Frequently asked questions
For information on key dates, such as when JCU will send out email notifications of interviews, dates for interviews and when course offers will be released, please visit key dates and selection process.
About the interview
JCU conducts a panel style interview. The interview panel will consist of a medical practitioner, an academic staff member and/or a member of the community.
This year your interview will be conducted online via “Zoom”. It is important that you have the following IT requirements:
- A computer, laptop, IPad, etc
- An internet connection - broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
- A webcam or HD webcam - built-in or USB plug-in
- Speakers and a microphone - built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth (you may wish to use headphones)
- A quiet private room without interruptions
- A zoom account, which uses your name
- Greater detail about system requirements can be found here.
Somewhere private is essential. The room you are in needs to be quiet so you can concentrate. The door needs to be closed, and you must be the only person in the room. You will not be allowed to have your phone with you.
You will be required to participate in a test call where you will be required to join a zoom meeting so we can verify your connection. An email with these details will be sent to you prior to your interview date.
When you first dial in, you will see a white screen that identifies you are in a waiting room. Be patient, we will have several people arriving at once, and it can take a little while to process everyone.
You will need to dial into your Zoom “waiting room” 30 minutes prior to your interview. From there you will be invited into the “selection room” where your identification will be confirmed and further information will be provided.
Please note that the “waiting room” is a blank room. Wait here until you are invited into the “selection room”.
At your interview, you will be asked a series of questions by different panel members to assess your suitability to study Medicine at James Cook University. These questions are designed to tell us more about you. You will perform best if you are genuine and tell us about your experiences.
Please note that when answering questions you should assume that the interviewers know nothing about you. The interview panel will not have read your application. The only information they are given prior to the interview is your name.
Prior to interviews, you will be invited to an applicant zoom briefing session. During this session we will be looking to see how your internet connection is operating. If it is poor, we will identify to you that you need to secure a stronger internet connection.
On a personal level, you should test your internet a few times prior to your interview. Practice using Zoom with a friend. If your connection is poor, change locations prior to the day. If you change locations, ensure that you have a quiet private space.
This can happen unexpectedly. In the first instance we would ask that you dial back into your interview room. This resolves the majority of issues that people have. If the problem continues we ask that you contact the Selection IT support hotline number which will be provided in your letter of offer.
You will need to bring photo identification (ID), such as a Driver’s licence, Passport, 18+ card or Student ID, that you can provide to demonstrate your identify. You will be asked to hold your ID up to the camera for verification. Please ensure you hold this close and steady. Be aware that it takes a few moments for the camera to focus.
During the interview all other devices such as telephones, tablets, smart watches not being used for the interview will need to be outside of your room. If things go wrong with your internet during the interview we will call you to help resolve this on the number you have provided.
Smart, modest, casual dress is appropriate for the interview. Applicants should treat this experience like a job interview, and match their appearance with the impression they seek to make. Dress exactly how you would during an in-person interview. Even if the interviewer cannot see your legs, still wear nice bottoms so you feel fully prepared and professional.
JCU is not able to provide individuals with information or feedback about their application due to a large number of applications received and interviews conducted. This includes information or feedback about an individual’s online application or interview performance.
Offers
Offers for places to study at JCU are made through QTAC. Please refer to the key dates.
Applicants should conditionally accept their offer in QTAC. A conditional response allows applicants to still be considered for their higher preferences in any further offer rounds.
Applicants can only be offered one course at a time so if they accept their offer conditionally and are made an offer into their higher preference course at the next offer round, their previous offer is no longer available.
You MUST respond to QTAC by the lapse date, 15 January 2024.
Representatives from the University on occasions may contact some applicants to advise that they are being recommended for QTAC to make them an offer for JCU’s MBBS. However, it is not always possible to contact every applicant by phone. Not receiving a call does not indicate that you will not receive an offer. All official offers for places in JCU’s MBBS are released via QTAC on 11 January 2024.
JCU may participate in further offer rounds via QTAC if places become available.
Getting into the MBBS is a very competitive process. If you are shortlisted for interview, you are in a select pool, of equally academic and experienced peers, making the selection process very challenging. An applicant who has been unsuccessful in obtaining a place in the JCU MBBS, but who is strongly motivated towards a career in the field of medicine, might consider undertaking a JCU biomedical science or JCU health degree.
Undertaking such a degree may strengthen a future application to a medical school, through one of the following paths:
- After graduation, being accepted into a graduate-entry medical program at one of the Universities that have a graduate-entry medical degree (in Queensland, the University of Queensland and Griffith University); or
- Obtaining acceptance in a future year into JCU’s MBBS through one of the limited number of places available for non-school leavers.
Unsuccessful applicants to the MBBS are reminded, that the number of places available for non-school leaver entry into the JCU’s MBBS is very limited. It would be appropriate and wise for an unsuccessful applicant to understand the reduced possibility of entry as a non-school leaver.
Graduate entry requirements to medical schools at other Universities varies, but are normally contingent upon high performance in a bachelor degree, an interview, and the Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT).
Further information can be obtained from the relevant Universities and the GAMSAT office at the Australian Council of Education Research (ACER).
GAMSAT Office at ACER
Email: gamsat@acer.edu.au
Postal address: Private Bag 55, Camberwell VIC 3124
Other Questions
For campus tours please book here https://experience.jcu.edu.au/jcu-campus-tours. You are also welcome to enjoy a virtual tour of our JCU facilities.
Provided that you list a preference for both Townsville and Cairns in JCU and QTAC both of your preferences will be considered. Applicants can only be issued one offer at a time, it is important to have the preferences listed in order of preference choice. Regardless of locations if you want to study at JCU you must preference JCU first.
Preferences need to be changed in QTAC. The last date to change preferences for consideration in the major offer round is 2 January 2024.
There will be 40 places commencing year 1 in 2024.