If you’re looking for a peaceful country to study medicine in English, New Zealand is worth considering. The country has two universities that offer accredited Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programs: the University of Auckland and the University of Otago. Both accept international applicants, although places are limited and entry is highly competitive.
Can you become a medical doctor in New Zealand?
Yes. You can become a medical doctor in New Zealand by completing an accredited MBChB degree and then meeting the Medical Council of New Zealand’s registration and prevocational training requirements. The pathway is demanding because entry is competitive and academic expectations are high, but it can lead to medical practice after the required supervised training and registration steps.
1. What are the requirements to study medicine in New Zealand?
Requirements for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree in New Zealand depend on the university and admission category.
Undergraduate Applicants
School leavers do not usually enter the MBChB directly. At the University of Otago, students first complete Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) in Dunedin and then apply for second-year medicine. At the University of Auckland, first-year applicants apply from either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland.
The primary requirement for admission into these first-year programs is meeting the university’s undergraduate entrance and English-language requirements. Admission into first-year study does not guarantee admission to the MBChB.
After completing the required first-year study, students may apply for the MBChB program.
At the University of Otago, HSFY applicants for medicine must generally:
- Complete all seven required HSFY papers in the year of application and not have previously completed that full set in a single calendar year.
- Pass the HSFY papers with an average mark of at least 65% in the applicant’s best seven papers, including any optional eighth paper.
- Pass the HSFY English Diagnostic or ENGL 128.
- For domestic applicants, present a valid UCAT ANZ result from the year of application and meet the annual UCAT threshold set by the Medical Admissions Committee. International applicants are not required to submit UCAT ANZ for Otago medicine.
At the University of Auckland, first-year applicants must complete the eight required courses in the first year of either the BHSc or BSc in Biomedical Science, on a full-time basis and in the year of application. Applicants need a minimum GPA of 6.0 across the seven assessed first-year courses, with no fails, to be eligible for consideration for a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). They must also pass WTRMHS 100 or WTRSCI 100. Final ranking is based on GPA for the four core courses, UCAT ANZ, and MMI performance.
Graduate Applicants
At the University of Otago, the graduate category is for applicants who have completed the requirements of a qualifying degree awarded by a New Zealand university within three years of the application date. The qualifying program must have a weighted GPA of at least 5. Domestic graduate applicants must meet the UCAT ANZ threshold, while international applicants are not required to submit UCAT ANZ.
At the University of Auckland, domestic graduate applicants must normally have completed a degree, postgraduate degree, or postgraduate diploma from a New Zealand university within five years of the application date, with a minimum GPA of 6.0 or equivalent. International graduate applicants need a relevant degree completed full-time at a recognized university, and their last year of full-time study must be no more than five years before the year of application. Shortlisted international graduate applicants are interviewed over Zoom and are not required to sit UCAT ANZ.
Applicants should be ready to submit official academic transcripts and any documentation requested by the university.
Mirror on Society Selection Policy Applicants
The current University of Otago medicine admissions page refers to equity groups rather than a “Mirror on Society” pathway. These groups apply to domestic applicants and include Māori, New Zealand Resident Indigenous Pacific Origins (NZRIPO), Socioeconomic Equity, Refugee Background, and New Zealand Rural Origins.
Applicants seeking consideration under the Māori or NZRIPO equity groups must have their ancestry verified by the University of Otago. For NZRIPO, verified ancestry may be from one or more of the following Pacific nations:
- American Samoa
- Cook Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Hawaii
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Rapanui (Easter Island)
- Rotuma
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Wallis and Futuna
Other Otago equity groups include Socioeconomic Equity, Refugee Background, and New Zealand Rural Origins, each with specific eligibility and documentation requirements.
2. In what language do you study medicine in New Zealand?
New Zealand medical schools teach the MBChB curriculum in English. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the English-language requirements of the university to which they apply.
At the University of Otago, undergraduate applicants can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following minimum scores:
- IELTS Academic – overall 6.0, with no individual band below 5.5
- TOEFL iBT – overall 80, with a writing score of 20
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency – overall 169, with no individual band below 162
- PTE Academic – overall 50, with no communicative skills score below 42
For some applicants, certain secondary school qualifications may also meet the requirement. For example, Otago recognizes Fiji Year 13 Certificate English with a score of 50% for undergraduate admission.
3. Can you study medicine in New Zealand as an international student?
Yes. Both the University of Auckland and the University of Otago consider international applicants for their MBChB programs. However, international places are limited, and applicants should check the current official admissions pages before applying.
4. What are the components of the medical curriculum in New Zealand?
The Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree in New Zealand is available through first-year and graduate entry pathways.
Students who enter through the first-year route complete preparatory university study before applying to continue into the medical program. At the University of Auckland, the MBChB is a six-year program that includes Year One in the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, followed by Years Two to Six in medicine.
For the second and third years of medical school, University of Otago students undertake Early Learning in Medicine in Dunedin. This includes learning in clinical skills, professional practice, medical sciences, and integrated cases.
This is followed by Advanced Learning in Medicine, the clinical component in Years 4 to 6, when Otago students are allocated across Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington.
At the University of Auckland, Year Two focuses on basic medical and health sciences while introducing professional and clinical aspects of medical practice. Year Three includes Medical Humanities and learning focused on human health and illness.
In Years Four, Five, and Six at Auckland, students learn mainly in hospital and community environments, rotating through clinical disciplines for 35 to 42 weeks each year.
In the final year at Auckland, students undertake supervised patient care in areas such as general practice, medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. The final year also includes an optional 10-week elective or a substantial research project.
5. How many medical schools are in New Zealand?
New Zealand has two universities offering accredited primary medical training leading to the MBChB: the University of Auckland and the University of Otago. The University of Otago delivers medical education across Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington, while the University of Auckland delivers its MBChB through its Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.
6. How difficult is it to study medicine in New Zealand?
Like in many countries, the difficulty of studying medicine in New Zealand starts with the admissions process. Entry to the MBChB is limited and competitive at both universities. The University of Auckland had 1,718 unique MBChB applications for 2026 entry, while the University of Otago’s 2026 enrollment limit for MBChB was 347 places, including 25 international places.
Because places are limited, applicants should aim for strong academic results, prepare carefully for any required UCAT ANZ and interview components, and confirm the current requirements directly with the university before applying.
7. What do you need to become a doctor after you study medicine in New Zealand?
After completing an MBChB degree, graduates who want to practice in New Zealand must apply to the Medical Council of New Zealand for registration in the Provisional General scope of practice and obtain a confirmed PGY1 job offer from an accredited training provider.
New Zealand and Australian medical graduates then complete prevocational medical training. Interns must complete at least 12 months in PGY1 and at least 12 months in PGY2, and they continue in each postgraduate year until the relevant requirements are completed.
To be eligible to apply for registration within the General scope of practice at the end of PGY1, an intern must satisfactorily complete four accredited clinical attachments, substantially attain the required learning outcomes, meet the Council’s advanced cardiac life support requirements, develop a satisfactory professional development plan for PGY2, and receive a recommendation from a Council-approved Advisory Panel.
Studying medicine in New Zealand can lead to strong training and career opportunities, but students should remember that graduation alone does not guarantee registration, internship employment, or the right to practice in New Zealand or another country. Always check the latest university admissions pages and Medical Council of New Zealand registration requirements before making study plans.
If you are interested in New Zealand scholarships, you can check the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships for International Students.
I hope this article was helpful. If you are interested, check out the available courses for international students!
