What is the Rural Student Entry Scheme (RSES)?
The RSES is an alternative pathway for students from rural areas to enter UNSW’s Medicine program.
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Calendar of Important Dates 1 April 2015
Medicine Application Form available on UNSW Medicine website emed.med.unsw. edu.au/ProspectiveStudents.nsf
5 June 2015
Last day to register for the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) with ACER umat.acer.edu.au
29 July 2015
Sit UMAT
30 Sep 2015
Last day to lodge on time application with Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
30 Sep 2015
Last day to lodge Medicine Application Form with UNSW Medicine
Oct 2015
UNSW Medicine contacts schools for predicted HSC results
Early Nov 2015
Selection based on predicted scores and interview invitations sent
26 Nov - 2 Dec 2015
Main round Interviews
Late Dec 2015
Selection based on actual ATARs and interview invitations sent
4-5 Jan 2016
Second round Interviews
20 Jan 2016 (TBC)
Date of Main Round offers released via UAC
21 Jan 2016 (TBC)
Final round interviews
March 2016
Commencement of Year One *Anticipated dates
UNSW Medicine has one of the world’s best medicine programs. It was Top 30 in the prestigious 2014 QS World University Rankings, with a ranking of 29.
For more info contact Jessica Monoja at the Rural Clinical School at j.monoja@unsw.edu.au or on 9385 3677 or visit rcs.med.unsw.edu.au/ future-students
Photo credit: Ben Cumming, UNSW medical student from Albury campus.
Rural Clinical School
Rural Student Entry Scheme
What is the UMAT exam? The UMAT exam assesses general attributes and skills gained through prior experience and learning. It consists of three sections that evaluate the applicant’s skills in critical thinking and problem solving, interactions with others, and abstract non-verbal reasoning. Each section is equally weighted. For more information about UMAT and to register for the test, please visit the Australian Council for Educational Research’s (ACER) website at www.acer.edu.au.
Please note:
Overview
The Rural Student Entry Scheme (RSES) gives applicants from rural New South Wales and Australia the opportunity to enter UNSW’s Medicine program through an alternative pathway. Established in 1997 by UNSW Rural Medicine, the RSES is open to candidates with a significant rural background. 25% of UNSW’s yearly Medicine intake are students who apply through the scheme.
Selection Criteria in more detail •
For applicants completing high school, a minimum ATAR of 91.00 in the NSW HSC, or equivalent in other states.
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For applicants who have partially completed or completed a university degree, a minimum of the equivalent ATAR of 91.00 when the ATAR and tertiary results are combined (ATAR and tertiary results are combined in the ratio of 50:50). If more than one degree has been completed/attempted (at least 0.75 FTE of the first year of any degree), UAC will determine which degree has the higher results and use ONLY the results of that degree.
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Applicants are required to have resided in a defined Australian rural area, RRMA 3-7 for a minimum of five consecutive or cumulative years, commencing from the age of five. Please visit www.aihw.gov.au/rural-health-rrma-classification to learn more.
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Applicants sit UMAT exam in 2015.
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Australian citizenship/Australian permanent residency (Please note that New Zealand citizens are ineligible).
The RSES is designed for Year 12 high school students or students who are currently studying at university or post-graduate students. Applicants must have lived in a defined rural area for at least five years, either consecutively or cumulatively.
How are students selected for a RSES interview? Students are selected for a RSES interview based on a combination of the following three criteria: • • •
The rural rating (RRMA) of the family home and school (from age five) ATAR or ATAR and university results Performance in UMAT exam
Applicants must choose to apply through the Rural Student Entry Scheme OR through General Entry. You cannot apply through both. Applicants do not have to re-apply to be considered for the second round of interviews in January.
How do you apply? To find out more about applying for the Rural Student Entry Scheme, check out the ‘Future Students’ section of the RCS website at rcs.med.unsw.edu.au where you can apply online. Interested applicants can also see a list of important dates outlined in this brochure.
Please note: Achieving the minimum criteria for interview does not guarantee selection for interview. The minimum score for UMAT to be considered for interview is 150 (when you combine the 3 raw scores not percentile). Applicants whose combined score is less than 150 will not be considered for an interview. Applicants whose ATAR and/or university marks are lower than 91.00 will not be considered for interview. “Getting into medicine at UNSW through the Rural Entry Scheme - which sets aside places for people from rural backgrounds - gave me a great opportunity to pursue my dreams, which I wouldn’t have otherwise had.” — Dr Guy Sanson, Griffith Base Hospital and UNSW RCS graduate