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University of Otago

Please note: The National Institute of Education is a privately run organisation and we are in no way associated or affiliated with The University of Otago. Our primary mission statement is to provide NIE clients with the most up-to-date information, advice, educational & training services, and resources in order to assist them with their journey into medical degrees across all Australian and New Zealand Universities. 

The interview offers for The University of Otago will be based on the results of your UCAT. Over the past 24 years, NIE has helped thousands of successful applicants to become better prepared for their medical and dental admission interviews. We offer a range of intensive and highly effective interview preparation programs to best prepare you for your medical and dental interviews.

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Degree Health sciences first year + Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Campus locations Dunedin, Otago
Duration 6 Years Full-time - Health sciences first year (1 year) + Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (5 years)
Bachelor of Dental Surgery - 5 years
Start Date February
Entry requirements Medicine

2 Entry Pathways
1. University of Otago Health Sciences First Year category (HSFY)
- To be considered for admission in the HSFY category an applicant must be enrolled in HSFY at Otago and pass all the papers prescribed for HSFY at first attempt, with a minimum of 70% in each paper.
- Applicants will also be required to have passed the HSFY English Diagnostic Test or have passed ENGL 126.
- An applicant must have a current UCAT result and achieved a score in all five of the UCAT sections at a threshold level determined annually by the Medical Admissions Committee.
- Selection for applicants who have met these criteria will be based on their academic score.
- When applying for Medicine a candidate may apply once only using this category.

2. Graduate Entry
- To be considered for admission in the Graduate category, applicants must have completed, normally in the minimum academic time and within three years of the date of application, the requirements of a degree (as outlined below) awarded by a university in New Zealand.
- Applicants must have a current UCAT result and achieved a score in all five of the UCAT sections at a threshold level determined annually by the Medical Admissions Committee.
- All applicants in the Graduate category are ranked on the basis of a score derived from the grades achieved in the first university degree awarded to the applicant.
- Depending on the bachelor degree, some applicants can transfer straight into the 2nd year of the programe.

3. Alternative Entry
This category for application for admission to second-year Medicine is open to allied health professionals and other graduates.To be considered for admission under the Alternative category, an applicant must be a domestic student and:
- Hold a degree from a New Zealand university, and no longer be eligible under the Graduate category; or
- Have completed a degree at an overseas university at a standard of at least NZQF Level 7 no less than three years prior to application; or
- Hold a master's or doctoral degree;or
- Demonstrate health-related professional experience in a relevant field to a standard acceptable to the Medical Admissions Committee
Applicants seeking admission to Medicine with health-related professional experience will be required to demonstrate academic and/or professional experience in the relevant field, to a standard acceptable to the Medical Admissions Committee, as part of the selection process. Applicants will be required to provide the names and contact details of three referees (both professional and character), who will be contacted only if an applicant is selected for interview.
Candidate selection is a two-stage process. Candidates are selected for interview based on academic achievements, statement of interest, and CV. Not all applicants will be selected for interview. At interview, topics covered include: Academic achievement, Other achievements, Commitment to a career change, Communication skills, Knowledge of the New Zealand health system and Understanding of the profession.
Interviews will take place via Zoom approximately eight weeks from the closing date

Application Process
HSFY category and Graduate category applicants should apply in the first instance to the 'Health Sciences Undergraduate Professional Programmes' and then select 'Medicine' from the list. Applications for entry in 2023 close on 15 September 2022 (HSFY and Graduate categories). You will be advised of the outcome of your application in December.

Structure
First year - First Year Health sciences in Dunedin
Second & Third Year - Pre-clinical years in Dundedin
Third year onwards - Clinical years with placements in Dundein, Wellington and Christchurch

ATAR:
Minimum 74+ / QLD OP 12 or below
Subject prerequisites: chemistry, physics and biology at Year 13


UCAT: Both the HSFY and graduate pathway, require applicants to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ). Applicants must achieve a UCAT ANZ threshold score in all sections (score to be determined annually by the Medical Admissions Committee).

Interview: No Interview. For the HSFY pathway and graduate pathway, admission is based on weighted academic score and UCAT score.

Dentistry
Entry pathway
Undergraduate - School leavers

Students must first complete the Health Sciences First Year Course. All applicants seeking admission to the second year of the Dental Surgery programme must have completed the requirements of the Health Sciences First Year course at the University of Otago (or equivalent for the Graduate and Alternative admissions categories). Admission to the second year of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme shall be determined by the Dental Admissions Committee.

Post-graduate
Those who have completed an undergraduate degree can apply for the Bachelor of dental surgery and start in 2nd year of the programme. To be considered for admission under the Graduate category, an applicant must:
have completed, normally in the minimum academic time, at least one of the following qualifications awarded by a university in New Zealand:
- a bachelor's degree; or
- a bachelor's honours degree; or
- a bachelor's degree followed by a postgraduate diploma; or
- a bachelor's degree, followed by an honours degree
Applications must be received within three years of completion of the qualifying degree. The applicant must have passed the papers of the Health Sciences First Year course or their equivalents. The average grade for all papers in the qualifying programme must be at least B (grade point average (GPA) of 5). Selection of applicants who have met these criteria will be based on their GPA, as calculated by the Division of Health Sciences.

ATAR - Minimum 74+ / QLD OP 12 or below
Subject prerequisites: chemistry, physics and biology at Year 13

UCAT - An applicant must have a current UCAT result and achieved a score in all five of the UCAT sections at a threshold level determined annually by the Dental Admissions Committee, to proceed to Interview.

Interview - The total number of applicants that will be invited to undertake an interview will be approximately 300. The main round of interviews will be held in Dunedin. The Interviews for University of Otago-enrolled applicants will be held in early October. Applicants from other Universities or applicants that are not currently enrolled at a University will be interviewed in November.
Number of places Medicine: 282 places available for domestic students and 20 are available for international students.
Dentistry - 60 domestic and 60 international places
Additional information For detailed information about the application process and up to date course admission guides, please visit University of Otago medicine page.

 Read full details about Dentistry at the University of Otago.

medicine umat otago

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