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.

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.

| Date | Event |
| --- | --- |
| Early March | UCAT ANZ registration opens |
| Mid May | UCAT ANZ registration closes |
| July-August | UCAT ANZ testing |
| Early September | UCAT ANZ results delivered to universities |
| End of September | Applications close for most medical and dental schools |
| October-January | Interview offers out (different rounds) and interviews held |
| December | ATAR results released |
| January-February | Offers released, additional offers made to fill vacancies |
| February-March | Programme commencement

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 $13,241 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, 34+ 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.