Local applicants

Students learning in the Medicine & Health facilities at the UNSW Kensington campus

To study the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (BMed/MD) at UNSW, you must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ). You’ll also need to apply through UNSW’s Medicine Application Portal (MAP) before submitting a UAC application. Additionally, you will need to undertake an interview (if competitive). Offers to study medicine at UNSW are based on your academic performance (ATAR or equivalent), UCAT ANZ result and interview.

  1. Apply for and sit UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand)
  2. Begin your application on the Medicine Application Portal (MAP). Once you've started your application, you'll receive an e-mail containing your password (receipt). You can log back in and work on your application at any time but you must complete and submit your application by the deadline. We do not accept late or incomplete applications.
    We do not select applicants for interview based on the details provided on the application form. However, some information you provide will be passed on to interviewers prior to your interview
  3. Complete the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) application by the closing date
  4. Once both applications have been received, if you're successful based on our selection criteria, you'll be invited for a face-to-face interview which will also count towards your overall application
  5. Wait for the outcome of your application. The final ranking of applicants will be completed in January and a list of selected students will be sent to UAC. If you are accepted, your offer will be available through your UAC account
  6. Accept or decline your offer online as instructed
  7. Selected applicants will receive UNSW Medicine & Health welcome e-mail with full instructions for enrolment, NSW Health requirements, timetabling and other necessary information

Late exam results

Applications cannot be considered if results or changes to results are made available after applicants have been selected for our last interview round in January (see important dates tab for more details).

1 March 2022

Registration for UCAT ANZ opens

12 April 2022

Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) applications open

12 April 2022

The Medicine Application Portal (MAP) opens

10 May 2022

UCAT ANZ concession application deadline

17 May 2022

On-time registration deadline for UCAT ANZ

17 May 2022

UCAT ANZ access arrangements application deadline

31 May 2022 Late UCAT ANZ booking closes 

1 July - 12 August 2022

UCAT ANZ testing dates

3 September 2022

UNSW Open Day

30 September 2022

Last day to lodge on-time application with UAC

30 September 2022
(11.59pm)

Last day to submit UNSW Medicine application through the Medicine Application Portal (MAP)

November - December 2022 Interviews for Rural Entry Scheme will be held (face to face)

30 November 2022

Last day to submit UNSW SCATS application (only if applicable)

15 December 2022 ATARs released on UAC website
15 December 2022 Interview invitations are sent to selected NSW/ACT (non-rural) applicants, for the December interview round. Applicants who have not been selected or who will be considered again for the January interview round will be e-mailed as well.
19 - 22 December 2022 December interview round (NSW/ACT - non-rural applicants)
5 January 2023

Last day to include UNSW BMed/MD as a UAC preference

6 January 2023 Interview invitations are sent to selected interstate, overseas and IB applicants, for the January interview round. Applicants who have not been selected will be e-mailed as well.
12 January 2023 January Round 1 offers released via UAC

17 - 19 January 2023

January interview round (interstate/overseas/IB applicants)

25 January 2023

January Round 2 offers released via UAC

9 February 2023

February Round 1 offers released via UAC

13 February 2023 Commencement of Year 1 

If your application meets the required criteria to study medicine at UNSW, you may be selected for an interview with us. 

How am I selected for an interview?
Interviews are offered based on your selection rank and UCAT ANZ overall score only. Interviews are offered to applicants with the highest combined ranking in these two areas. Your results won’t be averaged. You must receive sufficiently high marks on both selection criteria to be successful at this stage. There are approximately 500 interview places for local applicants each year.

How do interviews work?
Interviews are structured and cover a wide range of relevant topics. There will be two interviewers who are either academic staff, medical practitioners or community representatives. If you’re shortlisted, you must be available to attend an interview during the interview period, which is listed in important dates. All interviews will take place face-to-face on the UNSW Kensington campus. If you can't attend, your application will not progress further. Selected information from your application form (UNSW Medicine Application Portal) will be shared with your interviewers before your interview.

Selection criteria

  • If you're applying to study based on your NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) results, you'll require a minimum ATAR of 96.00 to be eligible for consideration.

    The minimum requirements for other secondary results are: 

    • 38 International Baccalaureate (IB)

    Applicants with EAS points still need to meet the minimum selection criteria before an EAS application is considered. 

  • I have not completed a full year of study

    If you have completed less than 0.75 FTE (full time equivalent) of tertiary study at the end of the year in which you apply, you will be assessed only on your secondary school results.

    I have completed at least one full year of study (but not completed a degree)

    If you have completed an equivalent of 0.75 FTE (full time equivalent) or more of tertiary study in a single degree at the end of the year in which you apply, you will be assessed for admission to the Medicine program on either your secondary OR your tertiary study results. The following minimum criteria applies:

    • Your secondary school qualification component must reach 96.00 ATAR (or equivalent); AND
    • your tertiary study component must reach WAM 70 or equivalent.

    Once you have met the minimum requirement, a "best of" algorithm will apply and the qualification with a higher selection rank will be used as a final selection rank for Medicine program admissions purposes.

    I have completed a degree

    If you have completed a tertiary degree before the end of the year in which you apply, only the tertiary qualification will be considered for admission to the Medicine program. Your tertiary studies must reach a minimum WAM/GPA equivalent of a 96.00 ATAR.
    As you have completed a tertiary degree, we will no longer consider your secondary qualification, i.e. a minimum 96.00 ATAR (or equivalent) is not applicable.

  • When selecting applicants to proceed to the interview stage, we consider the overall UCAT ANZ score. The University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) is a two-hour computer-based test. The test assesses a range of abilities through five separately timed sub-tests. You'll be tested on verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and situational judgement, each containing several multiple-choice questions.  

    There is no minimum UCAT ANZ requirement, but applicants must reach the 50th percentile to proceed to the interview stage of the application process. The situational judgement mark from the UCAT ANZ will not be considered. To learn more or register for the test, visit UCAT ANZ.

Your offer to study medicine at UNSW will be based on three selection criteria:  

  • your academic rank 
  • your UCAT ANZ overall score 
  • your interview score 

Applicants are ranked using these three selection criteria. Offers will be made to applicants with the highest rank determined by all measures. Scores aren’t averaged - a high score in one area won’t compensate for a low score in another. 

    • Unbonded places are available to Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents. This is the standard entry category and there are no scholarships or bonding attached to these places.
    • The Bonded Medical Program (BMP)  is only available to Australian citizens and permanent residents. In exchange for a medical place, once students have graduated, bonded students agree to work in an area of workforce shortage. You can learn more about a bonded place in our FAQs.
    • The Australian Government determines the number of unbonded and bonded places available. All applicants are automatically considered for both types of places.
    • Unbonded places are offered to the top-ranking students at the final stage until the allocation is exhausted. Bonded places are then offered until all places have been filled.
    • Our Kensington, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga campuses have a set number of places available. When you complete your application on the Medicine Application Portal, you must indicate your campus preferences by putting all three campuses in your preferred order.
    • You are able to change your campus preference up until the application deadline. Once the deadline has passed no further preference changes can be accommodated, regardless of circumstance.
    • Your campus preference order has no influence on whether you are offered a place in the UNSW Medicine program, i.e. preferencing one campus over another does not increase or decrease your chances of receiving an offer.
    • UNSW Medicine & Health will allocate students to campuses based on their ranking, campus preference order and campus availability. We will do our very best to allocate you to your first campus preference, but you should understand that this is not guaranteed and so also be prepared to accept an offer at your second or third campus preference.
    • You will only receive one offer for one campus.
    • Applicants who accept a place in the Medicine program at the Port Macquarie campus for Year 1 usually have an opportunity to complete all 6 years of the Medicine program in the Mid North Coast (MNC) region (Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour Rural Clinical Campuses). However, relocation to another rural or metropolitan campus for a defined period may also be considered depending upon availability of places.
    • Applicants who accept a place in the Medicine program at the Wagga Wagga campus for Year 1 usually have the opportunity to complete all 6 years of the Medicine program in Murrumbidgee, Riverina and Border region (Wagga Wagga, Albury and Griffith Rural Clinical Campuses). However, relocation to another rural or metropolitan campus for a defined period may also be considered depending upon availability of places.

We offer a range of special entry schemes for local applicants. Visit the special entry schemes page to find out if you're eligible and for all information about scheme applications. 

We understand the process prior to commencing study with us can be daunting, with many unanswered questions. This is why we've compiled the questions we're most commonly asked by prospective students. The information below may be subject to change but we update this regularly.

  • Unbonded medical places

    • This is the standard entry category. These places have no bonding or scholarships attached to them.
    • Unbonded medical places are only available to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

    Bonded medical places

    • Places under the Bonded Medical Program (BMP) are only available to Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents.
    • Applicants who accept a place in this category will be bonded to areas of workforce shortage. They will be required to work in an area of workforce shortage for their chosen speciality. The Australian Government has indicated that outer metropolitan and rural areas are the most likely locations.

    Information about benefits and participant obligations under the Bonded Medical Program are available on the Bonded Medical Program website.

  • Yes, we consider UAC EAS points for admission to the medicine program. However, applicants need to meet the minimum selection criteria on their own merit (without EAS points). It's important to note the minimum selection criteria must be met before an EAS application is considered.

    You can find more information at UAC Educational Access Schemes or at UNSW ACCESS

  • If you've undertaken university studies and your secondary or tertiary studies were affected by circumstances beyond your control, then SCATS is for you. Visit UNSW Future Students where you can find further details and information on how to apply under the Special Consideration for Applicants with Tertiary Study section. 

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

    If you're a Year 12 student, you can apply for EAS points through the UAC Educational Access Schemes.

  • UNSW Medicine has always been a very sought-after Medicine program, usually receiving more than 3500 applicants for 198 domestic student positions (bonded and unbonded). The number of domestic positions is determined by the Federal Government.

    You're most likely to be offered a position in the UNSW Medicine program if you achieve the highest possible result for all three criteria: ATAR, UCAT ANZ and interview. These criteria are used to rank students. Positions are offered from the highest-ranked applicant down until no further positions are available.

    Applicants with minimum scores are unlikely to be selected, while the minimum ATAR for eligibility is 96.00, the median required for entry is generally greater than 99.60. Similarly, the UCAT ANZ and interview median rankings required for entry are close to the top of their respective ranges.

    Due to the limited number of positions, only the top-ranked students can be selected. However, many more would potentially be suitable to train as doctors. It's important to note that unsuccessful candidates are not being judged as unsuitable to study Medicine. Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in the following years.

  • If you believe that during the selection process to the UNSW Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine program, the standard selection procedures were applied to you improperly, you must advise us by e-mail (MH.MedAdmission@unsw.edu.au) within 24 hours of the event taking place. Your e-mail must include all necessary details (including the precise time and location of the event) to allow us to appropriately review your claim and address your concerns in a timely manner. If we do not receive an e-mail from you within 24 hours of the event, it will be deemed that the selection process has been duly followed.

  • You find information about your right of appeal in the “Admission to Coursework Programs Procedure” which you can download on the UNSW Policies website.

    Please also refer to “What to do if you believe something went wrong in the selection process?” above.

  • It's not considered appropriate for children under the age of 16 to participate in clinical training. Applicants who will be under the age of 16 years at the commencement of Year 1 should discuss their proposed application prior to submitting an application through the Medicine Application Portal (MAP). You can e-mail us at MH.MedAdmission@unsw.edu.au.

  • After completing one of the medicine programs, new graduates usually work for at least a year as a Junior Medical Officer (JMO), also known as ‘intern’, in selected hospitals to obtain registration as a medical practitioner with a State Medical Board. Further study and experience is required before specialist qualifications can be obtained.

    For further information:

  • Applicants may be aware of courses that claim to improve performance in UCAT ANZ or in the interview however, we would like applicants to be aware that:

    • UNSW Medicine does not recommend or endorse any commercially available courses offering UCAT ANZ preparation. Neither the UCAT ANZ Consortium or any of the Consortium universities conduct UCAT ANZ preparation courses.
    • Some claims by those who provide these courses have been found either to be untrue or profoundly exaggerated.
    • Some providers also give misleading information about the application process for UNSW Medicine. One false claim is that the UNSW Medicine Application Form is used as part of the selection of applicants for the interview. Students are selected for the interview solely on their UCAT ANZ result and their academic result. Applicants will not increase their chances for an interview by paying someone to review their UNSW Medicine Application Form.
    • The interview at UNSW is significantly different from those at other medical schools. There's no evidence that applicants who undertake interview training courses perform better at the interview. On the contrary, feedback from interviewers has indicated that applicants who have obviously been coached were likely to have been at a disadvantage in our style of interview.
  • Although there are no prerequisites for entry into UNSW Medicine, we recommend that students study english for their final secondary school examinations. There's assumed knowledge of this subject and it's desirable for success in the medicine program. Students who don't have the assumed level of knowledge can apply and enrol but may find themselves disadvantaged.

    In addition, study in chemistry is recommended.

  • Achieving the minimum academic merit and UCAT ANZ result does not guarantee selection for interview. You can find details on how we select students for an interview in the interview tab. 

  • You can apply straight from secondary school or if you have already partially completed / completed tertiary studies. Have a look at our selection criteria tab where you can find details on how we assess your results.

    Please note that domestic students who are currently enrolled in a medical degree at another Australian university aren't eligible to seek admission to UNSW Medicine as a commencing student. Please visit our Special Entry Schemes page to learn more.

  • Please visit our Special Entry Schemes page for more details.

  • No, we do not have a separate quota for non-school leavers.

  • Due to the structure of the curriculum, we're rarely able to provide credit to students transferring after partly completing or completing another degree. Exemption from all or part of the 12 Units of Credit of General Education courses will be considered and granted when applicable.

  • We don't offer a graduate pathway into our program. It's not possible to join our program for the MD component alone.

    There's a graduate-entry stream into the medicine program, but only for students enrolled in the UNSW Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc).

    More details can be found on the Special Entry Schemes page. 

  • Applicants who have not completed the NSW Higher School Certificate (or equivalent) are required to complete a minimum of one year full-time recognised university studies. The GPA will then be converted into an ATAR equivalent.

  • Cases vary depending on the particular student and their circumstances. Applicants should carefully consider their commitment to pursuing a career in medicine and their willingness to spend one year repeating the HSC or at least one-year undertaking tertiary studies to attempt admission to UNSW Medicine.

    An alternative to repeating the HSC is to enrol in another tertiary program. A challenge is that some students undertake tertiary programs they have no vocational interest in and, having completed one or more years, fail to achieve entry into the first year of UNSW Medicine. Students can find themselves on a degree path they have limited interest in.

    No guarantee can be given about your chances of success obtaining entry to UNSW Medicine and students should choose tertiary programs carefully. As a result, if you don't succeed in obtaining a place to study at UNSW Medicine, you'll still be studying in an area of interest and which you can use to pursue an alternate career.

    Students should note that when electing to undertake tertiary studies in another program with the aim of obtaining a place in UNSW Medicine, they're not restricted to degrees at UNSW. Degrees offered by any Australian university, including science and arts-based degrees, are acceptable.

    There is a separate admission process for students applying from the Bachelor of Medical Science program at UNSW. You can find more information on the Graduate Entry Stream for UNSW BMedSc Students on the Special Entry Schemes page. 

  • There are no full-fee places available for local (non-international) applicants.

  • For information on undergraduate scholarships, visit UNSW Scholarships. The scholarships team will be able to assist you directly if you have any questions.

  • For information on accommodation, visit UNSW Accommodation.

    Residential college accommodation is limited and there are waiting lists. Students interested in college accommodation are advised to apply three to six months before starting at UNSW.

  • Classes in the first three years commence in February and conclude in late November or early December.

    UNSW Medicine has one intake of students each year.

    For more details view the UNSW Medicine academic calendar.

  • The main Sydney hospitals used for clinical teaching are:

    • Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick
    • St George Hospital, Kogarah
    • St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst
    • Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool
    • Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
    • Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick
    • Sutherland Hospital, Caringbah
    • Bankstown Hospital, Bankstown
    • Fairfield Hospital, Fairfield

    The main hospitals located outside of Sydney and in rural New South Wales and Victoria used for clinical teaching are:

    • Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital, Wagga Wagga
    • Albury Wodonga Health, Albury-Wodonga
    • Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Port Macquarie
    • Coffs Harbour Hospital, Coffs Harbour
    • Griffith Base Hospital, Griffith

There are several state and federal government policies our students need to be aware of and adhere to. 

Find out more

Want to find out more about UNSW Medicine?

If you have any questions about your application or studying at UNSW, please contact us below. We're here to help.