Regional Medical Pathway in Detail

regional medical pathway student smiling with stethoscope around his neck
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The Regional Medical Pathway (RMP) is an Australian‑first university and hospital partnership between CQUniversity Australia (CQU), the University of Queensland (UQ), and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (CQWBHS).

The RMP is a community of educators, mentors, clinicians and advocates committed to improving regional, rural and remote health outcomes by nurturing and inspiring the next generation of medical doctors.

CQU's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) (CM17) offers a streamlined route into UQ's Doctor of Medicine (MD), with a total course duration of six years from commencement to graduation.

Upon successful completion of the UQ's Doctor of Medicine and during your intern years, you'll be offered provisional registration to the Australian Medical Council. You will obtain full registration upon successful completion.  

The RMP is designed to train you to be an exceptional intern. Your medical career provides diverse career outcomes with numerous specialties available, including becoming a General Practitioner, a Rural Generalist and other specialty areas.

Regional Medical Pathway Logo

The Regional Medical Pathway

The RMP represents true end-to-end training. Explore the two courses that make up the pathway. 

CM17 - Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine)

Prepare for a career in medicine with this unique pathway program designed to help you enter the University of Queensland's regionally based Doctor of Medicine Program.

The University of Queensland - Doctor of Medicine

The UQ Doctor of Medicine is the postgraduate component of the Regional Medical Pathway. It will provide you with a world-class medical education. You'll gain hands-on experience preparing you to work in any global setting.

Local Networks, Local Connections, Local Opportunities

You'll study the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) on-campus at either:

Once you articulate into the Doctor of Medicine (MD), you will then continue living and learning in Central Queensland (Rockhampton) or Wide Bay (Bundaberg).  You'll have the opportunity to move to Gladstone (CQ) or Hervey Bay (WB) in the last two years of your MD studies. 

The RMP aims to attract and retain regional, rural and remote medical practitioners, giving you the opportunity to live and learn in these regions full-time during your tertiary studies.

Preparing Your Application

To apply for CQU's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), you'll need to meet the course pre-requisites, complete the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ), submit a course application via the Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC) and complete the Multiple Mini Interviews. 

The UCAT ANZ is an admissions test used by the UCAT ANZ Consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand for their medical, dental and clinical science degree programs. The test establishes applicants’ abilities in the following areas:

  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Decision Making
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Abstract Reasoning
  • Situational Judgement

Students do not require medical knowledge to undertake this test. 

How much does it cost?

Registration cost was $335 in 2026. This needs to be paid on registration (in Year 12). Please refer to the UCAT ANZ website for more information. 

UCAT bursaries may be available through UQ, but conditions apply.

Where do I sit for the test?

The UCAT ANZ is a computer-based test that is provided in person in Pearson VUE test centres. Test centres are provided in Bundaberg and Rockhampton. Learn more, including other site locations, on the UCAT ANZ website. 

Helpful UCAT Links

A MMI is a multi-station, multi-interview format where applicants rotate through a range of interview stations with multiple interviewers. If you're attending the MMI, you'll receive a score for each interview station, which contributes to the overall admissions rank. Scores are reviewed by an MMI Results Board. 

How do I get invited to the MMI?

The overall UCAT ANZ score is used to determine a ranked interview list for MMI. The minimum UCAT ANZ score the University requires will vary each year, determined by the performance of all applicants competing for a place in the Pathway to Medicine course. Therefore, the UCAT cut-off score cannot be determined in advance.

Preparing for an MMI

If you're preparing for an MMI, it's best to prepare in the same way you would prepare for any interview. An understanding of your self, motivations, values, the way you respond to situations, and an understanding of the world around you is helpful.

There are no right answers. You'll be assessed on how you respond rather than on specific content.

It is not recommended that you pay for professional training as it often results in a more rigid, robotic, and coached response and is not a true reflection of who you are as an individual. Bringing your true selves to the interviews rather than a set of pre-prepared responses is the best approach. 

Helpful MMI Links

ATAR Requirement

The higher the ATAR score, the more competitive you will be when applying for the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine). The ATAR score makes up 25 per cent of the final offer score when assessing an application.  

To be considered for a place in the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), the minimum ATAR for eligibility to the RMP is 95.00. 

Adjustment Schemes

If you are applying for the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), you may be eligible for the following adjustment schemes:

  • Central Queensland/ Wide Bay Schooling Adjustment Scheme
  • Rural Access Scheme
  • Subject Incentive Scheme.

Learn more about Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) Adjustment Schemes.

Adjustment Scheme Caps

Please note the total adjustments an applicant is eligible to receive for this course is capped at five (5) selection rank improvements for all eligible adjustment schemes.

A Bonded Medical Place aims to provide more doctors in areas of workforce shortage in regional, rural and remote Australia. 28.5% of the Medical Pathways cohorts are required to be on the Bonded Medical Program. 

The Bonded Medical Place requires a return of service obligation throughout candidates’ medical careers.  When applying via QTAC, you may list a Bonded Medical Place as a preference as part of your QTAC application, or you may opt-in during the first half of your first year of study. 

Bonded medical places are available for CQU's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine). 

Learn more about the Bonded Medical Program.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Pathway

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Pathway into CQU's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) is open to secondary school graduates and mature-age students.  

It's ideal if you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and you're interested in a career in health. You must also meet the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Pathway eligibility criteria outlined in the Entry Requirements section of the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) page.

  • Jay Warcon
    “
    I chose this course because I would be able to stay at home and not move away, so I would have the support of my family when completing the degree. The second reason was that I would be able to study in Rockhampton, which is Darumbal land. Darumbal is the tribe that I am from.

    Jay Warcon

    Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine)

Helpful Resources

Information about Graduate Entry Pathways

The UQ Doctor of Medicine has a graduate entry pathway. If you don't meet the requirements for CQU's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine), or you are unsuccessful in applying to this course, you may undertake another undergraduate degree and apply to this pathway in your final year of study (or beyond). 

Pre-requisites and recommended programs for entry

If you're considering the graduate entry pathway, you will need to ensure you have studied the relevant subjects (units) in your undergraduate degree in order to be eligible to apply for the Doctor of Medicine. Learn more about the subject prerequisites and recommended programs offering these subjects.

GAMSAT

If you are applying for UQ's Doctor of Medicine via the graduate entry pathway, you'll need to sit the GAMSAT test in the year of application.

How to apply for the UQ MD (Graduate entry pathway)

If you've completed a key degree, or are in your final year of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and have sat GAMSAT, apply for the Doctor of Medicine (MD) through the Graduate Entry Medical School Admissions System (GEMSAS).