Hi. I'm considering going to medical school in Australia. I have three main questions:

1) I wanted to know how long it takes for an international student to graduate from medical school and complete my post-grad training/ residency to become an orthopaedic or plastic surgeon (2 fields that I am considering). I am also considering anesthesiology as well.

2) In addition, I would like to know if I would be required to work in a rural area after graduating from medical school, and if or when will i be able to practice in a major city like sydney or melbourne.

3) Finally, how hard is it for international graduates to open their own practice in a city like Sydney? Along the same lines, is it difficult for me to permanently live in Australia after graduating from medical school?

If anyone can write back with answers to these questions, it would help me out a lot with my decisions and plans. Cheers!

J

All the below in greater detail can be found by searching here and at SDN.

4 years school if a post-baccalaureate program, 5-6 years if out of high school. One year internship, then 2-3 years as a junior house officer (like US resident), then another 4-7 years in surgeon's college (also residency), but not sure of how much in particular for that sub-specialty. But count on total post-grad training to be about two years longer for a given field compared to the US. Not short!

Typically rural, definitely not sydney or melbourne -- there's a 10-year moratorium, i.e., 10 years after internship of working in a 'District of workforce shortage' if you want to be in private practice (more $). These areas are typically rural, but there are some urban and close to urban. The moratorium does not apply if you work in a public hospital (less $).

virtually impossible until after the moratorium. After graduating, the trick will be getting internship. Some states are easier than others -- in Queensland this isn't terribly difficult (will get bottom choices after all the australians choose), but will possibly be impossible for students who haven't started med school yet (new schools have been coming on line and will be graduating more students than there'll be internship spaces!).

The way around this is to get permanent residency before applying for internship, done usu with prior degree qualifications or by living with a de facto for one year. Then you'll be in the same pool as Aussies for internship allocation. The moratorium will still apply though.

-pitman