedical related area (usually the equivalent of one semester’s full-time study), or undertake the equivalent of a year of full-time study at undergraduate level. These studies must be undertaken at a university approved by the Admissions Committee. Potential applicants are advised to discuss their situation with the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Student Relations Officer before undertaking any course, to ensure their planned course of study will be acceptable to the Faculty. The GPA obtained during this course of study will be taken into account in deciding the applicant’s eligibility for interview.

As the Medical Program has an integrated curriculum, no credit for prior studies can be given. Applications from graduates will be handled directly by Bond University; graduates should not apply through QTAC. Application forms for May 2008 will be available on the Health Sciences and Medicine website between 1 October 2007 and 10 February 2008 at http://www.bond.edu.au/study/application/mbbs/ (you will not be able to access this link at any other time). Applications close Sunday 10 February 2008. Please do not apply through the general admissions process at Bond University as your application cannot be processed.

Applicants should consult the website for information about the closing date each year. Applicants may contact their local Bond University Admissions Manager to arrange a preliminary meeting to assess their chances of selection.

Students who have partially completed a tertiary qualification will not be eligible to apply for admission through the graduate sub-quota, but must apply through QTAC. Such candidates will be required to sit the UMAT and may be invited to attend an interview. If students have completed less than the equivalent of two semesters of full-time tertiary study in the same course, Year 12 results will be taken into account when deciding eligibility for admission. For candidates who have completed at least two, but less than the equivalent of six semesters of full-time tertiary study in the same course, a combination of Year 12 results and GPA, equally weighted, will be used. Only the GPA will be used for candidates who have completed the equivalent of at least six semesters of full-time tertiary study.

International Applicants

An international student is a prospective student who is not an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who is currently residing either in Australia or overseas. International students will have to demonstrate equivalent academic performance to that of Australian applicants in examinations such as Australian Year 12, International Baccalaureate or A-levels and have evidence of a high level of written and spoken English (IELTS of 7.0 with no subscore less than 6.5). The pre-requisite subjects of Chemistry, Mathematics and English must be completed. Applicants will be required to sit a face-to-face interview by an interviewing panel, and should be prepared to come to Bond University for this interview.

* Please note UMAT is also required for onshore international applicants (non-degree holders)

International students will comprise no more than 15% of any cohort. This includes international students who are currently residing in Australia.

Applications from international students will be handled directly by Bond University; students should not apply through QTAC. Applicants should contact the Office of Recruitment and Admissions by email on international@bond.edu.au or by telephone on 1800 074 074. CRICOS Code - 053116E

Special considerations regarding selection

Bond is aware of the special needs and difficulties faced by academically qualified handicapped students. Applications from such students will receive sympathetic consideration and every endeavour will be made to include them in the program. However, ultimately the Admissions Committee will need to be assured that these students will be able to achieve the educational objectives of the course and contribute successfully to the medical workforce upon graduation.

Students who may be HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B or C positive should be aware that there are likely to be some restrictions placed upon what they are able to do as medical students and eventually, as medical practitioners. Although such students will not be excluded from the program on the basis of their HIV or hepatitis status, applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their situation with the Chair of the Admissions Committee, so that any special arrangements can be made if necessary. Such discussions will be treated confidentially.

Entry Requirements

All successful applicants will be required to undertake a Hepatitis B immunisation program before or during the first semester of their program, in accord with Queensland Health guidelines.

Important Dates & Deadlines

Tuesday 2 October 2007

DIRECT Applications for the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) open (Graduates & International Undergraduates)

Friday 1 February 2008

QTAC applications open for all domestic undergraduate applicants (all MBBS student apply through QTAC regardless of where they live)

Sunday 10 February 2008

ALL applications close (QTAC, Graduates & International)

Friday 15-22 February 2008

MBBS interviews coordinated and conducted by the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine

Saturday 1 March 2008

Round 1 offers for successful QTAC applicants released and available on the QTAC website

Saturday 1 March 2008

Round 1 offers for Graduates and all International Applicants released by Bond University

Friday 14 March 2008

Deadline to accept Round 1 offers

Friday 21 March 2008

Round 2 offers if required, subject to quotas (QTAC, Domestic graduates & Internationals)

Thursday 3 April 2008

Deadline to accept Round 2 offers

Graduate

Applicants who have completed a Bachelor degree (Domestic or International)

Undergraduate

Applicants with year 12 equivalent or incomplete tertiary studies (Domestic or international)

Domestic

Australian citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, Australian Humanitarian Visa Holders and New Zealand Citizens

International

International citizens (Graduate or Undergraduate) residing in Australia or overseas