Last revised: | 2027 entry
Charles Darwin University offers direct entry from Year 12 into its five-year CDU Menzies Medical Program. Its separate six-year CDU–Flinders route provides conditional progression to the Flinders Northern Territory Medical Program. These pathways have different admission tests, interviews and selection rules.
- UCAT ANZ: Not required for CDU Menzies; required for standard CDU–Flinders entry, with a separate First Nations application process exception.
- Interview: CDU Menzies uses a 30-minute panel interview. No entry interview is listed for the CDU–Flinders pathway.
- Academic achievement: CDU Menzies requires an adjusted ATAR of at least 85 for recent school leavers. CDU–Flinders publishes competitive guidance of ATAR 90+, or 85+ for First Nations applicants.
- Applications: Domestic applicants apply through SATAC. CDU Menzies also requires its separate application pack and supporting evidence.
Interview preparation applies to CDU Menzies. UCAT ANZ preparation applies to standard entry into the separate CDU–Flinders pathway.
CDU Menzies Medical Interview Dates for 2027 Entry
Interview eligibility outcome emails are scheduled for 2 November 2026. Panel interviews are scheduled for 16–20 November 2026. Shortlisted applicants receive booking instructions by email.
| Degree and duration |
Pathway 1: Bachelor of Clinical Science Medicine/Doctor of Medicine (CDU Menzies Medical Program), five years full time. Pathway 2: Bachelor of Clinical Sciences at CDU, followed by the Flinders University Northern Territory Medical Program, six years total if progression requirements are met. |
|---|---|
| Campus locations | CDU Casuarina campus, Darwin. The CDU Menzies program also includes clinical placements across the Northern Territory. |
| Application portal | SATAC for domestic applicants. For CDU Menzies, complete both the admissions application and the separate CDU Menzies Medical Program Application Pack by the published deadline. CDU lists a StudyLink option for certain eligible international onshore applicants. |
| Entry requirements | CDU Menzies: adjusted ATAR or GPA, a separate application pack and a panel interview; no UCAT ANZ. CDU–Flinders: adjusted ATAR and UCAT ANZ for standard entry; no entry interview. See the separate pathway details below. |
| Number of places | CDU Menzies: 40 domestic Commonwealth supported places plus 10 eligible international onshore fee-paying places for 2027. CDU–Flinders: 12 places across its three subquotas. These are separate programmes; do not add the quotas to estimate seats in one course. |
| Important information | The Menzies and CDU–Flinders routes have different tests, interviews and selection processes. Check the relevant CDU medicine information before submitting your preference. |
Undergraduate Medicine at Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University undergraduate medicine entry requirements differ substantially between its two routes. For 2027 entry, choose the five-year CDU Menzies Medical Program if you are applying to CDU's own medical degree, or the six-year CDU–Flinders pathway if you are applying to the Flinders Northern Territory Medical Program through CDU.
Pathway 1: CDU Menzies Medical Program, 2027 Entry
The Bachelor of Clinical Science Medicine/Doctor of Medicine admits recent Year 12 school leavers directly to CDU medicine. It is a five-year full-time degree with 40 Commonwealth supported domestic places and 10 places for eligible international applicants already living in Australia without a student visa.
1. Academic Requirements and Prerequisite Subjects
Domestic recent school leavers need an adjusted ATAR of at least 85 and must have completed Year 12 within two years of course commencement. Meeting this minimum does not guarantee an interview or offer.
The 2027 course page generally requires current higher education applicants to have six months of full-time graded bachelor-level study with GPA 5.0/7.0. Completed bachelor-level or higher qualifications need GPA 5.0 or above and must have been completed within the previous ten years.
CDU does not prescribe compulsory Year 12 Chemistry or Biology for this course. Relevant health, maths and science study can strengthen the shortlisting score. Students without recent science study are encouraged to complete CDU's introductory chemistry and cell biology course after enrolment.
For full eligibility rules and application evidence, see the official CDU Menzies course page. NIE offers one-on-one medical interview training for applicants seeking individual practice and feedback.
CDU's general FAQ still refers to one year of tertiary study in some answers, while its 2027 course page specifies six months and describes limited consideration with less completed study. If applying on a GPA, obtain confirmation from CDU about your completed graded study before relying on either summary.
2. Application Pack and Interview Shortlisting
Complete the SATAC application and CDU Menzies application pack, with supporting evidence, by the official deadlines. Current Year 12 applicants must provide graded Year 11 reports and their first-semester Year 12 report.
Academic results, relevant health or STEM studies, subquota eligibility and application-pack responses inform shortlisting. CDU plans to interview 160 domestic candidates for 40 places and 30 eligible international onshore candidates for 10 places.
3. Medical Interview Format and Assessed Qualities
For 2027 entry, CDU Menzies uses a live, 30-minute interview with a three-person panel. It is not an MMI or an asynchronous recorded-response interview.
| Interview feature | Published arrangements |
|---|---|
| Duration | 30 minutes. |
| Panel | A CDU Menzies academic; a First Nations academic, health professional or community member; and a Faculty of Health academic or NT health professional. |
| Delivery | In person at Casuarina. Microsoft Teams interviews are available to applicants outside Greater Darwin or in exceptional circumstances, subject to CDU's arrangements. |
| Assessment | Standardised questions and a marking rubric. CDU specifically identifies patient empathy and working effectively in an interprofessional clinical team. |
| Further instructions | Shortlisted applicants receive an interview guide. Follow your invitation for booking, identification, access and any technical requirements. |
CDU does not publish the full question set or a detailed scoring breakdown for each assessed quality. For preparation, practise explaining your motivation for medicine, reflecting on teamwork and discussing patient perspectives.
First Nations health and rural and remote healthcare are relevant course contexts. CDU does not identify these as separate interview stations.
4. Final Selection Weighting
The academic score and interview each contribute 50% to the final ranking. An ATAR above the eligibility threshold does not guarantee a place.
CDU Medicine Interview Offers and Dates for 2027 Entry
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Interview eligibility outcome email | 2 November 2026 |
| Panel interviews | 16–20 November 2026 |
Interview dates are listed in CDU's 2027 applicant schedule. Follow your invitation for your allocated time and time zone. Check CDU and SATAC directly for application, testing, course-offer and enrolment deadlines; these are not reproduced here.
Menzies Program: Special Entry Subquotas
CDU allocates 85% of its 40 domestic places to NT residents and 15% to applicants outside the NT. Its five published subquotas are NT First Nations (40%), other NT residents (30%), NT residents from MM4–MM7 areas (15%), First Nations applicants outside the NT (10%), and rural or remote applicants outside the NT (5%). These percentages refer to the domestic places and must not be read as additional seats.
NT residence generally requires a permanent NT address for at least two of the previous six years or five years since starting primary school. The non-NT rural and remote route requires residence in a Modified Monash MM4–MM7 area for five consecutive years within the past ten, or ten cumulative years since starting primary school. Applicants must submit the evidence applicable to their nominated subquota; check CDU's detailed rules before selecting it.
Pathway 2: CDU Bachelor of Clinical Sciences to Flinders Medicine
The separate CDU Bachelor of Clinical Sciences is an assured progression route to the Flinders University Northern Territory Medical Program. Students complete the first two years at CDU and progress to the Flinders MD component if they satisfy the prescribed GPA and timing conditions. The combined route takes six years; it is not the five-year CDU Menzies degree.
1. Academic Requirements and Eligibility
This route is for Australian citizens or permanent residents with Year 12 qualifications who have studied no more than one year in higher education. CDU says an adjusted ATAR of 90 or above is competitive, or 85 or above for First Nations students; these are competitive guidance figures, not a guaranteed offer.
2. UCAT ANZ and Selection Weighting
The standard pathway requires a valid 2026 UCAT ANZ result for 2027 entry. CDU combines the ATAR (90%) and UCAT ANZ derived score (10%) to rank applicants. The UCAT ANZ consortium lists Flinders Clinical Sciences/Medicine as a relevant course. CDU also publishes a distinct First Nations Entry Application Process under which UCAT ANZ is not required; confirm eligibility directly before relying on this exception.
3. Application and Interview Requirements
Apply through SATAC and provide any NT residence or First Nations declarations required for your subquota. No interview is listed for selection into this route. Check the current SATAC and CDU pages for application deadlines.
4. Progression to Flinders Medicine
CDU states that meeting the specified academic standard and completing the first two years in the required time guarantees progression into the Northern Territory Medical Program. The course page specifies passing all units and a minimum GPA of 5.0. Check your offer and current progression rules, including the required completion timeframe.
The official CDU Bachelor of Clinical Sciences page lists 12 places: five for NT residents, five for NT First Nations applicants, and two for First Nations applicants nationally. NIE's UCAT ANZ preparation courses support applicants preparing for this route.
UCAT ANZ Score Interpretation
CDU does not publish a fixed UCAT ANZ cut-off on this course page. Its admissions criteria refer to equal contributions from the current test sections, including Situational Judgement, but a later paragraph still mentions the retired Abstract Reasoning section. Applicants should confirm the derived-score calculation with CDU rather than assume the standard cognitive total is the same score.
The current UCAT ANZ test format comprises Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement. Abstract Reasoning is no longer included.
CDU–Flinders Pathway: Interview Information
CDU does not list an entry interview for this pathway. Check CDU, SATAC and UCAT ANZ directly for current application, test and offer dates.
CDU–Flinders Progression and Service Commitment
The first two CDU years are followed by the four-year Flinders medical component, with the third bachelor year overlapping the first MD year. The published pathway includes a contractual commitment to work in the Northern Territory for two years after graduation, including internship. Review the current contract and progression conditions before accepting a place.
International Student Requirements
For 2027 entry to the CDU Menzies degree, CDU lists ten fee-paying places for international applicants already living in Australia without a student visa. Eligible recent school leavers need an adjusted ATAR of at least 85, the application pack and a panel interview. CDU also lists separate NT residence and rural or remote subquotas for these ten places.
Applicants must hold a visa allowing full-time study and meet English proficiency requirements. CDU's specific 2027 international guidance limits eligibility to Year 12 completion in 2025 or 2026; it does not provide a GPA-based international route.
Apply through StudyLink if Year 12 was completed in 2025; current 2026 Year 12 applicants may use SATAC or StudyLink, but should submit through only one channel. The course is not open through this allocation to overseas applicants seeking a student visa.
The CDU Bachelor of Clinical Sciences route to Flinders is listed as unavailable to international students. Applicants should verify their status, English proficiency, current tuition fees and all application dates directly with CDU.
Charles Darwin University Medicine FAQs
Does Charles Darwin University medicine require UCAT ANZ?
CDU Menzies does not require UCAT ANZ. Standard CDU–Flinders selection uses ATAR for 90% and a UCAT ANZ derived score for 10% of the ranking. A separate First Nations application process has a UCAT exception.
When are CDU medicine interview offers released for 2027 entry?
CDU schedules Menzies interview eligibility outcome emails for 2 November 2026 and interviews for 16–20 November 2026. Shortlisted applicants receive interview booking instructions by email.
Is the CDU medical interview an MMI, a panel or online?
CDU Menzies uses a 30-minute, three-person panel interview. It is normally held at Casuarina, with Microsoft Teams available for applicants outside Greater Darwin or in exceptional circumstances. The separate CDU–Flinders route has no entry interview.
What ATAR is needed for medicine at Charles Darwin University?
CDU Menzies requires an adjusted ATAR of at least 85 for recent school leavers. CDU–Flinders describes ATAR 90+ as competitive, or 85+ for First Nations applicants. Eligibility and competitive guidance do not guarantee admission.
Can applicants outside the Northern Territory apply for CDU medicine?
Yes. CDU Menzies has non-NT First Nations and rural or remote subquotas. Its FAQ says applicants outside the published subquotas can only be considered if places remain unfilled. CDU–Flinders includes a national First Nations subquota. Check the evidence and residency rules for your pathway.