ATAR, UCAT, Interview, Casper, and Psychometric Requirements
2027 Undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry Entry Requirements: Australia and New Zealand
Compare medical and dental entry pathways available to domestic school leavers in Australia and New Zealand. This guide brings together university qualifications, indicative ATAR requirements, UCAT ANZ, Casper and other selection tests, interview formats, subject prerequisites and course structures. It includes both direct-entry degrees and school-leaver assured or competitive pathways that lead to a professional medicine or dentistry qualification.
Reviewed: | Admissions cycle: 2027 entry (where explicitly confirmed).
Before comparing universities: a minimum ATAR or selection rank is an eligibility threshold, not a guaranteed offer or a predicted cut-off. Pathway eligibility, rural or regional quotas, First Nations schemes, interviews, UCAT and other tests can change how applicants are assessed. International student entry is not the focus of this table.
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Showing all 21 university comparisons.
| University and official guide | Qualification / programme | ATAR / academic eligibility | UCAT, Casper or other test | Interview / assessment | Subject prerequisites | Route and duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond University Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine (MD) | Competitive recent-intake guide: ATAR 96+ or IB 38+; other entry categories have different thresholds. | No UCAT. University psychometric assessments are part of shortlisting. | Yes. Online medical interview for shortlisted applicants. | English and program-specific subject eligibility; check Bond’s current prerequisites. | School-leaver medicine program; approximately 4 years 8 months. |
| CQUniversity Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) → UQ MD | Minimum ATAR 95; limited places, not guaranteed by meeting the threshold. | UCAT ANZ required; used for interview shortlisting. | Yes. Multiple mini-interview (MMI). | English, Mathematical Methods and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (or equivalents). | School-leaver regional pathway; 6 years total, subject to progression conditions. |
| Griffith University Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: Bachelor of Medical Science → MD. Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Health Science → Master of Dentistry. |
Medicine: Very high adjusted ATAR; 2026 Gold Coast offer threshold 99.90 (historical guide only). Dentistry: Competitive; no reliable single ATAR cut-off. |
Medicine: UCAT optional; can differentiate equal selection ranks. Dentistry: UCAT required for standard applicants. |
Medicine: No routine school-leaver BMedSc interview. Dentistry: Yes – GUDAP online recorded assessment (SAMMI). |
Medicine: English, Mathematical Methods and a science are assumed knowledge. Dentistry: Confirm course prerequisites. |
Medicine approximately 6 years; dentistry 5 years. Progression requirements apply. |
| James Cook University Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Surgery. |
Academic merit is considered alongside pathway-specific selection and rurality; no single published ATAR guarantees entry. | No UCAT for either standard course. Medicine and dentistry have different application evidence requirements. | Medicine: Yes – Kira Talent online interview for 2027 intake. Dentistry: No standard interview listed for 2027; application statements and support letters assessed. |
Check Year 12 English, chemistry and mathematics requirements for the specific course. | Direct school-leaver entry: 6-year medicine / 5-year dentistry. |
| The University of Queensland Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: 6-year Bachelor of Medical Science / MD direct entry; separate provisional MD entry via an initial bachelor’s degree. Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours). |
Medicine: Minimum adjusted ATAR 95. Dentistry: Minimum adjusted ATAR 99.0. |
UCAT ANZ required for standard domestic medicine and dentistry selections. | Medicine: Yes – MMI. Dentistry: No routine interview stated in current course admission criteria. |
Direct medicine: English and Mathematical Methods; chemistry/biology recommended. Dentistry: English and Chemistry. |
Medicine direct 6 years; provisional route generally 7 years. Dentistry 5 years. |
| University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medical Science (Medicine Pathway) → UQ MD | Minimum ATAR 95 (course admission is competitive). | UCAT ANZ required. | Yes. MMI as part of the medicine pathway selection. | Check UniSQ’s 2027 course entry requirements and equivalent Year 12 subjects. | Undergraduate pre-medicine pathway linked to UQ MD; progression is conditional, approximately 6 years overall. |
| Charles Sturt University Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / MD (joint program with Western Sydney). Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Science. |
Medicine: Minimum 95.50 general; 91.50 eligible rural pathway (for interview candidates). Dentistry: Competitive, varies by pathway. |
UCAT ANZ required for standard school-leaver medicine and dentistry; First Nations exceptions. | Medicine: Yes – selection interview. Dentistry: Yes – in-person panel interview in Orange. |
Medicine: Check course guidance. Dentistry: Sciences/mathematics recommended; check category-specific criteria. |
Direct school-leaver 5-year programs for both medicine and dentistry. |
| UNSW Sydney Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine (MD) | ATAR 96.00 general eligibility minimum; substantially higher scores are usually needed for offers. Rural/other schemes differ. | UCAT ANZ required; published general eligibility includes at least the 50th percentile. | Yes. Structured medicine interview for shortlisted applicants. | English Standard assumed; Chemistry recommended for preparation. | Direct 6-year medicine course. |
| University of Newcastle / University of New England Official university guide ↗ |
Joint Medical Program: Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine | Competitive academic eligibility; pathway-specific selection rank and schemes apply. | UCAT ANZ required for standard applicants. | Yes. Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA); Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) may also apply. | No fixed Year 12 science prerequisites stated for the general pathway; confirm current course details. | Direct 5-year joint medical program. |
| Western Sydney University Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine | Academic thresholds depend on applicant category, Greater Western Sydney or rural eligibility; consult university’s 2027 admissions rules. | UCAT ANZ required for standard applicants; sectional score weightings may apply. | Yes. Multiple mini-interview (MMI) for shortlisted applicants. | No fixed chemistry prerequisite for general admission; Chemistry is helpful. | Direct 5-year medicine degree; linked joint program with Charles Sturt. |
| The University of Sydney Official university guide ↗ |
School-leaver medicine: Bachelor of Arts / MD or Bachelor of Science / MD double degrees. Its Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Dental Medicine double degree has no 2027 intake. |
Medicine: Standard school-leaver ATAR 99.95; specific equity/regional schemes use different eligibility. | No UCAT for the medicine school-leaver double degree. | Yes. Online assessment incorporating group interview and written component. | For BSc component, mathematics assumed knowledge; subject needs vary with selected major. | School-leaver assured medicine pathway via first degree then MD; typically 7 years. |
| La Trobe University Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) → University of Melbourne MD (Rural Pathway). Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours). |
Medicine: ATAR 80 minimum with strict rural eligibility. Dentistry: Highly competitive academic selection; regional schemes differ. |
No UCAT for either standard pathway. | Medicine: Yes – online MMI. Dentistry: No routine interview for standard entry. |
Medicine: qualifying English; Dentistry: check English and course-specific subject requirements. | Medicine rural pathway 3+4 years (progression conditions); direct dentistry 5 years. |
| Monash University Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine (direct entry) | ATAR 90 minimum eligibility; actual competitive selection typically substantially higher. | UCAT ANZ required for standard domestic entry. | Yes. Multiple mini-interview (MMI). | English meeting VCE-equivalent minimum and Chemistry (required). | Direct 5-year medicine program; school-leaver eligibility restrictions apply. |
| Curtin University Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) | ATAR 95 minimum for standard school-leaver eligibility, subject to relevant adjustments. | UCAT ANZ and Casper both required for standard domestic applicants (First Nations exemptions). | Yes. MMI for shortlisted applicants. | Chemistry ATAR (or accepted equivalent) required; English requirements apply. | Direct 5-year medicine degree. |
| The University of Western Australia Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) → MD (Assured Pathway). Dentistry: Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) → DMD (Assured Pathway). |
ATAR 98 minimum for standard High Academic Achiever / Broadway / rural Assured Pathway categories. | UCAT ANZ required for standard domestic pathways. | Yes. Multiple mini-interview (MMI) for both. | Chemistry and Mathematics Applications (or higher), or approved bridging alternatives; meet English requirements. | Medicine and dentistry: 6 years each through the relevant integrated Assured Pathway (3+3 years), subject to progression requirements. |
| Adelaide University Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: Bachelor of Medical Studies → MD. Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Oral Health: Bachelor of Oral Health (not dentistry qualification). |
Minimum adjusted selection rank: 90 for medicine and dentistry; 70 for oral health. Competitive entry. | UCAT ANZ required for standard streams of all three; medicine Northern Community Care Stream has a UCAT-free eligible school-leaver pathway. | Yes. Online MMI for standard medicine, dentistry and oral health applicants; eligible Northern Community Care Stream medicine applicants also interview. | Medicine: one of Biology, Chemistry or Mathematical Methods. Dentistry/Oral Health: check separate science/maths prerequisites. |
Medicine 6 years; dentistry 5 years; oral health 3 years. |
| Flinders University Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences / Doctor of Medicine | ATAR 95 minimum; competitive ranking combines Year 12 and test performance. | UCAT ANZ required: derived score 10% of ranking (Year 12 results 90%). | No interview for this school-leaver pathway. | No fixed subject prerequisite. | Direct school-leaver 6-year combined medicine program. |
| University of Tasmania Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine | Adjusted ATAR 95 minimum; rural adjustment pathways apply. | UCAT ANZ required; used to separate applicants with equal ATARs; SJT excluded. | No standard school-leaver interview. | Year 12 English and Chemistry or accepted equivalent/foundation chemistry arrangement. | Direct 5-year medicine degree; Hobart, Launceston and Cradle Coast offerings. |
| Charles Darwin University Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine (CDU Menzies Medical Program) | Competitive entry; residency-related quotas and academic selection apply. Consult 2027 course page for category thresholds. | No UCAT for CDU’s own medicine course. | Yes. Structured panel interview; 2027 interviews conducted at CDU Casuarina, with qualifying online access. | Check category-specific academic and prerequisite requirements. | Direct 5-year medicine program; strongly targeted to Northern Territory needs. |
| University of Auckland Official university guide ↗ |
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) after a qualifying first year in BHSc or BSc (Biomedical Science). | No direct school-leaver MBChB entry. Minimum qualifying first-year GPA 6.0 for interview consideration. | For 2027 MBChB entry: UCAT ANZ required (15% final weighting). For 2028 MBChB entry: the published course guidance specifies Casper instead. |
Yes. MMI (25% final weighting in 2027 first-year category). | Complete prescribed Auckland first-year university courses; school preparation in sciences and English is beneficial. | First-year competitive entry (not assured from Year 12); approximately 6 years in total. |
| University of Otago Official university guide ↗ |
Medicine: MBChB after Health Sciences First Year (HSFY). Dentistry: Bachelor of Dental Surgery after qualifying first-year papers. |
No direct school-leaver admission into second-year professional degrees. Academic ranking and HSFY requirements apply. | Medicine: UCAT ANZ required; 2027 eligibility thresholds apply to Verbal Reasoning and SJT, with no further weighting after the threshold. Dentistry: UCAT not required. |
Medicine: No routine HSFY general-category interview. Dentistry: Yes – online interview. |
Pass prescribed HSFY courses or accepted equivalents; program-specific grade thresholds apply. | Medicine 1+5 years; dentistry 1+4 years (5 total) via HSFY. |
On mobile, swipe sideways within the table to see all seven columns. Click a state heading to expand or collapse that state's rows. Some university entries cover more than one course; check the medicine and dentistry requirements separately.
How to interpret medical and dental entry requirements
- Direct-entry programme: an eligible school leaver begins a combined medical or dental qualification pathway without needing to compete for a new professional-school place after an unrelated degree.
- Assured or provisional pathway: a school-leaver offer reserves a conditional progression route to a later MD or DMD, subject to university conditions such as GPA, time limits or prescribed subjects.
- Competitive first-year pathway: the school leaver enters an initial university year but must apply and compete for medicine or dentistry following that year (for example, the standard Auckland and Otago first-year routes).
- UCAT ANZ, Casper, psychometrics and interviews: universities use different tools, formats, thresholds and weightings. A test being required does not necessarily mean it contributes to final ranking.
- ATAR and IB: minimum eligibility, adjusted selection rank and the lowest prior offer are different measures. IB conversions are not directly interchangeable between universities or intake years.
Frequently asked questions about 2027 entry
Can I enter medicine straight from Year 12 in Australia?
Yes. Several Australian universities offer direct-entry medical degrees or formal school-leaver pathways. Some first require a shorter bachelor degree under a conditional assured-entry arrangement. The exact qualification, eligibility, assessment method and progression conditions depend on the institution.
Do all medical and dental degrees require UCAT ANZ?
No. Many school-leaver medicine and dentistry courses use UCAT ANZ, but some use alternative assessments or do not require it. Bond uses psychometric testing, for example, while Curtin requires both UCAT ANZ and Casper for its standard domestic medicine pathway. Always follow the conditions for the specific university and admission category.
What is the difference between an ATAR minimum and a competitive ATAR?
The minimum is the academic score needed for an application to be considered; it is not a guaranteed offer. A university may rank applicants using UCAT, an interview, subject results, an adjusted rank, or reserved regional and other entry streams. Competitive offer scores often differ from minimum entry rules and change year to year.
Can I apply to medicine in New Zealand directly after secondary school?
At the University of Auckland and University of Otago, the usual school-leaver route starts with prescribed first-year university study, followed by competitive selection into the professional medicine programme. There is no automatic MBChB place simply from completing secondary school.
Will Auckland use UCAT or Casper for 2027 entry?
Auckland's current MBChB programme page states that 2027 entrants require UCAT ANZ in the year of application and lists Casper for 2028 entry. Check the university's programme-specific notice for the intake and applicant category you intend to apply for.
Are undergraduate dentistry and oral health the same qualification?
No. A dentistry degree or professionally recognised pathway to a DMD/BDS leads towards dentist registration. A Bachelor of Oral Health ordinarily prepares graduates for different oral health roles and should not be interpreted as the same professional qualification as dentistry.
Preparation options for medicine and dentistry applicants
Once you identify the pathways that suit your academic background and eligibility, check which assessments apply to your choices. NIE provides preparation resources for different university selection stages.
Information and verification. This comparison is an NIE educational guide based on published university admissions information reviewed on 19 October 2026. It describes the standard school-leaver route unless an alternative is expressly mentioned. It is not a guarantee of admission or an official university admissions notice. Different rules can apply to rural and regional applicants, First Nations applicants, mature-age applicants, graduate applicants and students with non-Australian qualifications. Check the linked university guide for the current cycle before making decisions. NIE is independent of the universities listed.