Otago Medicine Interview: Who Gets One, UCAT and Entry (2027)
Who actually gets an interview for medicine at Otago, what it covers, and how everyone else is selected.
Otago's admission guidelines describe an interview only for the Alternative category, which takes up to 10% of places and is for domestic applicants only. Its interviews are on Zoom about eight weeks after applications close. Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) and Graduate category applicants who pass the UCAT ANZ thresholds (Verbal Reasoning 20th percentile, Situational Judgement 10th) are selected on academic score, and no interview is listed for them.
Key facts (2027 entry)
- Who is interviewed
- Shortlisted Alternative category applicants. Otago lists no interview for the HSFY and Graduate categories, which are selected on academic score.
- Interview format
- A Zoom interview with an Interview Panel, about eight weeks after the 1 May closing date. Otago's guidelines do not give the length or the number of interviewers.
- What the interview covers
- Academic achievement, other achievements, commitment to a career change, communication skills, knowledge of the New Zealand health system and understanding of the profession.
- UCAT ANZ (2027 entry)
- HSFY and Graduate applicants (domestic) must sit it in the year they apply. Thresholds: Verbal Reasoning at or above the 20th percentile and Situational Judgement at or above the 10th. After that, UCAT carries no weight.
- Academic minimums
- HSFY: pass all seven first-year papers with an average of at least 65% in your best seven. Graduate: a weighted GPA of at least 5 in your first New Zealand degree, finished within three years.
- Dates
- HSFY and Graduate: applications 1 July to 13 August 2026, outcomes by 18 December. Alternative: applications 1 April to 1 May, outcomes by 31 August.
- Equity groups
- Selected first, in this order: Māori, Resident Indigenous Pacific, Refugee Background, Socioeconomic Equity, Rural, then general applicants.
What the interview looks like (if you get one)
Otago describes an interview only for the Alternative category. This category is for domestic graduates and allied health professionals who are not eligible for any other category.
- On Zoom. Interviews take place via Zoom about eight weeks after the 1 May closing date. You are told through your eVision account.
- A panel. Otago refers to an Interview Panel. Its guidelines do not say how long the interview lasts or how many people sit on the panel.
- Six topics. Academic achievement, other achievements, commitment to a career change, communication skills, knowledge of the New Zealand health system and understanding of the profession.
- No rescheduling. Be free on the dates if you are invited. The panel will not move its dates.
- Referees. You give three referees (professional and character) when you apply. They are only contacted if you are selected for interview.
Not an MMI. Otago's guidelines do not describe stations or scenarios. Expect a conversation about your path so far, why you are changing careers, and how New Zealand's health system works.
How you get an interview (and how everyone else is selected)
You enter second-year medicine through one of three categories. Otago's guidelines and MB ChB regulations mention an interview only for the Alternative category.
Health Sciences First Year (HSFY): no interview listed
This is the school-leaver route. You enrol in HSFY at Otago in Dunedin, then apply to medicine during that year.
- Seven papers. Take all seven required first-year papers at Otago in the year you apply, pass them all, and average at least 65% in your best seven.
- English. Pass the HSFY English Diagnostic or ENGL 128.
- Ranked on marks. Once you meet every requirement, your academic score is the final deciding factor.
- Once only. You can apply through the HSFY category one time.
Graduate: no interview listed
- Your first degree. A bachelor's degree from a New Zealand university, finished within three years of applying. No degree or major is preferred.
- Weighted GPA of at least 5. 300-level papers count 1.5 times, 200-level once and 100-level half. Your best 300-level papers (up to 120 points) are picked first.
- Reapplying. You can apply again while you are within the three-year window.
Alternative: the category with an interview
Selection has two stages. You are shortlisted on your academic record, statement and CV, then interviewed.
- Who can apply. Domestic applicants with a New Zealand degree, an overseas degree (NZQF Level 7) finished at least three years before, a master's or doctorate, or health-related professional experience. Allied health professionals are advised to have at least five years' experience, ideally two in New Zealand.
- No UCAT. You do not need a UCAT result, and one would not be considered.
- What you send. A CV, a one-page A4 statement of your reasons for wanting to enter medicine, and transcripts. Documents are due by 1pm on 5 May.
- Once only. You can apply in this category one time. If you cancel before 11pm (NZ time) on 10 May, you may apply in a later year.
How offers are decided
Otago fills the Alternative category first, then splits the rest between HSFY and Graduate.
- Alternative: up to 10%. After interviews, suitable applicants are ranked on the committee's overall assessment of their aptitude.
- HSFY: about 70% of the rest. As near as possible to 70% of the remaining places go to HSFY, and the balance to Graduate.
- UCAT is only a gate. For 2027 entry, general applicants need Verbal Reasoning at or above the 20th percentile and Situational Judgement at or above the 10th. After that, UCAT scores are given no weight.
- Equity groups first. Selections are made in order: Māori, Resident Indigenous Pacific, Refugee Background, Socioeconomic Equity, Rural (government-funded places), then general applicants.
- No discussion. For the Alternative category, the admissions committee will not correspond about outcomes or interviews. Every offer has an acceptance deadline, and a declined offer cannot be reinstated.
HSFY marks decide it. For school leavers, your HSFY average does the work an interview does elsewhere. Clear the UCAT thresholds, then focus on your papers.
Māori, Pacific and rural pathways, and 2027 dates
Otago's equity groups apply across categories, and you can be considered in more than one. Tick the box for each group in your online application.
Equity groups
- Māori. The University must verify your ancestry (request it in eVision early), and you upload a personal supporting statement. Engaging with the Māori Health Workforce Development Unit (MHWDU) is recommended.
- Pacific (NZRIPO). Verified ancestry from a listed Pacific nation, an endorsement from a Pacific leader of a Pacific Island community group, and a statement of up to 500 words. Otago recommends engaging with Va'a o Tautai, its Centre for Pacific Health.
- Rural. Four years of school in a rural New Zealand area, four consecutive years living in one after school, or a mix of both. Rural means Rural 1 to 3 on the Geographic Classification for Health.
- Socioeconomic Equity. You attended an eligible New Zealand school (Equity Index bands, or decile 1 to 3 before 2023) in Years 11, 12 and 13 within the last five years. Not open in the Alternative category.
- Refugee Background. You, or a parent or primary guardian, were granted refugee status in New Zealand. A statement of up to 500 words is required.
Dates
- HSFY and Graduate. Applications opened 1 July 2026 and closed 13 August 2026. Outcomes by 18 December.
- Alternative. Applications open 1 April and close 1 May. Interviews on Zoom about eight weeks later. Final outcomes by 11pm (NZ time) on 31 August.
- UCAT ANZ 2026. The testing window ran from 1 July to 5 August 2026, and results were delivered to universities in early September.
Rural students may do a Year 5 rural immersion. Students admitted in the Rural group may be required to join the Year 5 Rural Medical Immersion Programme. There is no bond after graduating.
How to prepare
- HSFY or Graduate? Otago lists no interview for these categories. Put your energy into your papers or degree grades, and sit the UCAT ANZ so you clear both thresholds comfortably.
- Alternative applicants: Be ready to explain, in your own words, why you are leaving your current career and what you have already done to test that decision.
- Know the New Zealand system. The panel asks about it. Be able to talk about how care is funded and organized, ACC, primary care, and the gaps Māori, Pacific and rural communities face.
- Connect to Te Tiriti. Otago's Faculty of Medicine stresses equitable health outcomes and the Treaty of Waitangi. Think about what that means for a doctor's daily work.
Practice out loud. Rehearse your career change story until it is clear in two minutes, then practice follow-up questions that push on it.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Zoom interview (Alternative category only) station, written for applicants to University of Otago (MB ChB). They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
You're coming to medicine with a previous degree. How will what you learned in that degree help you work on system-level problems, like improving health outcomes for Māori patients in line with Te Tiriti o Waitangi?
Name one concrete skill from your degree, and show that Māori communities and health providers should lead, with you in support.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Tiriti o Waitangi is foundational to the health system. How does understanding its principles help a doctor provide more equitable care for Māori patients?
Link at least one principle, such as partnership or equity, to something a doctor actually does in a consultation.
In New Zealand, ACC provides no-fault cover for injuries, including injuries from medical treatment. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of a no-fault system, for patients and for health professionals?
Give both sides fairly, including what patients and accountability lose without a court, before reaching a balanced view.
Why are many doctors reluctant to practice in rural and remote parts of New Zealand, and what changes could encourage them to build careers outside the main cities?
Go beyond pay: name specific reasons doctors leave or never go, and changes that would actually help them stay.
A Māori patient comes in with fatigue and headaches, but mostly talks about feeling disconnected from their whānau. Using a model like Te Whare Tapa Whā, how would you approach their care?
Take the physical symptoms seriously while also exploring family, mental and spiritual wellbeing, and ask what matters to the patient.
Some people argue that doctors who enter medicine as graduates are more emotionally prepared than those who come straight from school. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the pathway you've chosen?
Be honest about the real downsides of your own route, and avoid claiming that age alone guarantees maturity.
Frequently asked questions
Does Otago interview for medicine?
Otago's guidelines describe an interview only in the Alternative category, which is for domestic graduates and allied health professionals and takes up to 10% of places. Health Sciences First Year and Graduate category applicants are selected on academic score, and no interview is listed for them.
Is the Otago medicine interview online?
Yes. Alternative category interviews take place on Zoom about eight weeks after applications close on 1 May. You are notified through eVision, and the panel does not reschedule.
How much does the UCAT count at Otago?
It is only a threshold. For 2027 entry you need Verbal Reasoning at or above the 20th percentile and Situational Judgement at or above the 10th. After that, UCAT scores are given no weight. Alternative applicants do not sit the UCAT.
When do Otago medicine offers come out?
HSFY and Graduate category outcomes are sent by 18 December. Alternative category outcomes are confirmed by 31 August.
Can I apply to Otago medicine more than once?
The HSFY and Alternative categories can each be used only once. Graduate category applicants may reapply within three years of finishing their qualifying degree.
Sources
Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.
- University of Otago: Medicine, guidelines for admission (entry requirements, selection, equity groups, dates) · read October 23, 2026
- University of Otago: Admission to Health Sciences professional programmes (admission changes) · read October 23, 2026
- University of Otago: Health Sciences Selection Attributes · read October 23, 2026
- University of Otago: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) · read October 23, 2026
- UCAT ANZ: Universities · read October 23, 2026
- UCAT ANZ: 2026 dates and fees · read October 23, 2026