The University of New South Wales

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

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

• ATAR of 96.00 (NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, NT, WA, TAS)
• OP3 (QLD)
• 37 International Baccalaureate
• Performance at the UNSW interview (structured panel interview). Approximately 450 applicants will be selected for an interview. 

Using the above three parameters, all students are ranked. Applicants are selected based on the highest rank determined by all three measures. 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.

UNSW Medicine 2018 / 2019 Interview

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

Applicants are offered UNSW Medicine interviews on the basis of their combined predicted or actual ATAR and their actual UMAT total raw scores. Interviews are offered to the highest ranking applicants until all interview places have been filled.  About 450 applicants will be interviewed. The interview will be a structured and will cover a wide range of relevant issues. There will be two interviewers drawn from academic staff, medical practitioners and community representatives.

Invitations for UNSW medical interviews will be sent out on the 14th of December 2018. ATAR is released on the 14th of December 2018, and hence this round of interviews will be offered to students based on their actual ATAR. Unfortunately NSW and ACT students will have only few days notice for their interview, and this is why at NIE we have been running the interview training workshops since August 2018 allowing serious applicants to prepare for the UNSW oral assessment in advance.  If you have not started preparing for the interviews yet, you might be able to still book one of the remaining workshop dates, or inquire about the personalised 1-on-1 interview tuition we offer (limited spots remaining). 

Next round of interview offers will be released mid-January 2019, for IB Diploma and interstate/overseas applicants, and interview invitations will be e-mailed to selected applicants. Interviews will be held on the 21st of January 2018. As this is after the first round offers are made, it allows interstate applicants to wait until they know whether or not they have a place in a medical school in their home state. This means that most applicants are saved the very significant time and expense of travelling from interstate to UNSW for an interview.

Dates for 2018 UNSW Medicine Entry

UNSW Interview offers will be based on the following:

Academic merit

Year 12 students

For applicants seeking admission on the basis of the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC), a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 96.00 or equivalent is required to be eligible for consideration.

The minimum achievements are:

• ATAR of 96.00 (NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, NT, WA, TAS)
• OP3 (QLD)
• 37 International Baccalaureate

Please check the Undergraduate Entry Table(link is external) available for minimum achievements in secondary certificates not listed above.

University students and graduates

Applicants who will have completed one year or more of tertiary studies at undergraduate level by the end of the year preceding their start in the Medicine program will be assessed on the basis of both high school results (ATAR or ATAR equivalent) and tertiary study results, combined at a 50:50 ratio. Applicants will be required to attain an academic rank of at least 96.00.

Applicants who will have completed less than 0.75 full-time equivalent study at tertiary level by the end of the year preceding their start in the Medicine program will be assessed only on the basis of their high school qualification (see “Year 12 students” above).

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.

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 booklet.

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 UMAT 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 UMAT 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).

Under no circumstances does UNSW Medicine accept applications for transfer.

Email NIE 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 or read about Medical Program at UNSW.

Still unsure how to apply for UNSW Medicine? View UNSW Medicine Undergraduate Guide