VCE TACTICS

Undergraduate Medicine Application Victoria

Everything Aspiring Med Students Need to Know

A complete breakdown of how selection works for Monash Medicine — covering ATAR, UCAT ANZ, and MMIs.

What is the Process of Applying to Medical Schools in Victoria?

Monash University, University of Melbourne, and Deakin University all have medicine courses. However, Monash University is the only university that offers an undergraduate medicine course in Victoria (straight out of high school). Selection for Monash Medicine is based on three components which are weighted equally: ATAR, UCAT ANZ, and MMIs.

What ATAR is Required?

ATARs are the percentile ranked against all other VCE students based on aggregates of students' study scores. The program sets a minimum ATAR of 90, however the requirements are generally much more competitive for medicine. The median ATAR tends to hover around 99.60 for most years, which has steadily risen in recent times.

What is the Structure of the UCAT?

The UCAT ANZ is the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australian and New Zealand. All Monash Medicine applicants must sit the UCAT the year before commencing medicine (e.g. 2027 applicants sit the UCAT ANZ in 2026).

The UCAT is split into four sections, each scored out of 900, providing a total score out of 2700 (Situational Judgement is not scored):

The UCAT has become increasingly competitive and the cutoff for a first-round interview is now at the 94th percentile (top 6% of all test-takers). Note that it is still possible to get into Monash Medicine if you scored below the first-round cutoff UCAT with a strong ATAR and a later-round interview.

Additionally, the selection criteria may be adjusted for relevant individuals. Adjustments include:

• Dean's Rural List — 66th percentile UCAT for first-round interview offer
• Monash Indigenous Entry Scheme
• Access/equity schemes for students with disabilities or medical conditions

What is the Structure of MMIs?

Multiple Mini Interviews are standard in many medicine course applications. MMIs are conducted fully online via Zoom and generally run for 70–80 minutes, including introduction and debriefing. At Monash, the MMI consists of six interview stations, each consisting of 2 minutes of reading the scenario and 8 minutes of being interviewed.

These scenarios focus on the following qualities: advocacy, collaboration, critical thinking, empathy, ethical reasoning, motivation, and resilience.

How Can You Optimise Your Time?

Balancing all three components can be tricky — however here are a few tips to manage workload:

1. Prioritise your time effectively: Begin incremental daily UCAT practice as early as possible and ideally dedicate the Term 2 holidays to focused UCAT practice. During the school term, balance both the UCAT and ATAR, ramping up VCE revision around busy SAC periods.
2. Consistent practice: Treat UCAT and MMI preparation like a subject — use short, regular sessions to effectively build your skills rather than last-minute cramming. Use official question banks and timed practice tests towards the end to simulate real exam conditions.
3. Track your progress: Review performance across UCAT and VCE subjects to identify weak points and high-priority areas. Understand scaling and top 4 subjects to manage time better.

Final Thoughts

Applying to medicine can be daunting at first, but it becomes more manageable once you understand the expectations of each component. Remember that each of the three key selection criteria — ATAR, UCAT, and MMIs — reward consistent, deliberate practice.