Macquarie vs UNSW

Macquarie uses GAMSAT. UNSW uses UCAT-ANZ. 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.

Macquarie — Minimum 50 overall, 50 in each section. Used at 50% weight (alongside 50% GPA) for interview shortlist. 2024 intake average successful GAMSAT ~66. UNSW — does not publish a GAMSAT cut-off (may not use GAMSAT; check the admission-test question above). 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.

Macquarie — does not publish a UCAT-ANZ cut-off (may not use UCAT-ANZ; check the admission-test question above). UNSW — 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. 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.

Macquarie — ATAR data not published in the structured AU requirements; see free-text admission requirements on the school page. UNSW — Minimum eligibility ATAR 96.00; competitive interview shortlist ~99.55; median offer-holder >99.60. Rural pathway minimum ~91.05. 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.

Macquarie — Minimum 5.0/7.0 (or WAM 65). 2024 intake average successful GPA ~6.7/7.0. UNSW — GPA not published in the structured AU requirements. 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.

Macquarie uses: Multi-Mini Interview (~8 stations). UNSW uses: Multi-Mini Interview (~10 stations). Different formats reward different skill sets. Plan separate prep streams for each. Interview windows: September-October (Macquarie); November-December (UNSW).

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. UNSW — ~189 domestic offers (mix of CSP + ~28.5% BMP) + ~40-60 international ≈ ~230-250 total annual cohort (Fraser's aggregate). 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.

Macquarie — Macquarie offers an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander pathway; quota not specified. UNSW — UNSW Indigenous Pre-Programs and direct Indigenous entry pathway available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants; MD-specific quota not publicly disclosed. Both schools accept ATSI applicants through the standard pathway as well; the dedicated pathway typically offers adjusted academic thresholds plus wrap-around academic support.

Macquarie — bonded/rural data not published in the structured AU requirements. UNSW — Rural Entry Scheme drops ATAR threshold to ~91.05 and reduces UCAT requirement. BMP allocation mandated at 28.5% of CSP under the Stronger Rural Health Strategy. The federal BMP allocates ~28.5% of CSP places nationally; individual schools sit above or below that benchmark depending on their workforce remit.

Macquarie typically releases medicine offers November. UNSW releases medicine offers 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.

Macquarie runs a Integrated curriculum. UNSW runs a Integrated curriculum. Both schools deliver teaching in the same broad style, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar. 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 UNSW specifics: 6-year integrated MD. Phase 1 (years 1-2): foundations and scientific basis. Phase 2 (years 3-4): clinical practice with rotations. Phase 3 (years 5-6): pre-internship with research and electives. Ind

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; Macquarie and UNSW differ in their selection mechanics, so prepping both adds genuine optionality.