What admission tests do Bond and Macquarie use?+
Bond uses Bond-Test. Macquarie uses GAMSAT. 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.
What GAMSAT score do I need for Bond vs Macquarie?+
Bond — does not publish a GAMSAT cut-off (may not use GAMSAT; check the admission-test question above). Macquarie — Minimum 50 overall, 50 in each section. Used at 50% weight (alongside 50% GPA) for interview shortlist. 2024 intake average successful GAMSAT ~66. GAMSAT results are valid for four years with ACER, but some graduate MD programs accept only the most recent two cycles — verify before relying on an older sitting.
What ATAR do I need for Bond vs Macquarie?+
Bond — Undergraduate (Year 12): ATAR 96+ / IB 38+ / OP 1-3. Graduate: cumulative GPA ≥ 6.0/7.0 from recognised tertiary program. Macquarie — ATAR data not published in the structured AU requirements; see free-text admission requirements on the school page. 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.
What GPA do I need for Bond vs Macquarie?+
Bond — GPA not published in the structured AU requirements. Macquarie — Minimum 5.0/7.0 (or WAM 65). 2024 intake average successful GPA ~6.7/7.0. Many AU graduate MD programs treat the GPA as a hurdle (above the floor, all candidates are weighted equally on GAMSAT and interview) rather than as a sliding-scale rank — confirm each school's specific model.
How do interviews differ between Bond and Macquarie?+
Bond uses: Bond psychometric assessment + Multiple Mini Interview (in person at Gold Coast). Macquarie 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); September-October (Macquarie).
What place types (CSP / BMP / Full-fee) do Bond and Macquarie offer?+
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. Macquarie — Full-fee only — no Commonwealth Supported Places. 2027: 60 full-fee domestic + ~20 international. Up to 30 interview places reserved for Macquarie Bachelor of Clinical Science graduates. 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.
What Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry pathways do Bond and Macquarie offer?+
Bond — pathway details not published in the structured AU requirements; see the school admissions page. Macquarie — Macquarie offers an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander pathway; quota not specified. Both schools accept ATSI applicants through the standard pathway as well; the dedicated pathway typically offers adjusted academic thresholds plus wrap-around academic support.
When does each school release decisions?+
Bond typically releases medicine offers 24-26 March 2026 (Round 1 offers); rolling intakes May + September (no February intake). Macquarie releases medicine offers November. 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.
What curriculum style do Bond and Macquarie use?+
Bond runs a Integrated curriculum. Macquarie 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. Macquarie specifics: 4-year MD with hospital-integrated placements from year 1 at Macquarie University Hospital. Years 3-4 expand to broader Sydney clinical school network. Strong emphasis on digital health, simulation, a
Should I apply to both Bond and Macquarie?+
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 Macquarie differ in their selection mechanics, so prepping both adds genuine optionality.
