Medical & Dental School Admissions: Parents' Guide
Is your child’s dream to become a doctor?
Gaining a place at medical or dental school is becoming increasingly competitive, and it can be hard to know who to turn to for advice when it comes to university admissions.
However, by learning about the admissions process at the same time, you can offer your child the support they need throughout their journey.
In this parents’ guide, we provide a detailed overview of the medical/dental school admissions process, so you know exactly how to help your child achieve their dream.
Table of contents
What does the admissions journey look like?
How can I help my child with:
- Learning about the application process
- Sitting the UCAT ANZ exam (a must for all direct entry medical school applicants!)
- Submitting an application
- Meeting the ATAR requirements
- Attending an interview
- Receiving and accepting an offer
How can I support my child throughout their admissions journey?
What does the admissions journey look like?
The dental/medical school admissions journey consists of the following steps:
While parts of the admissions process may be challenging for some students, there are also many opportunities for applicants to stand out from others.
We explore each of the key steps in more detail below, including how you can help your child to reach their full potential.
1. Learning about the application process
Before progressing to any of the later steps, it’s crucial that students understand what’s expected of them. This can help them become better equipped at dealing with any challenges that lie ahead.
Once they’ve established a good understanding of the admissions process, they can then research medical/dental programmes to understand the prerequisites and entry requirements. They can also gather information from university websites, attend open days, and chat with current students or alumni.
How can I help my child learn about the application process?
Encourage your child to do the following:
- Explore our Admissions Guide to gain a deeper insight into the admissions process.
- Learn about different types of medical/dental school places, degrees, and pathways.
- Note down any important key dates, such as when applications close. Remember that deadlines will vary from university to university, so it’s essential to check the universities your child wants to apply to to get the exact dates. You can use the table below as a rough guide for deadlines in the application process.
2. Sitting the UCAT ANZ exam
After learning about the admissions process, your child should start thinking about how to prepare for their admissions test. The admissions test for standard entry medicine and dentistry is the UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand).
Why is the UCAT ANZ important?
- The UCAT is a computer-based test designed to assess important skills and qualities which are essential for a medical or dental professional.
- Gaining a place at medical or dental school is highly competitive, so the UCAT is used to differentiate students. It plays a part in determining who’s invited to an interview and sometimes who receives an offer.
- All students should strive to achieve a high UCAT score (usually 90+ percentile, meaning top 10% of the test takers) to boost their chances of getting into medical or dental school. While the UCAT may initially sound a bit daunting, efficient preparation can make all the difference.
How can I help my child prepare for the UCAT ANZ?
- Advise them to book the UCAT exam early. The sooner the test is booked, the sooner preparation can start. Booking the test early also means a greater choice of dates and exam centres.
- Before your child starts preparing for the UCAT, encourage them to read about the exam to help them increase their understanding and decrease any anxiety. You can share articles such as our UCAT FAQ and UCAT revision roadmap.
- Once your child has a better understanding of the test, they can explore more in-depth guidance such as UCAT tips and tricks. They can also explore some free UCAT practice questions to get an idea of what they’ll face in the real exam.
- Finally, practice makes perfect. Ideally, your child should spend at least 2–3+ months preparing to allow them to spread revision out at a manageable pace. Note this is only a rough guide, and the most important factor is how they prepare.
Keep in mind that a common challenge for students is going through enough practice questions to actually increase their score. Practising questions is essential for improving timing, trying different techniques, and targeting weaknesses.
We recommend that every student goes through the official UCAT practice tests and question banks. However, as this is a limited resource, students should strongly consider using a trusted UCAT preparation course too.
3. Submitting an application
Your child will submit their application via Tertiary Admissions Centres (TAC) in each state or territory. When choosing universities, your child will be able to select a number of courses per TAC and list their preferences. It is strongly recommended to apply to as many medical and dental programmes as possible to maximise their chance of receiving an offer.
Note that the admissions timeline can vary significantly depending on which TAC they’re applying through, which universities and programmes they’re applying to, and their status (e.g. in-state/interstate/international student status, sitting IB exams, eligibility for certain schemes).
Find out which medical schools require the UCAT ANZ and how they make their decisions.
How can I help my child with submitting their application?
Make sure your child is aware of the TAC application deadlines so they submit their applications in time. You may want to remind your child to double-check that everything has been filled in correctly before submitting their application. You could also offer to read through their application to ensure it is error-free.
4. Meeting the ATAR requirements
Academic requirements are one of the major hurdles that students need to overcome to get into medical or dental school.
Most universities require an ATAR in the high 90s, meaning that they will need to be in the top few percentiles of their year group academically. This is important because it demonstrates strong academic potential which is needed to thrive in medical/dental school.
How can I help my child achieve top grades?
To help your child, you could put a plan of action together to limit any barriers to achieving a top ATAR. For example, if they easily become overwhelmed, you could come up with a schedule for managing their workload appropriately.
Keep in mind that some universities will apply adjustment factors (e.g. living in a rural area or having had difficult circumstances) to an ATAR as part of the selection process, so it’s worth checking what your child may be eligible for.
Check out our top study tips for improving your ATAR.
5. Attending an interview
The medical/dental school interview is the final stage before offers are released. It can be a stressful and challenging experience for a lot of students, so it’s important that your child feels supported throughout their journey.
How can I help my child prepare for their interview?
Here are some ways you can offer support:
- Identify what they need to learn – in the early stages of interview preparation, students should be expanding their knowledge. You can help them to come up with a checklist of topics that they’ll need to research before their interview.
- Stay up to date on current affairs – current affairs form an important part of interview preparation. Watching or reading the news together can make this part fun.
- Be an interviewer – try simulating an interview to help them get comfortable with topics and interview technique. You can also help them with other aspects of their performance such as being aware of their body language.
6. Receiving and accepting an offer
Once your child's ATAR has been released, universities will make offers based on their UCAT score, ATAR, and interview performance.
If your child secures an offer, you should be extremely proud!
How can I help my child prepare for medical or dental school?
Once your child has accepted an offer, you’ll need to support them during their transition to dental/medical school, such as helping them find accommodation and advising them on how to manage their finances.
Remember, while this is a hugely exciting time in their lives, it can also be a bit nerve-wracking. Therefore, make sure you’re able to provide emotional support too, such as reassuring them if they’re feeling anxious.
What if my child doesn’t get accepted into medical or dental school?
It can be extremely disheartening if your child doesn’t secure an offer.
Remind them that there are many routes into medicine/dentistry, and encourage them not to give up on their dream if they’re feeling particularly deflated.
There are a number of Plan B options available, such as:
- Taking a gap year and reapplying (particularly suitable for those with a high ATAR)
- Doing another degree and then applying for graduate entry (note that the first degree doesn’t necessarily need to be related to medicine or dentistry)
- Applying abroad, such as studying medicine in the UK (be aware that this option can be expensive and potentially isolating for your child)
How can I support my child throughout their admissions journey?
Be supportive
The admissions process is intentionally challenging to differentiate students and ensure successful applicants can handle the pressure of medical/dental school (and beyond). As a result, your child may feel burnt out, overly stressed, or disheartened at certain points throughout their journey.
Fluctuations in mood are perfectly normal and are to be expected, but you should be aware of sustained periods of low mood or lack of motivation. Be willing to listen to your child's concerns, motivate them to keep going even when they feel like they’re not improving, and encourage them to take breaks to prioritise self-care when needed.
You can also signpost them to useful resources to help them increase motivation and aspiration, and optimise their mindset.
Discuss their progress
Check in with them every so often to see how they’re progressing. For example, if your child is revising for the UCAT, have conversations about how their exam preparation is going to help them reflect on how to improve. Learning a little about the exam sections yourself can help with this.
To ensure they stay on track, and are well organised, you can even create revision plans together. Having a second opinion means that they’ll be able to see what’s realistically possible in the time available.
Try not to add too much pressure
It’s likely that your child will not only be managing their own expectations, but your expectations too. While your desire for them to do well stems from a good place, this could intensify the pressure they’re already experiencing.
Try to be as encouraging as possible, such as motivating them when self-doubt creeps in, but avoid overstepping any boundaries that they’ve put in place (e.g. they may not wish to open up about how they’re feeling right away).
Create an environment for them to flourish
Be mindful of your home environment as this could affect their progress.
For instance, when sitting UCAT mocks, your child will need to replicate the exam conditions as closely as possible. This means there should be minimal noise and distractions to allow them to focus fully. You should speak to your child about their study schedule to limit any disturbances.
Go through stress management techniques
It’s normal for your child to feel stressed during certain parts of the admissions process. For example, on their interview day, it’s likely that they’ll feel nervous or panicked.
Take time to prepare ways to manage your child’s anxiety leading up to this, such as breathing exercises (breathe in through the nose for 5 seconds and out through the mouth for 7 seconds) or engaging in physical activity.
FAQ
Are work placements necessary?
While work experience isn’t necessary, it can be a useful way to obtain a realistic understanding of medicine or dentistry. It also presents a chance to develop and observe some of the skills required to be a good doctor or dentist.
Find out more about work experience in Australia and New Zealand.
What is a personal statement and is it required?
The personal statement/portfolio is an opportunity for students to show admissions tutors who they are, and why they deserve to study medicine or dentistry.
Most universities in Australia and New Zealand don’t include a personal statement in their admissions process, however a small number of universities may require one.
How expensive are medical and dental degrees? What financial support is available?
Australia
Full-fee medical and dental degrees can cost up to $400,000. On top of that will be accommodation and living costs to pay for if your child will be studying interstate.
However, most students study medicine or dentistry as a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) holder. This means that part of your child’s fee will be subsidised by the government (this isn’t a loan and won’t have to be paid back).
The remaining amount is known as the student contribution amount. For medicine and dentistry, this will be a maximum of $12,720 per year, which reduces the overall cost of a medical or dental degree to around $68,000.
Your child could get a HECS-HELP loan to cover the student contribution amount. Depending on your household income and your child’s personal income, they may also be eligible for youth allowance, which doesn’t need to be paid back.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, the domestic tuition fee for medicine and dentistry is around $16,500 per year, except the first year (which is ~$7,000–$8,000).
Most students qualify for fees free first year and an interest-free student loan, and many are also eligible to receive a student allowance.
Read more about financing medical study in Australia and New Zealand.
My child has faced difficult circumstances – will this affect their chances?
No. In fact, this could act as an advantage.
A lot of universities have widening participation programmes. A common criterion for these programmes is that students have faced socio-economic challenges in their studies. As a result, the UCAT or ATAR requirements may be lowered.
Universities also have separate pathways or offer bonus points for Indigenous students and students from remote/rural areas.
How can Medify help your child become a doctor?
Here’s how we can support your child throughout their admissions journey:
UCAT ANZ Online Course – 2 in 3 UCAT test takers worldwide use Medify to prepare for their exams. We provide 20,000+ questions, 24 full mocks, 40+ mini-mocks, and 50+ hours of video tutorials with subscriptions starting from just $35.
Interviews Online Course – 300+ authentic answers from real medical students, extensive video guides, and a Knowledge Bank written by a team of experts helps applicants to thrive in their interview for just $50.
What should I do one month before my UCAT?
Keep practising! A month sounds like a long time, but time will quickly vanish. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals such as reaching a certain score by a certain date or time.
Niche down even further on your weaknesses – by this stage you should just be focusing on what you find hardest. Make sure you factor in breaks and days off into your schedule, as well as any important events which you need to attend.
Read the 'Good medical practice' by the Medical Board of Australia if you haven’t already. It will inform you about the different duties of healthcare professionals and how they should respond to different scenarios, which is essential for the Situational Judgement Test section of the UCAT.
Try Medify's Skills Trainers, such as inference scanning for Verbal Reasoning, to maximise your score (these are included in our UCAT ANZ Online Course). Make sure you've also completed plenty of UCAT practice tests.
The UCAT exam is two hours with no breaks in between, so practise at least two hours each time to build your mental stamina. You should also simulate the exam environment as closely as possible – this means treating every mock test as if it were a real one.
For instance, you should sit mock exams at the same time of the day as your actual UCAT exam and ensure there are no distractions. By mirroring the test conditions, not only will it prepare you for what to expect on test day, it should also help to decrease any anxiety leading up to the exam. Otherwise, your brain has to process the ‘new’ way of completing the test.
What should I do one week before my UCAT?
At this point, you'll know the format of the exam inside out and will have practised the questions enough times to get used to UCAT timings. Don’t give up – keep preparing in an environment where you cannot be interrupted.
Remember, a lot of your preparation will have been done in the weeks and months before this final week, so be careful not to overdo it and become too fatigued. Your motivation may drop or you might ‘peak’ before the test. Your body needs rest too.
Now is a great time to introduce or increase self-care in your regime. Whether it’s watching Netflix, gaming, or just running a bath, it’s important to detach yourself from UCAT revision from time to time to avoid the risk of burnout.
In this week you should also prioritise your nutrition and sleep. Eat well, do not miss meals and keep hydrated. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep in the days before the test by avoiding late night cramming or staying awake into the early hours.
If it puts your mind at rest, you can check last year’s UCAT scores, but remember that this is all about your personal journey and performance, so don't get hung up on that information!
What should I do one day before my UCAT?
We do not advise doing a mock this close to the exam. Revision won't help you much at this stage and can actually leave you worse off. Instead, use this time to wind down and get yourself into a relaxed state. This will enable you to perform at your best on test day.
Try to get to bed early and avoid things that can affect sleep, such as looking at your phone before bed. If you think that you will struggle to sleep on time, you could try doing some exercise during the day to tire yourself out.
Exercise can boost your brainpower by oxygenating your brain, helping you learn and aid sleep. Plus, activity makes your body release endorphins, which can reduce anxiety and stress levels.
Make sure you double check your UCAT test centre information, the travel route to the test centre, the time of your UCAT exam, and so on, so you’re well prepared for test day. If someone else is giving you a ride to the test centre, it’s worth reminding them.
What should I do on the day of my UCAT?
You should start the day off with a nutritious breakfast and give yourself enough time to arrive early to the test centre to avoid feeling flustered, rushed or stressed.
Remember that buses and trains can be late and that traffic may be heavier than you had hoped, so allow extra time whichever way you are travelling. Find out how to choose a UCAT test centre.
Make sure you know how to get to the test centre – for instance you could consider taking a map with you. If you’re using your phone for directions, make sure it’s sufficiently charged and that you have spare data (otherwise you can download the map ahead of time to use offline).
On test day you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled test time to complete the check-in process.
You need to bring:
- Your test confirmation email
- Photographic ID from the approved list
When you arrive at the test centre, it’s likely that you’ll be experiencing a heightened sense of adrenaline. his is completely normal, but it could be helpful to learn some strategies for adopting a winning mindset on test day to reduce your stress levels, and enable you to perform at your best. For instance, you could focus on your breathing to help you relax.
Don’t forget, during your test there are one minute introductions between each subtest. You can skip these, but we recommend using the time to mentally refresh yourself.
If you’ve stuck to your revision plan, and followed our advice above, the best thing you can do on test day is to try and keep as calm as possible. Take solace in the fact that you have prepared for weeks/months to get to this point, and channel any nervous energy into doing the best you can during your UCAT test.
What should I eat and drink leading up to the UCAT?
You should think about your diet well ahead of UCAT test day. Focus on foods that release energy slowly (that is, which have a low glycaemic index, or GI) which will stop you from feeling hungry. These are ideal for UCAT preparation, as well as on test day itself.
Try eating protein and low-GI carbohydrates, such as meat or baked beans, brown (whole grain) rice or pasta, or wholegrain breakfast cereals or muesli. However, do not stray far from your usual diet on the day of the test in case you feel sick. You may want to try these foods out at the same time of day a few weeks in advance.
Be wary of energy drinks and coffee. If you’re not used to them then don’t drink them, especially in large quantities. Caffeine can acutely increase anxiety, and the sugar rush of an energy drink is soon followed by insulin slamming on the brakes, leaving you feeling worse than before. These products are no substitute for a good night’s sleep, eating properly and exercising.
No food or drink is allowed in the test room so eat a healthy meal before your UCAT test and ensure you’re hydrated. While you should make sure you’re drinking enough water, do not overdo it, otherwise you might need the toilet while the timer is ticking.
Please note, access arrangements are available if you have a disability, learning difficulty or long-term medical condition. You may be entitled to extra time and/or rest breaks, and allowed certain items, such as water, at your test centre workstation.
What happens at the UCAT test centre?
- At the registration desk, you will be asked to show a valid photographic ID and a printed/electronic copy of your confirmation email from Pearson VUE.
- You will be asked to sign a signature pad and take a photograph.
- You will be given a laminated notebook and a black marker pen. You may also request earplugs.
- Do not take anything other than your ID into the examination room. A locker or a coat hanger will be available.
- Go to the bathroom if you need to.
- Once the staff have prepared your exam, you may enter the exam room. You may be asked to undergo a body check (e.g. turning up your pockets and rolling your sleeves).
- The staff will guide you to the seat, or you may be able to choose your desk. Take some time to prepare yourself and relax. Your two hours have not yet started.
What is the UCAT test environment like?
This image shows a typical UCAT test environment:
There is no audio element to the test, but you can request earplugs to block out any noise that might disrupt your concentration.
You will have access to a basic onscreen calculator which may be useful for the Quantitative Reasoning and Decision Making sections.
You will be given a laminated notebook and marker pen. Consider using these for:
- Quantitative Reasoning: Noting down numbers during multi-step workings
- Abstract Reasoning: Writing down mnemonics for pattern recognition
- Decision Making: Noting calculations and drawing diagrams
If you require an additional notebook and pen, you can raise your hand and ask the invigilator. Although the invigilator will check that your pen is working before the test, we advise double-checking this to avoid seeking assistance during the test.
What happens during my UCAT test?
- Once you are ready, follow the on-screen instructions.
- Your exam will be in the following order:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
- Situational Judgement
- You will have one minute before each section to read the instructions. You can skip it, but this will not give you an extra minute to answer the questions. Use this time to give your mind a quick break.
- If you have any issues, such as requiring a toilet break, you can quietly raise your hand. However, your time will continue running.
- After your exam, there may be an opportunity to answer a short optional survey on UCAT ANZ preparation and the quality of the venue.
- Raise your hand when you've finished and the examiner will guide you out of the exam room. You need to return your laminated board and marker pen.
- Collect your belongings and leave the test centre.
- Your UCAT ANZ results will be available in your Pearson VUE account within 24 hours. You will receive an email with instructions to access your score report through your account. All results will be delivered to UCAT ANZ Consortium universities automatically.
- If you’ve achieved the scores that you desire, well done.
- Even if you haven’t achieved the scores you wanted, congratulate yourself for getting through a really tough process. You've done exceptionally well just to get to this point. Plus, you can always take the UCAT again next year or consider graduate entry to medicine – do not give up on your dream!
Do you need help preparing for the UCAT ANZ? Head over to our UCAT ANZ Online Course and we’ll get you signed up to guide you through the whole process.
We provide a huge bank of 20,000+ questions, 24 unique full mock exams, 40+ mini-mock exams, 50+ hours of video tutorials, and performance feedback. We've also upgraded our UCAT mock exams 13-24 and revised our practice question bank to enrich your preparation journey.
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