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How to get into medical school in Australia

2027 Entry · Undergraduate & Graduate · Tests · Timeline · Costs

Australia trains around 3,800 new doctors a year across 22 medical programmes. There are two distinct routes in: undergraduate entry directly from year 12 into a 5 to 6-year Doctor of Medicine, and graduate entry after a bachelor degree into a 4-year accelerated MD. Each route uses a different combination of academic record, admissions test (UCAT-ANZ or GAMSAT), situational judgement layer (CASPer, Snapshot) and interview format. This guide walks through both pathways in detail — the tests, the timeline, the costs, the per-school requirements pulled directly from our live school catalogue, the application mechanics by state admissions centre, and the most common reasons strong applicants come up short. Built for 2027 applicants and updated as the catalogue refreshes.

Pathway 1 — undergraduate medicine

Undergraduate medicine in Australia is the school-leaver route. You enter directly from year 12 into a 5 or 6-year combined-degree programme that delivers both a bachelor degree (or bachelor-equivalent component) and a Doctor of Medicine. 9 Australian programmes operate under this model, mostly at the Group of Eight (UQ, UNSW, Adelaide, Melbourne) and the rural-focused schools (JCU, Curtin, Charles Sturt, Wollongong).

The standard undergraduate application combines four factors: ATAR (your year-12 academic rank), UCAT-ANZ (the admissions test sat in July), CASPer or Snapshot (used at some schools as a situational judgement layer), and an interview (MMI at most schools, panel at a few). Specific weightings vary — UNSW uses a 1/3 ATAR, 1/3 UCAT, 1/3 interview formula, while Monash blends UCAT, CASPer and ATAR before interview selection.

ATAR thresholds typically sit at 95.00+ for undergraduate medicine, with the most competitive schools (Adelaide, JCU Bonded, Curtin) requiring 96-99+. UCAT-ANZ thresholds shift cycle to cycle — for 2027 entry the competitive band is roughly 2,150-2,400 on the post-2024 /2700 cognitive scale (top quartile, ~75th-90th percentile) across the most selective schools.

One pathway twist: undergraduate medicine has no separate "medicine application". You apply through your state's admissions centre (UAC for NSW/ACT, VTAC for VIC, QTAC for QLD, SATAC for SA/NT/WA, TISC for parts of WA) alongside all your other tertiary preferences. Medicine schools then call eligible applicants for interview directly.

Pathway 2 — graduate-entry medicine

Graduate-entry medicine is the post-degree route. You complete a bachelor degree first (typically in any discipline — humanities and science applicants both succeed) and then apply to a 4-year accelerated MD or MChD. 20 Australian programmes follow this model, including Sydney MD, Melbourne MD, ANU MChD, Notre Dame Sydney/Fremantle, Wollongong, Deakin and Macquarie.

The graduate application combines three factors: GPA (your undergraduate degree grade point average, capped at 7.0 in most states), GAMSAT (the graduate medical school admissions test, sat in March or September each year), and an interview (MMI at most graduate-entry schools, panel at Adelaide and Tasmania graduate streams).

Most graduate-entry schools recruit through GEMSAS (the Graduate Entry Medical School Admissions Service), a centralised application platform that allocates interview offers based on a combined GPA + GAMSAT composite. You list school preferences in order, GEMSAS processes the composite against each school's threshold, and offers cascade by preference rank. Sydney MD, Melbourne MD and ANU MChD operate their own admissions cycles outside GEMSAS.

GPA cut-offs sit around 5.5-6.0 (out of 7.0) for most graduate-entry programmes, with the most competitive schools requiring 6.5+. GAMSAT cut-offs typically range from 60 to 68 overall, with section minima of 50 in every section.

Read our deeper undergraduate vs graduate comparison for a head-to-head on length, cost, maturity and competitive position.

The four admissions tests in detail

Four tests appear across Australian medical admissions, used in different combinations by different schools:

  • UCAT-ANZ — undergraduate route. Two-hour psychometric test of verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and situational judgement. Single July sitting. Full UCAT-ANZ guide.
  • GAMSAT — graduate route. Five-and-a-half-hour reasoning test across humanities, written communication and three sciences. March + September sittings. Full GAMSAT guide.
  • CASPer — situational judgement (written). 90-minute online test of 12 scenarios with typed responses. Used by Monash, Curtin and a small group. CASPer guide.
  • Snapshot — situational judgement (video). One-way recorded video responses to short scenarios. Used by Monash undergraduate alongside CASPer. Covered in the CASPer guide above.

For applicants weighing UCAT-ANZ vs GAMSAT — for example graduates considering both undergraduate and graduate streams — see our GAMSAT vs UCAT-ANZ decision guide.

The application timeline year by year

Australian medical applications run on a 12-18 month timeline. Below is the standard cadence for 2027 entry.

Undergraduate timeline

  • Year 11 (or earlier): Begin preparing for ATAR-relevant subjects. Most medical schools require chemistry; many require biology or another science. Begin UCAT-ANZ prep 6-12 months ahead of the test.
  • Year 12 March-June: Register for UCAT-ANZ. Continue ATAR preparation. Begin building extracurricular evidence of motivation (volunteering, work experience).
  • Year 12 July: UCAT-ANZ test window (single sitting). Individual scores typically appear on the Pearson VUE candidate portal within 24-48 hours, but the centralised TAC data feed lands in late August / early September after the test window closes.
  • Year 12 September: State admissions centre preferences open. Submit your list of medical schools alongside other tertiary preferences. CASPer or Snapshot (where required) typically sat in this window.
  • Year 12 October-November: ATAR end-of-year exams. ATAR released mid-December.
  • December-February: Interview invitations issued. Most undergraduate interviews run between late November and early February.
  • January-February: Offers cascade through the state admissions centres. First-round offers in January; final offers by March.

Graduate timeline

  • 18-24 months before entry: Final-year of bachelor degree, GPA locked. Begin GAMSAT preparation 6-12 months before the test (longer for humanities backgrounds).
  • Year before entry, March: GAMSAT March sitting. Results released late May. Use this as a diagnostic; sit again in September for the decisive score.
  • Year before entry, May-June: GEMSAS application opens. List school preferences. Submit before the late-May / early-June deadline (varies year to year).
  • Year before entry, September: GAMSAT September sitting. Results released mid to late November.
  • October-December: Interview invitations issued. Most graduate-entry interviews run between late October and early December.
  • December onwards: Offers issued. Some schools rolling, others single-round.

State admissions centres and CSP/BMP funding

Undergraduate medical applications are routed through your state admissions centre, not directly through the university. Each centre runs its own preference system and deadlines:

  • UAC (Universities Admissions Centre) — NSW and ACT.
  • VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) — VIC.
  • QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) — QLD.
  • SATAC (South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre) — SA, NT and (for some institutions) WA.
  • TISC (Tertiary Institutions Service Centre) — WA (for UWA and other WA-based programmes).

Each medical place in Australia is funded under one of three models: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) — heavily subsidised tuition (~AUD $11,800/year) for Australian citizens and permanent residents; Bonded Medical Place (BMP) — same CSP tuition in exchange for a workforce commitment to a rural, remote or shortage area; Full-fee place — domestic or international, AUD $50,000-95,000 per year. Read our CSP vs BMP vs full-fee comparison for the funding implications of each.

Every Australian medical school — requirements at a glance (2027 entry)

22 programmes across 9 undergraduate and 20 graduate-entry streams. Live data from our school catalogue — figures update when the underlying entry requirements change.

SchoolStatePathwayATAR / GPAUCAT-ANZ / GAMSATIntake
AdelaideSAundergraduateMinimum entry ATAR 90.00 (adjusted selection rank). Successful applicants typically ~99.75 (commonly cited; not officially published). Adelaide explicitly does not publish ATAR cut-offs.Strong bonus-region effect: ~2730 SA applicants vs ~3140 interstate (2024-2026 entry on old /3600 scale; MedView aggregator consensus). ~410-point gap (~10th percentile) is the most material datapoint for SA applicants. Adelaide does not officially publish cut-offs. UCAT cognitive subtests drive interview shortlist; Situational Judgement used only as tiebreaker at the lowest rank.136 domestic places per year (Adelaide degree finder); ~600 applicants invited to interview annually. Admission offer weighting: Academic 40% + UCAT cognitive 20% + Interview 40%.
ANUACTgraduateMinimum weighted GPA 5.0 (latest guidelines; 5.6 historically quoted as practical interview threshold). ANU uses weighted GPA (most recent results weighted heaviest).Minimum 50 overall + 50 in each section. Used at 50% weight for interview-ranking composite (alongside 50% GPA). Median offer-holder GAMSAT not officially published; aggregator estimates ~65-68.2027 cycle: 63 CSP + 26 BMP + up to 30 international + uncapped Indigenous. Total domestic ~89, total cohort ~115-120 (GEMSAS ANU).
BondQLDundergraduateUndergraduate (Year 12): ATAR 96+ / IB 38+ / OP 1-3. Graduate: cumulative GPA ≥ 6.0/7.0 from recognised tertiary program.—Up to ~180 places/year across two intakes (May + September), 80% undergraduate / 20% graduate. Full-fee only — does NOT participate in BMP.
Charles Sturt (Rural)NSWundergraduateATAR hurdle (JPM era 2024-2026): Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney 93.50; Rural (RA2-5) 91.50.JPM era: UCAT weighted at 100% for the interview-selection stage. Indicative UCAT cut-off for interview invitations (2024) ~3090 on old /3600 scale (~90th percentile).2024-2026 (JPM era): ~120 places combined with WSU. 2027 standalone CSU program: ~47 CSP places; ~80% rural-pathway, ~15-20 non-rural.
CurtinWAundergraduateMinimum ATAR (WA applicants) 95.00 (inclusive of bonus points); minimum ATAR (non-WA applicants) 92.00. TISC 2025 (Dec 2024 round) for CUMBS: min rank n/a, lowest n/a — selection is NOT solely on ATAR.No official Curtin-published cut-off. Curtin ranks total UCAT score, not a fixed threshold. Aggregator-derived competitive score ~2970 for local WA applicants (2024-2026 entry, old /3600 scale). Interview shortlist ratio 35 ATAR : 35 CASPer : 30 UCAT (per MedEntry / Curtin official Q&A — Fraser's 35:35:40 reporting is an error).2024 intake ~110 places (CSP + BMP combined). Curtin 2024 Domestic Admissions Guide.
DeakinVICgraduateMinimum 5.0/7.0 weighted. GEMSAS weighting (Final-2 × 1 + Final-1 × 2 + Final × 3) / 6. Aggregated average accepted GPA: 6.67 (2024), 6.6 (2023), 6.76 (2022), 6.74 (2021).Minimum 50 in each section + 50 overall. Aggregated average accepted GAMSAT (Fraser's): 66 (2024), 62 (2023), 68.4 (2022), 66.9 (2021). General-stream interview shortlist: GPA + GAMSAT + adjustments equally weighted.2027: ~160 total (up to 100 CSP + 45 BMP + 15 international + 30 RTS reserved subset). Maximum 220 interview offers; implied interview-to-place ratio ≈ 1.6:1 (GEMSAS Deakin page; Fraser's Deakin 2027 guide).
FlindersSAgraduateMinimum 5.00 (Flinders MD Admissions Guide 2027). Typical successful ~6.0+ (forum-derived).Minimum 50 in each section. Flinders explicitly does not publish a fixed cut-off — "dependent upon the profile of the applicant pool and places available for each sub-quota, and therefore vary every year". Forum-derived range ~62-67 for CSP.Bedford Park CSP (~75% reserved for Flinders graduates) + SARM up to 60 + NTMP up to 24 + International separate. Bonded CSP indicative fee AUD $13,241/year (2024).
GriffithQLDgraduateMinimum 5.0/7.0. Griffith explicitly states "a GPA required for interview selection is likely to be significantly higher than 5.0". 2025 intake average GPA 6.68.Minimum 50 in each section AND 50 overall. Interview shortlist rank: 50:50 unweighted GPA (as %) + overall GAMSAT (out of 100). Final offer rank: 50% interview-selection rank + 50% GUMSAA interview score. 2025 intake average GAMSAT 66.39.2027 cycle: 148 CSP + 60 BMP + 80 BMedSci pathway + up to 35 international = ~323 total (GEMSAS Griffith).
JCUQLDundergraduate2024 intake: ATAR floor 89.4; Cairns median 97.95; Townsville median 97.60. Non-Year-12 GPA floor 5.75. Written application carries dominant weight over ATAR.—~150 CSP domestic + ~40 international per year. Mix of CSP, BMP, and Rural Access Scheme (NOT 100% MRBS — MRBS is a closed legacy scheme nationally).
MacquarieNSWgraduateMinimum 5.0/7.0 (or WAM 65). 2024 intake average successful GPA ~6.7/7.0.Minimum 50 overall, 50 in each section. Used at 50% weight (alongside 50% GPA) for interview shortlist. 2024 intake average successful GAMSAT ~66.2027: ~60 full-fee domestic + ~20 international. No CSP/BMP at Macquarie (full-fee program; no Commonwealth-mandated bonded allocation).
MelbourneVICgraduateMinimum weighted GPA 5.0/7.0. UoM weighting formula: (Final-2 × 1 + Final-1 × 2 + Final × 2) / 5. PhD / Masters in a related discipline can adjust GPA in applicant's favour (strict quotas).Minimum 50 in each of the three sections. Ranking formula uses GAMSAT at 25% post-interview (MMI 50%, GPA 25%, GAMSAT 25%). Aggregated average accepted GAMSAT: 67 (2024), 65 (2023), 67 (2022), 69.35 (2021) per Fraser's.2027 cycle: 179 CSP + 71 BMP + up to 105 Full-fee domestic ≈ ~355 total (GEMSAS UoM page). 2024 intake was 177 CSP + 70 BMP — year-on-year delta within ±2 places.
MonashVICdualDirect Entry minimum ATAR 90; competitive typically ≥99.45.Direct Entry only. 2026 entry December round cut-off ~2380/2700 (~94th percentile, post-rebase). 2023 entry on old /3600 scale was ~2990 non-rural / ~2620 rural — not directly comparable due to 2024 UCAT-ANZ rebase.Direct Entry (Clayton): ~264 domestic (234 + 30 ERC). Graduate Entry (Gippsland): ~70 domestic + 30 Rural End-to-End + ~30 international. Total combined ~390+ (Fraser's Monash MD 2027 guide).
Newcastle / JMPNSWundergraduateATAR hurdle: Standard / metropolitan 94.30; Rural Bonus Scheme 85.00. Once met, ATAR no longer ranks — UCAT and interview drive ranking.No published cut-off; first-stage interview selection is essentially 100% weighted on UCAT-ANZ after the ATAR hurdle is met. Lowest recorded UCAT for a JMP interview (non-rural, 2022/2023 cycle) ~95th percentile.~170 CSP per year across JMP (UoN + UNE combined), including ~48 BMP. International stream separate (AskUON: How many places are available in the JMP?).
Notre Dame FremantleWAgraduateMinimum 5.2/7.0. 2023 intake average successful GPA 6.70 (3-year avg ~6.7); competitive ≥6.3.Minimum 52 overall + 50 in each subsection (UNDA averages the three sections rather than using the overall weighted GAMSAT). 2023 intake average successful GAMSAT 66 (3-year avg ~60+).2027 cycle ~127 total: 80 CSP (60 Fremantle + 20 KCRMT Broome) + 32 BMP + up to 15 international + uncapped Indigenous. Significant +17 expansion vs 2026 (110) driven by KCRMT Broome pathway and Commonwealth Indigenous policy change.
Notre Dame SydneyNSWgraduateMinimum 5.2/7.0 weighted from 3 years FTE. 2023 intake average successful GPA 6.70; competitive target ≥6.3.Minimum 52 overall, 50 in each subsection. UNDA averages the three sections rather than using the overall weighted GAMSAT. 2023 intake average successful GAMSAT ~66.2027 cycle: 40 CSP + 17 BMP + up to 57 Full-fee domestic + up to 35 international = ~149 total (Fraser's Notre Dame MD 2027 Guide; GEMSAS Notre Dame Sydney).
SydneyNSWgraduateMinimum 5.0/7.0 weighted GPA (4.5 for rural applicants). GPA functions as a hurdle only — a 5.1 and 7.0 rank equally once above the floor.Hard minimum 50 in each of the three sections (USyd MD Admissions Guide); ranking on individual section scores (S1 → S2 → S3) rather than overall weighted score. Median offer-holder overall GAMSAT ~66 (aggregated 2022-2024 cycles). Only results from the past 2 years accepted.~300 domestic (210 CSP + 90 BMP) + ~70-80 international (Metropolitan stream) = ~370-380 total per year (Fraser's aggregated from USyd MD Offer Preferences PDF).
TasmaniaTASundergraduateNon-rural / non-Tasmanian: minimum 95, typical competitive 99.95. Rural or Tasmanian: minimum 95, typical competitive 99.45 (some sources 99.44). Flat since at least 2022.No fixed domestic threshold; 2025 indicative cut-off ~2530/2700 (5th decile; Matrix Education). Competitive range observed 70th-85th percentile UCAT total. International applicants need ≥50th percentile cognitive subtests.Total not publicly aggregated; estimated ~110-135 domestic (school-leaver) + 25 graduate. TRTS 20 places; Medical Research Stream ~12-13 within graduate intake.
UNSWNSWundergraduateMinimum eligibility ATAR 96.00; competitive interview shortlist ~99.55; median offer-holder >99.60. Rural pathway minimum ~91.05.No official minimum; competitive 2024-cycle cut-off ~3060 total on old /3600 scale (~90th percentile) for non-rural local applicants. UCAT-ANZ feeds the pre-interview composite alongside ATAR.~189 domestic offers (~135 CSP + ~54 BMP) plus ~40-60 international = ~230-250 total annual cohort (Fraser's UNSW Undergraduate Medicine Guide).
UQQLDgraduateMinimum 5.0/7.0 in key degree. Currency rule: degrees > 10 years before commencement require ≥ 0.50 FTE subsequent coursework at GPA ≥ 5.0.Provisional Entry (school-leaver) only — 2025 intake lowest invited UCAT-ANZ 3110 (non-rural) / 2670 (Rural Access). 25% ATAR + 25% UCAT (cognitive sections only, excluding SJT) + 50% MMI.2027 graduate intake: 107 CSP + 43 BMP + up to 190 international = up to 340 total (reduced from 350). Plus ~140 Provisional Entry CSP (school-leaver) with 28% reserved for Rural Access Scheme.
UWAWAdualDirect Pathway: HAA / Broadway / Rural streams require ATAR 98 minimum; Indigenous Pathway via CAMDH ATAR 90. Underlying Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) UP056 TISC ranks: 92.00 minimum / lowest selected 96.65 (2024) → 97.50 (2025) — a +0.85 year-on-year tightening.Direct Pathway only — competitive UCAT ~3000+ with effective cut-off ~2970 for local WA applicants (old /3600 scale; aggregator-derived). UCAT cut-off year-on-year not officially published.2027 cycle (Graduate): 74 CSP + 29 BMP + up to 40 international ≈ 143-145 domestic. Note: gradready reports ~103 domestic and Fraser's reports 143 — discrepancy likely reflects different counting bases (graduate-only vs combined Direct + Graduate). Direct Pathway via UP056 Bachelor of Biomedicine TISC ranks 96.65 (2024) → 97.50 (2025).
Western SydneyNSWundergraduateHurdle ATAR: Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney residents 93.50; Rural (RA2-5, 5+ consecutive or 10+ cumulative years) 91.50. Once met, ATAR no longer influences ranking.No published cut-off; cohort-dependent. Indicative interview cut-off (2023/2024 cycles) ~3000 total on old /3600 scale (~90th percentile). UCAT-ANZ weighted at 25% of final offer ranking alongside 75% interview.~120 places total per year (CSP + BMP + ~20 international); specific split not published by WSU (WSU MD Enrolment Places page).
WollongongNSWgraduateMinimum 5.5/7.0 at time of interview selection. GPA functions as a hurdle only — not used in offer ranking.Minimum 50 overall, no section below 50. From 2027 entry, GAMSAT becomes a pure qualifying hurdle — not used to rank after threshold met.2027 cycle: 37 Unbonded CSP + 30 CSP Rural End-to-End + 27 BMP + 15 International = ~109 total (GEMSAS UOW).

Common pitfalls

  • Applying to too few schools. A common error in the AU undergraduate cycle — listing only your top three preferences leaves no fallback if interview ranking is fractional points below the cut-off at your top picks. List 6-8 schools across 3-4 states to spread risk. There's no cost to over-listing.
  • Treating UCAT-ANZ and GAMSAT as interchangeable. They aren't. UCAT-ANZ rewards speed and pattern recognition; GAMSAT rewards depth, writing and applied science. Applicants who switch tests mid-cycle without recalibrating prep are usually under-prepared on the actual test taken.
  • Under-prepping the interview. A common pitfall, particularly for academically dominant applicants who've never had to perform under verbal pressure. Six to eight weeks of structured interview prep — including AU-specific topics like Closing the Gap, VAD and Medicare — is the standard. See our AU interview prep guide.
  • Misreading the BMP commitment. Bonded Medical Place is a workforce policy, not a penalty contract. Misreading it as 'forced rural work' usually means missing easy school options (JCU, Curtin, Charles Sturt) with strong training programmes and supportive bonding terms.
  • Ignoring state-based preference effects. Several AU schools weight applications from their own state significantly. Sydney MD, Adelaide and UWA each have state-residency advantages worth investigating before locking your preference list.
  • Letting a weak ATAR or GPA prevent applying. Border-line ATAR / GPA candidates often self-deselect prematurely. Adjustment factors, alternative streams (Indigenous Access, Rural Access) and competitive UCAT-ANZ / GAMSAT performance can absolutely bridge a sub-95 ATAR or sub-5.5 GPA. Run the numbers before deciding not to apply.

Free Australian medical school resources

Free sample GAMSAT and UCAT-ANZ questions, every Australian medical school's how-to-get-in guide, and live data on ATAR cut-offs. Or book a one-to-one application strategy session with our team.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between undergraduate and graduate-entry medicine in Australia?
Undergraduate medicine in Australia is a 5 to 6-year programme entered directly from year 12 using ATAR + UCAT-ANZ (sometimes with CASPer or Snapshot). Graduate-entry medicine is a 4-year accelerated programme entered after completing a bachelor degree, using GPA + GAMSAT. Both routes lead to the same Doctor of Medicine credential and the same registration pathway.
Which Australian medical schools accept international applicants?
Most Australian medical schools accept international applicants, though the number of full-fee international places varies significantly by school — typically 20 to 50 places per cohort. Sydney MD, Monash, UQ, Melbourne MD and ANU MChD have the largest international intakes. Bonded Medical Place (BMP) and Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) seats are reserved for Australian citizens and permanent residents; international applicants must apply for full-fee places, which cost AUD $65,000-95,000 per year.
Is medicine in Australia easier to get into than the UK?
Slightly. Australian undergraduate medical schools admit roughly 8-12% of applicants on average; UK medical schools admit roughly 8-10%. The difference is competitive depth at the top end: UK applicants must perform well on UCAT against a 25,000-applicant pool concentrated into the September-October window, while AU undergraduate applicants compete by state and have multiple admission factors weighted (ATAR + UCAT-ANZ + interview), which spreads the competitive pressure. Graduate entry is comparably competitive in both countries.
What ATAR do I need for medicine in Australia?
Most Australian undergraduate medical schools set an ATAR threshold of 95.00 or above; the most competitive schools (Adelaide, JCU, Curtin BMP stream) often require 96-99+. UNSW and Monash interview cut-offs typically settle around 96.50. The ATAR is one component — UCAT-ANZ, CASPer/Snapshot (where used) and interview performance also feed into the final ranking. A 99.95 ATAR with a weak UCAT-ANZ will not secure an offer; a 95.00 ATAR with a top UCAT-ANZ and strong interview can.
How long does it take to become a doctor in Australia?
After medical school (5-6 years undergraduate or 4 years graduate), graduates complete a one-year internship (PGY1), then 2-3 years of general training (PGY2-4) before entering a specialty training programme. Specialty training is typically 4-6 years. The full pathway from year 12 to consultant practice is 11-14 years for undergraduate-entry, or 13-15 years if you complete a bachelor degree first.
Should I apply to multiple states?
Yes, applying across states materially increases your chance of an offer. There are no caps on the number of schools you can apply to. Each state has its own admissions cycle (UAC for NSW/ACT, VTAC for VIC, QTAC for QLD, SATAC for SA/NT/WA, TISC for parts of WA) and you apply through the state admissions centre for each. Strong applicants typically apply to schools in 3-4 states to spread the competitive risk.
What is the application timeline?
For undergraduate entry: ATAR sat in late October/November, UCAT-ANZ sat in July, school preferences submitted by late September through your state admissions centre, interviews from November to February, offers from January. For graduate entry: GAMSAT sat in March and/or September, applications submitted to GEMSAS (most schools) by late May, interviews from October to December, offers from December onwards.
What is a Bonded Medical Place (BMP)?
A Bonded Medical Place is a Commonwealth-Supported Place where, in exchange for a heavily subsidised tuition fee, the graduate commits to working in a rural, remote or workforce-shortage area for a defined period — typically 3 years. The bonding obligation is set by the Health Workforce Locator at the time of graduation. BMP places are common at JCU, Curtin, Wollongong and Charles Sturt. They are not penalty contracts — they are workforce policy with significant tuition subsidies attached. See our BMP guide for the full breakdown.
Can I switch from undergraduate to graduate medicine after first year?
No, not directly. Once enrolled in an undergraduate MD, you complete that programme. However, some students transfer between schools within the same pathway (e.g. undergraduate-to-undergraduate at a different university). Switching from undergraduate to graduate would require withdrawing from the undergraduate MD, completing a separate bachelor degree, and then re-applying through the graduate pathway — an extra 4-5 years overall.
How much does Australian medical school cost?
For domestic students with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), tuition is approximately AUD $11,800 per year (HECS-HELP indexed). Bonded Medical Place tuition matches CSP. Full-fee places for domestic students are roughly AUD $50,000-72,000 per year, mainly at Bond and Notre Dame. International full-fee places are AUD $65,000-95,000 per year. Living costs add another AUD $25,000-35,000 per year in major Australian cities.
What if my ATAR is below 95?
You have three options. (1) Sit a bridging year and re-sit a senior subject to lift your ATAR. (2) Apply through the rural or Indigenous pathway with state-based ATAR adjustment factors — JCU, Curtin and Charles Sturt run dedicated rural-applicant streams with lower ATAR thresholds. (3) Complete a bachelor degree (usually science or health science) and apply through the graduate-entry pathway with GPA + GAMSAT, where ATAR is not used. Many strong AU medical students enter via the graduate-entry route after an initial ATAR below the undergraduate cut-off.
How important is CASPer or Snapshot?
CASPer (a written situational judgement test) and Snapshot (a one-way video interview) are used at Monash, Curtin, Notre Dame Sydney, Notre Dame Fremantle and a few others. They sit alongside the academic test and ATAR/GPA in the ranking. At most schools that use them, CASPer/Snapshot performance is a meaningful but not dominant factor — strong CASPer can lift an applicant with a borderline UCAT-ANZ, but a weak CASPer rarely sinks a strong overall profile. See the CASPer guide for full preparation strategy.

Related Australian medicine guides

Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: 28 May 2026