The University of Newcastle / University of New England (UON/UNE) Summary shows there are 3 paths to medicine through what is known as the Joint Medical Program. These are:-

• direct entry to the undergraduate medicine degree from high school, or

• entry through the graduate path - if you have already commenced at university or have a completed degree, and

• entry for students who have completed the Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Newcastle within the previous 2 years to the year of admission (noting this is not a guaranteed entry path)

Entry Requirements - The full details regarding the entry requirements for medicine at UON / UNE are given in the table below.

This table shows not only the requirements to obtain a place in the Joint Medical Program, but also details how the 3 paths flow into the medicine degree and what you need to keep in mind not only for medicine, but also when applying for your undergraduate degree if you are seeking graduate entry. 

How UON / UNE Compares with Other Universities - Scroll further down, below the table and you'll also see the UON / UNE Comparitor. This tool enables you to compare the 3 paths to medicine at UON / UNE with other university paths to medicine (offered by 19 Australian university programs).  

Joint Medical Program detailed entry Requirements

There are a number of notable aspects in how UON / UNE structures its Joint Medical Program. 

Two universities and two medicine degrees

The University of New England and the University of Newcastle have combined to provide the Joint Medical Program and this is delivered at two campuses - being either Armidale or Newcastle, both in New South Wales. In addition, 30 students also have the opportunity to elect to study on the Central Coast of New South Wales at Gosford in undertaking the first 3 years of the Program. The Joint Medical Program involves two degrees - the Bachelor of Medical Science and the Doctor of Medicine, which are undertaken sequentially. Students graduate with both a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine degree.

UON / UNE like personalities

Being an undergraduate degree, all applicants - even graduates, are required to sit the UCAT. In addition to this, UON / UNE's selection criteria for an offer of a place in the medical program also requires applicants to undertake a Personal Qualities Assessment. This online test is taken on the same day as the interview. 

Interview? UON/UNE call it the Multiple Skills Assessment

There is only one aspect that determines whether you are offered an interview in the Joint Medical Program and that is how you perform in the UCAT. The Joint Medical Program uses an aggregate score based on 4 out of the 5 UCAT sections - namely Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning. Situational Judgement is not currently considered in the JMP selection process for admission and there are no minimum scores/requirements for any of the UCAT sections.

Applicants from the University of Newcastle Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree are invited to interview based on their UCAT rural rank, which is lower compared with standard (non-rural) rankings. This, however, is only available for students who have completed the degree and done so within the previous 2 years.

Subsequent offers of a place are determined using all your assessment information - academic performance, interview, UCAT and your personal qualities assessment. 

Degree Age and Type 

UON / UNE don't have a 10 year rule within which previous degrees will be accepted. Likewise, UON / UNE are also relaxed in terms of their willingness to accept applications from students who have partially completed degrees. Academic eligibility, used to determine who's offered a place, is based on your most recent program of study. Your eligibility is assessed by the grade you achieved in this degree (different levels of degree such as Masters, Graduate Diploma etc) have different minimum academic requirements. For example, students with a Graduate Diploma require a credit average, whereas students with a Masters by coursework degree are required to demonstrate a pass average, in order to meet minimum Joint Medical degree requirements.