The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has proposed granting authorisation for five years to policies which govern the selection and interviewing of applicants to study medicine at Australian graduate-entry medical schools.
All 11 universities which currently offer graduate-entry medicine have agreed to the Preference Policy and One Interview Policy.
Under the Preference Policy, applicants submit a single application listing the medical schools in their order of preference. Students commencing in 2010 may list three preferences. Under the One Interview Policy, applicants will receive only one offer for an interview.
"The policies streamline the application and interview process and produce cost savings for both medical schools, which can interview fewer applicants to fill the places available, and for students who can avoid the costs of attending multiple interviews," ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said.
"Medical schools will continue to compete for the preferences of applicants. Further, the policies do not restrict the number of places offered to applicants or change the cost to study graduate-entry medicine. These are determined by the Australian Government."
Authorisation provides protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. Broadly, the ACCC may grant authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
The ACCC's draft determination will be available from the ACCC website (wwww.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister) and by following the links to this matter.
The ACCC invites submissions from interest parties in relation to the draft determination before making its final decision. Parties wishing to make submissions should do so by 13 November 2009. Please refer to the website for further information about making a submission to the ACCC.
The participating universities are the Australian National University, Deakin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Notre Dame Australia, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Western Australia and University of Wollongong.