Direct entry (school-leaver)

University of Adelaide — BMedStud/MD

Adelaide, SA6 yearsBMS / MD

Direct answerEntry 2027

University of Adelaide's Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine is a six-year direct entry pathway for applicants straight out of high school. With 132 spots per year, entry is extremely competitive and requires an ATAR of ~99.75 and a UCAT around the ~92nd percentile.

Verified against the official Adelaide MD course page · 29 June 2026

Course details

University of Adelaide's Bachelor of Medical Studies and Doctor of Medicine is a six year integrated degree targeted at top-performing school leavers. While the majority of the course is taught on campus, around 30% of domestic students have the opportunity to do placements at Adelaide's Rural Clinical School.

Degree awardedBachelor of Medical Studies and Doctor of Medicine (BMS/MD)

Duration6 years, full-time

DeliveryOn-campus, full-time

FundingCommonwealth Supported; ~28.5% Bonded Medical Program places

Eligibility Criteria

An ATAR of 90.00 is the minimum requirement before you will be eligible to apply for University of Adelaide's direct entry medical program. This is the absolute minimum for application only — a much higher ATAR will be required to actually get a position.

ATAR

Below the apply gate — applications are not considered for this pathway.

Considered — meeting the minimum gets you assessed, but does not guarantee an offer.

Competitive band — where successful offers actually land (around ~99.75).

Apply gate
The minimum ATAR to be considered (around 90.00) — it opens the door but does not guarantee an offer.Verified — official university source

Where offers land
Successful offers cluster around ~99.75 — the realistic competitive mark.Applicant-reported estimate, not an official cut-off

80859095100

UCAT

In-state
In-state applicants are typically competitive from around the ~67th pct UCAT percentile.Applicant-reported estimate · 2025, not an official cut-off

Interstate
Interstate applicants face a higher bar — typically around the ~92nd+ pct UCAT percentile.Applicant-reported estimate · 2025, not an official cut-off

5060708090100

Intakeplaces / year

132132 places
Total domestic places offered each year, before any quota split.Verified — official university sourcedomestic places per year

~87Non-Quota · ~87
Non-quota — the open pool of places allocated on merit, with no reserved-category requirement.Applicant-reported estimate, not an official cut-off

≥ 40Rural Quota · ≥ 40
minimum, MMM 2–7 applicants (~41 reserved)Verified — official university source

ATSI Quota · ≥ 4
minimum; all eligible applicants are interviewedVerified — official university source

Citizenship

Australian citizen or permanent resident OR New Zealand Citizen

Pre-Requisite

Any one of SACE Stage 2 Biology, Chemistry or Mathematical Methods

University of Adelaide has defined quotas for rural and ATSI students which may make entry for eligible students slightly easier. While ATSI students are not required to complete the UCAT, the difference in ATAR and UCAT for rural applicants is not published.

Selection Process

Applicants that have reached the minimum ATAR threshold are shortlisted for interviews based on their UCAT performance, meaning a high UCAT score is critical in proceeding to an offer.

Stage one

Application pre-requisites

A minimum ATAR of 90.00 is required to be eligible to apply for the University of Adelaide's direct-entry medical program.

This is the minimum ATAR to be considered and does not guarantee an interview.

Plan your application

Applications run through SATAC on the national UCAT cycle. Booking windows, test dates and fees sit with the UCAT itself.

UCAT key dates & costBooking windows, the testing window, deadlines and fees for the cycle.→Where can I apply? — the medical-school matcherMatch your ATAR, UCAT and circumstances against every consortium university at once.→

Adelaide Doctor of Medicine FAQ

Does the Doctor of Medicine at the University of Adelaide require the UCAT?+

Yes, the UCAT is used to determine interviews and also contributes 20% to the final offer.

What ATAR do I need for medicine at the University of Adelaide?+

A minimum ATAR of 90.00 is required to apply for the direct entry pathway. This does not guarantee an offer - past intakes have had median ATARs as high as 99.75.

How many places does the Adelaide Doctor of Medicine have?+

This course has ~132 domestic places per year with 28.5% under the Bonded Medical Program.

Is there a rural or Indigenous pathway?+

Yes, a quota of 40 and 4 apply for rural and ATSI applicants respectively. The ATSI pathway does not require the UCAT and provides interviews for all eligible applicants.

How is the interview decided at Adelaide?+

Applicants that pass the 90.00 minimum ATAR score are ranked based on their UCAT to determine interview invitations.

How is the offer decided at Adelaide?+

Applicants are scored with a 40/20/40 weighting between ATAR/UCAT/Interview.

Can I apply for University of Adelaide as an interstate student?+

Yes, although roughly half the interview spots are reserved for South Australian applicants. This means a higher UCAT score (92nd vs. 67th percentile for local) is required to get an interview.