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University of Newcastle Medicine Entry Guide — UCAT, Course Structure & Selection
The University of Newcastle delivers medicine as the 5-year Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine through the Joint Medical Program (JMP) with the University of New England (UAC code 785000). UCAT is required and used to rank applicants for interview; ATAR (94.3+, or 85+ rural) acts only as a minimum threshold, while final offers are based on UCAT, the Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) and the Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA) interview. There are about 170 domestic Commonwealth Supported Places each year (around 48 typically bonded); the course is not currently open to international students.
Get help with your applicationKey Admission Information
Applications (school-leaver, 2026): UCAT ANZ July–August; UAC opens ~8 April, separate direct JMP application opens mid-August; applications close 30 September; MSA interview offers mid-November; in-person MSAs 23 November–4 December; final offers January. Scholarships include the Thomas Brewer Scholarship (~$25k) and Equity/Rural Medicine Scholarships ($2k–$10k). Figures are indicative; confirm against official UON and UAC pages.
Overview: Medicine at University of Newcastle
Medicine at Newcastle is offered as the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine, delivered as the Joint Medical Program (JMP) in partnership with the University of New England — the first jointly run medical program in Australia, taught with Hunter New England Health and the Central Coast Local Health District.
It is one of relatively few Australian universities still offering direct-entry undergraduate medicine for school-leavers: students complete a Bachelor of Medical Science across Years 1–3 before progressing to the Doctor of Medicine in Years 4–5. The JMP is known for problem-based learning, early clinical contact and a strong rural, regional and Indigenous health mission — it has educated more Indigenous medical students than any other Australian university.
Students typically enter via direct undergraduate entry, rural entry support schemes, or lateral / non-standard entry. Compare options in our overview of medical school entry requirements.
How Do You Get Into Medicine at University of Newcastle?
Newcastle uses a multi-stage process for the JMP. Unlike many ATAR-driven schools, it treats academic achievement as a minimum threshold and then ranks applicants on aptitude, personal qualities and interview. Selection considers:
- Academic performance (ATAR must meet the minimum threshold of 94.3, or 85 under the Rural Bonus Scheme)
- UCAT ANZ performance (used to rank applicants for interview — no Situational Judgement subtest)
- Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) — a values-based online assessment
- Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA) interview performance
- Eligibility for rural and equity entry schemes (where applicable)
A key feature: applicants must also lodge a separate direct JMP application in addition to their UAC application — a UAC application alone is not sufficient.
Typical 2026 timeline: UCAT ANZ July–August; UAC opens ~8 April, direct JMP application opens mid-August; applications close 30 September; MSA interview offers mid-November; in-person MSAs 23 November–4 December; final offers January.
Speak with a UCAT advisorWhat Does University of Newcastle Require for Medicine?
The checklist of what you need for the Newcastle Joint Medical Program (undergraduate, school-leaver pathway).
Academic
- Minimum ATAR of 94.3 (a threshold, not a ranking score)
- Rural Bonus Scheme applicants meet the academic requirement at ATAR 85+
- Once you meet the threshold, a higher ATAR does not improve your ranking
Admissions test (UCAT)
- UCAT ANZ required — used to rank applicants for the MSA interview (SJT not used)
- For the final offer, UCAT is combined with PQA and MSA — a weighted criterion, not a tiebreaker
Interview & PQA
- Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA) — an MMI-style interview with ~8 stations, in person at UON or UNE
- Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) — a values-based online assessment completed before the MSA — see interview preparation
Prerequisites & additional requirements
- No Year 12 subject prerequisites
- A separate direct JMP application must be lodged in addition to the UAC application (code 785000)
Special-entry, rural & bonded
- Rural Bonus Scheme: completed Year 12 at a school in a designated rural/remote location — academic requirement met at ATAR 85+
- Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme: 5 consecutive or 10 cumulative years in a rural/remote location (statutory declaration required)
- Excellence through Equity (EtE) and the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) also available
- Bonded Medical Places (BMP): ~48 of the 170 annual places, via a BMP Expression of Interest with the direct JMP application
Entry Pathways to University of Newcastle Medicine
The main route for current Year 12 students. Assessed on the ATAR threshold (94.3, or 85 via the Rural Bonus Scheme), UCAT ANZ (ranks for interview), the PQA and the MSA interview. Applicants must complete both a UAC application (code 785000) and a separate direct JMP application. Interstate qualifications (HSC, QCE, SACE, WACE, IB) assessed via equivalent scaling.
Reflecting Newcastle's rural mission: the Rural Bonus Scheme (based on the location of the high school attended; academic threshold met at ATAR 85+) and the Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme (5 consecutive or 10 cumulative years in a rural/remote location, with a statutory declaration). Rural applicants still complete UCAT, PQA and the MSA.
Open to students from any university and any course. Lateral applicants are assessed on GPA (at least a Credit average, ~5.0), UCAT, PQA and the MSA interview, and must complete both a UAC and a direct JMP application. This pathway is delivered through the UNE (Armidale) arm of the program.
The Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA) Interview & PQA
Newcastle's selection includes two non-academic assessments alongside UCAT: the Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) and the Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA) interview.
Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA)
A values-based online assessment completed before the MSA. It explores attributes such as ethical reasoning, empathy and resilience, and contributes to the final selection score.
Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA)
- An MMI-style interview with multiple short stations (around eight)
- Conducted in person at the University of Newcastle (Callaghan) or UNE (Armidale)
- Assesses communication, ethical reasoning, problem-solving and motivation for medicine
- In-person MSAs typically run 23 November – 4 December, with offers to interview in mid-November
Final offers combine UCAT, PQA and MSA performance (with ATAR as a threshold only). Build your station technique with our MMI preparation resources.
Course Structure: BMedSci & Doctor of Medicine
The 5-year Joint Medical Program is a single continuous program: a 3-year Bachelor of Medical Science (Years 1–3) followed directly by a 2-year Doctor of Medicine (Years 4–5), with no separate re-application required to progress.
Integrated body-systems learning through problem-based learning (PBL), introducing the clinical and scientific foundations of medicine with early patient and community contact.
Deeper engagement in clinical practice, building examination, reasoning and procedural skills, including the Health Equity Scheme placement.
Immersive clinical placements across hospital and community settings (Contexts of Clinical Practice and Pathways to Medical Practice), preparing graduates for internship.
Representative Units & Courses
An indicative selection of core courses across the JMP. Course codes and offerings are subject to change — confirm with the official handbook.
| Year | Course | Code | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Clinical Sciences, Scholarship & Practice 1 BMedSci | MEDI1101A / MEDI1101B | — |
| Year 2 | Clinical Sciences, Scholarship & Practice 2 BMedSci | MEDI2101A / MEDI2101B | — |
| Year 3 | Engaging in Clinical Practice BMedSci | MEDI3101A / MEDI3101B | — |
| Year 3 | Health Equity Scheme Placement BMedSci | MEDI3xxx | — |
| Year 4 | Contexts of Clinical Practice MD | MEDI4001A / MEDI4001B | — |
| Year 5 | Pathways to Medical Practice MD | MEDI6102A / MEDI6102B | — |
Clinical Placements & Teaching Hospitals
The JMP is delivered in partnership with Hunter New England Health and the Central Coast Local Health District, giving students access to a large network of metropolitan, regional and rural clinical sites.
- John Hunter Hospital (major tertiary referral and trauma centre, Newcastle)
- Hunter New England Health hospitals across the Hunter, New England and North West regions
- Central Coast Local Health District (Gosford and Wyong hospitals)
- Rural and regional placements supporting the program's rural health mission
- Community and general-practice settings, including via the Health Equity Scheme
Rankings & Reputation
Rankings vary by methodology and year; use them as one input among many when choosing a medical school.
Student Life & Location
Most JMP teaching for Newcastle students is based at the Callaghan campus, set in bushland about 12 km from Newcastle's city centre and beaches — a coastal regional city two hours north of Sydney. The UNE arm of the program is based in Armidale in the New England region.
Students benefit from a strong sense of community, an active medical students' society, and a program culture built around rural, regional and Indigenous health. The mix of metropolitan, regional and rural placements gives graduates broad, hands-on clinical exposure.
Careers & Postgraduate Outcomes
Graduates are awarded the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine, a qualification recognised for provisional registration with the Medical Board of Australia (Ahpra). After completing an accredited internship, graduates progress to general or specialist training.
- Internship in NSW or interstate via the national medical internship allocation
- Prevocational training, then specialty colleges (GP, physician, surgery, psychiatry and others)
- Strong pathways into rural and regional medicine, reflecting the program's mission
- Research and academic medicine via the program's research links
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Newcastle require the UCAT?Yes. UCAT ANZ is required and used to rank applicants for the MSA interview. Newcastle does not use the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest. For the final offer, UCAT is combined with the PQA and MSA.
What ATAR do I need for medicine at Newcastle?A minimum ATAR of 94.3, treated as a threshold rather than a ranking score. Rural Bonus Scheme applicants meet the academic requirement at ATAR 85+. Once you meet the threshold, a higher ATAR does not improve your ranking.
Is Newcastle medicine undergraduate or graduate entry?It is direct undergraduate entry for school-leavers — one of the few Australian universities still offering this. You complete the Bachelor of Medical Science (Years 1–3) then the Doctor of Medicine (Years 4–5).
How long is the Newcastle medicine degree?Five years in total: a 3-year Bachelor of Medical Science followed directly by a 2-year Doctor of Medicine, with no separate re-application to progress.
Do I need to apply separately to the Joint Medical Program?Yes. In addition to your UAC application (code 785000), you must lodge a separate direct JMP application. A UAC application alone is not sufficient.
What is the Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA)?The MSA is an MMI-style interview with around eight short stations, held in person at Newcastle (Callaghan) or UNE (Armidale). It assesses communication, ethical reasoning, problem-solving and motivation for medicine.
What is the Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA)?The PQA is a values-based online assessment completed before the MSA. It explores attributes such as ethical reasoning, empathy and resilience, and contributes to the final selection score.
Are there subject prerequisites for Newcastle medicine?No. There are no specific Year 12 subject prerequisites, though a strong foundation in English and science is helpful for the program.
How many places are available each year?There are approximately 170 domestic Commonwealth Supported Places per year across the JMP, of which around 48 are typically Bonded Medical Places.
Can international students apply?No. The Newcastle Joint Medical Program is not currently open to international students; it is offered to domestic (Australian and New Zealand) applicants only.
What rural entry pathways does Newcastle offer?The Rural Bonus Scheme (based on the location of the high school attended, with the academic threshold met at ATAR 85+) and the Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme (5 consecutive or 10 cumulative years in a rural/remote location, with a statutory declaration). Rural applicants still complete UCAT, PQA and the MSA.
What is the UAC code for Newcastle medicine?The UAC code for the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) is 785000. Remember you must also lodge the separate direct JMP application.
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Book a free consultationDisclaimer: This page is an independent guide compiled by MedView Education to help applicants understand entry to medicine at the University of Newcastle. Figures such as ATAR thresholds, place numbers, fees, dates and selection details are indicative and subject to change. Always confirm current requirements with the University of Newcastle, the Joint Medical Program and UAC before applying. MedView Education is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Newcastle.