Rural Entry Scheme Brochure

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.

Rural Clinical School

Rural Student Entry Scheme

Calendar of Important Dates 1 April 2014

Medicine Application Form available on UNSW Medicine website emed.med.unsw. edu.au/ProspectiveStudents.nsf

6 June 2014

Last day to register for the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) with ACER umat.acer.edu.au

30 July 2014

Sit UMAT

30 Sep 2014

Last day to lodge on time application with Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)

30 Sep 2014

Last day to lodge Medicine Application Form with UNSW Medicine

Oct 2014

UNSW Medicine contacts schools for predicted HSC results

Early Nov 2014

Selection based on predicted scores and interview invitations sent

26 Nov - 2 Dec 2014

Selection Interviews (NSW/ACT applicants)

12 Dec 2014

Last day to submit category preferences with UNSW Medicine

18 Dec 2014

ATARs released on UAC website

22 Dec 2014

Selection based on actual ATARs and interview invitations sent

5-6 Jan 2015

Selection Interviews (NSW/ACT applicants)

16 Jan 2015

Date of Main Round offers released via UAC

23 Jan 2015

Selection interviews (interstate)

2 March 2015

Commencement of Year One

For more info contact Jessica Monoja at the Rural Clinical School at j.monoja@unsw.edu.au or on 9385 3677 or visit http://rcs.med.unsw.edu.au/ future-students

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) provides applicants in rural New South Wales and Australia the opportunity to enter UNSW’s Medicine program through an alternative pathway.

Established in 1997 by the UNSW Rural Clinical School, 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.

•

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). Applicants are assessed on results from ALL years (including honours year) of their current degree and/or any other degree they have undertaken whether completed or not.

•

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.

•

Applicants sit UMAT exam in 2014.

•

Australian citizenship/Australian permanent residency (Please note that New Zealand citizens are ineligible).

The RSES is designed for Year 12 high school students and 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 http://rcs.med.unsw.edu.au where you can apply online. Interested applicants can also see a list of important dates outlined on the back of 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 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