Applying for Direct Entry Medicine in Australia

A Comprehensive Guide to 2022 Direct-Entry Australian Medical Schools 

Navigating direct-entry medical school applications can be extremely confusing at the best of times, especially for a high school leaver, so our team of ANZ medical school experts have put together a comprehensive guide detailing 2022 direct-entry medical schools in Australia. 

Direct-entry medical schools in Australia and New Zealand are listed below:

• Bond University
• Charles Sturt University
• Curtin University
• James Cook University
• Monash University 
• University of Adelaide
• University of Newcastle and University of New England
• University of New South Wales
• University of Tasmania
• Western Sydney University

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A Brief Overview

Applying to most 2022 ANZ direct-entry medical schools will involve sitting an aptitude-based test, either the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) ANZ or the International Student Admissions Test (ISAT), and an evaluation of your ATAR and medical school interview performance. 

As of 2022, the UCAT and ISAT are both computer-based aptitude tests that comprise different structures and are marked on different scales. If you wish to learn more about these tests in detail, please click on the official UCAT and ISAT web pages linked above or refer to our UCAT vs ISAT guide. 

To gain a better understanding of how ANZ medical schools will use your 2022 ATAR to assess you, please see our article on ATAR vs. GPA. Essentially, most direct-entry medical schools will have a specific ATAR cut-off for entry onto their medicine program, although meeting this requirement will not guarantee you a place as other factors like adjustment points and UCAT and interview scores are also taken into consideration. 

Bond University 

Bond University is a private Australian university located in Queensland. It offers a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (BMedSt/MD) that takes a total of 4 years and 8 months to complete— making it the quickest route to becoming a doctor in Australia and New Zealand. 

Bond University requires high-school leavers to hold an ATAR of at least 96. Around 50% of applicants are invited to Bond University’s specific psychometric test based on their academic results. This test comprises a personality and emotional intelligence test, both consisting of multiple choice questions. The results applicants receive on the psychometric test are used to determine whether they will be invited to a medicine interview. 

While Bond University offers a direct-entry medicine program, graduate students are also able to apply for a place. Instead of needing an ATAR of 96, graduate-entry applicants would, instead, be required to hold a minimum grade-point-average (GPA) of 6.0 out of 7.0 However, for graduates and international applicants, only those who graduate from Bond University’s Bachelor of Biomedical Science (pre-health professional major), Master of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physiotherapy, or Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice will be eligible to apply for Bond University’s BMedSt/MD.

Charles Sturt University: Joint Medical Programme 

Charles Sturt University is multi-campus based and spans four states: NSW, ACT, QLD and VIC. In collaboration with Western Sydney University School of Medicine, Charles Sturt University has established a joint medical programme offering a 5-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. This program has a key focus on rural and regional medicine and is undertaken in Orange, NSW. When applying, students are able to preference either Charles Sturt University or Western Sydney University, although there is no guarantee that they will receive an interview at their first preference university. 

Admission to Charles Sturt University’s joint medicine programme in 2022 is based on the following: 

• An ATAR of at least 95.50
• A 2022 UCAT ANZ score 
• Submission of a medical admission questionnaire (MAQ) 
• Satisfactory MMI performance 

To be invited to a MMI, applicants must meet a specific annual UCAT ANZ threshold, and final offers are determined based on UCAT scores and MMI performance. 

Special entry schemes are available for rural and Indigenous students. 

Curtin University

Curtin University is a public WA university that offers a 5-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. This is the only direct-entry medicine degree in Western Australia. 

Admission to Curtin University’s medicine program in 2022 is based on the following: 

• An ATAR of at least 95
• A valid 2022 UCAT ANZ score
• Satisfactory MMI performance 

To be invited to Curtin University’s MMI, applicants are ranked based on the following weightings:

• Academic merit score (60%)
• UCAT ANZ score (40%)

Final selection is based on an applicant’s academic and UCAT ANZ scores as well as their performance at interview. 

There are special entry pathways available for rural and indigenous students as well as graduate students and students switching to the medicine course from other Curtin University degrees. 

James Cook University 

James Cook University is a public research university in Northern Queensland. It offers a 6-year direct entry Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous and tropical health. 

Admission to James Cook University’s medicine program in 2022 is based on the following: 

• An ATAR (cut-off is unspecified but the median ATAR admitted to the medicine program in 2021 was 98.55) 
• A personal statement conveying your motivations in applying to medical school, you extracurricular activities and why you are particularly interested in Indigenous, tropical and rural health
• Satisfactory performance at James Cook University’s panel medicine interview

Final selection is made on account of a student’s academic performance, personal statement and interview performance. 

There is a special entry pathway for Indigenous students. 

Monash University 

Monash University is a public research university located in VIC. It is a member of the Group of 8 (G8)— a coalition of top-ranked, research-intensive tertiary education institutions in Australia, similar to the Russell Group in the UK. Monash University offers students a 5-year Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. 

Admission to Monash University’s medicine program in 2022 is based on the following: 

• An ATAR score (usually higher than 90)
• A valid 2022 UCAT ANZ score 
• Satisfactory MMI performance 

Selection for an MMI is based on UCAT ANZ scores and academic performance— there is an unpublished yearly cut-off that is determined by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences each year. 

There are special entry pathways for Indigenous students. 

University of Adelaide 

The University of Adelaide is a top ranked university in Australia according to the QS 2022 rankings. It is a public university and a member of the Group of 8 (G8)— a coalition of top-ranked, research-intensive tertiary education institutions in Australia, similar to the Russell Group in the UK. Up until 2021, the University of Adelaide offered a 6-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program. Starting in 2022, the university will offer a 6-year direct-entry Bachelor of Medical Studies and Doctor of Medicine (BMedStud/MD) degree. 

Admission to the University of Adelaide’s medicine program in 2022 is based on the following: 

• A minimum ATAR of 90
• A UCAT ANZ score 
• Satisfactory interview performance 

Invitation to the University of Adelaide’s medicine interview is based on ATAR and UCAT ANZ scores. For domestic students, final selection is based on the UCAT ANZ (20%), academic merit (40%) and the medicine interview (40%). For international students, final selection is based on interview, UCAT ANZ and academic merit (which is used as a tie breaker for students with the same total interview and UCAT ANZ score). 

There are special admissions pathways for rural and Indigenous students. 

University of Newcastle and University of New England 

The University of Newcastle and University of New England, both located in NSW, offer a Joint Medical Programme (called JMP). This awards students with Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees (BMedSc/MD) in just five years. 

Admission to the Joint Medical Programme in 2022 is based on the following: 

• A minimum ATAR of 94.30 
• A valid UCAT ANZ score 
• The JMP assessment 

An evaluation of applicants’ UCAT ANZ scores is what determines which applicants will be invited to the JMP assessment. This assessment includes a multiple skills assessment (MSA) and also a personal qualities assessment (PQA). 

There are special admissions pathways for rural and Indigenous students. 

University of New South Wales 

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university located in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney. It is a member of the Group of 8 (G8)— a coalition of top-ranked, research-intensive tertiary education institutions in Australia, similar to the Russell Group in the UK. UNSW offers a 6-year direct-entry Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (BMed/MD) program. 

Admission to the UNSW medicine in 2022 is based on the following: 

• An ATAR of at least 96
• A valid 2022 UCAT ANZ score that is at a minimum of the 50th percentile 
• Satisfactory performance at the UNSW panel interview 

Invitation to the UNSW medicine interview is based on how applicants rank when their academic and UCAT ANZ scores are summed up. Final selection is based on a combination of ATAR, UCAT ANZ and interview scores. 

International students may choose to sit either the UCAT ANZ or the ISAT. Final selection for international students is based on a combination of academic merit, UCAT ANZ or ISAT scores and interview performance. 

Students who have partially completed tertiary study or graduates are also eligible to apply. For students who have partially completed study, their university GPA and ATAR will be considered in a 50:50 ratio. 

Special admissions schemes are available to rural and Indigenous students. 

University of Tasmania 

The University of Tasmania is a public university in Tasmania. It houses the only medical school in the state of Tasmania offering a 5-year direct-entry Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. 

Admission to the University of Tasmania’s medicine program  in 2022 is based on the following: 

• A minimum ATAR of 95
• A valid 2022 UCAT ANZ score that is at a minimum of the 50th percentile 

International applicants should sit the ISAT or MCAT in lieu of the UCAT ANZ. Final selection to this program is based on ATAR only for domestic students. For international students, final selection is based on academic results combined with either ISAT or MCAT performance. 

75% of domestic school-leaver places are reserved for those who have graduated from a Tasmanian high school. There are special entry pathways available for Indigenous students. 

Western Sydney University 

Western Sydney University (WSU) offers a 5-year direct-entry medicine program, awarding students with Bachelor of Clinical Science (BClinSci) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees. 

Admission to the Western Sydney University’s medicine program  in 2022 is based on the following: 

• A minimum ATAR of 95.50 for domestic students; a minimum ATAR of 93.50 for international students 
• A valid 2022 UCAT ANZ score
• Submissions of a medical admissions questionnaire (MAQ)
• Satisfactory MMI performance 

Domestic applicants will be invited to WSU’s MMI based on their ATAR and UCAT ANZ scores. Final selection will be determined based on MMI (75%) and academic scores (25%). International students should submit an ISAT score in lieu of a UCAT score. 

Since Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University offer a joint medicine programme, students are able to preference a particular campus— although there is no guarantee that they will receive an offer to their preferred campus. 

There are special admissions pathways for rural and Indigenous applicants. 

FAQs