Bond vs Curtin

Bond uses Bond-Test. Curtin uses UCAT-ANZ and CASPer. The test mismatch means you may need to prep two assessments simultaneously, or you can pick the school whose admission test you're stronger in. GAMSAT is graduate-only and sat in March/September; UCAT-ANZ is undergraduate-leaning and sat in July; some schools (notably Bond and JCU) run their own selection model with no national test.

Bond — does not publish a UCAT-ANZ cut-off (may not use UCAT-ANZ; check the admission-test question above). Curtin — 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). UCAT-ANZ cut-offs are cohort-dependent, so the headline number from one cycle is not guaranteed for the next — use it as a planning anchor, not a guarantee.

Bond — Undergraduate (Year 12): ATAR 96+ / IB 38+ / OP 1-3. Graduate: cumulative GPA ≥ 6.0/7.0 from recognised tertiary program. Curtin — Minimum 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. Selection rank typically includes Educational Access Scheme bonuses, rural-origin uplift, and (where applicable) Indigenous-pathway adjustments — your raw ATAR is rarely the final figure used.

Bond uses: Bond psychometric assessment + Multiple Mini Interview (in person at Gold Coast). Curtin uses: Multi-Mini Interview (8 stations). Different formats reward different skill sets. Plan separate prep streams for each. Interview windows: Early March (MMI; 2026 cycle); psychometric testing 7-12 Feb 2026; MMI invitations 21 Feb 2026 (Bond); October-November (Curtin).

Bond — Up to ~180 places/year across May + September intakes (80% undergraduate / 20% graduate). Full-fee only; Bond does NOT participate in the BMP scheme. Curtin — 2024 intake: ~110 places total (CSP + BMP). ~28% of CSPs nationally are BMP (applies as proxy). Place priorities: WA candidates rural/regional → ATSI → long-term educationally disadvantaged → remaining strategic priority. CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place) is the lowest student contribution; BMP (Bonded Medical Program) adds a 1-year return-of-service obligation in a Modified Monash Model 2-7 area after Fellowship; Full-fee places carry no bond but the highest tuition.

Bond — pathway details not published in the structured AU requirements; see the school admissions page. Curtin — Indigenous Pre-Medicine and Health Sciences Enabling Course (EN-INPMHE) — 12-month / 200-credit pre-entry pathway via the Centre for Aboriginal Studies (the "Karda" centre). CASPer waived for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. Yamatji-Wajarri community partnerships via Curtin's broader Indigenous engagement function. Both schools accept ATSI applicants through the standard pathway as well; the dedicated pathway typically offers adjusted academic thresholds plus wrap-around academic support.

Bond — bonded/rural data not published in the structured AU requirements. Curtin — WA's only undergraduate medical school. Rural quota embedded in selection priorities with explicit prioritisation of rural/regional WA candidates. Numeric rural quota not publicly disclosed as a percentage. The federal BMP allocates ~28.5% of CSP places nationally; individual schools sit above or below that benchmark depending on their workforce remit.

Bond typically releases medicine offers 24-26 March 2026 (Round 1 offers); rolling intakes May + September (no February intake). Curtin releases medicine offers December-January. AU MD offers run through GEMSAS (graduate consortium) or direct school portals; if one is earlier than the other you may need to defer a decision while waiting for the second.

Bond runs a Integrated curriculum. Curtin runs a Integrated curriculum. Both schools deliver teaching in the same broad style, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar. Bond specifics: ~4.5-year accelerated Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMedSt) + Doctor of Medicine (MD) on a three-semester (Jan/May/Sep teaching) calendar — though intake is only May and September. 14 semesters total. Curtin specifics: 5-year undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Years 1-2 foundations and clinical skills at Bentley with early community placements. Years 3-5 clinical placements across Royal

Yes — AU medical applicants typically lodge preferences across multiple schools via GEMSAS (graduate) or direct-undergraduate portals + state TACs (UAC for NSW, VTAC for VIC, QTAC for QLD, etc.). The two schools' selection mechanics differ enough that listing both is a legitimate diversification strategy. A common mistake is over-indexing on schools with the same test-and-interview profile; Bond and Curtin differ in their selection mechanics, so prepping both adds genuine optionality.