Doctor of Medicine

The Rural Training Stream (RTS) reserves around 30 domestic places per year for applicants with a rural background. RTS students commit to undertaking all four years of the course at rural locations: Years 1 and 2 are delivered via blended online and face-to-face learning at either Deakin's Warrnambool Campus or East Grampians Health Service in Ararat (with occasional attendance at Waurn Ponds), while Years 3 and 4 are conducted at rural Deakin Medical School sites (Ballarat–Grampians, Warrnambool–South West, or Rural Communities). Tier 1 RTS applicants (from Deakin's rural footprint in Western Victoria) do not need to sit the GAMSAT, whereas General Stream applicants must achieve a minimum GAMSAT score of 50 in each section. Transfers from the RTS to the General Stream are not possible once enrolled.

Clinical placements are integrated throughout all four years of the course. In Years 1 and 2 students are exposed to clinical experiences from early in the course through placements with healthcare providers. In Years 3 and 4 students undergo intensive full-time clinical training at one of Deakin's Medical School sites: Rural Communities, Ballarat–Grampians, Warrnambool–South West, Geelong–Barwon, or Eastern Health. These sites offer experiential learning across hospital and primary care settings. Students also undertake a pre-internship rotation that provides a first-hand taste of the day-to-day life of a graduate doctor. The Rural Communities site provides in-depth exposure to community-based care, with students paired with a clinical mentor for an extended period.

The Doctor of Medicine is accredited with the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Graduates are granted provisional registration as a Medical Practitioner in Australia and New Zealand, and are eligible to undertake paid work as an Intern to become eligible for full registration. Domestic graduates are guaranteed an Internship position in Victoria. After completing their intern year, graduates can apply for entry to specialty training programs leading to careers in General Practice, the Rural Generalist program, and other specialties including pathology, paediatrics, and surgery.

The Damion Drapac Scholarship for Vocational Doctors offers cash payments of up to $15,000 per year (maximum value $60,000 over four years) for students commencing the Doctor of Medicine who are from medically underserved populations, experiencing financial barriers, and can demonstrate a genuine passion for community medicine. Applicants must be Australian citizens, commencing the course in Semester 1, and willing to represent Deakin's School of Medicine and the Drapac Centre publicly. Applications open Monday 8 September 2025 and close 5pm Thursday 13 November 2025 for 2026 commencement. Additionally, Deakin offers adjustment (bonus) points for rural/regional residency, prior clinical experience, work experience, financial disadvantage, and Deakin graduates.

General Stream applicants apply through GEMSAS and are ranked for a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) based on equal weighting of GPA, GAMSAT score, and applicable adjustments. The MMI consists of up to six five-minute stations addressing areas such as communication skills, commitment to rural and regional practice, evidence-based practice, self-directed learning, teamwork, motivation for a career in medicine, commitment to social justice, professionalism, effective use of resources, and health promotion. Interviews are conducted in September. Following the MMI, a final aggregate score is calculated as 50% from the pre-interview score (equal weighting of GPA + GAMSAT + adjustments) and 50% from the MMI score. In 2026, the student intake had an average GPA of 6.72 and an average GAMSAT of 65.9.