Entry changes boost SA health

Medicine

The University of Adelaide has changed the process for admission into its Medical School by increasing South Australian students' chances of gaining entry into the course, with the ultimate goal of keeping doctors in the State.

The announcement has received positive feedback from the State Government and the Opposition, and the Australian Medical Association.

"The University of Adelaide's Bachelor of Medicine degree is one of the most highly sought-after courses in the country, with applicants from all around Australia pursuing 104 positions," University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha said.

"We have refined the admission criteria in order to increase the number of South Australian students likely to gain entry to the process
and to help increase the number of qualified doctors staying in the State."

Entry into the Medical School is judged on a combination of Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) score, Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT) score and an interview.

"From the 2006 intake, the University of Adelaide will give greater emphasis to an applicant's TER in the rankings. Also, UMAT scores for South Australian applicants will be adjusted to align with other states as this has previously excluded a number of local applicants," Professor McWha said.

"We will also offer a second round of interviews in January, for students who achieved very high TER scores, but were not offered interviews in the first round due to lower UMAT scores.

"Over the next two to three years we will be also be increasing the number of places available for applicants wishing to transfer from other University of Adelaide science courses. These are usually South Australian students.

"The University believes these changes will create a greater number of opportunities for South Australian students to be offered places within the medical course.

"The changes take into account the Federal higher education legislation, which ultimately controls the number of funded places in the course that are available to Australian students.

"Unfortunately the University cannot simply increase the number of student places available, despite high demand for the course and a need for more doctors in Adelaide and regional areas of SA.

"The University of Adelaide is committed to helping provide constructive solutions to the problems faced by the health sector in South Australia."

Story by Lisa Reid