Graduate Entry Medicine in New Zealand
New Zealand has no four-year graduate-entry MBChB and no GAMSAT-selected route — today. Graduates currently apply into the same six-year MBChB through dedicated graduate categories at the University of Otago and the University of Auckland. From 2028 there is a genuine alternative: Waikato's New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine, a four-year graduate-entry MD selected on GAMSAT and a B-average degree in any subject, with no gateway year and applications opening mid-2027. This page covers every NZ graduate route — Otago's Graduate and Alternative Categories and Auckland's graduate entry — the test you need (UCAT-ANZ, or none), the GPA and prerequisite-paper requirements, the interview where applicable, and how to choose between them.
Graduate entry to medicine in New Zealand
Unlike the UK or Australia, New Zealand does not run a separate accelerated four-year graduate-entry medical degree. Both NZ medical schools — the University of Auckland and the University of Otago — award the same six-year MBChB to school leavers and graduates alike. There is also no GAMSAT.
What graduates get instead are dedicated graduate selection categories. At Otago that means the Graduate category (for recent NZ graduates with the right prerequisite papers) and the Alternative category (for applicants who fit neither the HSFY nor the Graduate category, such as older or overseas graduates, holders of a master's or doctorate and experienced health professionals). At Auckland it means a graduate-entry pathway for applicants with a completed degree and equivalent gateway papers. Graduate applicants are ranked within their own pools rather than against first-year (HSFY / BHSc) students.
The trade-off versus the school-leaver routes: as a graduate you skip the Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) or Auckland First Year gateway, but you must already hold the equivalent prerequisite papers and meet a competitive GPA / academic ranking — and, for most routes, a competitive UCAT-ANZ. For the full school-leaver pathway, see our how to get into medical school in NZ guide.
Admissions tests for NZ graduate entry
For every graduate route open today, the only admissions test in play is UCAT-ANZ, and whether you need it depends on the route. Otago's guidelines say the Alternative category does not take it into account, although an AskOtago answer says every Medicine applicant must sit UCAT from 2028. Plan your test strategy before applying, and if you are looking at 2028 or later, factor in that Waikato will select on GAMSAT instead.
UCAT-ANZ required
Otago Graduate category and Auckland graduate entry both require UCAT-ANZ for 2027 entry. The same exam as for school leavers: four subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement), booked from around March and sat once in the July–August test window.
Alternative category: ask Otago
Otago's guidelines say UCAT-ANZ is not taken into account in the Alternative category, where shortlisting rests on your academic record, one-page statement and CV, followed by an interview. An AskOtago answer says every Medicine applicant must sit UCAT from 2028, so ask Otago which applies to you.
How UCAT-ANZ is used
Otago uses UCAT-ANZ as a threshold gate only (VR ≥20th percentile and SJT >10th percentile) — it does not change your academic rank. Auckland weights UCAT-ANZ at 15% of the final selection ranking. See our UCAT-ANZ guide.
From 2028 (Auckland only)
Auckland plans to replace UCAT-ANZ with CASPer (a situational-judgement test) from 2028 entry. This affects graduate and first-year applicants alike — monitor FMHS announcements directly.
NZ graduate routes into medicine (2027 entry)
3 graduate routes lead into the MBChB across the two NZ medical schools. Each has its own eligibility, test requirement and selection method.
Graduate category (MBChB)
University of Otago
Relevant first degree completed at a NZ university within the 3 years prior to application, including papers equivalent to the HSFY prescription.
Test: UCAT-ANZ required (threshold gate: VR and SJT each at or above the 20th / 10th percentile, 2027 entry)
Selection: Academic ranking of degree results — no interview
Apply: Aligned with the HSFY cycle (applications open 1 July, close ~13 August)
Alternative category (MBChB)
University of Otago
Applicants who fit neither the HSFY nor the Graduate category: a NZ degree completed more than three years ago, an overseas degree at Level 7 or above, a master's or doctorate, or health-related professional experience. Otago recommends allied health professionals have 5+ years' experience, preferably including 2 in New Zealand.
Test: Otago's guidelines say UCAT-ANZ is not taken into account; an AskOtago answer says all Medicine applicants sit UCAT from 2028, so check with Otago
Selection: Shortlisting on your academic record, one-page statement and CV, then a 40-minute Zoom interview about eight weeks after the 1 May close
Apply: Separate window — applications 1 April to 1 May
Graduate Entry (MBChB)
University of Auckland
Holders of a degree, postgraduate degree or postgraduate diploma from a New Zealand university, completed no more than five years before the application date, with a minimum GPA of 6.0.
Test: UCAT-ANZ required for domestic applicants (2027 entry); Casper replaces it from 2028
Selection: GPA 60% + MMI 25% + UCAT-ANZ 15% as z-scores (2027). Graduate GPA is calculated across all courses in your most recent completed qualifying programme, and graduates are ranked against other graduates, not against first-year applicants. From 2028: MMI 50% + Casper 50%, with GPA 6.0 as a threshold
Apply: Applications close 1 July; one fixed online MMI in early September; offers late December
No four-year accelerated MBChB in NZ. If you are a school leaver or have not completed an eligible degree, the standard route is the first-year gateway (Otago HSFY or Auckland BHSc / BSc Biomed). Compare both schools at /nz/medical-schools, or read the full pathway in our how to get into medical school in NZ guide.
Fees and funding for NZ graduate entry
Same degree, same fees: because graduate applicants enter the standard six-year MBChB, domestic tuition is the same as for school-leaver entrants — approximately NZD 18,000–20,000 per clinical year, depending on the university and year. There is no separate accelerated-degree fee structure as you might see with UK graduate medicine.
Student loans and allowances: domestic students typically fund tuition through StudyLink (student loan) and may be eligible for a means-tested Student Allowance. Both run through New Zealand's public student support system rather than any health-service bursary.
Workforce and rural support: the New Zealand health system (Te Whatu Ora / Health New Zealand) and various regional and Māori health initiatives offer scholarships and bonded placements that can reduce costs in exchange for a service commitment — worth investigating, especially for rural and Māori or Pacific applicants.
International graduate applicants pay international MBChB fees, which are substantially higher and not covered by domestic loans or allowances. Confirm current figures directly with each university.
NZ graduate entry application timeline
- Before you apply: Confirm your degree includes papers equivalent to the prescribed first-year prescription (Otago Graduate category / Auckland graduate entry), or that you fit one of the Otago Alternative category routes (an older or overseas degree, a master's or doctorate, or accepted health-related experience).
- March: UCAT-ANZ registration typically opens (required for the Otago Graduate category and, for 2027 entry, Auckland graduate entry; Otago Alternative category applicants should ask Otago whether they need it). Register early — test centres fill quickly.
- 1 April – 1 May: Otago Alternative category application window (separate from the HSFY / Graduate cycle). Your one-page statement of reasons, CV and referee details must arrive by 1pm on 5 May.
- July–early August: UCAT-ANZ test window — a single sitting with four subtests (VR, DM, QR, SJT).
- 1 July – ~13 August: Otago MBChB applications (including the Graduate category) open and close. Apply through the University of Otago admissions system; Auckland follows its own schedule.
- September: Auckland's Kira Talent online MMI (one fixed sitting — 8 September in 2026). Otago Graduate category has no interview; Otago Alternative category interviews run earlier, around June.
- December: Offer notifications from both universities (Otago outcomes advised by approximately 18 December).
Frequently asked questions
Build a competitive graduate application
UCAT-ANZ prep, Auckland Kira Talent MMI coaching, Otago Alternative category interview practice and application review — tailored for NZ graduate medicine applicants.