Decoding every
NZ medical & dental
school
Gateway first year, UCAT-ANZ weighting, interview formats and side-by-side comparisons for Auckland and Otago — pulled together into one free toolkit.
2
Medical schools
1
Dental school
2027
Updated for entry
Free
Lots of free tools
Pick your course
Medicine or dentistry?
Jump straight into the directory for your course — or carry on for the tools that tie it all together.
NZ medical schools
Both NZ medical schools — Auckland and Otago. Gateway first year, UCAT-ANZ weighting, interview formats and selection.
Browse medical schoolsNZ dental school
New Zealand’s dental school — the Otago BDS. Entry requirements, gateway first year and how the BDS selects its intake.
Browse the dental schoolEverything in one place
The universities toolkit
Six free tools that take you from “where could I apply?” to a confident decision between Auckland and Otago. Here’s what each one does — and when to reach for it.
School directories
Full profiles for Auckland and Otago — gateway first-year, UCAT-ANZ weighting, interview format and selection dates.
When to use it: Start here to research a school from scratch or check a single requirement.
Browse the schoolsRankings & comparison
See how Auckland and Otago stack up across the metrics applicants care about, side by side in one place.
When to use it: Use it to weigh up which gateway first year and city suit you best.
See the rankingsCompare schools
Put Auckland and Otago side by side — gateway first year, UCAT-ANZ role, interview format and places in one table.
When to use it: Use it to settle the final call between Auckland and Otago.
Compare schoolsApplication strategy
How to turn your gateway first-year results and UCAT-ANZ into the strongest possible NZ application.
When to use it: Read it once you know how the gateway year and selection scores combine.
Plan your strategyInterview guides
Breakdowns of Auckland's Kira Talent online MMI and Otago's structured interview — what's assessed and how to prepare.
When to use it: Open the guides once your gateway results put interview in reach.
Explore interview guidesUCAT-ANZ guide
How UCAT-ANZ is weighted in NZ selection — Auckland counts it at ~15%, Otago uses a threshold gate, and Otago BDS is exempt.
When to use it: Read it before you sit UCAT-ANZ so you know exactly what each school does with your score.
Open the UCAT-ANZ guideSee how Auckland and Otago compare
With just two medical schools, the call comes down to Auckland vs Otago. Each is scored 0–100 by our NGMP Score (its standing across the QS, Times Higher Education and ShanghaiRanking global subject rankings), with our TrueScore UCAT-ANZ alongside — then compared head-to-head so you can pick the route that fits.
- A 0–100 NGMP Score for each school, plus the Otago BDS for dentistry
- TrueScore UCAT-ANZ: Auckland weights it ~15%, Otago uses a threshold gate
- Cross-checked against the same data behind every school page
Otago · HSFY
Best-7papers ranked
Auckland
First-Year GPA
How UCAT-ANZ counts
Illustrative — see each school’s exact selection rules.
Understand the gateway first year
NZ doesn’t select on a single test. Most applicants enter through a gateway first year — Otago’s Health Sciences First Year (ranked on your best-7 papers) or Auckland’s First-Year GPA gateway. UCAT-ANZ then sits on top: Auckland weights it at roughly 15%, Otago uses it as a threshold gate, and the Otago BDS is exempt from UCAT-ANZ entirely.
Compare Auckland vs Otago in one table
Stop flicking between tabs. Put Auckland and Otago side by side and see the gateway first year, UCAT-ANZ role, interview format and places lined up so the differences jump out.
Open the comparison toolIllustrative — see the live tool for the full comparison.
Once you’re invited
Interview guides for both schools
Auckland and Otago interview in different ways. Find out which format yours uses, what it really tests and how to prepare for it.
Auckland Kira Talent MMI
Auckland runs an online multiple mini interview through Kira Talent — short, timed, recorded stations. Master ethics, motivation and scenario stations under the clock.
Read the guideOtago structured interview
Otago runs a structured interview (online via Zoom for many applicants) with a small panel. Learn the rhythm, the recurring themes and how to structure an answer on the spot.
Read the guideFull NZ interview hub
Everything on the Auckland and Otago interviews in one place — formats, timelines, what each school assesses and how to prepare for both.
Read the guideWant the full picture? Our NZ interview hub covers both Auckland and Otago end to end.
Open the NZ interview hubNot a standard school-leaver?
Applying by a different route
There’s more than one way into NZ medicine and dentistry. If one of these is you, start here.
Equity & rural routes
MAPAS supports Māori and Pacific applicants to Auckland and Otago, and Auckland RRAS supports applicants from rural communities. See who is eligible and how to apply through each.
Graduate entry
Already have — or are finishing — a degree? Graduates can apply to Auckland and Otago for medicine, and to Otago for the BDS. See the requirements and how graduates are selected.
How to use this hub
Your route from browsing to applying
The tools are designed to be used in order. Here’s the path most successful NZ applicants follow.
Explore the schools
Browse Auckland and Otago to see what each one looks for in the gateway first year.
02Check UCAT-ANZ & rank score
Learn how your UCAT-ANZ score and gateway rank combine into a selection score at each school.
03Compare Auckland vs Otago
Put the two side by side — gateway year, UCAT-ANZ role, interview and places in one table.
04Plan your application
Turn your results into a focused NZ application strategy across your chosen route.
Jump straight to a school
Auckland and Otago for medicine, and the Otago BDS for dentistry.
Ready to build your NZ shortlist?
Loads of free tools to explore. Begin with the schools, then let the rankings and Compare tool narrow it down to the right route into Auckland or Otago.