Undergraduate Entry Pathways into Medicine in Australia: Your guide to UCAT & Med interviews
Although the process for undergraduate medicine may seem never-ending, the process of entering undergrad medicine is a path to a career that is truly unlike any other. While intellectually rewarding and stimulating for those who undertake it, what is perhaps the biggest pleasure will be your potential to apply your skills in a clinical environment to real patients and people.
Unlike most other university courses, applying for undergraduate medicine has a few more steps to get you in the door. This includes the UCAT exam and most likely a follow-up interview.
This article will go through all you need to know for the UCAT exam and the interview process you will face when applying for med school in 2025.
Need more information about the application process and the pathways available for you to enter undergraduate medicine? Be sure to check out part 1 of this article here: 'Undergraduate Entry Pathways into Medicine in Australia: The application process.'
UCAT Specifications for 2025
The UCAT exam is a highly time-strenuous exam that seeks to assess your mental faculties. It is a two-hour, computer-based test, divided into 5 subsections:
- UCAT Verbal Reasoning
- UCAT Decision Making
- UCAT Quantitative Reasoning
- UCAT Abstract Reasoning
- UCAT Situational Judgement
Ultimately, the UCAT test is identified by many undergraduate medical schools as crucial to understanding a student's potential in the fields of medicine and dentistry.
But how many times can you sit the UCAT?
Unfortunately, the exam can only be sat once per year, so it is crucial that you optimise your performance. To do this, the Fraser’s UCAT team offers multiple sources to assist with your understanding of the UCAT test format and overall UCAT exam preparation. Namely, we offer an abundance of free blog articles, preparation materials such as practice exams, as well as highly-skilled tutors who understand this exam and application process inside and out.
But as you wait for the outcome of your UCAT exam, it is important not to forget the utmost importance of your high school studies, as these scores are still taken into consideration with your undergraduate medicine application.
Undergraduate Medical Interviews
You will hear about your interview offer at the end of December when you receive your ATAR, after which, the UCAT Consortium has communicated your results to universities. This is when universities finally are able to holistically assess the suitability of your application to proceed into this final interview phase. Should you secure an interview for undergrad medicine, it is crucial that you start to prepare for your medicine interview as your performance in your interview is yet another crucial factor for your overall success.
Medical school interviews are a critical component of the medicine admission process, conducted to assess an applicant’s potential and quality as a future medical professional.
There are two main interview formats for entry into any medical program in Australia.
- A panel interview consists of a conversation based on broad topics with multiple interviewers. The conversation will be a guided discussion which seeks to primarily assess your intentions as a potential medical student, communication skills, professionalism, and ability to think on your feet.
- Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) involves students rotating between 6-10 stations of 5-8 minutes each, where each station will have a different focus. MMI questions tend to be posed as part of a main prompt listed outside the interview room, and are ultimately posed to push your moral limits.
Undergraduate Medicine Australia Key Dates for 2025
Almost all admission centres hold deadlines for applications to each of their provided undergraduate degrees at respective universities. This is usually by the last working day of September. Additionally, payment for application to these universities must be paid before their due dates, or your application may be deferred to later round offers, which is less than ideal!
The official UCAT dates for 2025 are as follows:
| Key Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| UCAT Registration Opening Date | Early March 2025 |
| UCAT Registration Closing Date | Mid March 2025 |
| UCAT Testing Period | Early July 2025 - Mid August 2025 |
| Results Released to Universities | Early September 2025 |
Subsequently, you should hear of your interview results by late December, and undergo said interview process by early January.
Where To Next?
- Check out some of our Free Tools and UCAT Articles!
- Or visit our Online UCAT Atlas, featuring written guides, video tutorials, and model answers.
- If you need guidance on preparing for your UCAT in 2025, enrol into one of our ultimate UCAT online courses - get a chance to learn from expert tutors!
Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!