Medicine Clerkship Program (elective)
Application Period
We have reached our capacity for 2024 and 2025.
Applications for placements with start dates within 1 January –30 June 2026 will open on Wednesday 14 May 2025. Please be aware that applications open between 9 to 10am in Sydney, Australia, in the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) zone. Kindly take note of this for your respective time zone.
For application process visit: How to apply for a Clerkship page.
Each hospital site has a different start date / duration available, so you must read Clerkship areas of study page to ensure your application start date matches their availability. Variations in the start date / duration will not be considered.
We have limited placements, so acceptance of New Applications is stopped once the application capacity is reached. Please always visit this web page before applying.
Applications for placements in 2024 and 2025 are closed.
If you have already lodged an application for
- 2024 or 2025 your application is considered accepted.
Please proceed to attend to the emails on required documentation.
Clerkships Coordinator
Contacts for the Clerkships Coordinator.
UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA
T: +61 2 9385 8909
E: clerkships@med.unsw.edu.au
About Medicine Clerkships at UNSW
The UNSW Medicine Clerkship Program (elective) is a placement program that provides successful applicants the opportunity to develop hands-on skills and practical experience in selected disciplines at one of UNSW's clinical teaching hospitals alongside other health professionals.
During a Clerkship, you'll attend clinics, ward rounds and, with permission, record the history and perform physical examinations of patients in the wards.
If the clerkship placement is during a medicine teaching period, lectures and tutorials in the clinical school may also be available.
UNSW Clerkships are only offered to non UNSW Sydney medical students.
Areas of study
The UNSW Medicine Clerkship Program offers a comprehensive range of areas of study for which students can apply. The full list of clinical schools and the areas of interest that are offered in the UNSW Medicine Clerkship Program is available on the Clerkships areas of study page. Please make sure you check the most updated information before submitting your online application.
When are Clerkships offered?
Clerkships take place for a duration of minimum four (4) to a maximum of eight (8) weeks.
Some hospitals only offer clerkships over particular dates and time periods. Please check the most updated information about the dates before lodging an application, by visiting Clerkships areas of study page.
Please keep in view (if overseas) you must arrive in Australia at least 1 week before placement start date,to complete university (including collecting your student card from Kensington campus) and hospital administrative requirements, as well as receive the current southern-hemisphere flu vaccine.
Eligibility for Clerkships
The clerkship (elective) must be a requirement of completing your medical program and to be eligible you must:
- be in your final year of a medical degree at the time of your participation in the clerkship
- have at least two years of clinical experience at the time of your participation in the clerkship
- be proficient in both written and spoken English (students applying from non-English speaking medical schools must provide evidence of English language proficiency)
- You can apply for an English Waiver which is a decision by UNSW to waive the English language requirements based on life experience and circumstances.
- Please refer to the Conditions for an English Waiver section to check if you meet any of the conditions.
- Clerkships apply for an English Waver by emailing the documents to clerkships@med.unsw.edu.au
- If you hold an Australian Passport, you are Eligible for an English Waiver.
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If you’re an overseas applicant, you should contact your nearest Australian Diplomatic Mission to understand how to comply with visa requirements. Generally, a Visitor Visa is sufficient.
Visitor Visas – the Australian Department of Home Affairs issues two visas for this type of study:
1. 601 Subclass Visa, also called an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). An ETA lets you:
- Enter Australia for up to three months at a time as a tourist or for business visitor purposes.
- You’re also permitted to study in Australia for up to 3 months in some circumstances.
2. 651 Subclass Visa, also called an eVistor. This visa lets you:
- Enter Australia for up to 3 months during each visit during 12 months from the date the eVistor is granted
- Have a holiday or visit family and friends in Australia
- Study in Australia for up to three months in some circumstances
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You are responsible for all travel and living expenses, including accommodation.
Due to high costs in Sydney, start searching early and have accommodation arranged before arrival. We don't have housing for Clerkship students.
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- Students are required to pay a non-refundable AUD$100 administration fee within 48 hours of lodging an application.
- Students are required to pay a AUD 400 placement fee when accepting their placement offer.
- If students withdraw from the program after payment of the AUD 400 Placement Fee, but before that start date of their placement, they are eligible for a refund of 50% of the Placement Fee.
- If students withdraw from the program after payment of the AUD 400 Placement Fee and on or after the start date of their placement, they are not eligible for a refund of the Placement Fee.
- The AUS 400 Placement Fee is fully refundable if the placement is cancelled by the hospital, due to circumstances outside of the students’ control.
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In accepting a clerkship,
- You must accept the offer and pay AUD 400 placement fee within two weeks of receiving the offer or your offer will be withdrawn.
- Upon accepting offer and payment of fees, you will be enrolled as a Non-Award UNSW student and issued a UNSW student ID card.
- You will not be paid or remunerated for a Clerkship.
- You will be required to abide by the guidelines of the NSW Health, UNSW, Hospital and your supervisor.
- You must comply with the NSW Health requirements and be deemed Compliant.
- If travelling from overseas, you are expected to follow NSW Health advice regarding International passenger arrivals.
- We strongly recommend to arrive in Sydney a minimum of 5 working days before your placement start date, to complete university (including collecting your student card from Kensington campus) and hospital administrative requirements, as well as receive the current southern-hemisphere flu vaccine.
- It is a legal requirement that all medical students who undertake Clerkships in New South Wales are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Information given on the Clerkship Application Form will be forwarded to the Agency for registration. No other action is required by the student.
- You are responsible for obtaining any travel and health insurance as deemed appropriate.
- You will be responsible for all travel (including visa, insurance and flights) and living costs (including accommodation, food and spending money).
- You are responsible for arranging an appropriate Australian visa to undertake clerkships.
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Please note, clerkships courses do not have any credits or results. You can download a copy of your Academic Statement (showing enrolment in courses) by logging onto my.unsw.edu.au with your 7-digit zID and password.
In 'My Student Profile' tab, click View Results / Academic Statement. At bottom of the page, click the 'Here' button to generate your academic statement. Your academic statement will open in a new window. If your statement does not appear, make sure you have allowed pop-ups in your browser and try again.
For login issues, please contact IT Service Desk.
You can also order an official Academic Transcript for a fee. Please see details here.
