How Universities Use Your UCAT Score: A State-by-State Guide

Your UCAT score is one of the most important numbers in your medical school application — but what universities actually do with that number varies enormously. Some schools use it as a hard cutoff. Others rank every applicant by score. Still others fold it into a weighted formula alongside your ATAR or GPA and interview performance. If you’re applying to medicine in Australia (or New Zealand), understanding how each institution uses your UCAT result is essential to building a smart, targeted application strategy.

This guide breaks it all down, state by state and university by university.

How Universities Use UCAT: The Three Main Models

Before diving into the specifics, it helps to understand the three broad approaches Australian medical schools take when incorporating UCAT into their admissions process.

(a) Cutoff / Threshold Model

Under this model, the university sets a minimum UCAT score (or score band) that applicants must meet to progress to the next stage of selection. Falling below the cutoff means your application goes no further, regardless of your ATAR or GPA. The cutoff is often not published in advance — it is determined each year based on the applicant pool.

(b) Ranking by Score Model

Here, applicants are ranked purely or primarily by their UCAT score. The highest-scoring candidates are invited to interview, and interview performance then determines final offers. Your UCAT score essentially determines whether you get a seat at the interview table.

© Combined Score Model

The most nuanced approach: universities calculate a composite score that weights UCAT alongside academic results (ATAR or GPA) and sometimes interview performance. Each component is assigned a percentage weighting, and your final ranking is based on the combined total. This model rewards well-rounded applicants rather than those who excel in a single area.

State-by-State Breakdown

New South Wales (NSW)

UNSW Medicine

UNSW offers a graduate-entry medical programme (MD) and uses UCAT as part of its selection process for undergraduate applicants through its Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine (BMedSci/MD) pathway. For school leavers, UCAT is used alongside ATAR to determine eligibility for interview. UNSW typically applies a UCAT cutoff — applicants below a certain percentile threshold are not progressed. Those who meet the threshold are then ranked using a combination of ATAR and UCAT score. Interview performance (using a Multiple Mini Interview format) forms the final stage of selection.

Western Sydney University (WSU) — School of Medicine

WSU’s undergraduate medicine programme uses UCAT as a key selection tool. Applicants must sit the UCAT ANZ and meet a minimum score threshold to be considered. WSU places significant weight on UCAT performance when shortlisting candidates for interview. The university is known for its commitment to training doctors for underserved communities, and selection also considers rural and regional background through bonus schemes. After interview, a holistic ranking determines final offers.

University of Newcastle / University of New England — Joint Medical Program (JMP)

The Joint Medical Program is a unique partnership between the University of Newcastle and the University of New England. UCAT is a mandatory component of the application. The JMP uses UCAT scores to rank applicants and determine interview eligibility. A minimum UCAT score threshold applies, and applicants are ranked by UCAT score within their applicant category (e.g., school leaver, rural). The interview is a significant component of the final selection decision. The JMP has a strong rural health focus, and rural applicants may be assessed in a separate pool.

Victoria (VIC)

Monash University — Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (BMedSc-MD)

Monash uses UCAT as part of a combined selection index for its undergraduate medicine pathway. The selection index is calculated using a weighted combination of ATAR and UCAT score. Applicants who achieve a sufficiently high selection index are invited to interview. The interview (Monash uses a panel interview format) then contributes to the final ranking. Monash does not publish a fixed UCAT cutoff, but in practice, competitive applicants typically score in the upper percentile ranges. Graduate applicants are assessed through a separate pathway using GPA and GAMSAT.

Queensland (QLD)

University of Queensland (UQ) — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

UQ’s undergraduate MBBS programme uses UCAT in a two-stage process. In the first stage, applicants must meet a minimum UCAT score threshold to be eligible for interview. UQ publishes indicative UCAT score bands each year, giving applicants a sense of the competitive range. In the second stage, shortlisted applicants are ranked using a combination of ATAR (or equivalent) and UCAT score to determine interview offers. Final selection is based on interview performance. UQ is one of Australia’s most competitive medical schools, and UCAT scores in the top two or three bands are typically required to be competitive.

Griffith University — Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Griffith offers both undergraduate and graduate-entry medicine. For its undergraduate programme, UCAT is used alongside ATAR to rank applicants. A minimum UCAT score applies, and applicants are shortlisted for interview based on a combined ATAR/UCAT ranking. Griffith’s MD (graduate entry) uses GPA and GAMSAT rather than UCAT. The undergraduate programme has a strong focus on community-based and primary care medicine.

South Australia (SA)

University of Adelaide — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

The University of Adelaide uses UCAT as a threshold tool for its undergraduate MBBS. Applicants must achieve a minimum UCAT score to be eligible for interview consideration. Beyond the threshold, ATAR is the primary academic ranking tool used to shortlist candidates for interview. Interview performance (using a Multiple Mini Interview format) then determines final offers. Adelaide is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious medical schools, and competition is fierce — both ATAR and UCAT scores need to be strong.

Flinders University — Bachelor of Clinical Sciences / Doctor of Medicine (BClSc/MD)

Flinders University uses UCAT as part of its undergraduate medicine selection process. Applicants must sit UCAT ANZ and meet a minimum score requirement. Flinders uses a combined ranking of ATAR and UCAT to shortlist applicants for interview. The interview is a significant component of the final selection. Flinders also has a dedicated rural pathway (Flinders Rural Health SA) with separate selection criteria.

Western Australia (WA)

University of Western Australia (UWA) — Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) / Doctor of Medicine

UWA’s pathway to medicine involves completing a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) degree before entering the MD programme. For the undergraduate entry, UCAT is used alongside ATAR to determine eligibility. UWA applies a UCAT threshold, and applicants who meet it are ranked using a combined ATAR/UCAT score. The MD entry (graduate) uses GPA and GAMSAT. UWA is highly competitive, and strong performance in both ATAR and UCAT is essential for undergraduate applicants.

Curtin University — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

Curtin’s MBBS programme uses UCAT as a key selection criterion. Applicants must meet a minimum UCAT score to progress. Curtin uses a combined selection score incorporating ATAR and UCAT to rank applicants for interview. The programme has a strong focus on rural and remote health, and bonus points may apply for rural applicants. Interview performance contributes to the final offer decision.

Tasmania (TAS)

University of Tasmania (UTAS) — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

UTAS uses UCAT as part of its undergraduate MBBS selection. Applicants must sit UCAT ANZ and achieve a minimum score to be considered. UTAS ranks applicants using a combination of ATAR and UCAT score to determine interview eligibility. The interview is then a major factor in final selection. UTAS has a relatively smaller cohort, making it somewhat less numerically competitive than some larger schools, but strong UCAT performance is still important. UTAS also has pathways for rural and Tasmanian-background applicants.

Other / National Programmes

Charles Sturt University (CSU) — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

CSU’s MBBS programme is specifically designed to train doctors for rural and regional communities. UCAT is a required component of the application. CSU uses UCAT alongside ATAR to rank applicants and determine interview eligibility. The programme has a strong preference for applicants with a genuine rural background, and selection criteria reflect this. Interview performance is a key part of the final decision.

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

USQ’s MBBS programme uses UCAT as part of its selection process. Applicants must meet a minimum UCAT score threshold. USQ ranks eligible applicants using a combination of ATAR and UCAT, with shortlisted candidates progressing to interview. The programme has a regional focus and considers rural background as part of its holistic selection approach.

University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

USC’s MBBS is a newer programme with a strong community and regional health focus. UCAT is required, and applicants must meet a minimum score to be considered. USC uses a combined ATAR/UCAT ranking to shortlist applicants for interview. The interview stage is weighted heavily in the final selection decision.

CQUniversity (CQU) — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

CQU’s MBBS programme targets students committed to rural and regional medicine. UCAT is a mandatory requirement, and a minimum score threshold applies. CQU uses UCAT alongside ATAR to rank applicants for interview. Rural background and commitment to regional practice are important selection considerations alongside academic and UCAT performance.

New Zealand

University of Auckland — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest medical school and uses UCAT ANZ as a core selection tool. For school leavers, UCAT is used alongside academic results (NCEA or equivalent) to rank applicants. Auckland applies a UCAT threshold, and applicants who meet it are ranked using a combined academic/UCAT score. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview. Auckland is highly competitive, and UCAT scores in the upper percentile ranges are typically required. International and Australian applicants are assessed in a separate pool.

University of Otago — Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)

Otago uses a unique two-stage selection process. In the first year, all applicants complete a Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) programme. UCAT ANZ is required and is used alongside HSFY academic results to rank applicants for entry into second year medicine. UCAT is weighted as a significant component of the selection index. Otago does not use a traditional interview for undergraduate entry — the combined UCAT and academic score determines progression. This makes UCAT performance particularly critical at Otago.

Tips for Maximising Your UCAT Score

Given how much rides on your UCAT result, preparation is non-negotiable. Here are five practical tips to help you perform at your best:

• Start early and practise consistently. The UCAT rewards familiarity with question types and time pressure. Begin your preparation at least three to four months before your test date and practise regularly rather than cramming.
• Focus on your weakest subtests. The UCAT has five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, and Situational Judgement. Identify where you’re losing the most marks and target those areas specifically.
• Simulate real test conditions. Practise under timed conditions from the start. The UCAT is as much a test of speed and composure as it is of ability — you need to be comfortable working quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Review your mistakes strategically. Don’t just note what you got wrong — understand why you got it wrong and what strategy would have led to the correct answer. Quality of review matters more than quantity of questions attempted.
• Look after yourself in the lead-up. Sleep, nutrition, and stress management all affect cognitive performance. Treat your UCAT preparation like an athletic training programme — recovery is part of the process.

Prepare with MasterMed

Your UCAT score can open doors — or close them. The difference between a competitive score and a borderline one often comes down to the quality of your preparation.

MasterMed is Australia’s trusted UCAT preparation resource, designed specifically to help aspiring medical students perform at their peak. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to push your score into the top percentile, MasterMed offers structured courses, realistic practice materials, and expert guidance tailored to the Australian and New Zealand medical admissions landscape.

Visit mastermed.com.au to explore UCAT preparation courses and resources. Give yourself the best possible chance of securing your place in medicine — start preparing with MasterMed today.