The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is Otago's most flexible undergraduate degree programme, enabling students to study from a selection of more than 40 arts and social science subjects, as well as papers offered elsewhere in the University.
Entry Requirements
Every programme of study shall satisfy the requirements for prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions set out in the Prescriptions (published in the Guide to Enrolment).
A candidate with outstanding results in a subject prior to entering the University may be permitted by the Head of Department concerned to enrol for a paper at 200-level without having satisfied the normal prerequisites. In such cases the candidate shall not be credited with the prerequisite papers, but shall be exempted from including those papers in a Major Subject Requirement. A candidate may not, having passed any such paper at 200-level, enrol subsequently for any paper for which the exemption has been given.
The Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MClinPharm) degree comprises both advanced-level taught papers and a research component and is designed for registered pharmacists working in professional areas such as community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and industrial pharmacy who require advanced level knowledge...
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
Every applicant shall hold the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or have an equivalent qualification or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), and be registered for practice as a pharmacist in the country of residence.
The Doctor of Education (EdD) is also available through Distance Learning.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
Every applicant must have
a Bachelor's degree in education or related fields, with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Division I) or equivalent; or
a Bachelor's degree with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (with distinction or credit) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (with distinction or credit), including an appropriate research component; or
a Master's degree in education or a related field (with distinction or credit).
Every applicant must have at least five years of experience as a professional in education or related fields and be a leader in their field.
The applicant should present evidence of ability for advanced level academic study.
Exceptionally qualified professionals, who meet the equivalent of the admission requirements under 1(b) above, may be admitted to the programme on the recommendation of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
Initial admission to the degree programme shall normally be provisional; it shall be confirmed after attaining at least a B+ grade for the coursework (EDDC 911), and after the research proposal has been satisfactorily presented at the Confirmation Seminar.
If admission to the degree programme is not confirmed, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may approve provisional admission for a further period of up to one year or the candidate shall be required to withdraw from the programme.
If you wish to take a paper which is not being credited towards a University of Otago qualification, you may enrol for that paper for Certificate of Proficiency (COP). The Certificate of Proficiency is also available at Postgraduate level.
While the general characteristics of the Bachelor of Surveying with Honours (BSurv(Hons)) are the same as for the BSurv, the Honours student is required to take a full Honours dissertation in the final year of his/her degree programme.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
Admission to the Honours programme will be based upon an applicant's academic performance in the compulsory papers for the Second and Third years of the programme for the ordinary degree of Bachelor of Surveying.
An applicant who holds the degree of Bachelor of Surveying shall not be admitted to the Honours programme.
The Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC) degree is is a nationally-recognised multidisciplinary advanced qualification for health professionals engaged in the delivery of primary health care.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
Every applicant shall
hold the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care, or
hold an equivalent qualification approved by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), and
have completed the prerequisite papers:
PRHC 701 New Zealand Primary Health Care or PRHC 703 Strategy and Leadership in Primary Health Care (30 points); and either
HASC 417 Health Sciences Research Methods or equivalent research paper(s) approved by the Board of Studies in Primary Health Care.
In exceptional circumstances the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may approve an exemption from the specified prerequisites.
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.
Entry Requirements
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.
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(m))
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")
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.
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.
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.
Without limitation, the Selection Criteria may include:
academic performance;
demonstration of appropriate attributes for admission into the programme.
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
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.
Health Sciences First Year Category
To be eligible to be selected for admission under the Health Sciences First Year category an applicant must:
be enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year course at the University of Otago;
pass all of the papers prescribed for the University of Otago Health Sciences First Year course, with a minimum mark of 70% in each paper.
Graduate Category
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:
a bachelor's degree; or
undergraduate bachelor's honours degree; or
bachelor's degree, followed by a postgraduate diploma or postgraduate honours year.
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.
Alternative Category
To be eligible to be considered for admission under the Alternative category, an applicant must be a domestic student and:
hold a degree from a New Zealand university, and no longer be eligible under the Graduate category; or
have completed a degree at an overseas university at a standard of at least NZQF Level 7; or
hold a master's or doctoral degree; or
demonstrate health-related professional experience in a relevant field to a standard acceptable to the Committee.
An applicant may be required to attend an interview.
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.
An applicant may apply only once under the Alternative category.
International Admissions
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.
Exceptional Circumstances
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.
Declining of Admission
Any applicant who
is, or who has been, the subject of criminal charges; or
is, or who has been, subject to disciplinary proceedings of a tertiary institution or professional body; or
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
is found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (s)(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.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDipBusAdmin) is a part-time executive education programme for experienced managers, professionals and administrators.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).
Every applicant must either
be a graduate, or
have alternative qualifications or experience in management and administration acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Commerce).
The Master of Arts (MA(Thesis)) prepares candidates for employment in education, regional and national government agencies, the private sector, and industry.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
Applicants seeking admission to a programme of study comprising of papers and a thesis (240 points combined) must either
be a graduate with an average grade of at least B+ for the appropriate 300-level papers, or
have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
Applicants seeking admission to the programme of study comprising the 120-point thesis only on the basis of completing the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects or equivalent must:
have undertaken a programme of study that provides adequate preparation for the thesis, and
have achieved a grade of at least a B+ for the research report, thesis preparation, dissertation requirement, or relevant preparatory papers of the qualification concerned.
In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant's performance in the programme. Applicants must normally have achieved an average grade of at least B+ in the papers at the highest level in the programme.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) is a one-year programme which builds on an undergraduate science degree. The diploma encompasses both papers and a research topic, and can be taken full-time or part-time. It provides entry to the Master of Science (MSc) degree by thesis only.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions
have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science majoring in the subject or subjects of study proposed
have been admitted with the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the diploma
have a qualification acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and produce evidence satisfactory to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of ability to proceed to the diploma.
The Graduate Diploma in Second Language Teaching (GDipSLT) grounds second language teachers in the knowledge and theories of Linguistics. It can be completed in two semesters of full-time, or its equivalent in part-time, study.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) on the advice of the GDipSLT Admissions Committee.
Every applicant must either be a graduate, or have obtained a teaching qualification and be able to present evidence of appropriate teaching experience acceptable to the GDipSLT Admissions Committee.
A specific aim of the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree is to develop advanced theoretical and research skills and in so doing to provide a platform for an advanced professional or academic career.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions:
have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science majoring in the subject or subjects of study proposed with an average grade of at least B+ for the appropriate 300-level papers;
have been admitted with the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the degree;
have a qualification acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and produce evidence acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of ability to proceed to the degree.
