
We offer students the opportunity to undertake short and long-term rural placements, to expand experience and build skills. See below for specific details of how to apply and what to expect.
All commonwealth Supported (non-international) medical students at UNSW have the opportunity to preference their 4-week rural short-term clinical placement allocation in the year preceding year 5.
Students will be given the opportunity to express their interest in a short term four-week rural placement. An expression of interest form will be sent out in September the year preceding Phase 3, where you can indicate which discipline you would like to be allocated (it must match your sequence).
As there are limited places in specific terms at each rural site, students may not receive their first preference. Students are allocated the sequence of terms and the Rural Support team fills each rural placement according to this sequence.
The School of Psychiatry allocates metro students to Orange-Bloomfield for Psychiatry placements. For more information, please contact Melissa Jones.
The GP Department in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine allocates students to rural GP practices. For more information, please contact Sarah Jacobs.
A limited number of students who have not been allocated their four-week rural placement for Year 5 may be able to complete their rural placement during their elective term in Year 6. The Elective must be undertaken in one of the following Rural Clinical Campus sites:
After you have gained approval, you will need to make your own arrangements with the Hospital. Once confirmed send the following information to Rural Clinical Campus before making any travel plans:
Applications for all electives must be submitted to the Teaching Support team by May of the year preceding the proposed term as per the Elective Term guidelines.
Early application is recommended (preferably at the end of Year 5 when rural allocations are advised) as applications will be considered in order of receipt and a quota applies.
Note: Accommodation at a location on the coast will be particularly expensive during the placement period due to the school holidays.
Wherever possible, students stay in accommodation provided by the hospital. Charges vary from hospital to hospital but are usually less than $80 per week.
For short-term rural placements, fuel and accommodation are covered for students who hold a commonwealth supported place in our medicine course.
Hello! My name is Becky, I am a final year UNSW medical student in 2023 and I have just returned from a two-week elective placement with the Royal Flying Doctors Service in Broome, WA. It was an experience that I’ll never forget!
My 4 weeks in Maclean were hands down the best clinical training I have had across my degree.
As UNSW is a publicly funded university, it is subject to various government requirements. One such requirement of the Commonwealth, the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program, requires UNSW to achieve the following outcomes, with respect to rural clinical placement whilst undertaking studies:
Students complete the online preference form for the allocation of students to a clinical environment for Phase 2 and Phase 3 the year preceding the phase.
Rural Support – Port Macquarie Campus
26 Highfields Cct
UNSW Rural Clinical School 2444
Ph: 02 6580 7555
Email: rcc.ruralsupport@unsw.edu.au
UNSW Scholarships is responsible for the administration of all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework scholarships offered at UNSW and is the point of contact for any questions relating to these scholarships.
Scholarships are offered in a variety of categories and are funded by the University with the support of many generous donors and organisations. Merit Scholarships are available to recognise your academic and other achievements (such as leadership, community involvement, commitment to a program of study). Equity Scholarships provide assistance to students that may experience educational disadvantage or are from low socio-economic backgrounds, and to support access and diversity.
Learn more about the UNSW Faculty of Medicine Honours Scholarships
Phone: (02) 9385 1078
International: +61 2 9385 1078
Monday- Friday, 9am- 5pm (AEST)
UNSW assists higher degree research students by providing a wide range of scholarships ranging from annual stipends, living allowances and tuition fee costs, to travel scholarships and supplements.
Scholarships that are available to support current and new higher degree research candidates at UNSW: