Last revised: | Covers 2027 MBChB entry and the changes for 2028 entry
The University of Auckland offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), but school leavers cannot enter medicine directly from Year 12 or Year 13. Students first complete an eligible university year and then compete for a place in the medical programme.
If you start your qualifying university year in 2027, you would normally apply for MBChB entry in 2028. That cycle uses Casper rather than UCAT ANZ. The requirements for the two entry years are set out separately below.
UCAT, Interview and Academic Achievement Requirements
- UCAT ANZ: Required for standard First Year entry to the MBChB in 2027, using the 2026 test.
- Casper: Replaces UCAT ANZ for First Year entry in 2028.
- Interview: Required. The published 2026 general MMI used recorded online responses through Kira Talent.
- Academic achievement: Required. Selection depends on the prescribed university first-year courses and grades. Admission to the initial degree does not guarantee admission to medicine.
UCAT ANZ preparation applies to the 2027 MBChB entry cycle and other universities that require the test. For Auckland's 2028 First Year entry cycle, see NIE Casper preparation.
Undergraduate Medicine at the University of Auckland
The University of Auckland undergraduate medicine entry requirements involve an eligible first year, academic assessment, an admissions test and an interview. For the standard First Year category, a medical place is not guaranteed when you enter the initial degree.
| Course detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). |
| Entry from school | Complete an eligible University of Auckland first year before applying for selection into the medical programme. |
| Duration | Normally six years in total: the qualifying university year followed by five years of medical study. |
| Location | Auckland, with medical teaching based at Grafton and clinical training across hospital and community settings. |
| Applications | Apply directly through the University of Auckland. The initial degree application and the later MBChB application are separate steps. |
| 2027 MBChB intake | The published limits are 317 domestic and 30 international places. Domestic access-scheme allocations are included within the domestic total. |
School results, ATAR and entry to the first-year degree
There is no direct MBChB ATAR cut-off for school leavers. School results are assessed for admission to the initial degree; medicine selection then uses the university study and assessment requirements for the relevant intake.
For the Bachelor of Health Sciences beginning in 2027, the university currently lists guaranteed rank scores of 200 for NCEA, 200 for Cambridge International and 28 for IB, alongside University Entrance and any other applicable requirements. These are first-year degree entry requirements, not guaranteed medicine entry scores. Australian qualifications and other approved programmes have their own assessment requirements.
Before enrolling, confirm that your chosen degree, major and first-year course combination meet the MBChB rules. Do not assume that any health or science degree is eligible.
Auckland Medicine Entry Requirements for 2027
This cycle is for students applying during 2026 to enter the next stage of medical study in 2027. Standard First Year selection combines academic results at 60%, UCAT ANZ at 15% and the MMI at 25%.
1. Academic requirements and first-year study
Complete the eight required courses full time in Auckland's Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science during the application year.
Interview eligibility requires at least GPA 6.0 across the seven graded courses, with no fails, and a pass in the required Waipapa Taumata Rau course. Only the first attempt counts for First Year admission.
2. UCAT ANZ and selection weighting
Standard First Year applicants need UCAT ANZ results from 2026. The test contributes 15% of final selection; a result from an earlier year cannot be carried forward.
Auckland combines the scores from Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement for its selection score. No particular UCAT result guarantees a place.
3. Medical interview and final ranking
Shortlisted applicants complete the MMI. It contributes 25% of standard final ranking, and a minimum interview threshold applies.
The remaining 60% comes from the four shared core courses covering cellular biology, chemistry, organ systems and population health. The university combines standardised results rather than simply averaging raw marks.
For interview shortlisting, Auckland ranks eligible applicants using the prescribed first-year grades. Where courses are unfinished, it can temporarily use the highest possible grades. Final results must still satisfy the applicable requirements. GPA 6.0 is an eligibility minimum, not a guaranteed interview cut-off or admission score.
Auckland Medicine Changes for 2028 Entry: Casper and New Pathways
Students completing their qualifying first year in 2027 apply under the 2028 MBChB rules. Casper replaces UCAT ANZ, and final ranking changes to 50% Casper and 50% MMI fair score after academic eligibility is met. A minimum MMI threshold applies.
Eligible first-year degrees and majors
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
- Bachelor of Health Sciences in Community Health or Health Systems and Data Analytics.
- Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Bioscience, Exercise Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry, Nutrition, Pharmacology or Physiology.
Academic requirements for 2028 MBChB entry
- Complete the eight prescribed courses full time in the application year, using the first attempt at those courses.
- Achieve GPA 6.0 or higher across the four required core courses.
- Have no grade below B in any of the eight first-year courses.
- Complete the university's required Casper test in the application year.
The four core areas remain cellular biology, chemistry, organ systems and population health, but the prescribed chemistry course changes for this cycle. Check the current university course list before choosing subjects. For interview eligibility, the university can use interim grades for unfinished courses; actual final results must meet the academic requirements.
Once those requirements are met, GPA is not a separately weighted component of the published 2028 final-ranking formula. The exact 2027 interview date, invitation schedule and intake-specific delivery instructions were not verified on the official pages reviewed.
Auckland Medical Interview Invitations and Dates
The published general MMI date for 2027 MBChB entry was 8 September 2026 at 11.00 am New Zealand time. That interview date has passed. Students beginning their qualifying first year in 2027 should follow the separate interview announcements for 2028 MBChB entry.
| Interview stage | 2027 MBChB entry | 2028 MBChB entry |
|---|---|---|
| Interview invitations | Eligible applicants were notified by email. A single public invitation release date was not verified. | Invitation release dates not yet verified. |
| Kira Talent access link | The university advised that individual links were expected in the week before the MMI. This is separate from the initial interview invitation. | Access and registration arrangements to be confirmed in university communications. |
| General MMI | . All shortlisted general applicants were scheduled to participate at the same time. | The interview date for the 2027 application year was not verified. Do not reuse the previous cycle's date. |
| Separate safety-check interview | Live Zoom appointments were offered during September–November 2026. This is separate from the recorded MMI. | Follow the booking instructions issued for your cycle. |
| MMI score notification | Expected in October 2026; an exact release day was not published in the guidance reviewed. | Not yet verified. |
| MAPAS Specialty Interview | Shortlisted MAPAS applicants receive a separate invitation and must complete both interviews. | Check MAPAS communications for the relevant interview arrangements. |
Check your email, junk folder and University of Auckland applicant communications. Interview invitations and MMI scores are different from offers of a university place.
Auckland Medicine Interview Format and Assessment
For the 2026 general MMI used for 2027 entry, Auckland published an asynchronous online interview through Kira Talent. Applicants recorded responses rather than speaking to a live panel.
Stations, preparation and response time
- Eight stations in total: seven assessed scenario stations and one administrative station for identification and safety-check requirements.
- Each assessed station allowed 30 seconds to prepare and three minutes to respond.
- The university described an overall interview time of approximately 30 minutes.
- Applicants needed a computer or laptop, webcam, microphone, reliable internet and the required original identification documents.
The separate safety-check interview takes place live through Zoom. It is not a live version of the scored MMI. Follow the university's instructions for your own intake rather than assuming that the previous format and timing will be identical.
Interview topics and assessed qualities
The seven published scenario domains cover equity, moral and ethical issues, career choice, healthcare issues, personal insight, personal experience and Hauora Māori. Applicants should be able to reflect on their experiences and discuss health issues from more than one perspective.
- Clear communication.
- Understanding of equity and health inequities.
- Ethical and moral reasoning.
- Critical thinking and a reasoned argument.
- Cultural safety and self-reflection.
- Teamwork and leadership.
- Resilience and motivation.
- Mental flexibility and problem solving.
Three attributes are assessed in each scenario, without applicants being told which three. The university states that recorded responses are reviewed by people, with a different reviewer for each assessed response.
For guided practice with scenarios and recorded responses, explore NIE medical interview preparation.
Medicine Access and Special Admission Schemes
Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme
MAPAS supports eligible applicants with verified Indigenous New Zealand Māori or Pacific ancestry who meet the scheme's citizenship or residency requirements. Shortlisted clinical applicants complete the general MMI and a separate MAPAS Specialty Interview. Selection considers academic results, interviews and relevant circumstances holistically.
Regional Rural Admission Scheme
RRAS is available to eligible domestic applicants. The university requires at least five years of primary schooling or three years of secondary schooling in an area meeting its regional or rural definition. A school letter is required as evidence. Applicants meet the relevant minimum requirements but are ranked within the RRAS category.
Undergraduate Targeted Admission Schemes
FMHS has targeted admission categories for eligible applicants with disabilities, refugee backgrounds or qualifying low socioeconomic backgrounds. These categories have specific evidence and eligibility requirements; they do not remove the academic requirements. Māori and Pacific applicants are considered through MAPAS or general admission.
Check your eligibility directly with the university before selecting a scheme, particularly if your schooling or residency history is outside New Zealand.
International Applicants and Other Entry Categories
Standard international First Year applicants complete the approved Auckland first year and are assessed separately from domestic applicants. For 2027 entry, the published standard weighting is also 60% academics, 15% UCAT ANZ and 25% MMI. For 2028 First Year entry, the published requirements include Casper and the revised academic thresholds.
A separate international pathway exists for students who already hold a specific conditional offer for second-year medicine. The 2027 Dean's Determination exempts those pathway students from UCAT ANZ while requiring the specified first-year grades and a passing MMI. This exemption does not apply to every international First Year applicant.
Graduate entry is another category and has different rules. In particular, international graduate applicants have separate interview and admissions-test arrangements. Do not use a graduate exemption to assess a standard First Year application.
Applicant status depends on citizenship and residency, not simply where you attended school. Confirm your category, English language requirements and any conditional-offer requirements with the university.
Official Admissions Information and Deadlines
Use the university's current admissions information for application, document, enrolment and course-offer deadlines. This page lists interview-related timing only.
University of Auckland Medicine: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enter Auckland medicine straight from school, and what ATAR do I need?
No. School leavers first enter an approved University of Auckland degree and complete the prescribed first year. There is no direct MBChB ATAR cut-off. School qualifications are assessed for the initial degree, and admission to that degree does not guarantee a medical place.
Does Auckland medicine require UCAT ANZ or Casper?
Standard First Year applicants for 2027 MBChB entry needed UCAT ANZ in 2026. For 2028 MBChB entry, applicants complete Casper during their 2027 qualifying year. The published 2028 final ranking is 50% Casper and 50% MMI fair score after academic eligibility is met.
When are Auckland medicine interview invitations released?
A single public invitation release date for the 2027 MBChB entry cycle was not verified. The university advised that individual Kira Talent access links were expected in the week before the MMI; these links are separate from the initial interview invitation. Invitation dates for 2028 entry were not yet verified.
When are Auckland medical interviews for 2027 and 2028 entry?
The published general MMI date for 2027 MBChB entry was 8 September 2026 at 11.00 am New Zealand time. That date has passed. The interview date during 2027 for 2028 MBChB entry was not verified on the official pages reviewed.
Is the Auckland medicine interview a live panel or a recorded MMI?
The 2026 general MMI for 2027 entry used recorded responses on Kira Talent. It comprised seven assessed scenario stations and an additional identification station. Assessed stations allowed 30 seconds to prepare and three minutes to respond. A separate safety-check interview took place live through Zoom.