Medicine Selection Summary - 2026

2026 Selection Round • Undergraduate Medicine

2026 Australian Undergraduate Medicine Selection: A High-Level Summary

Breaking into undergraduate medicine in Australia mainly depends on three key figures: your ATAR, UCAT score, and, increasingly, your location. For the 2026 admission cycle, here’s a useful guide highlighting key cut-off points and universities to consider more carefully.

Key theme: the local vs interstate divide is wider than ever. Several universities that seem achievable on paper for local applicants (UCAT 80–90th percentile) required a near-perfect 99th percentile UCAT from interstate applicants.

Main Round: UCAT and ATAR Cut-offs

University	Local UCAT	Interstate UCAT	ATAR
JMP (Newcastle/UNE), Notre Dame	98%+	98%+	Mid 90s
Western Sydney	VR over 800	VR over 800	Mid 90s
UNSW	94%	94%	99.70
USYD	Not required	Not required	99.95
UniMelb	Not required	Not required	99.90
Griffith	85%	85%	99.90
Monash	94%	97%	99.65
Adelaide	80%	99%	High 90s
UQ	88%	99%	High 90s
CQU, USQ	88%	99%	High 90s
Western Australia	80%	99%	High 90s
Curtin	90%	99%	High 90s

A few observations

• UCAT-heavy vs ATAR-heavy universities. JMP and Notre Dame reward an exceptional UCAT (98%+) and tolerate a mid-90s ATAR. USYD and UniMelb sit at the other extreme: no UCAT at all, but ATARs of 99.90–99.95.
• Western Sydney is weighting the Verbal Reasoning section specifically — over 800 in VR, with a mid-90s ATAR.
• The interstate penalty is real. At Adelaide and UWA, a local applicant could interview with UCAT at the 80th percentile, while interstate applicants needed the 99th. UQ, CQU/USQ, and Curtin showed the same pattern.
• Curtin adds a third hurdle: a high Casper score on top of UCAT and ATAR.

Universities with Special Consideration Rules

JCU Mainly considers non-metro students, and the cut-off depends on where your primary and high school were located.

UTAS is effectively local-only, with just one or two spots for top interstate students in 2026.

Flinders requires UCAT at the 90th percentile and high EAS

Key Takeaways for 2027 Applicants

1. Know which type of school your profile fits. A 98th percentile UCAT with a 95+ ATAR opens JMP and Notre Dame; a 99.9+ ATAR with a weak UCAT points to USYD or UniMelb.
2. Being local matters enormously. Interstate cut-offs at Adelaide, UQ, UWA, CQU/USQ, and Curtin were at the 99th UCAT percentile.
3. JCU, UTAS, and Flinders Prefer non-metro, local, or EAS criteria
4. Preference strategy is unforgiving. The examples above show first-preference applications from top students failing on eligibility grounds, not academic merit.

These figures are indicative, based on the 2026 selection round and firsthand application experiences. Cut-offs shift year to year — always verify against official university admissions pages before finalising preferences.