What Parents Need to Know About Undergraduate Medical Admission

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Is your child considering a career in medicine? It’s a highly rewarding and respected path one pursued by some of the most ambitious and dedicated students.

However, gaining admission is extremely competitive, with thousands of applicants to medical schools each year and only a limited number of places available. That’s why your support and guidance during this stage are more important than ever.

In this article, we’ll explore the different pathways into medicine, with a focus on undergraduate applications. We’ll also break down key requirements such as the UCAT, and share how your child can maximise their chances of success.

Pathways To Medicine In Australia

In Australia, there are two main pathways into medicine, the undergraduate, often referred to as direct entry, and the graduate route. Both having slightly different requirements but highly competitive entry.

To filter the large number of applications medical programs receive, universities usually have strict cut-offs around academic and test scores. Academic success, high aptitude test scores and exemplary interview performances are required for both pathways.

Undergraduate Medicine In Australia

For the undergraduate (direct entry) route, students apply during or after Year 12, with their ATAR playing a key role. An ATAR below 90 is generally considered too low for most medical programs, and nearly all universities also require the UCAT.

The UCAT is a two-hour aptitude test made up of five sections, assessing skills such as numerical reasoning, comprehension, and pattern recognition. It is scored out of 900, with scores above 670 typically considered competitive for medicine.

Undergraduate applications are usually based on the ATAR and UCAT alone. If successful, candidates are invited to a medical interview, which varies by university but generally assesses maturity, communication, and professionalism.

Selection is made holistically, considering the ATAR, UCAT, and interview performance. The undergraduate pathway is often preferred as it takes 5–6 years to complete, compared to at least 7 years via the graduate route—saving 1–2 years.

Graduate Medicine In Australia

The graduate entry route involves applying to medicine after completing an undergraduate degree. Applicants can come from a wide range of backgrounds, provided they meet the university’s prerequisites.

Graduate applications, like undergraduate applications, begin with two scores, the GPA and the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) applications are assessed on these scores. The GAMSAT serves as the aptitude test, while GPA reflects academic performance. Based on these results, candidates may be invited to interview, with final decisions made holistically.

Rather than being alternatives, the undergraduate and graduate pathways simply suit different levels of readiness and certainty. Students who are sure about medicine can apply directly after high school, and if unsuccessful, can re-apply via the graduate route later. Those who are unsure can take time to explore other options before applying.

The graduate route also offers flexibility, as there is no strict time limit you can apply after a degree, years later, or even after completing a PhD.

Undergraduate Medical Applications

The undergraduate route to medicine requires early preparation, although very few people are sure about what they want to do in life in high school. The level of motivation, maturity, and aptitude required of undergraduate medicine applicants requires one to be well-prepared, focused.

Getting a high ATAR and UCAT score is crucial to an undergraduate application. The UCAT needs to be studied alongside an already demanding Year 12 curriculum. This can mean making sacrifices, which some year 12s may not be ready to do.

Nonetheless, a few exceptional students are able to pull it off. It might be hard, but it is certainly possible with the right preparation.

Your Child’s ATAR Requirement For Medicine In Australia

The ATAR score is a rank that all Year 12 students get based on their performance in Year 11 and 12 exams. The ATAR is a rank, expressed as a percentile. For instance, an ATAR of 70 means that one was in the top 30% of their year group in Australia. Medical schools use the ATAR to rank applicants.

ATAR results are made up of 50% school examinations and 50% exams. This 50-50 split means that a student’s performance needs to be consistently high throughout the year.

A parent's role in this is as crucial as the students' role. You need to ensure that your child is provided with all the resources, time, and comfort to be able to perform consistently. Play your part by consistently offering them encouragement to keep them motivated.

Preparing My Child For UCAT

The UCAT is a compulsory aptitude test for most undergraduate medical schools in Australia. It assesses key skills needed for medical study and is just two hours long, requiring strong focus and plenty of practice.

Unlike traditional exams, the UCAT does not test subject content. All sections are designed to be answered without prior knowledge, except for quantitative reasoning, which involves basic maths. This makes it challenging for many high school students who are used to content-based exams.

Because of this, standard high school exam strategies are not effective. The UCAT requires a different approach and careful preparation, making it unfamiliar territory for most students and requiring dedicated support and planning.

How Can My Child Get A High UCAT Score?

So how does a high school student do well in the UCAT? The answer lies not only in practice because students often hit a plateau with their scores not knowing how to improve further.

Specific exam strategies are required to think appropriately and effectively to solve questions, such as those in verbal reasoning and pattern recognition.

Fraser’s offer a range of UCAT courses, ranging from quick Weekend Strategy courses to a Comprehensive study scheme that provides over 10 hours of one-on-one tutoring. We have experienced tutors, who have been teaching successful UCAT strategies for a number of years.

The variety and expertise we offer means that depending on your circumstances, you can pick the course that’s right for you and your child.

Because of the nature of the UCAT exam and the difficult schedule that a lot of Year 12 students have, it is worth investing in getting professional help for UCAT preparation. This could be the difference in your child getting into medicine.

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The Medical School Interview

The initial application comprises the ATAR and UCAT, with offers for medical interview being offered to a select group of candidates. Invitations to interview are made predominantly on the basis of ATAR and UCAT scores.

From that stage onwards, the decision of UCAT, ATAR, and interview weighting varies from medical school to medical school. It could be that case that some schools will weigh one’s interview performance higher, and therefore, even with high academic and aptitude scores, one could be rejected.

Hence, it is best to think of the process as the ATAR and UCAT getting one to the interview stage, and from that stage onwards, everything depends on how impressed the admission committee are with your child’s personality, motivation, and awareness demonstrated in their interview.

Other Considerations For Your Child’s Med School Admission

There are other factors that will also influence your child’s chances of getting into medicine. The first of these is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status. There are reserved positions from students from Aboriginal backgrounds, and preference is given to such students over other ethnicities.

The second factor is rurality. Medical schools generally give preference to applicants from rural or regional areas of Australia. The reason for this is the shortage of doctors in those areas. In order to classify as a rural applicant, you need to either be residing in a rural area for a cumulative period of ten years, or five or more consecutive years at any point in your child’s life.

Some universities offer dedicated pathways for rural applicants, such as Tasmania and Monash. A rural status could increase your child’s chances of securing a place in medical school, therefore it is worth-while considering whether or not they qualify.

How Do I Help My Child Apply To Medical School?

The process for undergraduate medical applications depends on where your child is applying in Australia. Applications for undergraduate medicine are usually made through portals, such as VTAC and UAC.

VTAC covers Victorian undergraduate applications, whereas UAC mainly covers ACT and NSW. There are similar portals that exist for applications to South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, some universities, such as Tasmania, require submission through their own dedicated portals.

Because application processes vary from university to university, it is best to check the process on the admissions webpage before applying.

Generally, the application process will involve filling out an application form with personal details and providing details of ATAR and UCAT scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many years does it take to become a doctor?

• The undergraduate pathway is often preferred as it takes 5–6 years to complete, compared to at least 7 years via the graduate route therefore completing a undergraduate medical degree saves you 1-2 years.

What if my child doesn't get into undergraduate medicine?

• This is very common. Undergraduate medicine is extremely competitive and receiving an offer is rare. If your child doesn't get into undergraduate medicine they can complete another degree such as biomedicine and then apply for postgraduate medicine. This isn't always a bad thing, as it gives your child more time to prepare for the demanding nature of medicine study.

Whats the difference between undergraduate and postgraduate medicine?

• Undergraduate medicine is a direct-entry pathway you apply for straight after high school, typically based on your ATAR, UCAT score, and interview performance. Postgraduate medicine requires you to first complete a university degree, after which admission is based on your GPA, GAMSAT score, and interview.

Where To From Here?

This article provided a bird’s eye view to medical school applications in Australia, focusing particularly on undergraduate applications.

We hope you found this article helpful, and we would be more than happy to field any further questions that you may have regarding UCAT and your child’s application to medicine. To learn more about the UCAT and its preparation strategies, visit our website and read our range of freely resourced articles to gain an in-depth understanding of the exam.

We have listed various articles bellow that look at each of these entry pathways in more detail:

• Undergraduate Medicine Guide to VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre)
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medicine Guide To UAC (Universities Admissions Centre)
• UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Tips and Tricks
• 3 Study Tips and Tricks to get a High ATAR for Medicine
• UCAT Prep Timeline: How long do I need to prepare for UCAT?

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