Medical certificate for university

Updoc is a secure, online digital healthcare platform that facilitates consultations between users and AHPRA-registered Partner Doctors. With Updoc, users are able to request a consult 24/7 from anywhere in Australia. Partner Doctors consult with users and – if they deem it suitable – are able to provide medical certificates, prescriptions, referral letters, medical advice, and more.

If you're in Australia and have a valid Medicare card or Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI), you can request a telehealth consultation with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor through Updoc. If you don't have a Medicare card, you'll need an IHI before you request a consultation. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian needs to be present during the consultation. While you're studying in Australia, your university will usually expect a certificate from a registered Australian practitioner, so a note from a doctor overseas may not be accepted.

In many cases, yes. A medical certificate is common evidence for special consideration, but each university sets its own rules and deadlines. Some ask for their own form to be completed by a practitioner, and many expect you to be assessed while you're unwell, on or before the due date. Applications often have a short window, sometimes only a few business days, so check your university's requirements and apply early.

Request a telehealth consultation with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor through Updoc, from anywhere in Australia. Your Partner Doctor will assess your symptoms and decide whether a medical certificate for your university is suitable. If it is, you'll receive it by SMS and email, ready to forward to your course coordinator or upload to your university's student portal. If you'd prefer to speak to your Partner Doctor, you can request a call.

You can request a consultation 24/7, including after hours and on weekends, at no extra cost. Partner Doctors review requests around the clock, although wait times vary with demand. Your Partner Doctor will decide whether a medical certificate for university is suitable, and if it is, it's sent to your phone and email.

Many medical certificate requests are reviewed within an hour, but wait times vary with demand and aren't guaranteed. At busy times, your Partner Doctor may contact you the following day. If a certificate is suitable, it's sent to you by SMS and email once issued. If you have an exam, assessment or special consideration deadline, request your consultation early.

Many do. A certificate issued after a telehealth consultation is a valid medical certificate, but whether it's accepted is up to your university. With Updoc, your symptoms and request are reviewed by an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor, and any certificate they issue is signed by them in line with the AMA Guidelines. Some universities only accept an online certificate if it followed a real-time phone or video consultation, and others accept telehealth certificates only in certain circumstances, so check your university's policy before you request a consultation. Updoc consultations start with an online questionnaire, and if your university needs a phone consultation, you can request a call with your Partner Doctor.

Your university sets its own requirements, but it will usually look for the practitioner's name and registration details, your name, the date the practitioner assessed you and the dates you were unwell. It may also ask for the practitioner's view of how your illness affected your studies or assessments. Your certificate doesn't usually need to name your diagnosis. If your university asks for more detail, you can choose whether to share it.

Let your course coordinator know, then request a consultation as soon as you can, ideally on the same day. Your medical certificate will show the date it was issued. A doctor may be able to cover earlier days if, after assessing you, they reasonably believe you were unfit to study or sit your exam during that time, but some universities don't accept certificates that cover days before the consultation. Then lodge your special consideration application by your university's deadline.

It depends on your university and how long the extension is. Some universities grant a short extension of a day or two on your own declaration, while longer extensions usually need supporting evidence, such as a medical certificate. A medical certificate is also common evidence for missed tutorials, labs and classes. Check your course outline or your university's extension policy for the rules that apply.

Universities can verify medical certificates, and Updoc offers free verification so institutions can confirm a certificate was issued through Updoc. Anyone can also check a practitioner's registration on the AHPRA public register. If something on your certificate is wrong, don't change it yourself, as universities can treat altered documents as misconduct. Contact Updoc to have it corrected.