Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships

The Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship (MRBS) Scheme offers 100 extra places at medical schools. Students accepting the MRBS commit to working for six continuous years in a rural or remote area of Australia less any credit obtained through scaling, after completing their medical training as a specialist.

More information on the Scheme is available at www.health.gov.au/mrbscholarships

From 1 January 2010, for new MRBS Scheme participants and those signing a Deed of Variation to accept the new conditions, the new Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) classification system will be used to determine eligible areas for doctors to complete their return of service obligation.

New MRBS Scheme doctors and those signing a Deed of Variation to accept the new conditions are required to work in RA 2 to RA 5 locations. You can check the RA classification of a location at: http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/Content/locator

For MRBS Scheme participants, scaling is a non-cash incentive offering opportunities to reduce their return of service obligation. Time reductions will be significantly greater for those who choose to live and work in more remote areas as described in the ASGC-RA table below. The greatest reward will be for those willing to work in the most remote locations of Australia.

ASGC-RA Classification	ASGC-RA 1 Major Cities	ASGC-RA 2 Inner Regional	ASGC-RA 3 Outer Regional	ASGC-RA 4 Remote	ASGC-RA 5 Very Remote
Scaling rate	N/A	10%	30%	40%	50%

Questions and Answers on the MRBS Scheme and scaling can be found at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-st-mrb-scal