What ATAR do I need for Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

Charles Sturt (Rural) — ATAR hurdle (JPM era 2024-2026): Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney 93.50; Rural (RA2-5) 91.50. Monash — Direct Entry minimum ATAR 90; competitive typically ≥99.45. 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 Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

Charles Sturt (Rural) — GPA not published in the structured AU requirements. Monash — Graduate Entry: WAM minimum 70. Lowest accepted WAM (2025 cycle, student-reported) 81.179. 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 Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash?

Charles Sturt (Rural) uses: Multi-Mini Interview (~8 stations). Monash uses: Multi-Mini Interview (8 stations × 8 min, 2 min reading). Different formats reward different skill sets. Plan separate prep streams for each. Interview windows: November-December (Charles Sturt (Rural)); October-December (Monash).

When does each school release decisions?

Charles Sturt (Rural) typically releases medicine offers January. Monash 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.

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Australian Medical school comparison

Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash

Q: What GAMSAT score do I need for Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

Charles Sturt (Rural) — does not publish a GAMSAT cut-off (may not use GAMSAT; check the admission-test question above). Monash — NOT required. Removed from Graduate Entry selection in 2017; never used for Direct Entry. 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.

Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash are both Australian medical schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Charles Sturt (Rural) is in New South Wales while Monash is in Victoria. State of origin matters here: several schools rank local applicants ahead of interstate ones. Charles Sturt (Rural) uses UCAT-ANZ; Monash uses UCAT-ANZ and GAMSAT.

That mismatch means either preparing two assessments or choosing the school whose test suits you. They also recruit at different stages: Charles Sturt (Rural) runs school-leaver (undergraduate) entry, Monash runs both undergraduate and graduate entry.

Side-by-side comparison

Show only differences

Side-by-side comparison: Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash.
Comparison field	Charles Sturt (Rural)Orange	MonashClayton
Quick comparison
Location	Orange, Australia	Clayton, Australia
Entry pathway	Undergraduate	Dual (UG + Grad)
Admission tests	UCAT-ANZ	UCAT-ANZ + GAMSAT
GAMSAT	-	NOT required. Removed from Graduate Entry selection in 2017; never used for Direct Entry.
UCAT-ANZ	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).	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.
ATAR	ATAR hurdle (JPM era 2024-2026): Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney 93.50; Rural (RA2-5) 91.50.	Direct Entry minimum ATAR 90; competitive typically ≥99.45.
Interview format	Multi-Mini Interview (~8 stations)	Multi-Mini Interview (8 stations × 8 min, 2 min reading)
Post-interview chance	~50% interview-to-offer among eligible applicants.	Not publicly disclosed.
Decision date	January	December-January

ATAR	ATAR hurdle (JPM era 2024-2026): Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney 93.50; Rural (RA2-5) 91.50.	Direct Entry minimum ATAR 90; competitive typically ≥99.45.
Contextual ATAR	-	Monash Access Scheme provides adjustment factors for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds; rural pathway adjustment available. Indigenous applicants can be admitted with ATAR 50+ (or equivalent) via VTAC.
GAMSAT	-	NOT required. Removed from Graduate Entry selection in 2017; never used for Direct Entry.
UCAT-ANZ	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).	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.
CASPer	-	-
ISAT	-	-
GPA	-	Graduate Entry: WAM minimum 70. Lowest accepted WAM (2025 cycle, student-reported) 81.179.
Prerequisites	-	-
Place types	2027 standalone: ~47 CSP places total. ~80% of interview offers to rural applicants; ~15-20 places to non-rural pathway. 80% NSW applicants, 20% interstate.	Direct Entry: ~234 domestic + 30 Extended Rural Cohort = ~264 (Clayton). Graduate Entry: ~70 domestic + 30 Rural End-to-End + ~30 international (Gippsland). BMP allocation 28.5% of all Monash medicine places.
Indigenous pathway	First Nations pathway with culturally appropriate interview format; UCAT waived for First Nation applicants.	William Cooper Institute (formerly Yulendj Indigenous Engagement Unit) — admissions test (UCAT/GAMSAT) waived for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants; ATAR 50+ entry via VTAC with academi…
Bonded / rural	CSU's rural pathway is the most rural-weighted in NSW: ~80% of places reserved for rural applicants in the 2027 standalone program. MMI delivered in person at the Orange campus.	BMP 28.5% of all Monash places. Direct Entry Extended Rural Cohort (ERC) up to 30 places at Clayton; Graduate Entry Rural End-to-End Cohort 30 places.

Interview window	November-December	October-December
Interview details	The CSU/WSU joint MMI runs ~8 stations weighting rural origin, community connection, motivation for rural practice, ethics, and communication. Interviews are typically held at Orange campus. Eligibili…	Monash MMI uses 8 stations of 8 minutes each (with 2 minutes reading), delivered on the Clayton campus or virtually depending on cohort. Stations assess advocacy, collaboration, critical thinking, emp…

Specialities	Rural Medicine, General Practice, Aboriginal Health, Generalist Practice	Rural Medicine, Clinical Research, Global Health, Indigenous Health, General Practice
Established	2021	1961
Course type	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
What makes it different	The first Australian medical program established explicitly and exclusively for rural-origin applicants. Joint delivery between Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University. All places are b…	Monash runs a dual-pathway MD: Direct Entry (M6011, 5-year BMedSc+MD at Clayton, UCAT-ANZ + ATAR) and Graduate Entry (4-year MD at Gippsland / Churchill campus). Graduate Entry MD requires Monash unde…
Official course page	https://study.csu.edu.au/courses/medicine	https://www.monash.edu/medicine/som

Charles Sturt (Rural)

Orange

Quick comparison

Location: Orange, Australia
Entry pathway: Undergraduate
Admission tests: UCAT-ANZ
GAMSAT: -
UCAT-ANZ: 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).
ATAR: ATAR hurdle (JPM era 2024-2026): Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney 93.50; Rural (RA2-5) 91.50.
Interview format: Multi-Mini Interview (~8 stations)
Post-interview chance: ~50% interview-to-offer among eligible applicants.
Decision date: January

Monash

Clayton

Quick comparison

Location: Clayton, Australia
Entry pathway: Dual (UG + Grad)
Admission tests: UCAT-ANZ + GAMSAT
GAMSAT: NOT required. Removed from Graduate Entry selection in 2017; never used for Direct Entry.
UCAT-ANZ: 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.
ATAR: Direct Entry minimum ATAR 90; competitive typically ≥99.45.
Interview format: Multi-Mini Interview (8 stations × 8 min, 2 min reading)
Post-interview chance: Not publicly disclosed.
Decision date: December-January

Compare different schools

Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash - in detail

Admission tests compared

UCAT-ANZ cut-offs. Charles Sturt (Rural) — 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). Monash — 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…

GAMSAT cut-offs. Charles Sturt (Rural) — not used or not published. Monash — NOT required. Removed from Graduate Entry selection in 2017; never used for Direct Entry.

Timing shapes the choice as much as the score. GAMSAT is graduate-only and sits in March and September; UCAT-ANZ is mostly undergraduate and sits in July. A few schools run their own selection model with no national test at all.

ATAR and academic profile

Charles Sturt (Rural) requires ATAR 95.00+ (standard rural pathway 2025); UCAT-ANZ; MMI; rural origin verification (MM2-7 residency); bonded service.

Monash requires Direct Entry: ATAR minimum 90 (competitive typically ≥99.45) + UCAT-ANZ + MMI; VCE English (study score 35 EAL or 30 English) and Chemistry (30) prerequisites.

Graduate Entry: Monash undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Pharmacy Hons, Physiotherapy Hons, designated BSc units, or Federation Uni Bachelor of Biomedical Science via Gippsland Partnership) with WAM ≥ 70 + MMI + SJT. No GAMSAT for grad pathway since 2017.

ATAR. Charles Sturt (Rural) — ATAR hurdle (JPM era 2024-2026): Metropolitan 95.50; Greater Western Sydney 93.50; Rural (RA2-5) 91.50. Monash — Direct Entry minimum ATAR 90; competitive typically ≥99.45.

Graduate-entry GPA. Charles Sturt (Rural) — not applicable or not published. Monash — Graduate Entry: WAM minimum 70. Lowest accepted WAM (2025 cycle, student-reported) 81.179.

Read every ATAR figure as a selection rank, not a raw score. Educational access bonuses, rural-origin uplift and Indigenous pathways all adjust it, so the published number is rarely the one that decides your application.

Interview formats

Both Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash use MMI interviews, so the underlying prep approach is the same — practise ethics frameworks, Australian health-system topics (Medicare, rural workforce, Indigenous health) and (for MMI) structured station responses against a timer.

That said, the specifics differ slightly: Charles Sturt (Rural) runs multi-mini interview (~8 stations); Monash runs multi-mini interview (8 stations × 8 min, 2 min reading). Mock practice tailored to each school's exact format is the highest-leverage prep.

Interview windows: Charles Sturt (Rural) interviews in November-December; Monash in October-December.

Curriculum and teaching style

Both schools deliver a Integrated-style curriculum, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar across years 1-3.

Specifics: 5-year undergraduate joint program (BMedSci + MD). Years 1-2 foundations at Orange campus; years 3-5 distributed clinical placements across Central We Direct Entry 5-year MD: years 1-2 foundations and clinical skills at Clayton; years 3-5 clinical placements across Monash Health, Peninsula, and rural

Intake size: Charles Sturt (Rural) — 2024-2026 (JPM era): ~120 places combined with WSU. 2027 standalone CSU program: ~47 CSP places; ~80% rural-pathway, ~15-20 non-rural.; Monash — 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)..

A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

Post-interview offer rate

Charles Sturt (Rural): ~50% interview-to-offer among eligible applicants. Monash: Not publicly disclosed.

Post-interview odds give you the clearest signal of how competitive each school is at the final stage — a school with a 60% post-interview success rate is structurally easier to convert than one at 25%, even if the interview thresholds look identical on paper.

What makes each distinctive

Charles Sturt (Rural): The first Australian medical program established explicitly and exclusively for rural-origin applicants. Joint delivery between Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University. All places are bonded to rural service. Strong placement network across the Central West NSW LHDs.

Monash: Monash runs a dual-pathway MD: Direct Entry (M6011, 5-year BMedSc+MD at Clayton, UCAT-ANZ + ATAR) and Graduate Entry (4-year MD at Gippsland / Churchill campus). Graduate Entry MD requires Monash undergraduate study (closed to external grads since 2017 GAMSAT removal); no GAMSAT required for the graduate pathway.

The Direct Entry December round uses UCAT-only ranking before ATAR is released; the January round uses combined UCAT + ATAR.

Which is right for you?

Start with the admission test: Charles Sturt (Rural) needs UCAT-ANZ, Monash needs UCAT-ANZ and GAMSAT. Preparing for one well beats splitting your time across two. Check your state of origin before you apply — Charles Sturt (Rural) draws heavily on New South Wales applicants and Monash on Victoria, and an interstate application often faces a materially higher bar.

They suit different stages too: Charles Sturt (Rural) is school-leaver (undergraduate) entry, Monash is both undergraduate and graduate entry. Your preference list should ultimately weight: which admission test you can realistically score well in, whether your state of origin gives you a bonus at either school, and where you'd actually want to live for four to six years.

Common questions

Charles Sturt (Rural) uses UCAT-ANZ. Monash uses UCAT-ANZ and 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.

Charles Sturt (Rural) — 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). Monash — 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. 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.

Charles Sturt (Rural) — 2027 standalone: ~47 CSP places total. ~80% of interview offers to rural applicants; ~15-20 places to non-rural pathway. 80% NSW applicants, 20% interstate. Monash — Direct Entry: ~234 domestic + 30 Extended Rural Cohort = ~264 (Clayton). Graduate Entry: ~70 domestic + 30 Rural End-to-End + ~30 international (Gippsland). BMP allocation 28.5% of all Monash medicine places. 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.

Charles Sturt (Rural) — First Nations pathway with culturally appropriate interview format; UCAT waived for First Nation applicants. Monash — William Cooper Institute (formerly Yulendj Indigenous Engagement Unit) — admissions test (UCAT/GAMSAT) waived for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants; ATAR 50+ entry via VTAC with academic support via the Gukwonderuk Indigenous Health Workforces Centre. Both schools accept ATSI applicants through the standard pathway as well; the dedicated pathway typically offers adjusted academic thresholds plus wrap-around academic support.

Charles Sturt (Rural) — CSU's rural pathway is the most rural-weighted in NSW: ~80% of places reserved for rural applicants in the 2027 standalone program. MMI delivered in person at the Orange campus. Monash — BMP 28.5% of all Monash places. Direct Entry Extended Rural Cohort (ERC) up to 30 places at Clayton; Graduate Entry Rural End-to-End Cohort 30 places. The federal BMP allocates ~28.5% of CSP places nationally; individual schools sit above or below that benchmark depending on their workforce remit.

Charles Sturt (Rural) runs a Integrated curriculum. Monash runs a Integrated curriculum. Both schools deliver teaching in the same broad style, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar. Charles Sturt (Rural) specifics: 5-year undergraduate joint program (BMedSci + MD). Years 1-2 foundations at Orange campus; years 3-5 distributed clinical placements across Central West NSW. From 2027 entry, CSU launches a standalone Monash specifics: Direct Entry 5-year MD: years 1-2 foundations and clinical skills at Clayton; years 3-5 clinical placements across Monash Health, Peninsula, and rural clinical schools. Graduate Entry 4-year MD at the

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; Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash differ in their selection mechanics, so prepping both adds genuine optionality.

Where to go next

Charles Sturt (Rural)Entry requirements, interview format and key dates in full MonashEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

Other medical school comparisons

School data reviewed by the NextGen MedPrep editorial team — last reviewed 27 August 2026.

Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash

Side-by-side comparison

Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash - in detail

Admission tests compared

ATAR and academic profile

Interview formats

Curriculum and teaching style

Post-interview offer rate

What makes each distinctive

Which is right for you?

Common questions

What admission tests do Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash use?

What GAMSAT score do I need for Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

What UCAT-ANZ score do I need for Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

What ATAR do I need for Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

What GPA do I need for Charles Sturt (Rural) vs Monash?

How do interviews differ between Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash?

What place types (CSP / BMP / Full-fee) do Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash offer?

What Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry pathways do Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash offer?

Does Charles Sturt (Rural) or Monash offer bonded / rural-entry places?

When does each school release decisions?

What curriculum style do Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash use?

Should I apply to both Charles Sturt (Rural) and Monash?

Where to go next

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