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University of Otago

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)

  • Bachelor

The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) degree is commonly referred to as the 'medical degree'. School leavers enrol at Otago for the common Health Sciences First Year course and then apply for admission to second year medicine.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Course Code
MB ChB

About this course

The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) degree is commonly referred to as the 'medical degree'. School leavers enrol at Otago for the common Health Sciences First Year course and then apply for admission to second year medicine.

Graduates may also apply for admission at second year. If successful, students will complete a further five years, then after graduation work for another year under probation in order to gain general registration.

There is a wide range of specialisation available in the public and private sectors, involving research, academic medicine, public health, clinical medicine and other areas. Specialties include Cardiology, Oncology, Paediatrics, Psychological Medicine, Surgery, Pathology, Public Health, General Practice and many others. Most doctors complete postgraduate training in their chosen specialty.

Medicine is a respected, rewarding, and truly international career.

More detailed information about the MB ChB can be found on the Otago Medical School website:

Entry requirements

  1. The number of domestic students admitted to the second year of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme is limited to the number determined by the Council annually on the basis of available resources. Some additional places may be available to International students.
  2. Applications for admission by domestic students may be made by those eligible under the following categories:
    • Health Sciences First Year (see 1(j))
    • Graduate (see 1(k))
    • Alternative (see 1(n))
  3. Applications must be made by the due dates specified for each category as part of the Guidelines for Admission into the Health Sciences Professional Programmes published at www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences. ("the Guidelines")
  4. Graduates who have already completed a qualification in medicine, and for whom pathways exist to obtain registration through the Medical Council of New Zealand, are not eligible to apply for admission to the programme under any category.
  5. Selection of eligible students for admission to the second year of the programme shall be made by the Medical Admissions Committee ("the Committee") whose terms of reference shall be established by the Division of Health Sciences and approved by the Senate.
  6. Subject to these regulations and the Selection Criteria established by the Committee and approved by the Senate from time to time and published as part of the Guidelines, selection for admission shall be in the discretion of the Committee.
  7. Without limitation, the Selection Criteria may include:
    1. academic performance;
    2. demonstration of appropriate attributes for admission into the programme.
  8. The Division of Health Sciences' Te Kauae Paraoa policy promotes and facilitates equity for Maori students and students from other under-represented groups. In accordance with this policy, the Selection Criteria may provide for applicants in the following equity groups to be given preference for selection:
    • Maori
    • Resident Indigenous Pacific
    • Rural
    • Socioeconomic Equity
    • Refugee Background
  9. Recognition for inclusion in the Maori and Resident Indigenous Pacific equity groups shall be through demonstration of ancestry in accordance with the University's Ancestry Verification Procedures for Maori and Pacific Students and any other criteria the Senate may determine. Criteria for inclusion in the Rural, Socioeconomic Equity and Refugee Background equity groups shall be established by the Academic Board of the Division of Health Sciences and approved by the Senate. Criteria approved by the Senate shall be published as part of the Guidelines.

    10. Health Sciences First Year Category

  10. To be eligible to be selected for admission under the Health Sciences First Year category an applicant must:
    1. be enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year course at the University of Otago;
    2. pass all of the papers prescribed for the University of Otago Health Sciences First Year course, with an average mark of at least 65% in the applicant's best seven papers.

    11. Graduate Category

  11. To be eligible for selection for admission under the Graduate category, an applicant must have completed as their first degree, within three years prior to the date of application, and in the minimum academic time, at least one of the following qualifications awarded by a university in New Zealand:
    1. a bachelor's degree; or
    2. undergraduate bachelor's honours degree; or
    3. bachelor's degree, followed without break in study by a postgraduate diploma or postgraduate honours year.
  12. The average grade for all papers in the qualifying programme must be at least a weighted grade point average of 5.
  13. Applicants offered a place under the Graduate category may be required to pass prescribed papers, to a standard determined by the Committee, before being admitted to second year classes.

    14. Alternative Category

  14. To be eligible to be considered for admission under the Alternative category, an applicant must be a domestic student and not be eligible for any other admission category and:
    1. hold a degree from a New Zealand university; or
    2. have completed a degree at an overseas university at a standard of at least NZQF Level 7; or
    3. hold a master's or doctoral degree; or
    4. demonstrate health-related professional experience in a relevant field to a standard acceptable to the Committee.
  15. An applicant may be required to attend an interview.
  16. Applicants offered a place under the Alternative category may be required to pass prescribed papers, to a standard determined by the Committee, before being admitted to second year classes.
  17. An applicant may apply only once under the Alternative category.

    18. International Admissions

  18. The Committee may offer a limited number of places in second year classes to international students who meet all the requirements determined by the Committee.

    19. Exceptional Circumstances

  19. Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) shall have discretion to approve a recommendation from the Committee concerning any applicant who, not having satisfied these regulations in a particular aspect, in the Committee's view warrants admission to the programme for exceptional reasons.

    20. Declining of Admission

  20. Any applicant who
    1. is, or who has been, the subject of criminal charges; or
    2. is, or who has been, subject to disciplinary proceedings of a tertiary institution or professional body; or
    3. has been found to have an issue (whether in connection with their mental or physical health, or their professional attributes or conduct, or otherwise) that compromises or is likely to compromise their fitness to practise; or
    4. is found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (t)(i)-(iii), may be declined admission to the programme by the Committee on the recommendation of the Health and Conduct Review Group. Any offer of admission made before responses to medical tests or requests for information regarding an applicant's health status or past conduct have been received is conditional on the information received confirming the applicant's suitability for admission.

Study locations

Dunedin

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