University of New South Wales

Sydney, Australia

Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine (BMed/MD)

Students are selected for entry into the UNSW Medicine Degree on the basis of:

• ATAR: at least 96 / IB 38
• UCAT: the overall score of the cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning). There is no minimum UCAT ANZ score as such. However, applicants must reach the 50th percentile to proceed to the interview stage of the application process..
• Performance at the UNSW interview (semi-structured panel interview). Approximately 500 applicants will be selected for an interview. 

All selected students will be ranked on the above three parameters. Applicants are selected based on the highest rank in each measure - ATAR, UCAT and the Interview score. Scores will not be averaged, which means that a high score in one of the three components will not compensate for a low score in another.

Non-school leaver entry

If you have completed the equivalent of more than 0.75 of a full-time year in a single degree (i.e. 2 full-time semesters or 1 full-time semester and 1 part time semester), you will be assessed for admission to Medicine at UNSW either their tertiary study results OR their ATAR (or equivalent), the following criteria applies:

• Secondary school qualification component must reach 96.00 ATAR of equivalent AND
• Tertiary study component must reach WAM 70 or equivalent

Once the applicant has met the minimum requirement, the "BEST OF" algorithm would apply and the qualification with a higher selection rank would be used as a final selection rank for medicine admissions purposes.

Dates for 2024 UNSW Medicine Entry

UNSW Medicine Interview

If you have or are expecting to receive an interview offer for University of New South Wales (UNSW), then you should consider attending a Medical Interview training session. Register and secure your spot now as MedEntry only accepts a small number of students per session. 

Applicants are offered UNSW Medicine interviews on the basis of their combined ATAR and the overall score in Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning. Interviews are offered to the highest ranking applicants until all interview places have been filled.  About 500 applicants will be interviewed. The interview will be semi-structured and will cover a wide range of relevant issues. There will be two interviewers drawn from academic staff, medical practitioners and community representatives.

Note, selection and interview dates can change. Check UNSW Medicine website for details.

Assumed Knowledge

Although there are no prerequisites for entry into UNSW Medicine, we recommend that students study English for their final high school examinations. There is assumed knowledge of this subject and studying it is considered desirable for successful study in the Medicine Program. Students who do not have the assumed level of knowledge are eligible to apply, be offered a place and to enrol, but may be placed at a considerable disadvantage. In addition, study in Chemistry is recommended.

Special Admission Schemes

ACCESS (EAS) / SCATS

ACCESS is a scheme for students who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage in high school. Some of the places offered under this scheme will be in the Bonded Medical Places category. Visit the UNSW ACCESS Scheme website for further information.

If you have undertaken university studies and your secondary or tertiary studies were affected by circumstances beyond your control, then SCATS is for you.  Visit the UNSW Future Students website where you can download the SCATS application form (scroll all the way down to the SCATS section).

Please note that even if applicants are applying under the EAS/SCATS scheme, they still need to meet the minimum selection criteria before their EAS/SCATS application is considered.

Gateway Entry Scheme

The Gateway Entry Scheme at UNSW Medicine is an alternate entry stream into the Bachelor of Medical Studies (BMed) /Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program for applicants that come from low socio-economic status backgrounds.

To be eligible for this entry scheme, you must:

1. Be a domestic applicant.
2. Attend a UNSW Gateway eligible school in a metropolitan area for at least Year 11 and 12.
3. Live at an address identified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as being within the lowest 25% of socio-economic disadvantage in Australia.
4. Be in Year 12 or have completed Year 12 in the previous year and not commenced any undergraduate study.

Selection for Interview

Gateway Entry Scheme applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for an interview:

1. 87.00 raw ATAR and 91.00 selection rank (ATAR plus EAS equity adjustment factors)
2. UCAT ANZ 50th overall percentile

You’ll be assessed on a combination of the above metrics.

Selection for Offer

Places to study at UNSW Medicine through the Gateway Entry Scheme are offered based on academic merit, UCAT ANZ overall score and the interview score.

UNSW uses the same selection algorithm as they use for standard local applicants to combine these measures. Applicants are ranked separately to local applicants and they make up to 10 offers through this scheme. Depending on availability, these offers are bonded and unbonded.

Application process

UNSW recommends applicants apply with UAC before submitting their UNSW Medicine application or applying to sit the UCAT ANZ. Applicants are advised of whether they meet the address criteria for the Gateway Entry scheme within 24 hours of lodging their application with the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Applications submitted under this scheme that don’t meet the criteria will be informed and automatically changed to a standard local applicant.

To apply through the Gateway Entry Scheme, follow the Application Process. When you submit your application through the Medicine Application Portal (MAP), please select “Gateway Entry Scheme applicant” as your applicant type.

Rural Students Entry Scheme (RSES)

Applicants are considered rural and can therefore apply through the Rural Student Entry Scheme if they have lived in a defined rural location in Australia for a significant amount of time. Applicants must choose to apply through the Rural Student Entry Scheme or general local entry, they cannot apply through both. Applicants who lived in a rural location other than Australia are not eligible for the scheme.

Visit the UNSW Rural Clinical School RSES website for further information.

Indigenous Entry into Medicine Scheme

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can apply through the Indigenous Entry into Medicine Scheme. Applicants must choose to apply through either Indigenous, Local or Rural entry, they cannot apply via more than one pathway.

Visit the UNSW Rural Clinical School Indigenous Entry website for further information.

Graduate Entry Stream for UNSW BMedSc students (Lateral Entry)

The graduate entry stream is only available to students enrolled in the UNSW Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc) program. Up to 10 places will be available for students to enter year 4 of the Medicine program with advanced standing.

Further details and conditions can be found in the Graduate Entry Stream for UNSW Medicine.

In addition to the information available in the above booklet, please note the following:

• Students must have completed all 8 core courses for Stage 2 of the UNSW BMedSc and all other required courses by the end of Year 2 of BMedSc program.
• During Year 2 of the UNSW BMedSc, the process for application will be as for all other non-HSC applicants, with the exception of not having to submit an application through UAC. That is, students will be required to:
  • Submit an on-time online UNSW Medicine Application Form
  • Sit UCAT examination
  • Attend interview (Applicants will be selected for interview in the November-December/early January immediately after completion of Year 2 of their degree, on the basis of BMedSc results to date - weighted average mark - and UCAT score. Note that the interview may differ from that undertaken by applicants in the other categories of entry.)

Medical students from other medical schools

Domestic applicant from Australian medical school

A domestic student who is studying at an Australian medical school or who has previously studied at an Australian medical school is not eligible to apply to study Medicine at UNSW Sydney as a commencing student.

UNSW Medicine does however accept applications for transfer from students who have exceptional/extenuating circumstances that have arisen after acceptance of admission and commencement of study at the current/previous medical school and which require the move to Sydney.

Students must discuss their intention to request a compassionate transfer with their current/previous medical school before applying with UNSW Medicine.

When considering transfer applications, UNSW Medicine will take into account the applicants circumstances as well as their academic merit. An application for transfer must be supported by a letter from the Dean of the current/previous medical school.

If a request for transfer is approved, the starting point in the UNSW Medicine program would be guided by the following. However, UNSW Medicine will determine a student’s starting point on an individual basis.

1. Requests for transfer early in the program:
   A student requesting a transfer within the first two years of study would not receive credit for prior learning and would be required to commence Phase 1.
2. Requests for transfer mid-program:
   A student requesting a transfer who has completed two years of study (in either an UG or PG program) would have to complete the Phase 2 clinical courses in Year 3 to be eligible to be awarded the Bachelor of Medical Studies.
3. Requests for transfer late in the program:
   A student requesting a transfer into Phase 3 would have to have completed a Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline (e.g. Bachelor of Medical Sciences). These students would also be required to complete the Independent Learning Project (ILP) unless otherwise exempted.

Application process

1. Submit an on-time application on the Medicine Application Portal (MAP). Application deadlines can be found on the Important Dates page. Late applications are not considered under any circumstances.
   When completing this application form, applicants are required to upload supporting documents and a supporting letter from the Dean of the current/previous medical school.
2. Submit an on-time application with the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
3. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in December.

Domestic applicant from overseas medical school

A domestic student who is studying at an overseas medical school or who has previously studied at an overseas medical school is eligible to apply to study Medicine at UNSW Sydney as a commencing student. No credit for previous studies will be given (except where applicable for 12uoc General Education courses).

Email MedEntry to discuss the preparation strategies for the styles and structure of the interview questions at the University of New South Wales, UNSW medicine interview questions, UNSW medicine interview dates, or visit the university's website for complete information about admission into Medicine at the UNSW.