How to Get Into Medicine
The Complete Australian Guide
School-leaver vs postgraduate pathways, GAMSAT, GEMSAS, GPA, combo scores, CASPer, MMI - everything you need to know about Australian medical school admissions.
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Two Pathways Into Medicine
Medicine has undergraduate and graduate entry pathways. Some undergraduate places are restricted to school leavers; others also consider applicants with tertiary study. Graduate-entry courses generally require a completed degree, with eligibility and selection rules set by each school.
Starting university does not automatically close every undergraduate medicine route. Each school defines school-leaver and non-school-leaver eligibility differently; some assess previous tertiary study. Check the amount of completed study and the pathway rules before choosing a degree or a gap year.
JCU application requirements · Newcastle academic eligibility
Selected admissions facts checked : UCAT ANZ format, Australian GAMSAT validity, domestic JCU and UNSW selection, undergraduate eligibility and domestic full-fee availability. Other admissions details need their own verification. See the official sources beside each updated section.
The Postgraduate Pathway - Step by Step
- Complete an undergraduate degree (3-4 years). Any discipline qualifies - biomedical science, arts, engineering, music, anything.
- Sit the GAMSAT in March or September. Most universities accept both sittings. See our GAMSAT scoring guide.
- Apply through GEMSAS - the centralised portal for most Australian MD programs.
- Your GEMSAS GPA is calculated - almost certainly different from your university GPA. Read why.
- Your combo score (GPA + GAMSAT) determines whether you're invited to interview at most schools. CASPer is only part of postgraduate selection for UoW, Notre Dame Sydney and Notre Dame Fremantle.
- Interview and receive an offer - ideally a CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place), which dramatically reduces fees.
School-Leaver Entry
Undergraduate medicine selection varies by school and applicant pathway. Many programs consider academic results, UCAT ANZ and an interview, but UCAT is not universal: JCU medicine does not use it. Interview formats, thresholds and weightings also differ. Check the published policy for your entry year rather than applying one score target or interview formula to every school.
JCU application requirements · Newcastle academic eligibility
Interview performance can materially affect selection, but the weighting depends on the school and pathway. Meeting academic or test thresholds does not guarantee an interview or offer. Check the published selection policy before deciding where to focus your preparation.
What Makes an Application Competitive?
The core academic components for postgraduate entry are GEMSAS GPA (the higher the better - aim for 6.5+ on the GEMSAS scale) and GAMSAT (a weighted score of 65+ puts you in a competitive range). Most postgraduate schools then use an interview, usually MMI. CASPer is different: for graduate-entry medicine it is used only by UoW, Notre Dame Sydney and Notre Dame Fremantle, and is not considered by the other postgraduate universities.
The combo benchmark of approximately 1.68 determines interview eligibility at most schools. Below this, your options narrow significantly - though important exceptions exist.
Enter your GPA and GAMSAT to compare your profile across the major Australian medical schools using self-reported interview outcome data for 2026 entry.
Where to Start
If you're early in this process, start with the complete free guide which covers every chapter in detail. If you're already preparing, try the CASPer & MMI practice tool and GAMSAT Section 2 platform. MMI station practice is free. Each account includes one free Premium MMI review. Ongoing reviews use paid credits or MMI Pro.
Your next step as a school-leaver applicant
Match your preparation to your chosen pathway and its published interview format. Use the undergraduate medicine interview preparation guide and check invitation and interview dates for 2027 entry.