FAQs
Last Updated: 30 May 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
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I didn’t undertake Chemistry in Year 12. What can I do?
Year 12 Chemistry (or equivalent) is a requirement to be considered for direct entry medicine. If you have not taken Chemistry in Year 12, and considering that you cannot have undertaken any tertiary study (including Certificate IV) to be considered for this program, 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?
Year 12 Biology is recommended but is not a requirement. If you have not taken Year 12 Biology, however, we recommend that you undertake the 5-week Monash Biology Bridging course online before the medicine program commences. This will enable you to 'catch up' with other students who enter medicine with a sound background in biology. This online course is optional and free of charge. Email biology-bridging-course@monash.edu for details.
Does participating in an Extension Program affect my eligiblity?
No, students who have passed units in the Monash Extension program or an extension program at other tertiary institutions can still apply for direct entry medicine. These extension programs are exempt from the 'no tertiary study' requirement for this course.
Is there any subject bonus for entry to this course?
No. Subject bonuses are not granted for this course.
How to apply
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Can I transfer into medicine at Monash?
Unfortunately, Monash University does not accept transfers into the Direct Entry Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. Students currently studying a university degree who are interested in pursuing medical studies should view information about our Graduate Entry Medical program instead.
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. The only exception to this rule is provided to students who have compulsory national service that they must complete immediately following their Year 12 studies. For these applicants we allow them to apply up to 3 years after completing their Year 12 studies.
For example, an applicant completes Year 12 in July 2021. They commence a two year period of compulsory military service in October of that same year and are released from service in October 2023. The latest intake this applicant can apply for is 2024 (the year immediately following their release from compulsory military service). They would not be considered should they apply for any later intake.
Please note, it is strongly preferred that applicants wait to apply until their last year of national service.
Will my VTAC preference order affect my chances of an offer?
We cannot advise you which options you should choose or how you should order your preferences. We do recommend, however, that you select your preferences based on which options you’re most interested in as the VTAC process is designed to give applicants their highest possible successful preference.
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 subject prerequisites), UCAT score and your performance at the interview. 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.
Is it worth spending money on UCAT preparation? How do I best prepare?
We don’t recommend paying for UCAT preparation courses. The UCAT consortium provides free practice tests and preparation material on their website: https://www.ucat.edu.au/ucat-anz/practice-tests/
Should I apply as a domestic or international student?
You are considered a domestic student, and should apply as such, if you identify as any of the following:
- an Australian citizen;
- an Australian permanent resident;
- a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa;
- a New Zealand citizen.
All other applicants, including New Zealand permanent residents, should follow the instructions for international applicants.
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.
Rules
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Can I defer an offer?
Applicants should note that deferrals will not be allowed except under exceptional circumstances. Requests to defer will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
I am re-applying for this course. Can I take the interview again?
Applicants for this course are only allowed to attend the interview once. Those who are re-applying for this course and have previously attended the interview for this course are not eligible to attend the interview again. Instead, the results from their previous interview will be used.
Common scenarios & questions
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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 Year 12 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 still 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.
My UCAT is below the December MMI cut-off. Can I still be considered?
If the UCAT cut-off score for MMI selection is 3000 and you get 2990 or 2985, remember that you might still be considered for an interview in January. This is because the ranking for January interviews is based on your combined UCAT and ATAR aggregate scores. While you don't meet the cut-off for an interview in December, a January interview may be possible depending on your ATAR aggregate score. Please note, however, if your UCAT score is well below the cut-off, the chances of being interviewed in January are lowered.
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 and have not started any other tertiary study (including at Certificate IV level).
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 is a non-rural domestic applicant and has an ATAR of 99.10 and a UCAT test score of 3000.
- Emma is a non-rural domestic applicant and has an ATAR of 99.10 and a UCAT test score of 3000.
Arjun’s aggregate Year 12 score was 193.57 and Emma’s aggregate score was 192.97 so her combined UCAT and aggregate scores make her overall rank lower than Arjun’s.
- Jason is a rural applicant and qualifies for the Dean’s Rural List, having lived in an RA2-5 area for more than 5 consecutive years. He has a UCAT test score of 2750 and will be invited to interview in December. However, the outcome of his application will still depend on his combined UCAT, MMI and final aggregate Year 12 scores.
If my question is not covered here, where can I go?
Please email future@monash.edu