About
Source: https://ochsner.uq.edu.au/about Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/strategy-values/sustainability/sustainable-development-goals/sdg-3-good-health-wellbeing
A unique global medical education and experience.
Our program
Study global. Practice local.
Earn your Doctor of Medicine (MD) across two world-class medical systems.
As a UQ-Ochsner MD student, you’ll spend your first two years in Brisbane, Australia, studying at The University of Queensland—one of the world’s top medical schools. You’ll then complete Years 3 and 4 in New Orleans, Louisiana, gaining hands-on clinical experience at Ochsner Health, one of the United States’ leading academic health systems.
Throughout your journey, you’ll learn from expert clinicians and researchers, practice in diverse hospital and community settings, and build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to launch your medical career anywhere in the world.
The program is jointly led by The University of Queensland’s Medical School and Ochsner Health, combining Australian and U.S. medical education excellence into one seamless MD pathway.
You’ll graduate:
- eligible for ECFMG certification
- prepared to take the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams for your NRMP match
- qualified to practice medicine in the United States
- eligible for medical practice in Australia.
Explore the UQ-Ochsner MD pathway
Program structure
Year 1
Your four-year MD journey begins in Brisbane with the Foundations of Medicine, where you’ll learn the core principles of biomedical science, clinical reasoning, and professional practice.
You’ll be introduced to the “whole-of-person” approach that defines patient-centered care and explore the role of doctors within modern healthcare systems.
As a first-year medical student you will:
- join a close-knit learning community designed to support your transition to medical school,
- begin with a four-week transition block that sets you up for success, and
- spend one day each week in clinically relevant experiences, including simulations, small-group coaching, and hospital or community visits.
Year 2
In your second year, you’ll continue to build depth in the medical sciences while spending more time in real clinical settings.
You’ll refine your diagnostic and communication skills and start shaping your professional identity as a future physician.
As a second-year medical student you will:
- spend up to two days each week in clinical environments,
- develop your clinical and professional skills through case-based learning, clinical coaching, and longitudinal placements, and
- personalize your degree through a Scholarly Choice elective, exploring areas of research or clinical interest.
Year 3
From Year 3, your medical education shifts from classroom learning to full clinical immersion at Ochsner Health in New Orleans.
You’ll train in hospital and community settings, working alongside physicians, residents, and healthcare teams caring for patients across every stage of life.
As a third-year medical student you will:
- spend four days each week in clinical placements (in eight-week blocks or longitudinal clerkships),
- gain experience in hospital medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology, and
- attend structured teaching sessions each week to strengthen your clinical knowledge and confidence.
Year 4
Your final year builds on your clinical experience, continuing with clinical immersions, and prepares you for residency.
You’ll focus on managing complex and emergency cases and step into a pre-intern role, working as an active member of a clinical team.
As a fourth-year medical student you will:
- focus on emergency care and complex chronic conditions across hospital and community settings,
- split your time between structured learning and hands-on clinical experience (20/80 in Semester 1 and 10/90 in Semester 2), and
- graduate with the skills, confidence, and global perspective to thrive in your medical career.
97% match rate for 2025
Join a program with a proven track record of success.
Our 2024 graduating class achieved a 97% residency match rate—placing UQ-Ochsner graduates in competitive programs across the United States.
#42 in the world
The University of Queensland
QS World University Rankings 2026
#37 in Life Sciences and Medicine
The University of Queensland
QS World University Rankings 2026
#41 for Social & Environmental Sustainability
The University of Queensland
QS World University Rankings 2025
Best Hospital in Louisiana
Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans
US News & World Report 2025-26
Best Hospital in New Orleans
Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans
US News & World Report 2025-26
#13 in the US for women's healthcare
OBGYN at Ochsner Health
US News & World Report 2025-26
Accredited and Recognized
The UQ-Ochsner MD Program meets the rigorous accreditation standards of the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and is recognized by the Medical Board of Australia.
The AMC is an independent national standards body, similar to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in the United States. UQ is also accredited by the U.S. Department of Education to administer various need-based loans to eligible U.S. students and/or parents as part of the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program.