FAQs
Last Updated: 31 March 2025
Frequently Asked Questions - Domestic
Eligibility
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How many places are there?
Approximately 234 domestic places, of which 30 make up our Extended Rural Cohort (ERC) and approximately 67 are part of the Bonded Medical Program (BMP).
What English do I need to take in Year 12?
You can meet the English requirement with a raw study score of at least 30 in VCE English, English Language, or Literature, or with a raw study score of at least 35 in English as an Additional Language (EAL), or equivalent.
I didn’t undertake Chemistry in Year 12. What can I do?
Year 12 Chemistry is a requirement for direct entry medicine. If you did not take Chemistry in Year 12, and considering that you cannot have undertaken any tertiary study, we would recommend taking a gap year and re-applying after completing either:
- VCE Chemistry at TAFE as a single subject; or
- UNL21: UniLearn Chemistry (with a final grade of at least 60%).
Do I need Year 12 Biology for entry to this course?
Students are not required to undertake Biology in Year 12 for admissions into this program. However, students who are accepted into this program but have not completed Year 12 Biology are strongly advised to undertake the free fully online Biology bridging program that commences in mid-January each year, in order to catch up with students who will enter the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine program with a strong background in Biology. Students should be prepared to spend 20-30 hours per week for a period of 5-7 weeks [depending on the starting time of the course]. As soon as you are accepted in the program, please register into the program by emailing biology-bridging-course@monash.edu
Does participating in an Extension Program affect my eligibility?
No. Students who have passed units in an extension program at a tertiary institution can still apply for direct entry medicine. These extension programs are exempt from the 'no tertiary study' requirement for this course.
Can I apply if I commenced tertiary study, but withdrew before census date?
Yes. As long as you deferred or withdrew from your study before the first census date, and so did not incur any tuition fees, you are still eligible to apply for our direct entry medicine program.
Can I transfer into medicine from another course?
No, you cannot transfer into the medicine course. Admission requires that students not have commenced tertiary study. Students currently studying a university degree who are interested in pursuing medical studies should view information about our Graduate Entry Medicine program instead.
Is there any subject bonus for entry to this course?
No. Subject bonuses are not granted for this course.
Can I apply using a Foundation Studies program?
We do not accept Foundation Year programs to meet entry requirements for domestic applicants.
What is my aggregate score compared to my ATAR score?
ATAR percentile ranks and aggregate scores are calculated by your states tertiary admissions centre, i.e. VTAC, UAC, SATAC etc. Your aggregate is the total of your scaled study scores. Aggregates are then placed on a percentile scale with intervals of 0.05, which converts the aggregates to ATARs.
Your ATAR is an overall percentile rank which reflects a student’s Year 12 achievement compared to the age group in a given year. It is not a score. It is important to note that students with the same ATAR can have different aggregate scores. It is the aggregate score that is used to assess an applicant’s eligibility for entry into medicine at Monash University, not the ATAR rank.
Please search the VTAC website to view the latest Aggregate to ATAR comparison table for Victorian students.
Example: two students with the same ATAR rank and UCAT result may not both receive an invitation to interview in January. *Please note that scores depicted below are for example purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of interview eligibility.
Arjun and Emma are both non-rural domestic applicants with an ATAR of 99.10 and a UCAT ANZ total score of 3000. Despite having the same ATAR, Arjun’s aggregate score was 193.57 while Emma’s aggregate score was 192.97. As a result, Emma's overall rank is lower than Arjun’s.
I didn't get the UCAT score I was aiming for. What can I do?
You are unable to re-sit your UCAT in any given year, but you can take a gap year and sit the test again in the following year. Don't forget, you are eligible to re-apply for direct entry medicine as long as you completed Year 12 no more than two years before course commencement and have not started any other tertiary study (including at Certificate IV level).
Applications
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I have to complete compulsory National Military Service. When should I apply?
To apply for direct entry Medicine, students are required to have completed their Year 12 no more than 2 years prior to course commencement.
The only exception to this rule is for students who must complete compulsory national service immediately following their Year 12 studies. Any such student must commence in the first available intake after their operationally ready date (ORD). To provide further clarity, the latest intake such an applicant may apply for is outlined below:
- For applicants with an operationally ready date (ORD) on or before 31 January, they must apply to commence in the Feb/Mar intake of that year.
- For applicants with an operationally ready date (ORD) after 31 January, they may apply to commence in the Feb/Mar intake of the following year.
Please note, it is strongly preferred that applicants wait until their last year of national service to apply.
Example 1
An applicant completes Year 12 in August 2021. They commence a two-year period of compulsory military service in January 2022 and are released from service in January 2024. The latest intake this applicant can apply for is Feb/Mar 2024 (the intake immediately following their release from compulsory military service). They would not be considered should they apply for any later intake.
Example 2
An applicant completes Year 12 in June 2022. They commence a two-year period of compulsory military service in October of that same year and are released from service in October 2024. The latest intake this applicant can apply for is Feb/Mar 2025 (the intake immediately following their release from compulsory military service). They would not be considered should they apply for any later intake.
Are volunteer or extracurricular activities viewed favourably on my application?
The only things that are considered as part of your application are your VTAC aggregate (including any adjustment factors, e.g. SEAS), UCAT ANZ total score, and your interview performance. However, having volunteer or extracurricular experience may give you a broader perspective on challenges felt in communities served by health professions and so provide you with greater insight in an interview.
Will my VTAC preference order affect my chances of an offer?
No, your VTAC preference order will not affect your chances of receiving an offer. This applies to all three Medicine preference options:
- 2800311231: Medicine - School Leaver Entry
- 2800311261: Medicine - CSP Extended Rural Cohort School Leaver Entry
- 2800311251: Medicine - CSP Bonded School Leaver Entry
We cannot advise you which options you should choose or how you should order your preferences. We do recommend, however, that you order your preferences based on which courses you are most interested in. You can only receive one offer in each VTAC round, and that will be the highest listed course you are selected for.
If I put down CSP, ERC and BMP, does that use up 3 of my VTAC preferences?
Yes. CSP, BMP, and ERC all have different course codes in VTAC and so each use up a single VTAC preference.
Can I change my VTAC preferences after the timely deadline?
You can change your VTAC preferences during any of the change of preference periods. Please note, however, that once timely applications have closed, you must maintain at least one Monash Medicine preference in VTAC at all times. If you remove Monash Medicine from your preferences altogether after the timely application deadline, you will not be able to add it back in.
Interviews
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Will I be required to attend the interview (MMI) in-person or via Zoom?
Interviews will be held online via Zoom only. Interview dates are provided on our website.
I am re-applying for this course. Can I take the interview again?
Applicants for this course are only allowed to attend the MMI once. Those who are re-applying for this course and have previously attended an interview for this course are not eligible to attend the interview again. Instead, the results from their previous interview will be used.
My UCAT is below the December MMI cut-off. Can I still be considered?
If your UCAT ANZ total score is slightly below the cut-offs for our December round interviews, remember that you will still be considered for an interview in January. The ranking for January interviews is based on both your UCAT ANZ total score and ATAR aggregate including any adjustment factors.
While you may not meet the cut-off for an interview in December, a January interview may be possible depending on your ATAR aggregate relative to other applicants. Please note, if your UCAT ANZ total score is well below the cut-off, the chances of being interviewed in January are unlikely.
I did not get an invitation to December interviews. Can I still be considered?
Yes, you will still be considered for a January interview if you keep Monash medicine in your VTAC preferences. However, you will be ranked for interview on a combination of UCAT and aggregate score.
Are students who interview in December assessed differently for entry?
No. Once ATAR results have been released, the aggregate score for each applicant will be combined with their MMI and UCAT test scores, regardless of when the applicant has been interviewed. All three scores will be combined to determine overall ranking prior to offers being made.
I didn't get an interview but know of someone with a lower ATAR/UCAT who did
With only limited interview places available, competition is always extremely strong.
Please be reminded that for January domestic interviews, we are not looking at ATAR (which is a rank), but rather aggregate score. Further, we are looking at the aggregate after any adjustments (e.g. SEAS and/or Elite Student Athlete and Performer Entry Scheme). While a student may have a lower, or equal, raw ATAR, it is possible that their aggregate after adjustment has exceeded yours such as to outweigh any potential difference in your UCAT total score.
How do I prepare for the interview?
We do not endorse any external coaching for the MMI. There is no expectation of clinical knowledge, and there are no right or wrong answers. Instead, the interview is based on your thoughts and views of several different real world scenarios that you are presented with. As the interview is conducted online using Zoom, we do encourage students to practice, and build confidence, in presenting using this format.
Other common queries
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Can I defer an offer?
Requests to defer will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should note that deferrals will not be allowed except under exceptional circumstances.
What's the difference between BMP and ERC?
There are three course codes for direct entry medicine at Monash, displayed in VTAC as:
- 2800311231 CSP School Leaver Entry
- 2800311261 CSP Bonded School Leaver Entry
- 2800311251 CSP Extended Rural Cohort School Leaver Entry
These are more commonly referred to as CSP, BMP and ERC respectively. All students follow the same standard 5-year full-time course structure and graduate with the same degree - Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine. Years 1 and 2 are your pre-clinical years, and are taught on our Clayton campus. Years 3 - 5 consist of your clinical training and will see students placed in hospitals and community-based practices across Victoria.
ERC students are required to spend at least 2.5 of their 3 clinical training years at hospitals and health services in regional and rural Victoria, and may choose to do 1 semester in metropolitan Melbourne. CSP and BMP students have no such obligation, but rural clinical placements are available for interested students.
BMP students are required, upon graduation, to work in an eligible regional, rural and remote area for 3 years after they complete their course. This ‘return of service obligation’ (RoSO) is a contractual agreement with the Federal Government, and can be completed over an 18-year period. CSP and ERC students have no such obligation, but may , of course, work in rural and regional areas should they wish.
In summary:
- Obligation to undertake clinical years in rural and regional Victoria: ERC only
- Obligation to work in a rural or regional area upon graduation: BMP only
If my question is not covered here, where can I go?
Please email future@monash.edu