Important: For detailed and the most current admission guides, please visit the respective university’s website.
Entry Requirements for James Cook University – Medicine & Dentistry
Medicine
- UCAT / GAMSAT: Not used
- Interview: Yes (via Kira Talent)
- Academic Achievement: Yes
Interview Preparation Options
Dentistry
- UCAT / GAMSAT: Not used
- Interview: No
- Academic Achievement: Yes
- Extras: Written application + Letters of support
| Degree |
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
|
| Campus locations |
Townsville and Cairns campuses |
| Duration |
6 years full-time |
| Start Date |
February |
| Entry requirements |
How to apply
- Apply via QTAC and submit a JCU application form.
- Your school must submit a Predicted Academic Achievement (PAA) form by the official due date (applications can be voided if not received).
- Selected applicants will be invited to a live Kira Talent interview (three panel members). Applicants pay a fee to use the Kira platform.
Interview assessment areas
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Ethical reasoning and critical thinking
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Understanding of rural/tropical health and motivation for medicine
Academic prerequisites
- Required subjects: English (Units 3–4, C), Mathematical Methods (Units 3–4, C), Chemistry (Units 3–4, C). Biology recommended.
- Equivalencies: Specialist Mathematics meets the Methods requirement; any QLD Year 12 English (English, EAL, Literature, etc.) meets the English requirement.
- Applicants outside Queensland should contact JCU to confirm subject equivalencies.
- Pathway: JCU Prep can help meet subject prerequisites (cannot be used to meet ATAR or GPA).
Academic competitiveness
- Non-rural applicants usually require a high-90s ATAR to be competitive.
- Rural and First Nations applicants may be competitive with lower ATARs due to priority pathways.
- ATAR/selection rank adjustments (Regional Preference, EAS, Subject Adjustment) are not available for Medicine.
IB & New Zealand NCEA results
- IB: Results expected December 2025 — in time for Medicine 2026 consideration and second-round interviews.
- NCEA (NZ): Results expected January 2026 — too late for 2026 consideration; applicants are encouraged to apply for the following year.
GPA (for tertiary applicants)
- Minimum unweighted GPA for consideration: 5.75 (on a 7-point scale).
- Entire academic history is considered, with most weight on the most recent study.
- Must have completed at least 0.5 FTE (≈ four subjects) for GPA to be assessed.
|
| Key Dates – 2026 Intake (Medicine) |
| Event |
Date |
| Applications open |
5 Aug 2025 |
| Applications close |
30 Sep 2025 |
| PAA form due |
20 Oct 2025 |
| First round invites sent for Medicine interviews |
7 Nov 2025 |
| First round of Medicine interviews |
25 Nov – 2 Dec 2025 |
| Second round invites sent for Medicine interviews |
22 Dec 2025 |
| Second round of Medicine interviews |
2 & 5 Jan 2026 |
| Last day to change preferences in QTAC for offer round |
6 Jan 2026 |
| Offers released |
15 Jan 2026 |
| Deadline for accepting or deferring offers |
19 Jan 2026 |
| Orientation week |
16 Feb 2026 |
| Academic year begins |
23 Feb 2026 |
|
| Number of places |
Approx. 170 domestic places
|
| Important Information |
For detailed information about the application process and up-to-date course admission guide, please visit the James Cook University School of Medicine official webpage. |
| Degree |
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
|
| Campus locations |
Cairns campus (with regional and remote placements)
|
| Duration |
5 years full-time |
| Start Date |
February |
| Entry requirements |
How to apply
- Apply via QTAC and submit a JCU written application + letters of support.
Academic prerequisites
- Required subjects: English (Units 3–4, C), Mathematical Methods (Units 3–4, C), Chemistry (Units 3–4, C). Biology recommended.
- Equivalencies: Specialist Mathematics meets the Methods requirement; any QLD Year 12 English subject meets the English requirement. Applicants outside QLD should contact JCU to confirm equivalencies.
Academic competitiveness
- Non-rural applicants typically need a high-90s ATAR to be competitive.
- Rural and First Nations applicants may be competitive with lower ATARs due to priority schemes.
- ATAR/selection rank adjustments are not available for Dentistry.
IB & NCEA results
- IB: Results expected December 2025 — in time for Dentistry 2026 consideration.
- NCEA (NZ): Results expected January 2026 — too late for Dentistry 2026; applicants are encouraged to apply for the following year.
|
| Key Dates – 2026 Intake (Dentistry) |
| Event |
Date |
| Applications open |
5 Aug 2025 |
| Applications close |
30 Sep 2025 |
| Last day to change preferences in QTAC for offer round |
6 Jan 2026 |
| Offers released |
15 Jan 2026 |
| Deadline for accepting or deferring offers |
19 Jan 2026 |
| Orientation week |
16 Feb 2026 |
| Academic year begins |
23 Feb 2026 |
|
|
Number of places
|
Approx. 90 domestic places
|
| Important Information |
For detailed information about the application process and up-to-date course admission guide, please visit the James Cook University School of Dentistry official webpage. |
Disclaimer: The National Institute of Education's primary mission is to provide information, advice, and educational and training services to assist clients on their journey into Australian and New Zealand universities. We regularly review the admission processes for medical, dental and health careers courses; however, universities reserve the right to change their admission criteria without notice. For detailed and the most current admission guides, please visit the respective university’s website.