High school leavers dreaming of stethoscopes and scrubs could soon skip the long wait and start medical school straight after Year 12, with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) unveiling a new five-year undergraduate Doctor of Medicine program—the first of its kind in Queensland.
Set to welcome its first cohort in 2027, the course promises to shave off years of training and student debt for eligible school leavers, while easing the pressure on Queensland’s strained healthcare system. With only 48 spots up for grabs in the initial intake, the race is on to lock in a place in what could become the state’s most direct public pathway to a medical degree.
The idea is simple: train doctors faster, smarter, and closer to home. With the curriculum under review by the Australian Medical Council, QUT’s new School of Medicine plans to offer early, hands-on clinical exposure and practical learning in community-based care. There’s also a lateral entry option for graduate students to join the program in its third year.
This fresh approach to medical education is as much about reform as it is about recruitment. Unlike traditional models that frontload theory and delay practical work, QUT’s setup will put students into the real world from early on. The final years will even include flexible, part-time work opportunities to allow students to contribute to the healthcare system while still studying.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO said the program reflects the needs of the state—and of students. “This program will ensure that Queensland’s talented, aspiring doctors will have the opportunity to train right here in their home state and to serve their communities where they are needed most.
“We are working to deliver a streamlined pathway into medicine and will ultimately equip our graduates with the skills to provide high-quality, community-based care. It’s a real-world solution to Queensland’s healthcare needs now and into the future.”
The Faculty of Health, already home to 11,000 students, will absorb the medical program, building on QUT’s track record in areas like nursing, psychology, and biomedical sciences. Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates, Executive Dean of the Faculty, said it’s a natural fit. “The addition of a medical program to our existing Faculty of Health will produce health practitioners who learn to work together to more effectively and efficiently deliver health care into the future.”
Backed by the federal government, the new program won’t rely on new funding but will instead be supported by reallocating existing Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) at QUT.
But it’s not just about fast-tracking degrees. Queensland, like much of Australia, is facing a steep shortfall in homegrown doctors. A startling 50% of newly registered doctors in 2022-23 were educated overseas, according to the Medical Student Outcomes Database. The gap between medical school applications and available places has never been wider.
The shortage is biting hardest in outer metro, regional, and rural areas—precisely where QUT plans to send its students for placements. Through a partnership with Queensland Health, students will rotate through high-demand locations, initially in outer suburbs and later in regional centres.
Dean of Medicine Professor Jen Williams said diversity and access are at the core of the initiative. QUT will build in dedicated pathways for rural and remote students, those from lower-income backgrounds, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“We must continue to strive for a clinical workforce that reflects the diverse communities health practitioners serve, particularly in rural, remote, and outer metropolitan areas,” she said.
“QUT’s medical program will provide opportunities for aspiring doctors who come from, train in, and ultimately choose to practise in the areas and communities that need them the most.”
While some may see it as a big shake-up, QUT views it as overdue. With ballooning healthcare needs and an education system that doesn’t always keep pace, this announcement cuts through the red tape and offers a more direct shot at training tomorrow’s doctors—starting with those who are just finishing their final school exams.
The move is likely to shake up how other universities approach medicine in Queensland, and perhaps even nationwide. But for now, for that Year 12 student in Brisbane or Bundaberg dreaming of a medical career without the long detour, QUT might just be the straight line they’ve been hoping for.
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