University of Adelaide: UCAT and Course Entry Information (2021 Update)

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

In this article on The University of Adelaide,

• Overview of University of Adelaide
• University rankings
• The University of Adelaide courses requiring UCAT
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (2021 was the final intake for this course. It will be replaced by the new Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine)
  • Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine(First enrolments into this degree begins in 2022)
  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  • Bachelor of Oral Health
• Clinical Placement information
• Partner hospitals

An Overview of The University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide was established in 1874 and is the third oldest university in Australia.

Currently, there are 27,357 students enrolled at the university with 5,682 being enrolled in the Health and Medical Sciences faculty. The main campus is at the heart of Adelaide and has an aesthetically pleasing structure, reflecting its history.

The university currently has three on-campus student accommodation options: The University of Adelaide Village, Mattanya Student Residences, and Roseworthy Residential College. If students do not want to live on campus they are able to live in share houses and apartments in close proximity to their campus.

The University of Adelaide has a vibrant life for students and is constantly aiming to support its students through various support networks. There are a large number of clubs and societies you can get involved in to enhance your university experience. The various campuses always have different events happening to help you balance your academics with your social life!

Rankings in 2021

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Medical Courses Offered and UCAT requirements

The University offers a range of Medical courses to undergraduate students. The following outlines the courses offered, their specifics, and entry requirements (including the UCAT score required for entry).

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery

(Nb. 2021 was the final intake for this course. It will be replaced by the new Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine)

ATAR:

• The minimum ATAR required to secure a place in this degree at the university is 90.
• The median ATAR for students who get accepted in this degree is 99.35.
• In 2019, the lowest ATAR which received an offer was 92.65.

IB:

• The minimum IB score required is 34.

Prerequisites:

Students wishing to apply for this degree must have completed the following prerequisites (or their equivalent) in Year 12:

• ATAR: Biology or Chemistry or Mathematics Advanced or Mathematics Extension
• IB: Biology (SL Grade 4/ HL Grade 3) or Chemistry (SL Grade 4/ HL Grade 3) or (SL Grade 4/ HL Grade 3)

Entry Requirements:

Student applications are ranked for an offer based upon the combination of scores. The value for each of these scores is:

• UCAT Results: 20%
• Interview Results: 40%
• Academic Results: 40%

Application process:

• Students will need to sit the UCAT and receive a high rank to be offered an interview.
• Sections 1-4 of the UCAT are weighted equally to determine the eligibility for an interview.
• Section 5 of the UCAT will NOT be used to determine eligibility for an interview or admission.
• Approximately 800 students are offered an interview in the first round.

Interview Criteria and structure:

• Criteria: The interview will comprise of a range of questions that will allow you to demonstrate qualities such as motivation, self-awareness, critical thinking, problem-solving, aptitude for learning, and your compatibility for the degree.
• Structure: The interview contains two 15 minute sessions. In each session, you are interviewed by 2 interviewers who could be employees, alumni, health professionals or individuals from the wider community.

Other options to entry:

Students who do not get an offer into the Undergraduate Medicine program at the completion of Year 12 are still able to apply as a Tertiary Transfer applicant. The requirements for this are:

• A tertiary transfer applicant must have completed a minimum of full-time one year study and a maximum of two-year full-time study at the University of Adelaide.
• Have at least a credit average across all their subjects.

Indigenous Australians can apply through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander application.

If you are from a rural background, you are able to apply through the Rural Background Pathway. A minimum of 42 places are reserved for rural applicants.

Degree facts:

• Approximately 174 students were accepted in 2020
• 28.5% of the places offered must be Bonded Medical Place. The degree code for this is 314553. By applying for the Bonded Medical Place as well as Non-Bonded, students can increase their chances of admission.
• The program consists of three core elements: Scientific basis of Medicine, Clinical Practice, and Medical Professional and Personal Development.
• The degree requires students to undertake rural placements.

Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine

(Nb. First enrolments into this degree begins in 2022)

ATAR:

Minimum of ATAR of 90

IB:

Minimum IB of 33

Prerequisites:

SACE Stage 2:

• • Biology or
  • Chemistry or
  • Mathematical Methods (if Maths subject was studied prior to 2017, the subject required was called ‘Mathematical Studies’);

IB:

• • Biology (SL grade 4/HL grade 3) or
  • Chemistry (SL grade 4/HL grade 3) or
  • Mathematics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3)

Entry Requirements:

Student applications are ranked for an offer based upon the combination of scores. The value for each of these scores is:

• Interview Results: 20%
• UCAT Results: 40%
• Academic Results: 40%

Application process:

• All applicants must sit the UCAT exam
• Students must also lodge a SATAC application
• Only students with a high UCAT rank will be invited to attend an interview

Interview Criteria and structure:

Criteria: The interview will comprise of a range of questions that will allow you to demonstrate qualities such as

• • Motivation
  • Self-awareness,
  • Critical thinking,
  • Problem-solving,
  • Interpersonal and communication skills,
  • Integrity and conscientiousness
  • Aptitude for group learning and teamwork
  • Compatibility and understanding of degree and the health profession

Structure: The interview will comprise of a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. There is a minimum of 6 stations where applicants will be interviewed by one interviewer at each station for 10 minutes. Interviewers can be employees of UoA, Medicine alumni, health professionals, or members of the community.

Other options to entry:

Students who do not get an offer into the Undergraduate Medicine program at the completion of Year 12 are still able to apply as a Tertiary Transfer applicant. The requirements for this are:

• You must only have a record of study from the University of Adelaide (no other Australian or overseas Uni)
• You must have studied a minimum of 1 full-time year, and a maximum of 2 full-time equivalent years
• First Years:
  • Have 18-24 units of Level 1 studies
  • Achieved at least a credit average (minimum Grade Point Average – GPA – of 5.0)

• Second Years:
  • Have between 27 Level 1 units and 48 Level 2 units
  • Achieved at least a credit average (minimum Grade Point Average – GPA – of 5.0) across all subjects
• Note: Third Years (having studied Level 3 units) are not accepted
• Prequisites:
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology 1A and 1B
  • Foundations of Chemistry 1A and 1B

If you are from a rural background, you are able to apply through the Rural Background Pathway. A minimum of 42 places are reserved for rural applicants.

If you didn’t complete your Year 12 studies and have never been enrolled in a course leading to a higher level education award, you can sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). You must achieve a score within the top decile and meet the prerequisite subject requirements.

Degree facts:

This course has 137 domestic places for annual intake set for 2022

Bachelor of Dental Surgery

ATAR:

The minimum ATAR required to secure a place in this degree at the university is 90.

IB:

The minimum IB score required is 34.

Prerequisites:

SACE Stage 2 students must complete 2 science subjects, one chosen from each:

• Chemistry, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, or Physics, AND
• Biology, Geology, Chemistry, or Physics

Students completing the IB must choose one from each:

• Chemistry, Mathematics (SL or HL) or Physics; AND
• Biology, Chemistry or Physics

Entry Requirements:

Student applications are ranked for an offer based upon the combination of scores. The value for each of these scores is:

• Interview Results: first ranking level
• UCAT Results: second ranking level
• Academic Results: meets the threshold and third-ranking level (to separate applicants with equal sum of interview and UCAT results)

Application process:

• Students are required to sit the UCAT and receive a high enough score to be eligible for an interview.
• Sections 1-4 of the UCAT are weighed equally to determine the eligibility for an interview. Section 5 of the UCAT will NOT be used to determine eligibility for an interview or admission.
• Approximately 300 students are offered an interview.

Interview Criteria and structure:

• Criteria: The interview focuses on your knowledge and understanding of the profession, motivation to become a dentist, compatibility with the degree, and an understanding of the program.
• Structure: The interview is 15 minutes long and you will be interviewed by 2 interviewees who could be employees or health professionals.

Other options to entry:

• Students from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background are able to apply through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway. A minimum of 2 places are allocated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants with all of them eligible for an interview.
• Students from a rural background can apply through the rural pathway. A minimum of 2 places are reserved for students from rural backgrounds.
• Students who wish to apply after Year 12 and whilst at University must’ve completed a minimum of half a year of full-time student and no more than 2 years full-time load; with a credit average. They must also sit the UCAT.

Degree facts:

There are 38 domestic places available for the annual intake into the degree.

Bachelor of Oral Health

ATAR:

The minimum ATAR required to secure a place in this degree at the university is 70.

IB:

The minimum IB score required is 25.

Prerequisites:

Students must have completed a Mathematics or Science subject in Year 12.

Entry Requirements:

Student applications are ranked for an offer based upon the combination of scores. The value for each of these scores is:

• Interview Results: first ranking level
• UCAT Results: second ranking level
• Academic Results: meets the minimum requirement and third-ranking level

Application process:

• Students must meet the minimum academic requirements and sit the UCAT.
• Students have to receive a high UCAT score to be eligible for an interview.
• Approximately 90 students are offered an interview for entry into this program.

Interview Criteria and structure:

• Criteria: Students must demonstrate a knowledge of the degree, motivation to be an oral health therapist and interpersonal and communication skills.
• Structure: The interview is 15 minutes long and you will be interviewed by 2 interviewees who could be employees or health professionals.

Other options to entry:

• Students are able to apply for this program, if they are not offered a place straight away at the completion of Year 12, as long as they have not completed more than 2 years of full-time tertiary education at an Australian institute.
• A minimum of 2 places are allocated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants with all of them eligible for an interview.

Degree facts:

• The program undertakes 32 domestic students each year.
• At the completion of this degree, students are able to work in oral health therapy, dental hygiene, dental health research, etc.

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The UCAT Mock Exam Day is a UCAT Trial exam that simulates the real thing and ranks you against participants from around the globe. Learn more.

Clinical placement information

MD/ Bachelor of Medicine

Clinical experience for the Bachelor of Medicine MD begins in the first year, as a”consumer”

Through the 2nd and 3rd years, students are prepared for industry placement when they enter the postgraduate years of study.

In years 4-6, students undertake study in full-time clinical placement in primary care, major hospitals and in rural South Australia.

Year 4 placements will focus on:

• General medicine and surgery
• Mental health
• Musculoskeletal, cancer and palliative care.

Year 5 placements will focus on:

• Child health
• Obstetrics and gynaecology
• General practice
• Geriatrics
• Anaesthesia.

Students will have the opportunity to work in settings focused on Indigenous or disadvantaged people.

Year 6 provides comprehensive preparation for internship. Students rotate placements in:

• Surgery
• Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Emergency medicine.

In the final year of the program, students explore an area of interest in greater depth with a nine-week placement locally, interstate or overseas and undertake a scholarly research project.

Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Bachelor of Oral health

From their first year, students will undertake compulsory clinical placements in a range of settings, including a city-based dental hospital and community dental clinics located in metropolitan Adelaide, rural South Australia and interstate.

Partner hospitals

Partner hospitals for University of Adelaide medical studies include:

• Royal Adelaide Hospital
• The Queen Elizabeth hospital
• Women’s and Children’s Hospital
• Lyell McEwin Hospital
• Modbury Hospital