How to get into medical school in New Zealand

2027 Entry · HSFY & Auckland First Year · UCAT-ANZ · MMI · MAPAS · RRAS

New Zealand has two medical schools admitting today — the University of Auckland (317 domestic places) and the University of Otago (312 government-funded places as at the Ministry of Health's March 2025 factsheet), with extra places phasing in at both. There is no direct school-leaver entry to the MBChB at either: every domestic applicant must first complete a full-time gateway first year — HSFY at Otago, or the Auckland first year in the BBiomedSc, BHSc or a BSc health major — before competing for a second-year place. A third school opens in 2028: Waikato's New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine, a four-year graduate-entry MD selecting on GAMSAT. This guide walks through every step: NCEA rank scores, the gateway programmes, UCAT-ANZ, the Auckland online MMI, MAPAS, RRAS, the full application timeline and the most common pitfalls.

Step 1 — meet the academic entry requirements

Both Auckland and Otago require you to have completed (or be completing) NCEA Level 3, Cambridge A-Levels, the IB Diploma, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the universities before enrolling in the first-year gateway programme.

For the Auckland gateway degrees: University Entrance plus the guaranteed entry score for your intake year. From 2027 Auckland applies a single standardised Guaranteed Entry Score of 200 for school leavers across all its undergraduate health programmes, replacing the older per-degree figures (250 for the BHSc, 165 for the BSc specialising in Biomedical Science) that you will still see quoted in older guides. The rank score is derived from your best 80 credits at NCEA Level 3.

For Otago HSFY: you need to meet the University of Otago's standard undergraduate entry requirements. No specific NCEA rank score threshold is set for HSFY admission itself, but Biology, Chemistry and Physics at Year 13 (NCEA Level 3 or equivalent) are strongly recommended for all medical pathways.

Strongly recommended FMHS subjects at both universities: Biology, Chemistry, and at least one English-rich or humanities subject. See our NCEA / Cambridge / IB credentials guide for rank-score calculation and equivalency tables.

Step 2 — choose your gateway: HSFY or Auckland First Year

This is the most important early decision. HSFY and Auckland First Year are structurally different; they reward different strengths and suit different applicant profiles.

Factor	HSFY (Otago — Dunedin)	Auckland First Year (BHSc/BSc Biomed)
Selection method	Academic rank (GPA) only — no interview	GPA 60% + UCAT-ANZ 15% + MMI 25%
Papers / courses	7 prescribed papers (BIOC 192, CELS 191, CHEM 191, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, PHSI 191, POPH 192)	7 prescribed courses (BIOSCI 107, CHEM 110, MEDSCI 142, POPLHLTH 111 + 3 further papers)
UCAT-ANZ role	Threshold gate only (VR ≥20th, SJT >10th percentile for MBChB); does not affect rank	Weighted 15% in final ranking (for 2027 entry)
Interview	No interview for MBChB (HSFY/Graduate categories)	Online asynchronous MMI via Kira Talent (8 stations, 25% of ranking)
2026 competitive range	General pool: ~93–99 (scale 0–100); Rural pool: ~89–98	Minimum GPA 6.0 (B+) to enter interview stage; competitive GPA typically higher
Clinical campuses	Years 4–6: Dunedin, Christchurch or Wellington (university-assigned)	Auckland City Campus throughout
Domestic places	Capped by Government; 312 funded places (Ministry of Health, Mar 2025)	317, plus up to 30 international (2027 Programme Limitations)
Domestic annual fees (approx.)	NZD 18,800–19,100 (2026)	NZD 19,531.20 (2026)
Equity sub-schemes	Māori and Pacific equity group; Rural Origins equity group	MAPAS; RRAS

Choose HSFY if you are a consistent exam performer who thrives in a structured, high-volume science year and prefer to avoid an interview component at this stage. The purely academic selection means every mark counts.

Choose Auckland First Year if you are a strong communicator as well as an academic performer, you want to remain in Auckland, or you are eligible for and interested in MAPAS or RRAS (both are Auckland-specific schemes).

Step 3 — register for and sit UCAT-ANZ

UCAT-ANZ is a two-hour psychometric admissions test delivered at Pearson VUE test centres. It has four subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement. Booking typically opens in March and the test window runs from early July to early August (1 July – 5 August in 2026) — check the UCAT ANZ Consortium website for current cycle dates.

For Auckland 2027 entry: UCAT-ANZ is required and weighted at 15% of your final selection ranking. Competitive applicants typically score at or above the 80th–90th percentile (advisory; Auckland does not publish fixed cutoffs).

For Otago MBChB (2027 entry): UCAT-ANZ is required as a threshold gate — you must achieve Verbal Reasoning at or above the 20th percentile and Situational Judgement at or above the 10th percentile, with a score in all four sections. Once you clear the threshold, your UCAT score does not affect your academic rank.

For Otago BDS: UCAT-ANZ is not required — removed from the BDS admissions process from the 2025 intake onwards.

2028 entry update (Auckland only): UCAT-ANZ will be replaced by CASPer (a situational judgement test). Applicants preparing for 2028 Auckland entry should monitor announcements from FMHS directly.

Step 4 — ace the gateway first year

The first year is the decisive academic filter at both universities. There are no shortcuts: you must complete all prescribed papers in a single year.

At Otago (HSFY)

You must pass all 7 prescribed papers with a minimum average mark of 65% (and no paper below 60% at first attempt). Your academic rank score is the average of your best 7 paper scores on a 0–100 scale. The 2026 offer range for the general HSFY pool was approximately 93–99; the rural sub-pool was approximately 89–98. These are competitive benchmarks, not cut-offs — the threshold shifts each year depending on the applicant cohort.

At Auckland (BHSc / BSc Biomed)

You must complete all eight prescribed FMHS courses full-time in a single year (the eighth, WTRMHS 100 or WTRSCI 100, is required but not scored), achieve a minimum GPA of 6.0 (B+) across the seven scored courses, and have no fails. Eligible students then sit UCAT-ANZ in July and attend the Kira Talent online MMI. Your final 2027 selection ranking is GPA 60% + MMI 25% + UCAT-ANZ 15%, combined as z-scores — and critically, the GPA used for that ranking is only the four core courses: BIOSCI 107, CHEM 110, POPLHLTH 111 and MEDSCI 142. The seven-course GPA decides whether you are interviewed; the four-course GPA decides whether you get in.

Step 5 — Auckland Kira Talent online MMI

Auckland's MMI is conducted asynchronously via Kira Talent — you record video responses to pre-set prompts in your own time, within an invitation window. There are 8 stations: 7 assessed and 1 administrative (Police Vetting / Children's Act compliance check, unscored).

Format: 30 seconds reading time + 3 minutes video response per station
Domains: communication; ethical reasoning; problem-solving; self-awareness; teamwork; professional awareness; social responsibility and equity
Weighting: 25% of final selection ranking
MAPAS applicants also attend a separate 5-station MAPAS Specialty Interview run by the MAPAS Admissions Panel

For Otago MBChB (HSFY and Graduate categories): there is no interview — selection is academic ranking only. The Otago Alternative Category uses a 40-minute structured Zoom videoconference interview, but that is a separate pathway for experienced allied health professionals.

Book a personalised interview preparation session with our team: one-to-one NZ MMI coaching.

Equity and sub-scheme pathways

Both universities run equity admission schemes. They are not alternatives to academic preparation — they are additional selection pools for eligible applicants.

MAPAS (Auckland)

The Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme at Auckland FMHS. Eligible applicants with verified Māori whakapapa or Indigenous Pacific ancestry submit the MH04 form and attend a 5-station MAPAS Specialty Interview in addition to the general MMI. Ranked separately in the MAPAS sub-pool.

Full MAPAS guide

RRAS (Auckland)

Auckland's Regional Rural Admission Scheme. Requires 5+ years primary or 3+ years secondary schooling at a rural/regional school per Statistics NZ 2020 Urban Accessibility classification. Eligible applicants are ranked against RRAS peers only and gain access to Auckland's Rural Stream in Phase 1 of the MBChB.

Full RRAS guide

Otago Rural Origins equity group

Otago supports rural applicants within the HSFY, Graduate and Alternative categories using the Geographic Classification for Health (GCH). Rural applicants are ranked separately. The 2026 rural sub-pool range was approximately 89–98 (vs 93–99 for the general pool).

Otago Māori and Pacific equity group

Under Te Kauae Parāoa — the Admissions Policy for Health Professional Programmes, which replaced the former Mirror on Society policy — Māori and Indigenous Pacific (NZRIPO) applicants are ranked in their own sub-pool across all admission categories, alongside Socioeconomic Equity, Refugee Background and NZ Rural Origins groups. Quota numbers are not published, but the 2026 offer ranges show the effect: Māori offers ran from 65.29 and Indigenous Pacific from 65.14, against 93.14 for the general pool.

Alternative routes: graduate and Alternative Category

School-leaver HSFY and Auckland First Year are the dominant entry routes, but they are not the only ones.

Otago Graduate Category

For applicants who have completed a relevant first degree at a NZ university within the three years prior to application. Must include papers equivalent to the HSFY prescription. UCAT-ANZ required (same threshold gate). Selection is academic ranking of degree results — no interview.

Otago Alternative Category

For experienced allied health professionals. Applications open 1 April and close 1 May each year (separate window from HSFY). Shortlisted applicants attend a 40-minute structured Zoom interview. UCAT not required. Typically suited to applicants with five or more years of allied health experience, ideally at least two years in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Auckland Graduate Entry

For graduates of a recognised university whose final year was no more than 5 years prior to application. Degree must include courses equivalent to the four core FMHS gateway papers. Minimum GPA of 6.0 required. UCAT-ANZ required for domestic applicants for 2027 entry.

NZ medical school application timeline

Year 12 / Last year of school

Early in the year: Confirm NCEA / IB / Cambridge subject choices (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics strongly recommended). Register at the university you intend to apply to. Build healthcare work experience.
March: UCAT-ANZ registration typically opens. Register early — popular test centres fill quickly.
July–early August: UCAT-ANZ test window. Single sitting. Prepare for 3–6 months beforehand.
August (Otago HSFY applications): Applications open 1 July, close ~13 August for HSFY. Complete your Otago application including UCAT-ANZ results.
End of year: NCEA / IB / Cambridge exams. Rank score and UE confirmed.

First year of university (gateway year)

February–November: Complete all prescribed gateway papers full-time. No partial loads — both universities require you to be enrolled full-time in the gateway year to be eligible for MBChB selection.
July–early August: Sit UCAT-ANZ during your gateway year (required for both Auckland and Otago MBChB applicants for 2027 entry).
August (Otago applications): Apply for MBChB (and/or BDS) through the University of Otago admissions system. Applications for HSFY applicants typically close in August.
September–October: Auckland MMI invitations issued; Kira Talent sessions completed by eligible Auckland applicants.
December: Offer notifications from both universities. Otago outcomes advised by approximately 18 December.

Common pitfalls

Treating the gateway year like a normal first year. Both HSFY and Auckland First Year are elimination rounds. A single failed paper at Otago (below 60% at first attempt) removes you from MBChB eligibility for that cycle. At Auckland, a GPA below 6.0 or any fail ends your application. Plan your academic load accordingly.
Registering for UCAT-ANZ too late. UCAT-ANZ test centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch fill up in April and May. Registering in June leaves you with limited options and higher travel costs. Register as soon as registration opens — typically March.
Confusing Otago UCAT use with Auckland UCAT use. Otago uses UCAT as a pass/fail gate only — your UCAT decile does not change your rank. Auckland weights UCAT at 15%. Preparing to 'just pass' at a 20th-percentile-equivalent level may be fine for Otago but will harm your Auckland ranking. Calibrate your UCAT preparation to your target school.
Ignoring the Kira Talent format. The Auckland MMI is pre-recorded and asynchronous — you cannot ask for clarification or adjust your response after recording. This is significantly different from a live MMI. Practice recording responses to MMI prompts on camera under timed conditions. Many applicants underestimate the adjustment required.
Missing the MAPAS MH04 deadline. If you are eligible for MAPAS, the MH04 form must be submitted to Auckland FMHS by a separate (and typically earlier) deadline than the general application. Missing it means you cannot access the MAPAS selection pool in that cycle.
Not understanding the Otago branch campus assignment. Otago assigns students to Dunedin, Christchurch or Wellington for clinical Years 4–6 — you do not choose. If family, relationship or financial circumstances make a particular city unworkable for three years, factor this into your HSFY vs Auckland First Year decision now.

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Frequently asked questions

Two are admitting students now: the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) and the University of Otago Medical School, both awarding a six-year MBChB. Otago splits Years 4–6 across three clinical campuses (Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington); Auckland is based on its City Campus. A third is on the way — the University of Waikato's New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine takes its first intake of 120 students in 2028, with applications opening mid-2027. Waikato is a four-year graduate-entry MD selecting on GAMSAT with no gateway first year, so it changes the options for graduates rather than for school leavers, and its entry requirements remain indicative until accreditation is complete. The University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry in Dunedin is New Zealand's only dental school, offering a five-year BDS.

You need University Entrance plus the guaranteed entry score for your intake year. Auckland moved to a standardised Guaranteed Entry Score of 200 for school leavers across all undergraduate health programmes from 2027, replacing the older per-degree rank scores of 250 (BHSc) and 165 (BSc Biomedical Science). Confirm the current figure for your intake year. Your rank score is calculated from your best 80 NCEA Level 3 credits (Excellence 4, Merit 3, Achieved 2 points per credit, maximum 320). Once enrolled, you must complete all EIGHT prescribed first-year courses full-time in the year of application, achieve a GPA of at least 6.0 (B+) across the seven scored courses with no fails, and sit UCAT-ANZ to be eligible for an MMI. Note the eighth course (WTRMHS 100 or WTRSCI 100) is required but not scored, and the GPA that decides your actual offer is narrower still — just the four core courses.

For 2027 entry (the current application cycle): yes, UCAT-ANZ is required for domestic applicants at both Auckland MBChB and Otago MBChB. At Auckland it contributes 15% of the final selection ranking alongside GPA (60%) and MMI (25%). At Otago it is a threshold gate only — you must meet a Verbal Reasoning score at or above the 20th percentile AND an SJT score above the 10th percentile, after which UCAT is not weighted further and selection is purely academic. For 2028 entry, Auckland will replace UCAT-ANZ with CASPer. Otago BDS removed UCAT from its admissions process entirely from the 2025 intake onwards.

Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) is the Otago pathway: a dedicated full-time first year at the University of Otago Dunedin campus covering seven prescribed papers (biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, human body systems ×2, physics, population health). Selection into MBChB Year 2 is based almost entirely on academic rank — no interview. Auckland First Year is the gateway programme at the University of Auckland: enrolment in BHSc or BSc Biomed followed by seven specific courses; eligible students compete for MBChB through GPA (60%), UCAT-ANZ (15%) and an online MMI via Kira Talent (25%).

Yes. The two programmes have separate application processes and you can apply to both simultaneously. Auckland applications go through the University of Auckland directly; Otago applications go through the University of Otago admissions system. Application timelines differ: Otago HSFY applications open 1 July and close around 13 August; Auckland has its own schedule. Make sure you meet the UCAT-ANZ registration deadline, as it is shared for both cycles.

Auckland uses the Kira Talent platform for an asynchronous (pre-recorded) video MMI. There are 8 stations total: 7 assessed stations plus 1 administrative compliance station (Police Vetting / Children's Act). Each station gives you 30 seconds to read the prompt and 3 minutes to respond via video. Domains assessed include communication, ethical reasoning, problem-solving, self-awareness, teamwork, professional awareness and social responsibility. The MMI contributes 25% of your final ranking. MAPAS applicants also complete a separate 5-station MAPAS Specialty Interview.

MAPAS is the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme at the University of Auckland FMHS. It provides a separate selection pool and Specialty Interview for eligible applicants with verified Indigenous Māori and/or Indigenous Pacific ancestry who are NZ citizens or permanent residents. You do not have to apply — it is an additional pathway for those who are eligible. If you apply through MAPAS you also submit an MH04 form and attend both the general MMI and the MAPAS Specialty Interview. Otago has a separate Māori and Pacific equity group under its Te Kauae Parāoa policy, but does not use the MAPAS name.

Several options remain open. Otago has a Graduate Category (for those who completed a relevant NZ degree within 3 years) and an Alternative Category (for experienced allied health professionals). Auckland also has a graduate-entry pathway requiring a completed degree with equivalent prerequisite papers and a minimum GPA of 6.0. Alternatively, some students repeat HSFY or continue their BHSc/BSc degree and reapply. HSFY repeat options are subject to Otago's academic standing policies — check with the University of Otago directly for your specific situation.

Related NZ guides

Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: 14 September 2026