Medicine, Changing Lives
 Medicine is the general term used to describe what doctors
(also known as physicians) do to assist you to care for your
health and well-being. Medical doctors prevent, diagnose,
treat and cure illness, injury and disease and provide health
care whenever required. Doctors choose to work in one
or a combination of many roles including clinical medicine
(patient care in General Practice, Surgery, Psychiatry,
Paediatrics and many more), medical research, teaching and
administration (in Hospitals, Medical Schools and Government
Ministries). There is no denying the hours worked by
doctors are long and the need for continuing study is
demanding. But the role of a doctor is rewarding and there
is potential for great personal satisfaction.
“As a doctor you are there for the high points of life, like giving birth,
as well as the more challenging and difficult times in people’s lives. I
get to make a real difference...”
Keryn Taylor MBChB
What is Medicine?
Medicine is a scientific, research and evidence
based profession, which covers many areas of
specialisation, including general practice, public
health and hospital-based specialties such as
surgery, psychiatry, cardiology and many more.
If you are considering a career in medicine,
you should be prepared for lifelong learning
to maintain your practising standards. Society
expects a high level of technical competence.
Patients expect to be treated with patience,
kindness and humanity. Ethical behaviour and
rapport with people are necessary so patients
can trust you with problems of their body
and mind.
What will I study?
After selection from Health Sciences First Year
or graduate entry, you commence Secondyear
of the six year Bachelor of Medicine and
Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB).
Second- and Third- year Medicine offers an
integrated course based on various body
system modules and core clinical cases. The
Clinical cases run throughout the programme
and act as a framework for learning, as well
as bringing relevance to the underlying clinical
and basic science. Learning clinical skills and
a focus on Health in the Community start
at the beginning of Second- year and feature
prominently throughout both years. Learning
is achieved through a variety of modalities
including experiential practise (laboratories,
clinical skills, talking with people), lectures, small
group discussions and independent learning.
At the end of the Third- year, you have the
option of choosing between Otago's campuses
in Dunedin, Christchurch or Wellington for
the remainder of your course.
Fourth- and Fifth- year Medicine offer increased
interaction with people and are centred around
clinical work in hospital wards and in outpatient
clinics in teaching hospitals, in smaller rural
hospitals and general practices, and completing
components of Public Health and Community
Medicine.
Sixth-year Medicine is an apprenticeship-style
year, also known as the Trainee Intern (TI)
year. You assume greater responsibility in
hospital wards and general practices. During
this final year, you select a three-month ‘Elective’.
This involves project or clinical work usually
in another hospital, or overseas, where you
will gain experience of alternative health care,
usually in an area of personal interest.
There are research opportunities within the
medical programme including the option of
taking one year off after third or fifth year to
complete a Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons)
degree. Some medical graduates choose to
concentrate on a career in research and may
enrol in a higher degree such as a Master of
Medical Science or PhD.
Before you can practise as a doctor in New
Zealand, you must register with the Medical
Council of New Zealand and complete one
year of supervised practice in a hospital. There
are limited, if any, New Zealand hospital places
available for international students who will
normally complete registration requirements
in their home country.
Background Required
There are no subject requirements for entry into
the Health Sciences First Year programme, but we
strongly recommend you take chemistry, physics
and biology at Year 13. HSFY must be your first
year of university study. If you are considering
tertiary study before enrolling, you are strongly
advised to contact the Health Sciences Admissions
Office beforehand.
Admission to the programme
Admission to Medicine is competitive, and there
are only 190 places available each year. There are
different categories of admission to Medicine, but
the majority of places are offered to students who
have completed the HSFY programme at the
University of Otago.
Selection into Medicine from HSFY is very
competitive. Selection is based on your grades in
the HSFY papers and results in the Undergraduate
Medical and Health Sciences Admission Test
(UMAT). High grades are required and no
compulsory paper grade can be less than a B. The
UMAT is a test which measures non-academic
attributes, for more information go to www.acer.edu.au/umat.
Applications are also considered in the Competitive
Graduate category (UMAT required) and Other
category (allied health professionals, those with
mental health professional experience and mature
graduates). Additional places are available for
international students who return to their home
country after graduating. Applicants who are of
Mäori or Pacific Island (Polynesian) descent or
who have had a rural NZ upbringing and/or
education may request this be taken into account
as part of their application.
How do I apply for admission to
Medicine?
Application information for admission into the
Health Science professional programmes from all
categories is available online, at www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences.
Clinical Requirements
Some aspects of teaching in the Health Sciences
professional programmes require students to
partially disrobe and take part in activities that
include physical contact between students. This
training is closely supervised and all students are
required to participate. Students who anticipate
situations sensitive to their culture or beliefs should
contact the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of
the relevant school for advice.
Immunity Status
Students seeking admission to Medicine must
provide evidence of their serology status to the
following infections: Hepatitis B and C, measles,
mumps, rubella and varicella.
International Applications
Persons who do not hold New Zealand citizenship
or permanent residence should address their
enquiries to the University’s International Office,
PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
Career Opportunities
Medicine is a respected and rewarding profession.
Graduates can work within New Zealand in the
public and private sectors, or register to practise
overseas. There are further training opportunities
for specialisation in a wide range of disciplines
including Medicine (Cardiology, Geriatrics, Oncology
and many others), Surgery (Orthopaedic, Neuro,
Cardiothoracic), Obstetrics & Gynaecology,
Paediatrics, Psychological Medicine, Sports Medicine,
Pathology, General Practice and more. Training for
these specialties occurs as you work, and takes a
further five or more years. Medical graduates can
also enter research in fields from the biomedical
sciences through to applied clinical research, in
the laboratory, in the hospitals and community
practices and on populations.
KERYN TAYLOR
 Keryn Taylor always wanted to be a doctor. As a
House Surgeon at Dunedin Hospital, she relished
the extra responsibility of using her medical skills
daily in a clinical setting. “The more I am in a
hospital environment learning and practising the
more I get a true appreciation of what the work
is like and I think that will continue to grow as I
learn more. In fact, I don’t ever think I’ll stop
learning,” Keryn says. Now in the UK, Keryn chose
to study at Otago because of its international
reputation, top quality medical education and
unique student lifestyle. She completed a science
degree in psychology before entering medicine
through the graduate entry criteria. She thinks
her science degree honed her critical thinking and
time management and study skills – all essential
for medical students. “There is a lot expected of
medical students. You have to want that kind of
challenge in your life if you want to do medicine.
It’s not easy – but it’s extremely rewarding.”
Further information
Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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