Local students

Categories of Places offered to Australian citizens and residents

Commonwealth supported places (CSP) (VTAC Code 28151) (previously called HECS) – A total of 30 places will be offered in 2009.

Three sub-categories of CSP places will be available in the Extended Rural Cohort stream:

1. Unencumbered places
2. Bonded Medical Places
3. Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships

Unencumbered places

These CSPs are standard Commonwealth-supported places (previously called HECS) and do not carry any additional restrictions or obligations.

Bonded Medical Places (BMP)

The Federal Government has advised all medical schools across Australia that 25% of Commonwealth-supported places must be set aside as BMP. Therefore, seven of the 30 places in the ERC stream will be BMP.

Applicants who accept an offer of a BMP will be required to sign a contract that gives permission for the government to require them, at the end of their training, to practice in a designated area of need. An area of need is a district of workforce shortage as defined by the Australian Government (not necessarily in a rural location).

To be eligible for a BMP in the ERC stream, applicants must nominate both VTAC Code 28151 and VTAC Code 28691 in their list of VTAC preferences.

More information about BMP scheme.

Medical Rural-Bonded Scholarships

Note: Only students offered a CSP are eligible for this scholarship

In 2008, the Commonwealth Government offered scholarships (Australia - wide) of $23,222 per annum to new medical students for the length of the course, in return for legally binding commitment to practice in rural areas for a fixed period at the completion of training.

Monash University will be allocated a number of scholarship places in 2009, which will be available to any CSP student enrolled in any Monash MBBS stream. The number of these scholarship places available to students enrolled in the ERC stream will be determined later in 2008. A form explaining the details of application procedures for these scholarship places will be sent to all timely VTAC applicants during October/November.

Further information

Telephone: 1800 248 720 (freecall)
Fax: +61 2 6289 1352
Email: MRBscholarships@health.gov.au
Web: www.health.gov.au/mrbscholarships