The University of Sydney will offer its medical students the chance to study the Doctor of Medicine degree on a part-time basis, the first university in Australia to do so.

The part-time option will begin in 2027 and will initially be available to students entering their third year, allowing them to complete Year 3 over two academic years. If successful, the university plans to extend the scheme in the future years.

Professor Jane Bleasel, Dean of the Sydney Medical School, said: “The Doctor of Medicine course is a challenging postgraduate degree and any student completing it has demonstrated skill and academic ability.

“But life isn't a straight line and for many people – including parents, those who have caring responsibilities or a disability – it can be hard to balance intense study with very real demands outside of the university.

“By offering a part-time option, it means we can keep our high-quality students enrolled while also allowing them the flexibility to manage their personal circumstances.”

The change reflects the university’s commitment to equity and inclusion, and is the culmination of several years of collaboration to design a curriculum that allows flexibility while considering clinical training requirements.

Helen Lewis, a final-year student at the university’s School of Rural Health in Dubbo said that the new part-time option would have been beneficial for her at the start of her degree: 

“Studying medicine has been my long-held dream – but as a mum looking after four children it hasn’t always been easy to juggle the course and my caring responsibilities. 

“We need more doctors, especially in rural areas, so if this can help more highly qualified people follow their dream and fill the skills gaps, it can only be a good thing.” 

Mahalia King, a final-year student at the Centre for Rural Health in Lismore, said that the part-time option would have helped her manage chronic health conditions: 

“As someone managing several chronic conditions including Crohn’s and endometriosis, it can be challenging to balance a rigid full-time course with the need to attend appointments, have procedures, and manage unpredictable symptoms.

“There are also hidden costs that come with chronic illness like specialist fees and private health insurance so having an option to work alongside study would have benefited me hugely.”

Students will be able to apply for the part-time option in June 2026, and, if successful, begin their studies in January 2027. They will complete the same curriculum and assessments as full-time students, but over an extended timeframe. 

The initial implementation will occur at Westmead Clinical School and the School of Rural Health in Dubbo, with future expansion planned across other years of the program.

Peter Robertson, a mature-aged student with three children, currently in his second year at Sydney Medical School, said that a part-time option would allow people from different backgrounds to pursue medicine: 

“To provide patients with the best care, we need doctors to reflect the society they serve. 

“There are many people who would like to pursue a career in medicine but, especially for those thinking of training at a later stage in life, it can be too much to juggle the responsibilities of study and a home-life. 

“For people like me, it will allow them to maintain their family life and their responsibilities outside of study. Ultimately, it will also mean we train better doctors with a wider range of personal experience they can bring to the health sector.”

Professor Bleasel paid tribute to students and staff who contributed to the development of the part-time option: 

“I would like to thank our academic, professional and clinical staff across the medical program and the wider university who have contributed to the development of this innovative pathway. 

“The work has required substantial collaboration, thoughtful curriculum design and careful consideration of clinical training requirements, and reflects a shared commitment to equity, inclusion and student success.”