What admission tests do Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney use?+
Notre Dame Fremantle uses GAMSAT and CASPer. Sydney uses GAMSAT and ISAT. 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 Notre Dame Fremantle vs Sydney?+
Notre Dame Fremantle — 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+). Sydney — 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. 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 GPA do I need for Notre Dame Fremantle vs Sydney?+
Notre Dame Fremantle — Minimum 5.2/7.0. 2023 intake average successful GPA 6.70 (3-year avg ~6.7); competitive ≥6.3. Sydney — Minimum 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. 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 Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney?+
Notre Dame Fremantle uses: MMI (asynchronous online via Modern Hire). Sydney uses: GAMSAT-only ranking for standard pathway (no interview since 2021); Cadigal Program uses bespoke MMI. Different formats reward different skill sets. Plan separate prep streams for each. Interview windows: September-November (Notre Dame Fremantle); No standard interview (GAMSAT-only ranking) (Sydney).
What place types (CSP / BMP / Full-fee) do Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney offer?+
Notre Dame Fremantle — 2027 cycle: 80 CSP (60 Fremantle + 20 KCRMT Broome pathway) + 32 BMP (Fremantle only) + up to 15 International (Fremantle only) + uncapped Indigenous (from 1 Jan 2026) ≈ ~127 total (up from 110 in 2026, +17 places). Sydney — ~300 domestic (210 CSP + 90 BMP) + ~70-80 Metropolitan international ≈ ~370-380 total (Fraser's USyd Entry Guide). 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 Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney offer?+
Notre Dame Fremantle — Uncapped Indigenous CSP allocation from 1 January 2026 (Commonwealth policy change). Bespoke Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry pathway. Sydney — Cadigal / Gadigal Program administered via the IAAG (Indigenous Admissions Advisory Group); bespoke MMI and weighted GPA review with capacity to consider applicants with lower GPA who demonstrate improvement. Annual 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.
Does Notre Dame Fremantle or Sydney offer bonded / rural-entry places?+
Notre Dame Fremantle — 32 BMP places (Fremantle only) + 20 CSP at KCRMT Broome from 2027 (Kimberley-region remote-workforce expansion). Bonus points (10% of interview shortlist) awarded for rurality, WA residency, and higher degrees research completion. Sydney — ~28.5% of CSP places are BMP (national mandate). ~25% of domestic CSP places allocated to rural-background students under the Stronger Rural Health Strategy. Rural GPA floor reduced to 4.5. The federal BMP allocates ~28.5% of CSP places nationally; individual schools sit above or below that benchmark depending on their workforce remit.
When does each school release decisions?+
Notre Dame Fremantle typically releases medicine offers November-December. Sydney 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.
What curriculum style do Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney use?+
Notre Dame Fremantle runs a Integrated curriculum. Sydney runs a Case-based curriculum. The teaching philosophies differ — pick the style that matches how you learn best. Notre Dame Fremantle specifics: 4-year graduate MD. Years 1-2 foundations and clinical skills at Fremantle with early clinical immersion. Years 3-4 hospital and rural placements across St John of God Fremantle, Joondalup, Rockingham Sydney specifics: 4-year graduate MD. Themes interleave basic and clinical sciences from week 1: Foundations, Patient & Doctor, Community & Doctor, Personal & Professional Development. Hospital-based years 3-4 with reg
Should I apply to both Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney?+
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; Notre Dame Fremantle and Sydney differ in their selection mechanics, so prepping both adds genuine optionality.
