Curtin University

What you'll study

The MBBS at Curtin is an integrated programme combining biomedical foundations with progressive clinical experience. Early years emphasise anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular medicine, and the social determinants of health. Core clinical topics include pathology, pharmacology, clinical reasoning, diagnostics and therapeutics, and common disease presentations across the lifespan.

Clinical and professional skills are taught from the start through simulated patient encounters, communication and procedural skills sessions, and interprofessional learning with other health disciplines. Later years centre on hospital- and community-based placements where students rotate through disciplines such as general practice, internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry.

The curriculum typically includes public health, population medicine, Indigenous and rural health, ethics and medico-legal issues, and opportunities for research projects or electives. Assessment blends written examinations, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), workplace-based assessments and reflective portfolios.

Entry requirements

Admission to Curtin's MBBS is competitive and seeks applicants with strong academic preparation, suitable aptitude test scores and demonstrated interpersonal skills. Domestic school leavers will generally need completed senior secondary studies with prerequisite subjects in sciences (commonly chemistry and biology or equivalent). Applicants must also sit the UCAT ANZ (or the relevant admissions test specified by the university) and may be invited to an interview process, often using multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) to assess communication, ethical reasoning and situational judgement.

For mature-age or pathway applicants, Curtin considers prior tertiary study and relevant health experience alongside test results and interview performance. International applicants must meet Curtin's English language requirements and equivalent academic prerequisites; additional documentary and visa requirements apply.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MBBS are eligible to complete the medical internship and progress to general registration as junior doctors. Career paths include general practice, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry and a range of subspecialties. Many graduates also pursue roles in medical research, public health, occupational medicine, medical education, policy or non-clinical leadership roles within health services.

The programme's clinical placements and links with metropolitan and regional health services support transition into hospital-based training programs and rural medical careers. Graduates typically undertake residency and prevocational training before entering specialty training schemes.

Why study at Curtin University

Curtin's medical school provides an integrated, outcomes-focused curriculum with early and sustained clinical exposure across a wide network of teaching hospitals and community settings in Western Australia. The programme emphasises practical skills, interprofessional teamwork and preparedness for practice, supported by modern simulation facilities and experienced clinical educators.

Curtin also offers strong engagement with regional and Indigenous health, enabling students to gain experience in rural practice and culturally responsive care. Partnerships with local health services and a focus on workforce needs in the region create diverse placement opportunities and clear pathways into clinical training and careers in medicine.