Scholarship Opportunity

The RAMUS Scheme assists selected students with a rural background to study medicine at university. In addition to their rural background, RAMUS scholarship holders are selected on the basis of financial need and demonstrated commitment to working in rural Australia in the future.

Applications for 2011 will open on 9 November 2010. The Application Form and detailed Application Guidelines for 2011 will be available at this time.
Applications will close on 17 January 2011. Late applications cannot be accepted. 
Eligibility
To be eligible for RAMUS applicants must:

• be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia
• have lived in a defined Australian rural area for a minimum of five consecutive years, or eight cumulative years, from their fifth birthday up to the time of entering medical school;

The ASGC Remoteness Areas (RA) classification is used to determine eligible rural locations for RAMUS. Eligible rural locations are those identified as being within RA categories 2-5.  Information on RA categories and an interactive map can be found at http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/Content/locator

• be studying full-time in an accredited Australian undergraduate or graduate-entry medical degree;

Students can apply for RAMUS if they are applying to study medicine, but do not yet have a confirmed university place; or if they are already enrolled in a medical degree, and in any year of their medical studies.

• agree to be a member of the student rural health club at or affiliated with the university at which they are, or will be, enrolled; and
• not be receiving any other scholarships, cadetships or bursaries with a combined value of more than $7,000 per year.

Selection of successful applicants
The number of RAMUS scholarship places is limited and scholarships are awarded through a competitive selection process.
Scholarships will be awarded to the eligible applicants who rank the highest against the selection criteria of:

• rural background, based on the length of time they have lived in a defined rural area between the age of five and commencing medical studies. Having attended a rural primary school is also taken into account;
• financial need; and
• commitment to working in rural Australia in the future. 

http://ramus.ruralhealth.org.au/applying