RFDS Commercial Travellers Association 4th year Medical Student Scholarship
Overview
The Commercial Travellers Association (CTA) Student Scholarship program was established in 2016 to provide scholarships for 4th year University of Tasmania medical students who are either from a rural and remote area and/or have expressed an interest in working in rural and remote areas.
The funding is provided to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) by the former members of the CTA of Tasmania in recognition of the past work and service given to remote and rural areas of Tasmania and in particular the support they received from rural and remote GPs and the RFDS.
The scholarships are provided to assist Tasmanian medical students with the costs associated with their 4th year elective placement where they have chosen to undertake their elective in a rural or remote area of Australia.
IMPORTANT - There is a requirement for all 4th year students to undertake an assessable four-week clinical placement or equivalent as an elective. The elective period is mid-November to 30 January each year.
The University of Tasmania requires an indicative idea of the student’s destination by 1 April and their final elective plans must be submitted before 1 October annually.
Eligibility
- Available to a student entering 4th year of a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (H3X) in 2026 who is either from a remote or rural area and/or has expressed an interest in working in remote or rural areas.
- Selection will be determined on the basis of:
- demonstrated academic merit;
- high level communication skills;
- an interest in and understanding of contemporary rural health issues;
- a demonstrated intention to undertake a clinical placement in rural health in a remote or rural area (an essential criteria) as their elective placement;
- and an ability and willingness to act as an ambassador promoting the RFDS and the Tasmanian School of Medicine.
- Preference is for a student from Tasmania.
- No previous RFDS experience is required.
- The recipient must be available for the RFDS Scholarship Presentations held at the beginning of the year following their placement.
- The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) uses the term 'remote and rural' to describe all areas outside Australia's major cities. This includes areas that are classified as regional centres or rural (MM 2 - MM 5) or remote/very remote communities (MM 6 - MM 7) under the Modified Monash Model (MMM).
- Visit here for more information about the Modified Monash Model (MMM) and area classifications MM 2 - MM 7.
On-going Eligibility
- Remain enrolled in a full-time 100% load (4 x 12.5% units or equivalent)
Amount
$4,000 to be provided to each recipient to fund travel and expenses incurred as part of the clinical placement.
Duration
Four weeks between November 2026 and January 2027.
Opening Date
29 August 2025
Closing Date
27 February 2026
Apply
Apply online prior to closing date. Applications cannot be submitted after closing date.As applicants will be assessed on the quality of application, all questions should be answered in full. Please ensure care is taken with spelling and grammar.
Application status
Not yet open
