The University of Adelaide Summary shows there are 2 paths to medicine at the University of Adelaide. These are:-

• Path 1 - direct entry for high school leavers or

• Path 2 - for undergraduates with any incomplete degree from the University of Adelaide.

Entry Requirements - The full details regarding the entry requirements for medicine at the University of Adelaide are given in the table below.

This table shows, not only the requirements to obtain a place in the undergraduate medical degree, but also details how each of the 2 paths flow into the medical degree.  

How University of Adelaide Compares with Other Universities - Scroll further down, below the table and you'll also see the University of Adelaide Comparitor. This tool enables you to compare the 2 paths to medicine at the University of Adelaide, with other university paths to medicine (offered by 19 Australian universities). 

University of Adelaide detailed entry Requirements

There are a number of key aspects in how the University of Adelaide structures its undergraduate medical degree and how the 2 entry paths flow to it. 

Changes to the Adelaide medicine degree

Adelaide was in the throes of implementing changes to its medicine degree, changing it to the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine degree when COVID-19 hit. They then did a U-turn and have reinstated the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree on the expectation that they will re-implement the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine degree as soon as it is possible to do so.

Psychometric testing changes

The change to the medicine degree at Adelaide also brought in a change to selection criteria and this has not been reversed in the return to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. Previously Adelaide used their own psychometric testing. The University of Adelaide now uses only UCAT to determine who's offered an interview - with UCAT being applicable for both domestic and international applicants.

Undergraduate and resolute in this

The University of Adelaide's medical program is of moderate size - accepting 173 students and even though there are 2 paths to medicine, it's clear the University of Adelaide program is fairly and squarely an undergraduate one. Undergraduate entry is reserved for students who do not have a record of tertiary study from anywhere else.

A few (just 20) places are offered to students already at the university, who have only studied a limited number of units (for first year students this is between 18 and 24, and for second year students between 24 and 48 units) to transfer over to the medical program. Of these 20 places, a minimum of 10 are allocated to students transferring over from the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences/Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced) degrees.

You can defer but you can't hide 

The University of Adelaide allows students to defer for up to 2 years - many other universities don't allow you to do this. There is a catch, however, in that enrollment in the medicine degree comes with the requirement to undertake a clinical placement. If you're a Commonwealth Supported Place student - regardless of whether you are a bonded or non-bonded student, you're required to undertake 4 weeks of rural placement.  A quarter of all medical students are required to undertake one year of rural training. 

Prerequisites and their requirements

The University of Adelaide specifies biology or chemistry or mathematical methods as prerequisites but also indicate students coming through the undergraduate path from other University of Adelaide degrees may be able to satisfy these prerequisite requirements through first year studies. This reflects the flexible entrance pathways (including bridging courses) that are available. So make sure you check with the university what your options are and through this determine if and how you might best meet subject prerequisite requirements. The aspect to note is if you are coming through the Higher Education Pathway there are only 20 places available to these students in the medicine degree.