Excerpt
As application cycles kickstart, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the different components that you have to deal with, especially for universities located overseas. Not to worry though, as Icon Education is here to guide you with unpacking the steps needed in your application to study medicine in the land down under.
What does UNSW Medicine look for?
The five-year Direct Entry Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme at Monash University is popular amongst Medicine hopefuls, and accredited by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). It is a highly competitive programme, with approximately 234 domestic Australian students and only 80 international students accepted each year.
Applicants who have successfully received an offer usually have academic profiles that look like the following:
|
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) |
97.50 points total. |
|
Victorian Certificate of Education |
35 in English (EAL)/ 30 in English other than EAL, 30 in Chemistry. |
|
International Baccalaureate |
5 in English SL/ 4 in English HL/ 6 in English B SL/ 5 in English B HL. 5 in Chemistry SL/ 4 in Chemistry HL. |
|
GCE A-Levels |
B in O Level English Language/ B in AS Level English General Paper/ D for A Level English General Paper, D for Chemistry. 15 points total, with the best-scoring 3 A-Level subjects completed within 2 years. The point system is as follows: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. |
|
Monash University Foundation Year |
75% for English and 75% for Chemistry. |
If your primary language of instruction is not English, you are required to take a recognised English language test, which could be either one of the following:
|
IELTS |
Overall score of minimally 7.0, with no individual band score falling below 6.5. |
|
TOEFL iBT |
Overall score of minimally 94, with scores that do not fall below 19 in the Reading component, 20 in the Listening component, 20 in the Speaking component and 24 in the Writing component. |
|
Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
Overall score of minimally 65, with no individual band score falling below 58. |
International Student Admissions Test (ISAT)
The ISAT is an admissions test that helps the university to rank, and then select potential students amongst an already highly qualified pool of international applicants. It specifically assesses applicants' abilities in the Critical Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections, both of which are highly valued in future doctors.
In order to meet the cut-off score for Monash University, applicants have to attain a minimum overall score of 170, along with a minimum score of 165 for both Critical Reasoning and Quantitative sections. Take a free diagnostic test.
Multi Mini Interview (MMI)
If applicants are successfully shortlisted, they will be invited to participate in the MMI. This consists of four interview stations, with the questions specifically curated to holistically assess their fit with the programme. The range of questions focuses on aspects such as your motivation to study medicine, your ability to advocate and collaborate with others, your critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills, as well as your levels of resilience and empathy. Do take note that if applicants fail the MMI, they would not be allowed to attend it again even if they reapply for Monash medicine.
Tips to enhance your application
Given the high levels of competition and comprehensive screening process, these are some aspects that you should pay careful attention to in order for your application to best reflect your suitability for the programme:
1. Early preparation is key to acing your application. Many applicants tend to mistakenly underestimate the amount of practice they require for the ISAT, which might result in undesirable scores. It is therefore important to give yourself sufficient time and space to familarise yourself with the testing format and question types, and reach out for help if need be. For applicants who intend to retake the ISAT, do take note of the 3 testing cycles for 2025 and ensure that you meet the mandatory elapsed time of 12 months from your previous test.
2. While it is not compulsory to participate in internships or job shadowing experiences in the medical field before your application, it is highly recommended that you partake in them or find alternative avenues where you can learn more about what the world of medicine entails. These serve to build up a repository of experiences that will help you to gain a clearer understanding of your alignment with a career in medicine, as well as highlight certain aspects that you may find yourself interested in exploring on a deeper level.
3. Although personal statements are not a required component in the Monash application, do make it a habit to record your experiences, and specifically explain what you have learnt from them. Having a clear picture of what contributed towards your motivation to pursue medicine, as well as being able to substantiate your experiences would be vital during the interview stage.
We hope that you feel more confident with embarking on your application for Monash medicine. Should you find yourself requiring help to shape your application and for more targeted guidance, do not hesitate to reach out to Icon Education. We wish you all the best with your journey!
Additional resources
https://www.icon-plus.com/articles/align-interest-with-values
https://www.icon-plus.com/articles/should-i-study-abroad-in-the-uk-or-australia
