Bonded Medical Places (BMP): Signing Away 3 Years of Your Life

The Desperation Offer

It is offer day. You didn't score high enough for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in Medicine in Sydney or Melbourne.

Instead, you receive an offer for a Bonded Medical Place (BMP).

It is the exact same degree. It costs the exact same amount. But to accept it, you must sign a legally binding contract with the Australian Government.

The Return of Service Obligation (RoSO)

Under the Bonded Medical Program, you agree to a Return of Service Obligation.

In exchange for letting you into medical school, you legally commit to working in an eligible regional, rural, or remote area in Australia for 3 years after you graduate.

(Note: The old system required up to 6 years, but it has been standardized to 3 years).

The Reality of the Bond

When you are a desperate 21-year-old pre-med, you will sign anything to become a doctor. You think, "Three years in the country? No problem, it'll be an adventure!"

Fast forward 8 years. You have graduated. You are 29 years old. You are married. Your partner has a corporate job in Sydney. You have a mortgage. Suddenly, the government demands you fulfill your bond and move to a remote town 600 kilometers away.

The Flexibility: The good news is the new BMP scheme is highly flexible. You do not have to do the 3 years all at once. You can complete it in chunks (e.g., 3 months here, 6 months there) anytime within 18 years of graduating.

The Penalty: If you breach the contract and refuse to go rural, you must repay the government the entire cost of your medical degree, minus any time you already served. This can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Should You Accept It?

Yes. Getting into an Australian medical school is incredibly difficult. If a Bonded place is your only offer, you take it. You will be a fully qualified doctor. Many specialists actively choose to work in regional areas anyway because the pay is higher and the lifestyle is better.

However, on your GEMSAS application, you have the option to opt-in or opt-out of receiving BMP offers. Use our GEMSAS GPA Calculator to see how strong your aggregate score is. If you are highly competitive, you can safely opt-out and hold out for a standard Unbonded place.