Charles Sturt University: UCAT and Course Entry Information (2021 Update)

In this article, we’re going to give you an overview of Charles Sturt University and the medical courses it offers which require UCAT for admission.

In this article on Charles Sturt University, we look at:

• Overview of Charles Sturt University
• University rankings
• Medical courses offered requiring UCAT
  • Bachelor of Dental Science
  • Doctor of Medicine
• Clinical placement information
  • Dentistry
  • Medicine

An Overview of Charles Sturt University

Charles Sturt University was established in 1989 with the merging of various regional institutes in regional NSW. The start of the university dates back to 1895 with the establishment of Bathurst Experiment Farm.

Currently, the university has various campuses:

• Albury-Wodonga
• Bathurst
• Canberra
• Dubbo
• Goulburn
• Orange
• Port-Macquarie
• Manly
• Wagga Wagga

There are 45,460 students enrolled across the various campuses at the university.

Accommodation is offered on a majority of the campuses and is priced at affordable costs. Students are able to also make the most of CHEERS meal plans which are available for both on-campus and off-campus students.

The complete university experience at Charles Sturt involved being a part of one (or more) of the clubs offered, going to social events and live gigs, and making the most of the recreational facilities.

Rankings

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Medical Courses Offered and UCAT requirements

The University offers Dental Science to undergraduate students. The following outlines the course offered, its specifics, and entry requirements.

Bachelor of Dental Science

ATAR:

Charles Sturt University doesn’t state the minimum ATAR students are expected to receive.

IB:

The university doesn’t state the minimum or average IB score required for admission.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for the degree. However, students wanting to pursue a career in dentistry should look at doing at least one of the sciences. Students are also expected to have strong English and Mathematics skills.

Entry Requirements:

Student applications are ranked for an offer based upon the combination of UCAT, ATAR and Interview results.

Application process:

• Students must sit the UCAT and apply via UAC.
• After receiving a competitive UCAT score, prospective students will be offered interviews. Offers are based on the outcome of the interview.
• Approximately, 50% of the places are reserved for rural and/or Indigenous students.

Interview Criteria and structure:

• Criteria: The interview will test the student’s communication skills, their motivation for applying, commitment to a rural and regional dental practice, problem solving and spatial awareness skills.
• Structure: The interview will be a panel interview. It is held in-person on the Orange campus of CSU, over 5 consecutive days in late November.

Other options to entry:

Students who are not offered a place at the completion of year 12 can do an internal transfer. The various methods to receive an interview are:

• Be enrolled in a CSU course at the time of applying and have completed a minimum of 1-year full-time study with a GPA of 5.5 or higher.
• Be enrolled in a CSU course at the time of applying and have completed less than 1 year of full–time student with a GPA greater than 5.5 and an ATAR higher than 90.
• Alternatively, if you are a CSU student and do not meet the above requirements you are able to do the UCAT again.

Degree facts:

• At the completion of the degree, students are registered as Dental Practitioners.
• Approximately 50% of places are set for applicants who have significant rural background or are Indigenous applicants. These applicants are ranked for interviews separately.

Doctor of Medicine

Starting from 2021, Charles Sturt in conjunction with Western Sydney University will offer a Doctor of Medicine Program in Orange.

Entry Requirements

ATAR:

• The minimum ATAR required to secure a place in this degree at the university is 95.5
• The minimum ATAR for rural students is 91.5

IB:

• The minimum IB score required is 38.
• The minimum IB for rural students is 35.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for this degree.

Entry Requirements:

Admission into this program is based upon a culmination of 3 factors:

• Minimum ATAR
• UCAT Results
• Interview 

Application process:

Student applications are ranked for an offer based upon the combination of scores of UCAT, ATAR, and Interview.

Interview Criteria and structure:

Students who are successful at meeting the UCAT threshold will be invited for an interview.

Interviews are held in Charles Sturt’s Orange campus or Western Sydney’s Campbelltown campus.

• Criteria: The assessment will test your capability to succeed within the learning environment, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and your motivation to undertake this program.
• Structure: The interview is structured as a Multiple Skills Assessment and involves applicants rotating around 8 stations to complete a range of activities and discussions. You will have approximately 8 minutes to respond at each station.
• You will also need to complete a Medical Admissions Questionnaire (MAQ) before you attend your interview. This includes 2 brief statements in response to the questions provided. Your statement may be referred in your interview questions.

Other options to entry:

• If you are not offered a place at the completion of Year 12, you are able to apply whilst studying a degree. These applications will be assessed based upon GPA.

Degree facts:

• Approximately, 120 places are offered into this program. 20 of these places will go to International students.
• This is a joint Medical Program held with Western Sydney University. You may indicate your preference to study at either Western Sydney or Charles Sturt. However, your preference is not guaranteed.

Clinical placement information

As these are different degrees and the medicine degree is offered in conjunction with Western Sydney University, there are differences in the clinical placements.

Dentistry

Develop your skills in our state-of-the-art simulation clinic, dental technology / clinical support laboratory, biodental science learning suite and anatomy teaching facilities. Charles Sturt University also has five dental and oral health clinics across its Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga campuses. These clinics are open to patients from the local community and will provide some of your first professional training. You could undertake placements at any Charles Sturt University clinic during your course, working under the supervision of qualified dental practitioners.

The following units have a workplace component:

• DOH256 Foundations of Dental Clinical Practice 2 (16) – students have a 12-day placement requiring 6 hours per week for 12 weeks
• DOH336 Prosthodontics 1 (12) – students have a 12-day placement at the Charles Sturt Dental clinic on a weekly basis and will complete, under supervision, the clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and management of simple prosthodontic cases.
• DOH337 Foundations of Dental Clinical Practice 3 (24) – students have a 14-day placement. Students will be timetabled to attend the Charles Sturt Dental Clinic on a weekly basis and will complete, under supervision, the clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and management of a range of dental cases.
• DOH404 Dental Clinical Practice 4 (32) – Students undertake a 35-day placement. Students are timetabled to attend the Charles Sturt Dental Clinic in either the Orange or Bathurst on a weekly basis. There, they will complete, under supervision, the clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and management of a range of dental cases.
• DOH484 Dental Clinical Practice 5 (48) – Students undertake a 160-day clinical placement. Students will be rostered to complete clinical placement at Charles Sturt Dental Clinics in Dubbo, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Albury. In addition, students will complete 6-10 weeks of placement at an external site which may include an Aboriginal Medical Service or Local Area Health District dental clinic.

Medicine

Medicine in this joint program is predominantly hands-on from within the first weeks of the course. Throughout student’s clinical placements, they’ll cover a broad range of general, specialist and inter-professional training. This will include First Nations Peoples’ health, emergency medicine, critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, mental health, and surgery.

In Years 1 and 2, clinical placements are short but regular.

From the 3rd year onwards, students undertake clinical placements that cover the broad range of general, specialist and inter-professional training necessary to ensure they are prepared for your medical internship