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Course Overview
CQUniversity's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) is an innovative course that will provide you with a contextualised curriculum as part of a 6-year integrated medical degree (Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine) in partnership with The University of Queensland. The program of study features a tailored 2-year undergraduate component integrated with The University of Queensland's 4-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) course, with the first year of the MD integrated into the final year of the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathway to Medicine). Throughout this course, you will seamlessly transition into The University of Queensland's regionally-delivered Doctor of Medicine Program. You will study a purpose-built curriculum, designed to align with the MD graduate attributes and six core design themes of the postgraduate MD curriculum, and the demands of contemporary medical practice. You will build knowledge in the structure and function of the human body and develop a conceptual understanding of what happens when diseases, infections and clinical disorders occur. You will study the foundations of medical science in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry and subsequently apply this knowledge to medically focused units of cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, pathophysiology, lifestyle medicine, pharmacology and medical imaging. Capstone units will allow you to integrate your knowledge to gain an understanding of various medical imaging modalities and their application in clinical scenarios together with simulated foundation clinical skills. Real-world and authentic learning experiences are embedded within the curriculum, allowing you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills. Clinical immersion experiences and placements with community and Hospital and Health Service providers in Central Queensland and Wide Bay are offered within the course to prepare you for your career in Medicine and continuing studies in the postgraduate MD component. This course is part of the Regional Medical Pathway and is available for study on campus, face to face, at the Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses only. Students are required to relocate to Rockhampton or Bundaberg for the first 4 years of the 6 year integrated medical course with the final 2 years of the postgraduate MD component delivered in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay (as part of the Regional Medical Pathway).
Career Information
On successful completion of the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course with a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or more, you will gain direct entry into the University of Queensland's regionally delivered Doctor of Medicine Program. This course provides a provisional pathway for graduate entry into the UQ MD and facilitates the opportunity for students to study medicine in regional Queensland.
| Duration | 3 years full-time or 3 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 144 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | BMedSc(Pathway to Medicine) |
| AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2026
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
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Domestic Availability
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2022
International Availability
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2022
| Rank Threshold | SR 95 | ATAR 95 |
To be considered for entry into this course, you must demonstrate the following:
- One of English, Literature, English as an Additional Language or English & Literature Extension (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent; Mathematical Methods (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent; and One of Biology, Chemistry, Physics (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent; and
- A competitive University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) aggregate score; and
- A multiple mini interview (MMI).
You will need to sit the UCAT ANZ before you apply for this course. The overall UCAT ANZ score is used to determine a ranked interview list. 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.
Entry is competitive with limited places available. Shortlisted applicants must attend multiple mini interviews.
Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee admission.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Pathway:
Applicants from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds are required to have completed Grade 12 at their first attempt in the year of application or be a mature-age student, participated in the interview (MMI) and attended a semi-structured interview with the CQUni Office of Indigenous Engagement.
There will not be any internal transfers from any other course within CQUniversity to the Pathway to Medicine course.
To maintain the vision of providing end to end medical education within the regions, internal transfers to metropolitan campuses will not be permitted during either the CQUniversity BMedSc (Pathway to Medicine) or the postgraduate UQ MD component.
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, or the United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
You are required to provide documentation confirming of completion within the last 5 years of:
- a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
- a Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 1 year fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0.
These qualifications must be completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, or the United States of America to meet the English language proficiency requirements.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 7.5 with a minimum 7.0 for Reading and Writing and 8.0 for Speaking and Listening.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study with CQUniversity, and must appear on a single result certificate.
Each application will be assessed individually.
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | CB25 - Associate Degree of Medical Science |
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| Exit Awards | CG93 - Bachelor of Medical Science (Specialisation) CB25 - Associate Degree of Medical Science CL13 - Diploma of Health Science |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
| Compulsory Residential School | Many units in the course have compulsory residential schools to ensure students acquire the skills and knowledge fundamental to medical science. The residential schools will be offered at both Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses. |
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| Click here to view all Residential Schools | |
Practicum/Work Placement
| BMSC11013 - Observational placements with Hospital and Health Services and community health care providers. |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 131 |
| 2024 | 114 |
| 2023 | 65 |
| 2022 | 32 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
The Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course provides a provisional entry pathway to The University of Queensland's (UQ’s) regionally based Doctor of Medicine program.
The Inherent Requirements for Studying Medicine in Australia and New Zealand has been developed by Medical Deans for use in professional entry level medical training with the aim of providing the greatest access for students with a disability while ensuring safe clinical training. The inherent requirements have been categorised under the four domains of the course learning outcomes for medical programs produced by the Australian Medical Council. The document specifies the requirements of pre-registration medical training rather than medical practice and sets out what a medical student is expected to demonstrate and how a student will be assessed at entry and during the medical course.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Additional vaccinations and screening are subject to the site or state health authority.
Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.
Mandatory security requirements may include an Australian Federal Police clearance, working with children check, and NDIS worker screening clearance.
Other mandatory requirements may include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules. This course is offered in a face-to-face at our Rockhampton and Bundaberg Campus locations as part of the Regional Medical Pathway. It is a requirement for students to relocate to one of these campus locations for the duration of their study. There may be placement opportunities for the WIL Units to be completed at regional sites within the Hospital and Health Service Partners of CQHHS and WBHHS (eg - Gladstone, Emerald, Harvey Bay, Maryborough or Childers).
- 1. Apply knowledge of the fundamental sciences to key clinical concepts underpinning medicine
- 2. Analyse health patterns of regional, rural and remote communities
- 3. Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in diverse contexts applicable to healthcare professionals
- 4. Interact professionally and ethically with health care professionals and patients
- 5. Model effective teamwork skills when working collaboratively in inter-professional environments
- 6. Apply skills in research design, application and interpretation.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | ||||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | ||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | ||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | ||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | ||||||
| 6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||
| KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner | ||||||
- Complete the core structure
- Complete electives
| Number of units: 17 | Total credit points: 144 |
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The CM17 Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) offered at Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses will provide students a school leaver direct entry pathway to the regionally delivered UQ Doctor of Medicine (MD) program as part of the Regional Medical Pathway. The program of study features a tailored 2 year undergraduate component and the 4 year postgraduate MD in partnership with The University of Queensland, setting the foundation for your medical studies with the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) comprising of 2 years undergraduate study together with 1 year of the postgraduate MD (MD1). Upon successful completion, you will seamlessly transition into The University of Queensland's regionally-delivered Doctor of Medicine Program for the final three years of the postgraduate UQ MD. Students are expected to complete the CM17 Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) in 3 years.
The Pathway to Medicine course has some overlap with the existing courses: CG93 Bachelor of Medical Science Specialisation and CL10 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Honours). As such, it is expected that there will be a continued increased interest in the existing CG93 and CL10 courses.
Students who complete either the CG93 or CL10 course can apply for graduate entry into the UQ MD program, or any other postgraduate medicine course across Australia, after completion of the required postgraduate (GAMSAT) entry exam.
A similar increased interest is also expected to extend to a range of other health professional courses offered by CQUniversity, with students' long term intent of applying for entry into postgraduate medicine or other health careers.
The Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) has 17 compulsory units with a tailored 2 year undergraduate component linked to the first year of the postgraduate UQ Doctor of Medicine to form the Bachelors qualification (2+1 = 3 years).
There are sixteen units of study in the first two years of the undergraduate degree course. The final year of study is the first year of the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine MD1 (MEDI7100 Foundations of Medicine) which forms a year long unit of study.
| Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| BMSC11003 | Professional Practice in Medical Sciences | |
| BMSC11007 | Medical Anatomy and Physiology 1 | |
| BMSC11005 | Foundations of Biochemistry | |
| BMSC11014 | Lifestyle Medicine and Simulated Clinical Skills | |
| Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| BMSC11012 | Foundations of Immunology | |
| BMSC11008 | Medical Anatomy and Physiology 2 | |
| BMSC12010 | Clinical Biochemistry | |
| Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| BMSC12012 | Molecular Cell Biology | |
| BMSC12017 | Clinical Pathophysiology | |
| BMSC13010 | Pharmacology | |
| BMSC11013 | Immersive Learning Experiences 1 | |
| Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| BMSC12015 | Cell and Tissue Biology | |
| BMSC13021 | Clinical Diagnostic Microbiology | |
| BMSC12018 | Medical Imaging and Relational Anatomy | |
| Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| BMSC28001 | Foundations of Medicine (MEDI7100) | |
Option 1 Unit: You must complete one of the following Term 2 unit pairings. The first unit must be studied in Year 1, with the second unit studied in Year 2. Please note that some of these optional units form a study package for the Option 2 selection in Year 2 Term 2. The recommended combinations are as follows:
- BMSC12003 Haematology and Transfusion Science and BMSC13013 Research Project
- PSYC11010 Fundamentals of Psychology 1: Understanding Human Behaviour and PSYC12014 Critical Social Psychology*
- ESSC11002 Measurement and Evaluation in Health Science and BMSC13013 Research Project
- BMSC12003 Haematology and Transfusion Science and LMED29007 Immunopathology 2
- COMMS11108 Communicating for Social Change and BMSC13013 Research Project
- COIT11226 Systems Analysis and BMSC13013 Research Project
- LAWS11057 Introduction to Law and BMSC13013 Research Project
* To select and enrol in PSYC12014 Critical Social Psychology in Option 2 Unit (Year 2 Term 2) you must select and pass the pre-requisite unit PSYC11010 Fundamentals of Psychology 1
| Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 1 from the following units: | ||
| BMSC12003 | Haematology and Transfusion Science | |
| PSYC11010 | Fundamentals of Psychology 1: Understanding Human Behaviour | |
| ESSC11002 | Measurement and Evaluation in Health Science | |
| COIT11226 | Systems Analysis | |
| LAWS11057 | Introduction to Law | |
| COMM11108 | Communicating for Social Change | |
Option 2 Unit: You must complete one of the following Term 2 unit pairings. The first unit must be studied in Year 1, with the second unit studied in Year 2. Please note that some of these optional units form a study package for the Option 1 selection in Year 1 Term 2. The recommended combinations are as follows:
- BMSC12003 Haematology and Transfusion Science and BMSC13013 Research Project
- PSYC11010 Fundamentals of Psychology 1: Understanding Human Behaviour and PSYC12014 Critical Social Psychology*
- ESSC11002 Measurement and Evaluation in Health Science and BMSC13013 Research Project
- BMSC12003 Haematology and Transfusion Science and LMED29007 Immunopathology 2
- COMMS11108 Communicating for Social Change and BMSC13013 Research Project
- COIT11226 Systems Analysis and BMSC13013 Research Project
- LAWS11057 Introduction to Law and BMSC13013 Research Project
* To select and enrol in PSYC12014 Critical Social Psychology in Option 2 Unit (Year 2 Term 2) you must select and pass the pre-requisite unit PSYC11010 Fundamentals of Psychology 1
| Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete from the following units: | ||
| BMSC13013 | Research Project | |
| PSYC12014 | Critical Social Psychology | |
| LMED29007 | Immunopathology 2 | |
Observational Placements
Prior to placement, each student must satisfy specific
pre-clinical health, safety, and security requirements and must disclose any
condition that may put themselves, or the public, at significant risk whilst on
placement. As placement availability is limited in each area, students may be
placed at locations that are not of their choosing. Students must prepare
financially and personally for placements and are responsible for any
associated costs.