New admission tests for courses in medicine and dental medicine from 2013

(Vienna 18th December 2012) Vice Rector of the Medical University of Vienna, Karin Gutiérrez-Lobos, and the Vice Rectors of the Medical Universities of Graz and Innsbruck, Hans Peter Dimai and Norbert Mutz respectively, today jointly unveiled the new admissions procedures for courses in medicine and dental medicine in Austria. Applicants who wish to start studying human medicine or dental medicine in the autumn of 2013 will take the new "MedAT-H” or “MedAT-Z” admissions examinations on 5th July 2013, which examine the knowledge and cognitive skills that are relevant to these courses of study.

The newly created tests will be written examinations and will be held on 5th July 2013 in Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck. For candidates for the diploma course in human medicine, relevant knowledge will account for 40 per cent of the test result, text comprehension a further 10 per cent and cognitive abilities the remaining 50 per cent. Applicants wishing to study dental medicine will complete practical and manual skills assessments (weighting 22.5 per cent) instead of the text comprehension task. The test of cognitive skills is also shorter (weighting 37.5 per cent).

The aim of the three medical universities is to jointly develop an admissions procedure that evaluates all of the assets that students need to bring with them to the course. The knowledge section of the tests is based on the previous selection processes used by the MedUni Graz and includes questions relating to biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics at university entrance qualification level. The tests of cognitive abilities test logical thinking, visual-analytical and visual-constructive abilities, mathematical reasoning and memory.

Innovative psychometric technologies
The new test design, which was developed by a group of experts led by psychologist Martin Arendasy from the University of Graz, is based on a “Delphi study”, in which the characteristics required for successful study and the practising of the profession were determined. Says Arendasy: “The test specifically links theory and practice for the first time. It also pays particular attention to important issues such as test reliability and test fairness. We use innovative psychometric technologies in the design and administration of the tests.”

The new test design also makes use of proven elements of the tests that have been carried out in the past. In Vienna and Innsbruck, only cognitive skills were examined, whereas in Graz questions about knowledge took precedence.

Scientific Advisory Board and ongoing further development
MedAT-H and MedAT-Z were designed as dynamic admissions processes that will be evaluated each year and adapted if necessary to new requirements. A Scientific Advisory Board made up of European and US-American experts from the fields of medicine and psychology will accompany the processes’ future development with international expertise. The test will be carried out in a two-stage process by as early as 2014 in order to also take account of personal characteristics, socio-emotional skills and communicative abilities in the admissions process. Corresponding methods that determine these characteristics and skills are currently being evaluated.

Registration from 1st to 20th February 2013
Applicants wishing to start their studies in the 2013 winter semester can apply online from 1st February to 20th February 2013 and will then be given information about the content of the tests and how they will be carried out. When the cost contribution of Euro 97 is paid between 27th February and 12th March 2013, the application becomes binding. The test itself will be carried out on Friday, 5th July 2013 simultaneously in Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck and will take the entire day. During the first half of August, the test participants will learn whether they have earned a study place with their test results, with rankings being drawn up for the study locations. The quota rule will also be implemented, according to which 75 per cent of the study places will be given to candidates with an Austrian university entrance qualification, 20 per cent to candidates from the EU and 5 per cent to candidates from outside the EU.