University of Otago

Undergraduate Medicine at the University of Otago

University of Otago undergraduate medicine entry requirements assess HSFY academic results and, for domestic applicants, UCAT ANZ eligibility. The standard HSFY pathway does not include a selection interview.

1. HSFY academic requirements and school preparation

Applicants must undertake all seven prescribed HSFY papers at Otago in the application year, pass them all and achieve an average of at least 65% across their best seven eligible papers. An approved optional eighth paper can be included in that best-seven calculation. Applicants must also satisfy the HSFY English diagnostic requirement or the approved English-study alternative.

The HSFY category cannot be used to repeat a set of seven papers already completed in a single calendar year. You can apply to medicine only once through this category.

The minimum academic standard is an eligibility threshold, not a guaranteed selection score. HSFY entry itself is university admission, so a school-leaver ATAR should not be presented as a guaranteed medicine cut-off.

There are no compulsory school subject prerequisites for HSFY. Otago strongly recommends Chemistry, Physics, Calculus and an English-rich subject at the relevant senior-secondary level or equivalent.

2. UCAT ANZ thresholds and academic ranking

Domestic HSFY applicants must sit UCAT ANZ in the application year. For general applicants seeking 2027 medicine entry, Otago publishes the following minimum percentile thresholds:

UCAT is an eligibility requirement rather than an additional ranking percentage once the required thresholds are met. Final HSFY selection is based on academic ranking, with the applicable equity-selection arrangements.

These are percentile requirements, not fixed scaled scores. Check the current cycle’s official information rather than converting an older percentile into a guaranteed score.

3. Interview requirements

There is no standard admission interview for HSFY medicine applicants. Do not apply Otago dentistry’s interview requirement or an Australian university’s MMI format to this pathway.

Otago’s separate Alternative medicine category includes an interview for shortlisted applicants. It is intended for eligible graduates or applicants with qualifying experience and is not the school-leaver HSFY route.

Medicine interview information for 2027 entry

The Alternative interview can cover academic and other achievements, commitment to a career change, communication, knowledge of the New Zealand health system and understanding of medicine. Its assessment is holistic; no fixed interview percentage is published in the guidance.

Medicine access and equity groups

Eligible applicants can seek consideration through Māori, New Zealand Resident Indigenous Pacific Origins, Refugee Background, Socioeconomic Equity and New Zealand Rural Origins groups. Each has its own evidence and selection requirements.

Equity consideration is part of the admissions process, rather than an automatic place or a general ATAR adjustment. Confirm eligibility and documentation with Otago before applying.

Graduate and Alternative medicine entry

Otago also accepts applications through separate Graduate and Alternative categories. These have qualification, timing and scoring rules that differ from HSFY; neither should be described as direct school-leaver entry.

For graduates, the qualifying degree and weighted academic assessment must meet Otago’s rules. Applicants should also check the published changes to the treatment of pre-Christmas Summer School study for professional-programme selection.

International medicine applicants

A limited number of international places may be available after HSFY, subject to annual approval. International students must meet the applicable academic, English and student-status requirements.

Otago’s current guidance contains conflicting wording about UCAT for international applicants: its medicine page refers specifically to domestic UCAT requirements, while AskOtago announces broader requirements from 2027 and 2028 without clearly distinguishing every application and entry cycle. International applicants should obtain written confirmation for their intended intake; do not assume an ongoing exemption.

Students starting HSFY in 2027 should specifically confirm UCAT requirements for professional medicine entry in 2028.

Check current requirements and all application deadlines on the official Otago medicine admissions page. Test guidance is available through the official UCAT ANZ university information.

Explore NIE UCAT ANZ preparation and, for applicants to the Alternative category, medical interview preparation.

Undergraduate Dentistry at the University of Otago

University of Otago undergraduate dentistry entry requirements combine HSFY academic achievement with a satisfactory interview. UCAT ANZ is not required for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

1. HSFY academic requirements and prerequisite study

HSFY applicants must undertake all seven prescribed papers at Otago in the application year and must not have previously completed that set in a single calendar year. The published minimum is an average of at least 65% across the best seven eligible papers, including an approved optional eighth paper where applicable, with no mark below 60% in a prescribed paper.

Applicants must also meet the HSFY English diagnostic requirement or approved English-study alternative. The Dental Admissions Committee can set a higher academic threshold for interview shortlisting.

There are no compulsory school subjects for HSFY, although Chemistry, Physics, Calculus and an English-rich subject are recommended preparation. Admission to HSFY does not guarantee a BDS place.

2. UCAT ANZ is not required

Otago removed the UCAT requirement for dentistry from the 2025 intake. The current BDS admission process uses academic eligibility and interview suitability; do not apply medicine’s UCAT thresholds to dentistry.

3. Dental interview format, assessed qualities and weighting

Shortlisted applicants attend an interview through Zoom. Otago describes an interview-panel assessment of aptitude for the programme, taking account of motivation, decision-making and communication skills.

The official page does not specify a fixed MMI station count or interview duration. Applicants should follow the instructions in their invitation rather than assume a station circuit or timed format.

The interview acts as a suitability threshold. Once that threshold is met, interview performance does not receive further weight in selection. Final selection is by academic ranking under the relevant admission category and equity arrangements.

Dentistry interview dates for 2027 entry

Dentistry access and equity groups

Dentistry provides consideration for eligible Māori, New Zealand Resident Indigenous Pacific Origins, Refugee Background, Socioeconomic Equity and New Zealand Rural Origins applicants. Eligibility and supporting evidence must be confirmed through Otago’s process.

These arrangements do not remove the need to meet the applicable academic and interview requirements. The university sets the relevant selection standards each year.

Graduate and Alternative dentistry entry

Separate Graduate and Alternative categories are available. Applicants must meet the qualifying-study requirements and have completed, or where permitted be enrolled in, the required HSFY papers or recognised equivalents. Otago also recognises specified equivalent first-year study from the University of Auckland for relevant categories.

A previous degree does not create automatic entry or remove the interview requirement. The university determines eligibility, interview shortlisting and academic ranking.

International dentistry applicants

International places in second-year dentistry are limited and reviewed annually. Applicants need the required first-year or equivalent study, English proficiency and a satisfactory interview. UCAT ANZ is not required for dentistry.

Confirm your admission category and residency status with Otago, including whether you qualify for domestic consideration. Do not assume that fee status and admission eligibility are identical across Australian and New Zealand universities.

For current requirements and all application deadlines, consult the official Otago dentistry admissions page.

NIE offers dental interview preparation and one-on-one interview training for applicants seeking individual practice and feedback.

Applying Through Otago eVision

School leavers first apply for admission to Otago and enrol in HSFY. During HSFY, students make a separate competitive application for the professional programme through eVision.

Applicants seeking both medicine and dentistry must nominate a preferred programme under Otago’s current process. Read the preference and acceptance rules carefully, as accepting a place can affect the other application.

Check application dates, required documents and result-release arrangements directly with Otago. This page lists interview information separately to avoid confusing professional selection with initial university admission.

Preparing for Otago Interviews

For dentistry, practise explaining your motivation, working through decisions and discussing your experiences clearly. Prepare for a conversation with a panel over Zoom, following the format in your invitation.

Alternative medicine applicants should also reflect on their career change, understanding of the profession and knowledge of healthcare in New Zealand. Use your own examples and reasoning rather than memorised responses.

Otago Medicine and Dentistry: Frequently Asked Questions