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The University of Newcastle offers direct undergraduate entry into the five-year Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine through the Joint Medical Program (JMP), delivered with the University of New England. Eligible students can apply straight after Year 12 without a previous degree.
- UCAT ANZ: Required for standard domestic applicants. The cognitive aggregate determines interview shortlisting; separate pathways have different arrangements.
- Interview: Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA), with rotating interview stations. Domestic assessments are in person and include the Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA).
- Academic achievement: Standard ATAR threshold 94.30 or equivalent; 85.00 for eligible Rural Bonus Scheme applicants. Academic results are an eligibility requirement.
Newcastle Medicine: Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program). |
| Entry level | Direct undergraduate entry; no prior degree required. |
| Duration | Five years full-time. |
| Teaching locations | Newcastle, the Central Coast Clinical School in Gosford, and UNE in Armidale, with clinical placements across the JMP network. |
| Domestic applications | UCAT ANZ, a direct JMP application and a UAC application for the standard pathway. |
| Assessment | Academic eligibility and assessment of personal qualities through UCAT ANZ and the JMP assessment process. |
Undergraduate Medicine at the University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle undergraduate medicine entry requirements combine academic eligibility with assessment of personal qualities. The JMP uses UCAT ANZ to shortlist standard applicants, followed by its Multiple Skills Assessment and, for face-to-face assessment, the Personal Qualities Assessment.
1. Academic requirements and prerequisite subjects
| Applicant category | Minimum academic requirement |
|---|---|
| Standard Year 12 entry | ATAR 94.30 or equivalent. |
| Rural Bonus Scheme | ATAR 85.00 or equivalent, for applicants who completed Year 12 at a designated rural or remote school. |
There are no compulsory Year 12 subject prerequisites. English proficiency requirements apply, and a limited ATAR is not accepted.
The lower rural academic threshold depends on the location of your school, rather than your home address alone. Meeting an ATAR threshold does not guarantee an interview or an offer.
If you complete at least one full-time year, or equivalent, in a single approved university program, excluding credit, your academic eligibility is based on your most recent qualifying university study rather than Year 12 results. Requirements vary with the qualification and completion status; TAFE and graduate certificate qualifications are not accepted as the academic basis for entry.
2. UCAT ANZ and interview shortlisting
For standard selection, the JMP adds Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning scores to form the UCAT ANZ aggregate. Situational Judgement is not used for 2027 admission.
Applicants must use a result from the application year. The JMP determines interview cut-offs after direct applications close, based on the relevant applicant cohort. Rural and non-rural cut-offs differ, and no individual subtest threshold is specified.
3. Medical interview format and assessed qualities
The JMP calls its interview the Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA). Like an MMI, it uses rotating stations where applicants discuss scenarios or complete activities with assessors.
The main personal-qualities admissions page specifies eight-minute stations. A separate applicant guide describes six stations but also retains material from an earlier admission cycle. For that reason, a fixed station count, break schedule and total duration should be confirmed from your 2027 assessment invitation.
The published assessment areas are:
- Capacity to succeed in the JMP learning environment.
- Decision-making that affects yourself and others, including situations with uncertain outcomes.
- Interpersonal and communication skills.
- Motivation and commitment to becoming a doctor.
Domestic assessment is conducted in person at Newcastle or Armidale. Your assessment location does not determine where you will enrol. Bring the photographic identification specified in your invitation.
Personal Qualities Assessment
The PQA is an online questionnaire assessing personal qualities relevant to medical study and practice. It is completed on the same day as the MSA when the MSA is conducted face-to-face. An online questionnaire does not mean the domestic assessment day can be completed remotely.
How final selection works
The published admission policy ranks eligible applicants by their Stage 2 personal-qualities assessment results. UCAT ANZ, the Stage 1 assessment, is used to separate applicants with the same Stage 2 score. Academic eligibility must also be met.
The university does not publish a simple percentage split between MSA and PQA on these admissions pages. Its selection process should not be described using another university’s ATAR, UCAT or interview weightings.
Newcastle Medicine Interview Dates for 2027 Entry
The official JMP calendar lists domestic in-person assessments from 30 November to 11 December 2026. Interview invitations are scheduled for mid-November.
| Stage or pathway | Published timing and format |
|---|---|
| Domestic interview invitations | Mid-November 2026, by email. |
| Domestic MSA and assessment period | 30 November–11 December 2026, in person at the University of Newcastle or University of New England. |
| Current enabling students: Excellence through Equity shortlist | December 2026. Applicants are notified by email; no exact release day is published. |
| Excellence through Equity and Regional Excellence MSA | Week beginning 11 January 2027, as listed in the current key-dates calendar. Follow pathway-specific instructions. |
| Miroma Bunbilla pre-admission assessment activities | 30 November–4 December 2026. The pathway includes MSA and PQA requirements; individual arrangements are confirmed by the university. |
| International MSA | 30 September–2 October 2026, online. This published assessment period has passed. |
An older university FAQ describes a separate January MSA for some non-rural interstate applicants. The current 2027 calendar does not list that general interstate round. Follow the current calendar and your invitation rather than assuming a January appointment is available.
Application, UCAT registration, preference and course-offer deadlines should be checked directly with the university and UAC. The official JMP key-dates calendar provides the current schedule.
Medicine Access and Special Entry Pathways
Rural Bonus Scheme and Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme
The Rural Bonus Scheme’s lower academic threshold is based on attending a designated rural or remote school. The Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme (RRAS) separately considers residential history and can provide a lower UCAT interview threshold.
RRAS requires five consecutive or ten cumulative years of eligible rural residence, supported by documentation. The university’s linked RRAS document uses Modified Monash Model 2019 areas MM2–MM7. Australian citizenship or permanent residency is required; New Zealand citizens are not eligible for this scheme.
JMP Communities Entry List
The Communities Entry List supports eligible applicants living in the Hunter New England, Central Coast or Mid-North Coast Local Health Districts. It requires current residence and five consecutive or ten cumulative years in the eligible area, supporting evidence and, for school leavers, attendance at a school within the listed districts.
Eligible applicants can be considered at a lower UCAT interview threshold. Academic and personal-qualities requirements still apply. This scheme is restricted to Australian citizens and permanent residents.
Regional Excellence Pathway
Current school leavers who reside and complete Year 12 in the Hunter New England or Central Coast Local Health Districts may qualify with an ATAR of 99.00 or higher. Eligible applicants can be offered an interview without UCAT ANZ under this specific exception.
The pathway applies to the intake immediately following Year 12. It still requires an interview and the relevant application preferences; it is not a guaranteed medical place.
Excellence through Equity Pathway
This pathway supports eligible Newcastle enabling students who demonstrate sustained socioeconomic disadvantage, including financial hardship, and at least two additional equity indicators. Up to six places are available to eligible current enabling students.
Current enabling applicants do not require UCAT ANZ and are shortlisted using academic performance and equity eligibility before MSA. Eligible past enabling students follow different rules, including additional tertiary study and a UCAT requirement, with a lower shortlisting threshold available.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
The Miroma Bunbilla pathway has a separate admission process. Applicants are not required to sit UCAT ANZ or submit the standard direct JMP application, but must complete the required UAC application, establish their eligibility and participate in the specified assessment and pre-admission activities.
Educational Access Scheme and bonded places
The JMP participates in UAC’s Educational Access Scheme. Eligible applicants experiencing educational or other disadvantage can receive up to four adjustment points, subject to the scheme’s rules.
Bonded Medical Program places carry return-of-service obligations. Review the government and university conditions before expressing interest in a bonded place.
International Medicine Applicants
International applicants can apply from Australia or overseas and must meet the academic standard based on their most recent qualifying studies. Applications follow the university’s international JMP process.
UCAT ANZ is required. The JMP uses the three cognitive subtests and excludes Situational Judgement for 2027 entry. A separate international shortlisting threshold is determined after applications close.
International applicants complete the MSA through Zoom. The public international page describes rotating scenarios and activities but does not confirm a fixed station count or total interview duration. The PQA is used only when the MSA is face-to-face, according to the JMP assessment rules.
English requirements apply. Where IELTS is used, the published minimum is 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each component. Students must also meet clinical-placement and applicable visa requirements.
Course Structure and Study Locations
The JMP combines the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine across five years. Students progress through the integrated program subject to meeting its academic and professional requirements.
Newcastle applicants may study at Callaghan or the Central Coast Clinical School in Gosford, while UNE students are based in Armidale. Eligible Newcastle students with at least two years of current Central Coast residence can receive priority consideration for Central Coast allocation, subject to evidence and available places.
Clinical placements extend across the JMP network and may require travel or relocation. Your preferred enrolment location is considered but is not guaranteed.
How to apply
- For the standard pathway, sit UCAT ANZ in the application year.
- Submit the direct JMP application, including the appropriate standard or rural option and supporting evidence.
- Submit a UAC application and include the JMP in your preferences.
- If shortlisted, attend the required assessments and meet academic eligibility.
Special and international pathways have their own instructions. Check the official JMP application information for current requirements and deadlines. Test information is available through the official UCAT ANZ university information.
Preparing for the Newcastle Medicine MSA
Practise discussing an unfamiliar situation within an eight-minute station. Explain your reasoning, consider the people affected and use relevant examples from your school, work or community experience.
Reflect on your motivation for medicine and how you respond to uncertainty, feedback and teamwork. Aim for clear, thoughtful responses in your own words.
NIE’s medical interview preparation provides opportunities to practise structured responses and receive feedback.
Explore One-on-One Medical Interview TrainingNewcastle Medicine: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study medicine at Newcastle straight after Year 12?
Yes. The five-year Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine Joint Medical Program accepts eligible school leavers without a previous degree. It is delivered jointly by the University of Newcastle and the University of New England.
What ATAR and UCAT score do I need for Newcastle medicine?
The standard academic threshold is ATAR 94.30 or equivalent. Applicants eligible under the Rural Bonus Scheme may meet the academic requirement with ATAR 85.00. Standard UCAT shortlisting uses Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning; Situational Judgement is excluded for 2027 entry. Cut-offs depend on the applicant cohort.
When are Newcastle medicine interview invitations and interviews for 2027 entry?
The official calendar lists invitations in mid-November 2026 and domestic in-person assessments from 30 November to 11 December 2026. It lists the week beginning 11 January 2027 for Excellence through Equity and Regional Excellence pathway assessments. Follow your invitation for the exact appointment.
Is the Newcastle medicine interview an MMI, MSA or panel interview?
The JMP calls its interview the Multiple Skills Assessment, or MSA. It uses rotating stations with scenarios or activities, similar to an MMI. The main admissions page specifies eight-minute stations but does not confirm a fixed station count for 2027. Domestic assessment is in person; international MSA is conducted through Zoom.
Does living in a rural area automatically qualify me for the ATAR 85 threshold?
No. The Rural Bonus Scheme academic threshold is linked to completing Year 12 at a designated rural or remote school. The Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme considers residential history and can provide a lower UCAT interview threshold. These are separate eligibility rules.
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.