How often is this comparison updated?

Annually, as Auckland and Otago publish their latest entry requirements, selection weightings and cohort figures. The 2028 entry cycle in particular brings change at Auckland (UCAT-ANZ replaced by CASPer), so check the official faculty pages before you apply.

NZ Medical School Rankings 2027

New Zealand has just two medical schools — the University of Auckland and the University of Otago. With only two MBChB programmes, there is no meaningful league table, so this is an honest head-to-head comparison on the dimensions that actually differ: entry pathway, the role of UCAT-ANZ, interview format, domestic places and campus.

Both schools are accredited by the Medical Council of New Zealand to the same standard. For the full admissions walkthrough see how to get into medical school in NZ.

Compare Auckland vs Otago

Medical schools

~317

Domestic places each

Years to MBChB

GAMSAT exams in NZ

Why this is a comparison, not a league table

Unlike the UK's 40-plus medical schools, New Zealand has only two: the University of Auckland and the University of Otago. Both award a six-year MBChB, both are accredited by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), and each admits roughly 317 domestic students a year. Ranking one above the other would be misleading.

Instead, we compare them side by side on the factors that genuinely differ and that should drive your choice: the entry pathway (HSFY at Otago versus BHSc/BSc Biomed at Auckland), how each weights UCAT-ANZ, the interview format, campus structure and equity pathways. The right school is the one that fits your profile, not the one with a higher imaginary rank.

Ranked by the NGMP Score, 2027 Entry

The same 0–100 NGMP Score we use everywhere else — each school's standing across the QS, Times Higher Education and ShanghaiRanking (ARWU) global subject rankings — with our TrueScore UCAT-ANZ alongside. With only two schools this is a short table, not a true league table — the head-to-head comparison below is what should actually decide your choice.

#	School	Location	NGMP Score/100	Predicted UCAT-ANZ using TrueScore
1	University of Auckland — Medicine (MBChB)	Auckland	82.0	2300standard
2	University of Otago — Medicine (MBChB)	Dunedin	73.7	1750threshold

1University of Auckland — Medicine (MBChB)
Location
Auckland
NGMP Score /100
82.0
Predicted UCAT-ANZ TrueScore
2300standard
2University of Otago — Medicine (MBChB)
Location
Dunedin
NGMP Score /100
73.7
Predicted UCAT-ANZ TrueScore
1750threshold

NGMP Score (0–100) is the Quality Consensus of each school's QS, THE and ARWU global subject positions. TrueScore is our predicted UCAT-ANZ (/2700): Auckland weights it ~15% (a competitive standard bar), while Otago uses it only as a pass/fail threshold gate, not a competitive target.

Auckland vs Otago, 2027 Entry

Both of New Zealand's medical schools side by side on the dimensions that matter. Neither column is “the winner” — read across each row to see which programme suits your strengths.

Dimension	University of Auckland	University of Otago
Awarding faculty	Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS)	Otago Medical School (OMS)
Degree	MBChB — 6 years full-time	MBChB — 6 years full-time
Gateway / entry pathway	First Year: BHSc (rank score 250+) or BSc Biomedical Science (rank score 165+), then 7 prescribed FMHS courses	Health Sciences First Year (HSFY): 7 prescribed papers at the Dunedin campus
Selection method	GPA 60% + UCAT-ANZ 15% + online MMI 25%	Academic rank (GPA) only — no interview for HSFY/Graduate categories
UCAT-ANZ role (2027 entry)	Weighted 15% of final ranking	Threshold gate only (VR ≥20th pct AND SJT >10th pct); does not affect rank
Interview	Online asynchronous MMI via Kira Talent — 8 stations (7 assessed), 30s read + 3 min response	No interview (HSFY/Graduate); Alternative Category uses a 40-min Zoom interview
Domestic places (approx.)	~317 per year	~317 per year
Clinical campuses (Years 4–6)	Auckland City Campus throughout	University-assigned: Dunedin, Christchurch or Wellington
Equity / sub-schemes	MAPAS (Māori & Pacific); RRAS (regional rural)	Te Kauae Paraoa (Māori & Pacific equity group); Rural Origins equity group
Graduate pathway	Graduate entry: completed degree + equivalent prerequisite papers, GPA ≥6.0, UCAT-ANZ required (2027)	Graduate Category (relevant NZ degree within 3 yrs, UCAT-ANZ required) and Alternative Category (allied-health pros, UCAT not required)

For 2028 entry, Auckland replaces UCAT-ANZ with CASPer. Otago BDS (dentistry) removed UCAT-ANZ from 2025 — see the NZ dental school comparison.

Which school fits which applicant

Choose Otago (HSFY)

Academic-first

A consistent exam performer who thrives in a structured, high-volume science year and prefers to avoid an interview at selection. HSFY selects almost purely on academic rank — every mark counts. Be ready for university-assigned clinical years in Dunedin, Christchurch or Wellington.

Choose Auckland (First Year)

Balanced profile

A strong communicator as well as an academic performer who wants to stay in Auckland. Selection blends GPA (60%), UCAT-ANZ (15%) and an online MMI (25%), so interpersonal skills count alongside grades.

Equity pathways (Auckland)

MAPAS · RRAS

Eligible Māori and Pacific applicants (MAPAS, with a 5-station Specialty Interview) or rural/regional applicants (RRAS) gain access to dedicated Auckland selection pools. These are additional pools, not shortcuts.

Graduate & alternative routes

Already have a degree

Otago's Graduate Category (relevant NZ degree within 3 years, UCAT-ANZ required) and Alternative Category (experienced allied-health professionals, no UCAT), plus Auckland's graduate entry (completed degree, GPA ≥6.0, UCAT-ANZ for 2027).

Frequently asked questions

New Zealand has just two medical schools — the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and the University of Otago Otago Medical School. Both award the six-year MBChB, both are accredited by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) to the same standard, and each admits around 317 domestic students per year. With only two schools, there is no meaningful league table: this is a head-to-head comparison on the dimensions that actually differ — entry pathway, the role of UCAT-ANZ, interview format and campus — rather than a ranking of "better" versus "worse".

Neither is objectively "better" — both Auckland and Otago produce MCNZ-registered doctors via a six-year MBChB. The right choice depends on your profile. Otago (via Health Sciences First Year) selects almost purely on academic rank with no interview, so it suits consistent exam performers. Auckland weights GPA (60%), UCAT-ANZ (15%) and an online MMI (25%), so it rewards strong communicators as well as academics, and runs the MAPAS and RRAS equity pathways. Location matters too: Otago splits clinical years across Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, while Auckland is based on its City Campus.

Not equally. For 2027 entry, Auckland weights UCAT-ANZ at 15% of the final selection ranking alongside GPA and the MMI, so a higher score genuinely improves your position. Otago MBChB uses UCAT-ANZ only as a threshold gate — you must score Verbal Reasoning at or above the 20th percentile AND SJT above the 10th percentile, after which it does not affect your academic rank. From 2028 entry, Auckland will replace UCAT-ANZ with CASPer.

Both MBChB programmes are accredited by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and the Australian Medical Council to a common standard, so the difference is one of style and structure rather than quality. Otago runs a dedicated Health Sciences First Year in Dunedin before distributing students across three clinical campuses; Auckland uses BHSc or BSc Biomedical Science as its gateway and keeps students on the City Campus. Choose on fit — teaching style, campus and selection method — not on a perceived quality gap.

Decide between Auckland and Otago

Work out which entry pathway, UCAT-ANZ strategy and interview profile fits you best for New Zealand medicine.

Dental school comparison Browse NZ medical schools

Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: 15 August 2026