CSP vs BMP vs Full-fee — Australian medicine funding pathways
2027 Entry · Costs · Obligations · FEE-HELP
Australian medical schools allocate places under three main funding structures — Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), Bonded Medical Program (BMP) places, and full-fee places. Each carries radically different cost, commitment, and funding-eligibility profiles. This guide walks through each pathway in detail, includes a side-by-side annual and total-cost-of-degree comparison, explains the FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP loan schemes that fund domestic students, and lists which Australian schools offer full-fee places.
CSP — Commonwealth Supported Place
A Commonwealth Supported Place is the standard funding pathway for domestic Australian medical students. The Australian government subsidises a large portion of the tuition fee, and you pay an indexed student contribution capped at approximately AUD $11,000-$12,000 per year for medicine (band 4 funding cluster).
Eligibility. Australian citizens, eligible permanent residents (most categories), and New Zealand citizens with relevant residency status. International student-visa holders are not eligible.
Cost during degree. ~$11,000-$12,000 per year × 4-6 years = approximately AUD $44,000-$72,000 across the degree. Indexed annually — current-year medicine students typically pay slightly more than this in real terms by year 4 or year 6.
Funding. HECS-HELP (the Higher Education Contribution Scheme) is an income-contingent loan that covers the student contribution. You don't pay during your degree — repayments start through the tax system once your taxable income exceeds the threshold (~AUD $54,435 for 2025-26).
Obligations. None beyond completing the degree. CSP students choose where to practise post-Fellowship freely.
BMP — Bonded Medical Program (recap)
Bonded Medical Program places are Commonwealth Supported Places with an attached service obligation. You pay the same indexed student contribution as a CSP student (and access HECS-HELP), but you commit to three years of full-time-equivalent service in a regional, rural or remote area (Modified Monash Model 2-7) after achieving Fellowship.
BMP places make up approximately 28% of CSP allocation in medicine nationally. Each school allocates a fixed BMP quota each cycle; the rest of the CSP allocation goes as standard non-bonded places.
Cost during degree: identical to CSP. No additional financial burden during the degree.
Cost of bond failure: withdrawing from the bond after the degree triggers a Commonwealth penalty of AUD $100,000-$130,000 plus interest. This is the practical financial risk of BMP — small chance, large consequence.
Full details, including the post-2020 reform from 6-year obligation to 3-year FTE, are covered in our dedicated BMP guide.
Full-fee places
Full-fee places are domestic-eligible places that are not subsidised by the Commonwealth. You pay the full tuition fee — typically AUD $70,000-$90,000 per year — and there is no service obligation.
Where full-fee places are offered. Three categories:
- Private medical schools — Bond University (Gold Coast), Macquarie University (Sydney). These programmes have no CSP allocation at all. Every domestic student is full-fee. Bond runs an accelerated 4yr-8mo MD; Macquarie runs a 4yr graduate MD.
- Catholic university medical schools — Notre Dame Sydney and Notre Dame Fremantle. Notre Dame allocates a mix of CSP and full-fee places, with full-fee a substantial minority of the intake.
- Public university full-fee overflow. Some public universities (Sydney MD is the main example) allocate a small number of full-fee places alongside their CSP intake — typically for domestic applicants who applied via the standard pathway but landed below the CSP cut-off.
Funding. FEE-HELP — an income-contingent loan up to the medicine sub-limit (approximately AUD $174,000 lifetime, indexed annually). This covers most of a Macquarie MD or roughly half of a Bond MD. The remainder is paid out-of-pocket — typically family support, savings, or private bank loans.
Eligibility. FEE-HELP requires Australian citizenship or eligible humanitarian visa status. International student-visa holders pay full international fees up-front (no FEE-HELP).
Obligations. None — full-fee graduates choose any specialty and any location freely.
Schools allocating full-fee places
9 Australian medical schools currently allocate full-fee places (either exclusively or as part of a mixed intake).
Bond
Gold Coast, QLD · undergraduate entry · Places: Full-fee, International
Up to ~180 places/year across May + September intakes (80% undergraduate / 20% graduate). Full-fee only; Bond does NOT participate in the BMP scheme.
Deakin
Geelong, VIC · graduate entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
2027 intake: up to 100 CSP + 45 BMP + 15 International + 30 RTS (reserved subset of domestic) ≈ 160 total. Indigenous Entry Stream up to 5% domestic; rural-background minimum 25% over and above RTS.
Flinders
Bedford Park, SA · graduate entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
~75% of Bedford Park CSP reserved for Flinders graduates. SARM (South Australian Rural Medical Program) up to 60 rural SA places. NTMP (Northern Territory Medical Program) up to 24 NT-funded places. International separate.
Macquarie
Sydney, NSW · graduate entry · Places: Full-fee, International
Full-fee only — no Commonwealth Supported Places. 2027: 60 full-fee domestic + ~20 international. Up to 30 interview places reserved for Macquarie Bachelor of Clinical Science graduates.
Melbourne
Parkville, VIC · graduate entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
2027 cycle: 179 CSP + 71 BMP (39 via GEMSAS + 32 via MD Rural Pathway) + up to 105 Full-fee domestic ≈ ~355 total.
Monash
Clayton, VIC · dual entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
Direct Entry: ~234 domestic + 30 Extended Rural Cohort = ~264 (Clayton). Graduate Entry: ~70 domestic + 30 Rural End-to-End + ~30 international (Gippsland). BMP allocation 28.5% of all Monash medicine places.
Notre Dame Sydney
Sydney, NSW · graduate entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
2027: 40 CSP + 17 BMP + up to 57 Full-fee domestic + up to 35 international = ~149 total (147 in 2026 intake).
UQ
Herston, QLD · graduate entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
2027 graduate intake: 107 CSP + 43 BMP + up to 190 international (incl. UQ-Ochsner). Provisional Entry adds ~140 CSP school-leaver places with 28% reserved for Rural Access Scheme.
UWA
Crawley, WA · dual entry · Places: CSP, BMP, Full-fee, International
2027 cycle: 74 CSP + 29 BMP (28.5%) + up to 40 international ≈ 143-145 domestic (Fraser's). Indigenous allocation up to 10% of domestic places.
International applicants — fee context
International student-visa applicants are not eligible for CSP, BMP, or FEE-HELP. International tuition is paid up-front each semester or trimester.
Typical international medicine fees:
- Sydney, Melbourne, Monash, UNSW, UQ: AUD $90,000-$105,000 per year
- Adelaide, Flinders, UWA, Curtin: AUD $80,000-$95,000 per year
- Macquarie, Bond (private): AUD $85,000-$95,000 per year
- Notre Dame, Wollongong, JCU: AUD $75,000-$85,000 per year
Across a 4-year graduate MD, total international tuition is typically AUD $320,000-$420,000. Across a 5-6 year undergraduate MD, AUD $400,000-$630,000.
Visa, OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover), and cost-of-living adds approximately AUD $25,000-$35,000 per year. Plan for AUD $400,000+ total degree cost as an international student even at the lower-fee schools.
Side-by-side cost and obligation comparison
Indicative comparison for a domestic Australian student across the three main funding pathways. Figures are in AUD and approximate; check each school's current fee schedule before relying on them.
| Dimension | CSP | BMP | Full-fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition (student pays) | ~$11,000-$12,000 | ~$11,000-$12,000 | ~$70,000-$90,000 |
| 4-year graduate MD total | ~$44,000-$48,000 | ~$44,000-$48,000 | ~$280,000-$360,000 |
| 5-6 year undergrad MD total | ~$55,000-$72,000 | ~$55,000-$72,000 | ~$350,000-$540,000 |
| Income-contingent loan | HECS-HELP (full cover) | HECS-HELP (full cover) | FEE-HELP up to ~$174,000 |
| Out-of-pocket after loan | $0 (with HECS-HELP) | $0 (with HECS-HELP) | $100,000-$370,000 (varies by school) |
| Service obligation | None | 3 yr FTE MM2-7 post-Fellowship | None |
| Geographic flexibility post-Fellowship | Full | Limited until bond discharged | Full |
| Eligibility | Aus citizen / eligible PR / NZ | Aus citizen / eligible PR / NZ | Aus citizen / PR (for FEE-HELP) |
Cost of living and FEE-HELP context
Whichever funding pathway you choose, the cost of living during medical school is real and often understated. Typical figures for a single student renting in a sharehouse:
- Sydney / Melbourne: AUD $30,000-$36,000 per year (rent, food, transport, basic recreation).
- Brisbane / Perth / Adelaide: AUD $25,000-$30,000 per year.
- Regional centres (Geelong, Bendigo, Newcastle, Townsville): AUD $20,000-$25,000 per year.
Across a 4-year graduate MD, expect AUD $100,000+ in cost-of-living costs on top of tuition. Across a 6-year undergraduate MD, AUD $150,000+. These are not covered by FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP and must be funded from savings, family support, Youth Allowance / Austudy (if eligible), or part-time work.
FEE-HELP's lifetime medicine sub-limit of approximately AUD $174,000 (indexed annually) is significant for full-fee planning. For Macquarie's ~$300,000 MD, FEE-HELP covers more than half. For Bond's ~$380,000 MD, FEE-HELP covers under half. Either way you need a plan for the gap — and you need that plan locked in before accepting a full-fee offer.
Talk to someone who's been through it
Choosing between BMP and CSP, or weighing up a full-fee offer, is a real financial decision. Book a free consultation with a tutor who's navigated the funding decision themselves.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP?
- HECS-HELP applies to Commonwealth Supported Places — it covers the student contribution (the indexed amount each CSP student pays). FEE-HELP applies to full-fee places at private and full-fee public programmes — it covers the full tuition fee. Both are income-contingent loans repaid through the tax system once income exceeds the repayment threshold. The principal difference is the size of the loan (CSP contribution is much smaller than full-fee tuition) and the maximum FEE-HELP limit (around AUD $174,000 lifetime for medicine students, indexed).
- What's the income threshold for HECS-HELP repayments?
- For the 2025-26 tax year, the threshold is approximately AUD $54,435 of taxable income. Below this, you pay nothing. Above this, you pay a percentage of your income (starting at 1% and rising to 10% at higher income tiers) until the loan is repaid. The threshold and rates are reviewed annually by the ATO.
- Can I switch from full-fee to CSP mid-degree?
- Generally no. CSP and full-fee allocations are set at offer time. The major exception is internal scholarship pathways at some private schools (Macquarie, Bond) — but these are competitive and not guaranteed. If you start as full-fee, plan to fund the full-fee cost. If you receive both a CSP and a full-fee offer in the same cycle, the financial difference is large enough to factor heavily into your decision.
- Do international students get FEE-HELP?
- No. FEE-HELP is restricted to Australian citizens, eligible permanent residents (including humanitarian visa holders), and New Zealand citizens who meet specific residency requirements. International student-visa holders pay full international fees up-front each semester or trimester. Some international students access private loans from their home country.
- How much does Bond University medicine actually cost?
- Bond University runs a private accelerated 4-year-8-month MD. Total tuition is approximately AUD $360,000-$400,000 across the degree. Bond runs three semesters per year (faster degree, more semesters of fees). Domestic Australian students can use FEE-HELP up to the medicine limit (~$174,000) and pay the remainder up-front. International students pay the full amount up-front.
- How much does Macquarie University medicine cost?
- Macquarie runs a 4-year graduate MD with full-fee places only — no CSPs. Total tuition is approximately AUD $290,000-$320,000 across the degree. FEE-HELP eligible domestic students can fund up to ~$174,000 through the loan; the remainder is out-of-pocket. International students pay full international fees, typically AUD $80,000-$90,000 per year.
- Is a scholarship available for full-fee medicine?
- Limited. Macquarie, Bond and Notre Dame offer a small number of merit and equity scholarships each year — typically partial-tuition rather than full. Some external scholarships (RACS-affiliated, Indigenous, rural-origin) are available. Realistically, scholarships cover 10-30% of full-fee costs at best — they do not bridge the gap between full-fee and CSP affordability.
- Can I work part-time during medicine to fund full-fee tuition?
- Realistically, 8-12 hours per week is the upper bound during pre-clinical years. Clinical years (years 3+) make even this difficult — placements are typically 9-5 with on-call and weekend rotations. Most full-fee students rely on FEE-HELP plus family support, savings, or private loans rather than part-time earnings during the degree.
- Does CSP funding cover all my costs?
- CSP covers tuition only — you still pay the indexed student contribution (~AUD $11,000 per year for medicine). Cost of living (rent, food, transport, textbooks, equipment) is on you. Youth Allowance or Austudy is available for eligible students under specific age and parental-income criteria. Most CSP medical students rely on a combination of HECS-HELP, parental support, savings and part-time work.
Related Australian medicine guides
- Bonded Medical Places (BMP)
Full BMP guide — obligation, schools, discharging the bond.
- Undergrad vs graduate medicine
Pathway, length, and maturity trade-offs.
- ATAR medicine cut-offs
Live ATAR cut-offs for every Australian undergraduate medicine school.
- All Australian medical schools
22 universities, full entry requirements and intake details.