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Key details
Duration
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
240Course code
Overview
The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences course is a direct pathway for CDU students to study medicine, on campus in Darwin. This course is part of a double degree with the Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP) offered by Flinders University. Australian citizen or permanent resident school leavers with Year 12 qualifications, or higher education students who have studied for no more than one year are eligible for consideration for entry.
The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences is the first award of this double degree. Completion of the first two years of the course to a specific grade point average standard and within the specified time frame, guarantees entry into the NTMP, which you will begin in your third year of study.
In your studies at CDU you will develop a strong foundation in fundamental health and medical-related sciences, building your knowledge, skills and confidence to move on to the NTMP. This course is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) as an entry pathway into medical studies.
You are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Clinical Science if you:
- hold year 12 qualifications and have studied no more than one year of higher education; and
- have completed the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) held in July and August
In order to be competitive, you will need to achieve an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 90 or above, 85 or above for First Nations students (after the addition of any applicable ATAR related adjustment factors).
Priority is given to First Nations and NT residents. Only Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply.
Career opportunities
Graduating from this course completes the first part of the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Doctor of Medicine (CDU/Flinders University) double degree and may lead to career opportunities in medicine or medical research.
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline, subject to meeting criteria. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia.
Further information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous health, tropical medicine and other issues of regional and national importance
Why study a health course at CDU?
As an increasingly in-demand industry, there's never been a better time to find a career in healthcare. Become a qualified health professional with CDU's wide range of courses and gain the skills and knowledge to make an impact on the wellbeing of your community.
- Five-star Australian university for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Placements and research opportunities in the NT, across Australia, and around the world
- Uniquely positioned to explore Indigenous and Asia-Pacific health, tropical medicine and other issues of international importance
What will I study?
In the first two years of the course you will receive a strong foundation in the health and medical sciences. This will prepare you for entry into the four-year Flinders University NTMP. The BCSC course must be undertaken full time at the CDU Casuarina Campus. You are required to pass all units and gain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.00 (Credit Average) to progress to the final (third) year of the Bachelor of Clinical Science course. Students who do not pass all units or fail to achieve the minimum GPA within the first two years will have opportunities to transfer to other courses.
Course structure
Students who are accepted into the course may apply to study part time, if they have applied successfully for credit transfer. This will only apply to students who have studied for one year or less in other higher education courses. Anyone who has studied for more than one year in higher education is not eligible to enter the course.
The third year of the course and the first year of the NTMP are completed simultaneously, in the same year. Entry into this program is associated with a bond to work for two years in the Northern Territory after graduation (including your Intern year). In consequence there is a requirement that BCSC students sign a contract with the Northern Territory Government. This would normally be at the commencement of year 1 of the NTMP (year 3 of the BCSC).
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core Units (15 CDU units plus 2 Flinders units) | 230cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 230 credit points consisting of 15 CDU units (150cp) and 2 Flinders University units equivalent to 80cp (CDU) as detailed below. PSY116 Intercultural Sensitivity and Psychological Communication (replaces MLS110 from 2024 which replaced MLS100 from 2020) SBI150 Cellular Biology SBI161* Anatomy and Physiology 1 (replaces SBI171 and SBI172 from 2025 - see additional information below) SBI162* Anatomy and Physiology 2 (replaces SBI171 and SBI172 from 2025 - see additional information below) SBI183 Introduction to Microbiology (replaces SBI182 from 2025 which replaced SBI173 from 2021) SCH101 Chemical Concepts SCH102 Organic and Inorganic Chemistry HSC133 Perspectives of Indigenous Health HSC233 Epidemiology and Statistics (replaces HSC112 from 2025) (HSC112 replaced SBI209 from 2024) MLS200 Haematology 1 (replaces MLS101 from 2025) MLS245 Medical Biochemistry MLS283 Clinical Immunology (replaces SBI283 from 2021) SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice (replaces PHA210 from 2021) SCL200 Communication for Improved Patient Care SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare (replaces PHA312 from 2021) Flinders University Units MMED9150 Medicine 1A (40 cp) MMED9151 Medicine 1B (40 cp) *Students who have completed either SBI171 or SBI172 prior to 2025 should read the course changes and transitional arrangements provided below. |
| Specialist Elective (1 unit) | 10cp | Specialist Elective units totalling 10 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below: HSC111 Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| 240cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure) (240cp)
- A maximum of 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units.
- A minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above.
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
If course commenced prior to 2023:
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2025
From 2025, the course structure has changed as follows:
Core units have been reduced to 230 credit points from 240 credit points
Specialist Elective unit requirement of 10 credit points has been introduced
- A new core unit, HSC133 Perspectives of Indigenous Health, has been introduced from 2025. Students that have completed both PHA214 Biotechnology and Pharmacogenomics and HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction prior to 2025 do not need to complete the new core unit.
- Core unit PHA214 Biotechnology and Pharmacogenomics has been removed from the core unit requirements. Students that have completed PHA214 prior to 2025 do not need to complete the new 10 credit point specialist elective unit requirement.
- HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction has been moved from a core unit requirement to a specialist elective unit. Students that have already completed this unit, will count this as the specialist elective unit.
- SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 and SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 have been replaced by SBI161 Anatomy and Physiology 1 and SBI162 from 2025.
- Students who have completed BOTH SBI171 and SBI172 prior to 2025 do not need to complete SBI161 or SBI162.
- Students who have NOT completed either SBI171 or SBI172 prior to 2025 should complete the two new units SBI161 and SBI162.
- Students who have completed SBI171 only (and not SBI172) should complete SBI172 in 2025. Students should NOT complete the new unit SBI162.
- Students who have completed SBI172 only (and not SBI171) should complete SBI171 in 2025. Students should NOT complete the new unit SBI161.
- SBI171 and SBI172 will be offered for a final time in 2025 but will only be available to students who have completed either SBI171 or SBI172.
COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2024
PSY116 has replaced MLS110. Students who have already completed MLS110 should not complete PSY116.
HSC112 has replaced SBI209. Students who have already completed SBI209 should not complete HSC112.
COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2021
HSC220 has replaced HSC230. Students who have already completed HSC230 should not complete HSC220.
SBI242 has replaced PHA210. Students who have already completed PHA210 should not complete SBI242.
SBI241 has replaced PHA312. Students who have already completed PHA312 should not complete SBI241.
Study plan
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a full-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
Full-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| SBI161 Anatomy and Physiology 1 (replaces SBI171 from 2025) | CO | SBI162 Anatomy and Physiology 2 (replaces SBI172 from 2025) | CO |
| PSY116 Intercultural Sensitivity and Psychological Communication (replaces MLS110 from 2024) | CO | SBI183 Introduction to Microbiology (replaces SBI182 from 2025 which replaced SBI173 from 2021) | CO |
| SCH101 Chemical Concepts | CO | SCH102 Organic and Inorganic Chemistry | CO |
| SBI150 Cellular Biology | CO | HSC233 Epidemiology and Statistics (replaces HSC112 from 2025 which replaced SBI209 from 2024) | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| MLS200 Haematology 1 (replaces MLS101 from 2025) | CO | SCL200 Communication for Improved Patient Care | CO |
| MLS245 Medical Biochemistry | CO | SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice (replaces PHA210) | CO |
| SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare (replaces PHA312) | CO | MLS283 Clinical Immunology (replaces SBI283 from 2021) | CO |
| HSC133 Perspectives of Indigenous Health | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Year 3 (Flinders University units) | |||
| MMED9150 Medicine 1A (40 cp) | CO | MMED9151 Medicine 1B (40 cp) | CO |
Entry requirements
Quota
The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences is a highly competitive course with 12 places available each year. Offers to this course are made in the January offer round with sub-quotas available for NT residents and First Nations applicants.
NT Resident sub-quota
Five (5) places are available in this sub-quota. Applicants must meet the NT Residency requirement1.
NT First Nations sub-quota
Five (5) places are available in this sub-quota. Applicants must meet the NT Residence requirement1 and must be Indigenous2.
National First Nations sub-quota
Two (2) places are available in this sub-quota. Applicants must be Indigenous2.
1 NT residents must have resided in the NT for two years out of the last six years or for a total of five years since commencing primary school. NT resident applicants will need to complete and submit the CDU NT Residency Statutory Declaration.
2 First Nations applicants will need to complete and submit the SATAC Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Statutory Declaration.
Admission criteria
You are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Clinical Science if you:
- hold year 12 qualifications and have studied no more than one year of higher education; and
- have completed the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) held in July and August
Priority is given to First Nations and NT residents. An alternative admission pathway is available for First Nations students, for more information contact foh@cdu.edu.au. Please note, UCAT is not required for applications under the First Nations Entry Application Process. When asked for your UCAT number (if you have not sat the UCAT) please enter ANZ00000000 while applying through SATAC.
The UCAT comprises of five sections; verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and situational judgement. Each section of the UCAT will contribute equally to produce the UCAT ANZ derived score. Your UCAT derived score (10%) will be combined with your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) (90%) to determine your ranking for a place on this course.
In order to be competitive, you will need to achieve an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 90 or above, 85 for indigenous students (after the addition of any applicable ATAR related adjustment factors).
Only Australian citizens and Permanent residents are eligible to apply.
Additional admission requirements
This course has a two-step application process:
- Registration to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). Please note test results are valid for one-year and only UCAT scores from 2024 will be used for 2025 applications.
- Submit an application to SATAC where you will be asked to enter your UCAT identification number.
- You will also need to provide an NT Residency and/or First Nations statutory declaration, if applying for one or more of the subquotas.
A work placement is a requirement in the MD component of the course in the third year of the Bachelor of Clinical Science.
Prerequisites and requirements for medical placements
Medical students have an important responsibility to protect their own health and the health of their patients by observing the requirements described in the Prerequisites and requirements for medical placements.
Essential requirements
Ranking for offers of positions requires an entry score combining ATAR (90%), and University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ) - derived score (10%).
All applicants must register to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ) and provide this information in their SATAC application. Registration to sit UCAT usually opens in March and closes in May. Tests are held in July and August. Only UCAT ANZ scores from current year will be considered. 12 offers across 3 sub-quotas will be available at the commencement of the academic year based on highest combined UCAT and ATAR ranking.
The UCAT ANZ derived score will be based on results from five sections of the UCAT ANZ test (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Situational Judgement).
The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences is a highly competitive course with 12 places available each year. Offers to this course are made in the following sub-quotas:
NT Residency sub-quota (5 places): All applicants must provide a Statutory Declaration within 10 working days of submitting a SATAC application confirming they have lived in the Northern Territory with a permanent address for two years out of the last six years, or for a total of at least five years since commencing primary schooling. A Statutory Declaration form can be downloaded at www.satac.edu.au/documents/rural_remote_nt_statdec.pdf and must be submitted as part of the application to SATAC.
NT First Nations sub-quota (5 places): All applicants must provide a Statutory Declaration within 10 working days of submitting a SATAC application confirming they have lived in the Northern Territory with a permanent address for two years out of the last six years, or for a total of at least five years since commencing primary schooling. A Statutory Declaration form can be downloaded at www.satac.edu.au/documents/rural_remote_nt_statdec.pdf and must be submitted as part of the application to SATAC. Applicants must also provide a Statutory Declaration within 10 working days confirming they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent. Applicants who receive an offer through the First Nations sub-quota will need to provide a certified copy of a community seal confirming their eligibility at enrolment.
National First Nations sub-quota (2 places): All applicants must provide a Statutory Declaration within 10 working days of submitting a SATAC application confirming they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent. A Statutory Declaration form can be downloaded at www.satac.edu.au/documents/rural_remote_nt_statdec.pdf. Applicants who receive an offer through the First Nations sub-quota will need to provide a certified copy of a community seal confirming their eligibility at enrolment.
Criminal history check:
Students entering this course will not be required to undergo National Police Checks. However, as it articulates with Flinders University MD, all medical students will be required to complete a National Police Check prior to undertaking any placement. This requirement will apply to students when they commence the MD component of the course in the third year of the Bachelor of Clinical Science.
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 all applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidencing of one of the following:
| Year 12 | Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). |
| 0.5 FTE Higher Education Study | Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years. |
| CDU Enabling Course | Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points). |
| TAFE Qualification | Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia. |
| AHPRA Registration | Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement. |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below. |
^ Minimum Requirements for English Tests:
| Postgraduate requirements | Undergraduate requirements | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP004 | Successful completion of EAP003 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below 169 |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 58 No score below 50 | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign language | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 |
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.
CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:
- Both tests were under the same testing system; and
- The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum; and
- The applicant achieved the section minimum for each section in at least one test.
Recognised English-speaking countries:
| Standard List | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. |
| Extended List | Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
ATAR profile
The following table represents the ATAR and selection rank profile for applicants offered a place on the basis of their ATAR in semester 1, 2024
| ATAR based offers only | ATAR (excluding adjustment factors) | Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | <5 | <5 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | <5 | <5 |
| Highest rank to receive an offer | <5 | <5 |
Notes
"<5" indicates less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made.
I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.
Katie
CDU student
My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.
Nishat
CDU student
I've had the unique opportunity to explore tropical and rural health, which I may not have had the exposure to had I studied elsewhere.
Katie
CDU student
My advice for anyone who is considering studying a health or science degree at CDU is if you are thinking about it, just do it.
Nishat
CDU student
Course details
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Student profile
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students that commenced this course and passed the census date in Semester 1, 2024.
| Applicant background (Semester one intake 2024) | No. of Students | % of all Students |
|---|---|---|
| A. Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | <5 | N/P |
| B. Vocational education and training (VET) study | <5 | N/P |
| C. Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) | <5 | N/P |
D. Recent secondary education
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | <5 | N/P |
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra offer conditional on minimum ATAR) | 15 | .0 |
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) | <5 | N/P |
| International students | <5 | N/P |
| All students | 15 | .0 |
Notes
"<5" - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
You make CDU
Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
You make CDU
Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.
How to apply
There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.
Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.
SATAC
SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.
If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.
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