Study Medicine (MBChB) in New Zealand
Earn a globally respected, MCNZ-recognised MBChB at New Zealand's two world-class medical schools, the University of Auckland and the University of Otago.
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MCNZ Registration
Licensing Exam
UCAT-ANZ + MMI
Admission Criteria
MBChB (6 Yrs)
Medical Programme
Wellington
Capital
Universities
Medical Universities for MBChB in New Zealand
New Zealand has only two medical schools, both world-ranked and accredited by the Australian Medical Council on behalf of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ). Both award the six-year MBChB and admit only a small number of international students each year through a highly competitive process.
Introduction
About Studying Medicine in New Zealand
- Study programme:MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
- Language:English
- Total duration:6 Years (incl. pre-medical first year)
- Degree awarded:MBChB (MBBS-equivalent)
- Entrance exam:UCAT-ANZ + interview (NEET UG not part of admission)
- Regulator:Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
- Avg. tuition (per year):₹40–48 lakh (approx., international)
- Licensing:MCNZ registration; does not meet NMC rules for India
For Indian students New Zealand is a premium, small-intake option: international places are very limited, entry needs the UCAT-ANZ plus interviews, and fees are very high, so realistic planning is essential. NEET UG is not part of admission here, and because this degree does not meet the NMC's rules, NEET UG does not open a route to practise in India from it.
The road to Aoraki / Mount Cook beside turquoise Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand
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Why New Zealand
Why Study Medicine in New Zealand
New Zealand pairs two world-ranked medical schools with excellent clinical training and quality of life, though with very limited international places and high fees.
World-Ranked Medical Schools
Globally Recognised MBChB
Excellent Clinical Training
High Quality of Life
Deep Medical Heritage
English-Speaking Country
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Programme Structure
MBChB Programme Structure in New Zealand
The MBChB in New Zealand is a six-year, English-medium degree. International students first complete a pre-medical first year (Health Sciences First Year at Otago, or a first-year health-sciences programme at Auckland), then compete for selection into the MBChB from Year 2.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Duration:
6 Years (incl. pre-medical first year)
Degree:
MBChB (MBBS-equivalent)
Structure of the Medical Programme
Years 1–3
Pre-Medical & Early Clinical
Pre-medical first year and selection, then integrated basic and clinical sciences:
Health Sciences First YearAnatomyPhysiologyBiochemistryPharmacologyPathologyClinical SkillsYears 4–6
Clinical Years
Full-time clinical placements (rotations) across teaching hospitals and communities:
Internal MedicineSurgeryObstetrics & GynaecologyPaediatricsPsychiatryGeneral PracticeSpecialties
Important: Entry to the MBChB is not guaranteed. International students first complete a pre-medical first year and are then selected into the MBChB from Year 2 based on grades, the UCAT-ANZ and an interview, competing for a very small international quota. Graduation is followed by supervised house-officer years to gain full MCNZ registration.
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Admissions
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
Applicants need excellent Class 12 results to enter the pre-medical first year, then top first-year grades, a strong UCAT-ANZ score and an interview to be selected into the MBChB. NEET UG is not part of admission here, and because this degree does not meet the NMC's rules, NEET UG does not open a route to practise in India from it.
Prerequisites:
Class 12 (entry to first year):
Selection into MBChB (Year 2):
Minimum Requirements
Indicative minimum requirements for application (highly competitive; vary by university):
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Class 12 | High % in PCB (for first-year entry) |
| First-year GPA | Very high (for MBChB selection) |
| UCAT-ANZ | Competitive score + interview (MMI) |
| English (IELTS Academic) | 7.0+ (no band below 7.0) |
| NEET-UG | Not part of admission; no route to India from this degree |
Age Requirement
Candidates must meet the following criterion at the time of admission:
- Minimum age 17–18Applicants are generally at least 17–18 by the start of the pre-medical first year; there is no fixed upper age limit.
Entrance & Application Requirements
Applicants sit the UCAT-ANZ, attend a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and meet the English requirement, after completing the pre-medical first year.
UCAT-ANZ
University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand: required for selection into the MBChB, alongside first-year grades and an interview.
IELTS (English)
English-proficiency test for applicants whose prior education was not in English; both schools ask for IELTS Academic 7.0+.
For Students Planning to Return to India: A New Zealand MBChB does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India. Otago and Auckland run six-year courses, long enough for the NMC's 54-month rule, but the first year after graduation is a hospital job matched by Health New Zealand, not the 12-month internship at the same university that the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021 ask for. New Zealand graduates are matched first, then Australian graduates, then international graduates (Health New Zealand). The University of Otago says there are limited, if any, places for international students, who normally complete registration in their home country (Otago). The NBEMS FMGE bulletin still lists an exemption for doctors with both a New Zealand medical degree and a New Zealand postgraduate qualification who are registered there, but students admitted after 18 November 2021 are judged under the FMGL rules.
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Study Visa
Student Visa Overview
International students study in New Zealand on a fee-paying student visa. Once you accept an Offer of Place, you apply online to Immigration New Zealand, showing your finances, health and character evidence.
Accept your Offer of Place from the University of Auckland or the University of Otago and pay the required deposit; this is needed for the student-visa application.
Arrange your academic transcripts, passport, passport photos and proof of funds (at least NZ$20,000 per year for living, plus tuition).
Purchase acceptable health and travel insurance for the duration of your study, a condition of the visa.
Lodge the fee-paying student-visa application online, uploading your Offer of Place, financial evidence and insurance.
Complete a medical examination and chest X-ray, and provide a police clearance certificate for character requirements.
Once the visa is granted, travel to New Zealand, enrol and comply with visa conditions such as work limits.
Get help with your student visa
Our experts guide you through the Offer of Place, finances and the visa application end to end.
Cost
Cost of Living for Medical Students in New Zealand
Living costs in New Zealand are high, and the student visa requires proof of at least NZ$20,000 a year for living expenses. Here is an indicative monthly breakdown for a medical student (in ₹ approximations); Auckland is the most expensive city.
Monthly Living Cost
| Category | Monthly Expense (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₹55,000 – ₹1,10,000 |
| Food / Groceries | ₹22,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Transportation | ₹7,000 – ₹14,000 |
| Utilities / Internet | ₹8,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Health & Travel Insurance | ₹4,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ₹10,000 – ₹20,000 |
Total Monthly
₹1,06,000 – ₹2,07,000
About the Country
History of Medical Education in New Zealand
Coastal hills and turquoise bay in the Marlborough region, South Island, New Zealand
150 Years of Medical Training
A hobbit-hole with a round green door set into a grassy hillside, New Zealand
A Two-School National System
Get all information about MBBS in New Zealand in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying medicine in New Zealand.
Role in Medicine
New Zealand's Role in Global Medical Education
Hobbit-holes beside a lake at a green rural film-set landscape, New Zealand
Small System, Global Standards
MCNZ Recognition & WDOMS Listing
Get all information about MBBS in New Zealand in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying medicine in New Zealand.
How to Practise
Your Path After the MBChB in New Zealand
After the MBChB
Finish the six-year MBChB at the University of Auckland or the University of Otago, including the clinical years.
Graduates of Auckland and Otago obtain registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand without sitting the NZREX exam required of other foreign-trained doctors.
Work supervised house-officer (PGY1 and PGY2) years in New Zealand hospitals to move toward general registration. Health New Zealand matches New Zealand graduates first, then Australian graduates, then international graduates, so places for international graduates are limited.
Apply to a specialist college (for example RACP, RACS, RNZCGP) for vocational training, lasting roughly 3 to 7 years depending on the specialty.
The New Zealand MBChB does not meet the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021, because the first year after graduation is a Health New Zealand hospital job, not a 12-month internship at the same university, so it does not lead to the FMGE or NMC registration.
Complete New Zealand vocational fellowship training through a specialist college. NEET PG in India is not open, because the degree does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India.
Work as a house officer, registrar, GP or consultant in New Zealand, or in another country whose licensing rules accept the degree.
Duration of Residency
Postgraduate / vocational training length depends on the pathway. Typical durations after the MBChB are:
| Pathway | Duration |
|---|---|
| House Officer (PGY1–2) | 2 years |
| General Practice (RNZCGP) | 3–4 years |
| Physician / Surgery (RACP / RACS) | 5–7 years |
| MD / MS in India | Not open to this degree |
| DNB in India | Not open to this degree |
Understand the New Zealand Pathway and the India Position
A clear overview of MCNZ registration, house-officer years, vocational training and why the degree does not lead to the FMGE.
Our blog
Medical Education Insights
Articles that turn complex MBBS-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
Compare
Compare Pathways
See how the New Zealand MBChB pathway compares with the MBBS route in India.
Quick Comparison:
MBChB in New Zealand vs MBBS in India
| Pathway | MBChB in New ZealandNew Zealand | MBBS in IndiaIndia |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | Pre-medical year after Class 12, then selection | After Class 12 (10+2) |
| Entrance Exam | UCAT-ANZ + MMI (NEET UG not part of admission) | NEET-UG |
| Degree | MBChB (MBBS-equivalent) | MBBS |
| Course Duration | 6 years (incl. first year) | 4.5 years + 1-yr internship |
| Medium | English | English |
| Licensing | MCNZ (New Zealand); does not meet NMC rules for India | NMC registration after internship |
| Approx. Tuition (full course) | ₹2.5–3.1 crore | ₹50 lakh – ₹1 crore+ (private) |
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about studying medicine in New Zealand.