How Will Medical and Dental Schools Use Interviews? Here's a Summary
Posted: September 29, 2026 by Robert
So, you've sat the UCAT and now you're working hard on your final exams. But what about your medical interview? Interviews are perhaps the most under-recognised part of the medical admissions process. Every year, highly capable students with excellent UCAT scores and ATARs miss out on a place in medicine simply because they didn't prepare properly for the interview.
Most interviews for 2027 entry run from late November 2026 to January 2027, with invitations sometimes arriving only days beforehand. Each university runs its interview differently, from Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) over Zoom to in-person panels and recorded video responses. Knowing exactly what to expect at each school is the first step to preparing well.
What's changed for 2027 entry
Here are the key changes since last year:
- University of Auckland still uses the UCAT for 2027 entry, but from 2028 entry it will drop the UCAT and select on the MMI (50%) and Casper (50%). Read more about the Auckland changes.
- Charles Sturt University now runs its own independent medicine program at Orange, separate from Western Sydney University, with its first cohort starting in March 2027. Both universities still weight the interview at 75%.
- Adelaide University (formed from the merger of the University of Adelaide and UniSA) runs its MMI entirely online over Zoom.
- Charles Darwin University has been added. Its CDU Menzies Medical Program took its first students in 2026 and selects school leavers on academic results and a panel interview (50% each), with no UCAT.
- University of Sydney selects for its double degrees through an Assessment Day, held after ATAR results are released. The assessment will be conducted online and will include both a group interview and a written assessment.
How each university uses interviews (2027 entry)
Here is a summary of how each medical and dental school selects applicants for interview, what format the interview takes, what it assesses, and how much it counts towards your final offer.
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Course | Interview selection criteria | Type of interview | Interview themes | Final offer selection criteria |
|
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) |
Minimum GPA of 6.0 across required first-year courses Ranked on core course grades |
MMI, online |
Oral English fluency and communication Resilience and adaptability Self-reflection and lifelong learning Leadership and teamwork Understanding of the health profession Empathy and care for people Social responsibility and community health needs Equitable access to health care in Aotearoa New Zealand |
60% GPA 15% UCAT 25% Interview (From 2028 entry: 50% MMI, 50% Casper) |
|
Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine (NEW independent program) |
UCAT total score (minimum ATAR 95.5, or 91.5 for rural applicants) |
MMI, online via Zoom |
Motivation for medicine Commitment to rural and regional health Communication and teamwork Ethical decision making |
75% Interview 25% UCAT |
|
Bachelor of Dental Science |
UCAT total score (Current CSU students: based on GPA) |
Panel, in person at Orange |
Motivation for a career in dentistry Commitment to rural and regional dental practice Problem solving Decision making Spatial awareness |
Interview outcome |
|
Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine |
Academic selection rank (ATAR) and UCAT total score (Highest combined ranking; scores not averaged) |
Structured interview with two interviewers In person for domestic applicants |
Communication skills Motivation for medicine Empathy Self-awareness Volunteer and work experience Teamwork Hobbies and interests |
Academic rank (ATAR) UCAT total score Interview (Scores not averaged; weighting not published) |
|
Bachelor of Medical Science / Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) |
UCAT total score (minimum ATAR 94.3) |
JMP Assessment: Multiple Skills Assessment (MSA, rotating stations) plus online Personal Qualities Assessment (PQA) In person at Callaghan or Armidale |
Capacity to thrive in the JMP learning environment Decision making under uncertainty Interpersonal and communication skills Personal drive to become a doctor |
JMP Assessment (MSA + PQA) performance UCAT used as a sub-rank |
|
Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Medicine Bachelor of Arts / Doctor of Medicine |
ATAR of 99.95 No UCAT |
Online Assessment Day via Zoom: group interview plus written assessment |
Motivation to pursue the double degree Interest in research Collaboration and communication in a group |
ATAR plus satisfactory Assessment Day performance |
|
Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine |
UCAT subtest scores, which may be individually weighted (not the total score) (minimum ATAR 95.5, or 93.5 for Greater Western Sydney applicants) |
MMI, online via Zoom |
Motivation for medicine Decision making Teamwork Ethics Cultural awareness |
75% Interview 25% UCAT |
|
Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) - Direct Entry |
December round (Victorian and rural applicants): UCAT total score January round: UCAT total score and ATAR, equally weighted |
MMI, online via Zoom |
Motivation Communication skills Critical thinking Ethical reasoning Empathic reasoning Teamwork and collaboration Advocacy |
33% ATAR 33% UCAT 33% Interview* |
|
Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine |
Academic results (ATAR/GPA), then psychometric test No UCAT |
Online interview |
Motivation for studying at Bond Knowledge and critical thinking Leadership and initiative Teamwork Communication skills Responsibility |
Interview performance (weighting not published) |
|
Bachelor of Dental Health Science |
UCAT total score |
GUDAP: recorded online multi-scenario interview |
Motivation for dentistry Teamwork Communication and empathy Ethics and social awareness Critical thinking |
ATAR, UCAT and interview (weighting not published) |
|
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery |
Academic performance (predicted or actual) and rurality No UCAT |
Online panel via Kira Talent |
Communication and critical analysis Advocacy and ethical reasoning Empathy Teamwork and collaboration Motivation to study medicine Understanding of rural, remote and tropical health |
Academic performance, interview and rurality (weighting not published) |
|
University of Queensland Doctor of Medicine (Provisional Entry for School Leavers) |
UCAT aggregate score (minimum adjusted ATAR 95) |
MMI, online via Zoom |
Commitment to medicine Teamwork Communication skills Views on healthcare policy Ethical reasoning Kindness and compassion Integrity Adaptability |
25% ATAR 25% UCAT 50% Interview |
|
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery |
35% ATAR 35% Casper 30% UCAT |
MMI, in person in Perth |
Communication Critical thinking and problem solving Ethical decision making Rural and urban health care Professional behaviour |
40% ATAR 20% UCAT 40% Interview |
|
University of Western Australia Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) Assured Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Dental Medicine |
UCAT total score (minimum ATAR 98) |
MMI |
Accountability Ethical and moral judgement Communication skills Management skills Problem solving Self-awareness Teamwork and collaboration Conflict resolution Empathy Resilience |
30% ATAR 20% UCAT 50% Interview (Rural: 22.5% ATAR 15% UCAT 37.5% Interview 25% Rurality rating) |
|
Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine Bachelor of Dental Surgery Bachelor of Oral Health |
UCAT total score |
MMI, online via Zoom One interview covers all eligible programs |
Problem solving Communication skills Teamwork Empathy Integrity Preparedness for the program Cultural awareness Motivation to do the program |
40% ATAR 20% UCAT 40% Interview |
|
Bachelor of Clinical Science Medicine / Doctor of Medicine (CDU Menzies Medical Program) |
Academic score plus the CDU application pack No UCAT |
Panel In person at Casuarina, or online if you live outside Greater Darwin |
Motivation for medicine Contribution to school and community Interest in rural and remote health Understanding of First Nations health and the NT context |
50% Academic score 50% Interview |
*At Monash, you only get one chance at the MMI. If you attend an interview but don't receive a place, you can't sit the MMI again if you reapply in a later year.
Note: The table covers the main school-leaver pathways. Admissions criteria change frequently and sometimes without notice, so always check the relevant university website before you apply. See our Universities Admissions Guide for more detail on each school.
For when each university releases interview invitations and holds its interviews, see our interview offers and dates blog.
Why your interview matters so much
As the table shows, the interview is one of the most heavily weighted parts of your application. At some universities it counts for up to 75% of the final offer, and at others it is the sole factor in deciding offers. A strong ATAR and UCAT score won't secure a place on their own.
Universities want students who are motivated to become doctors or dentists, work well in a team, communicate clearly, show empathy and understand the wider issues facing healthcare.
Interview formats also vary between universities, from MMIs and panel interviews to group interviews and recorded video responses, held online or in person. Each format tests different skills, so practise the format you'll sit.
Frequently asked questions
What is an MMI?
A Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a series of short, timed stations. At each one you read a scenario or question, then discuss it with a different interviewer. Stations commonly cover ethical dilemmas, communication, teamwork and your motivation for medicine. Most Australian and New Zealand medical schools use some form of MMI.
When are medical interviews held for 2027 entry?
Most school-leaver interviews run between late November 2026 and late January 2027, often shortly after ATAR results are released. Bond is the exception, with interviews in March 2027. Invitations can arrive with very little notice, so start preparing well before your exams finish. See our interview offers and dates blog for each university's dates.
Are medical interviews online or in person?
It depends on the university. Many run their interviews online via Zoom, while others, such as UNSW, interview in person. Some use a recorded video interview instead of a live interviewer. The table above shows the format for each course.
Do all medical schools require an interview?
No. Some courses, such as medicine at the University of Tasmania, select applicants without an interview. Every course in the table above requires one.
Can I resit a medical interview?
At most universities, you can interview again if you reapply the following year. Monash is a notable exception: you can only sit its MMI once, and that score is used if you reapply.
Prepare for your medical interview
Have you developed strategies that will allow you to showcase the qualities universities are looking for? Do you know the types of questions that will arise at your medical interview? Do you have a solid understanding of what the interviewers are looking for? If not, you need to start preparing!
MedEntry's interview training covers MMI and panel formats, with practice questions and feedback designed around what each university assesses. Applying to Curtin? Our Casper training can help you secure your interview.
Last updated: September 2026
