Webinar: Pursuing MBBS in India Thu, November 5, 2026 | 8:30 PM IST FREE
Reserve free seatFree Webinar: MBBS in India
Thu, November 5, 2026 | 8:30 PM
Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Thu, November 5, 2026 | 8:30 PM
New Zealand's #1 university (QS 2026: #65 in the world) and its leading medical school. Auckland awards the 6-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), an MBBS-style school-leaver degree, but with only about 30 international places a year, it is one of the hardest medical schools in the world for an overseas student to enter.
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New Zealand
Country
Auckland
City (Grafton medical campus)
MBChB
6-year Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery
~30 intl places
International MBChB quota per year
Introduction
Piha Beach with Lion Rock, on the wild west coast about 40 km from Auckland city (Auckland-region scenery, not the university campus)
Download our free brochure, or speak with our team to understand whether a New Zealand MBChB, with its tiny international quota, is a realistic path for your family.
Recognition & Prestige
The University of Auckland is genuinely world-class and, unlike most MBBS-abroad destinations, its rankings are real. It is New Zealand's #1 university and a global top-70 institution, and its medical school is the highest-ranked in New Zealand.
#65 in the world
QS World University Rankings 2026 (overall)
#1 in New Zealand
New Zealand's top university
#1 in NZ for Medicine
New Zealand's leading medical school
The University of Auckland (Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences), New Zealand's #1 university, offers an MBChB accredited by the Australian Medical Council with the Medical Council of New Zealand, and is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Graduates are eligible for provisional registration and internship in New Zealand (and pathways in Australia), and can pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE for the United States. The degree does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India (see FMGE).
Complete Information About Studying Medicine at the University of Auckland
Get a clear, honest picture of the MBChB pathway, the tiny international quota, the real costs, and whether it is realistic for your family.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Auckland offers a genuinely world-class, MBBS-style medical education in a safe, beautiful country. These are its real strengths, with the honest and significant trade-offs of the tiny international quota and the high cost.
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your medical-career success.
How to Apply
Entry to the Auckland MBChB is via a common first year and then competitive selection into Year 2, with only about 30 international places. New Zealand is changing its medicine entry from 2028.
International school-leavers first enrol full-time in the Bachelor of Health Sciences or the BSc in Biomedical Science at Auckland and complete the required first-year courses (only the first attempt counts for MBChB selection).
Sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) in the year of application.
Apply for entry to Year 2 of the MBChB; selection is on academic merit (first-year GPA), UCAT ANZ and the Multiple Mini Interview, competing for about 30 international places.
Shortlisted applicants attend the Multiple Mini Interview (held around September) assessing communication, ethics and suitability for medicine.
Successful applicants receive an offer, meet English requirements (IELTS/equivalent) and apply for the New Zealand student visa.
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.
International school-leavers must first gain admission to and complete the first year of the Bachelor of Health Sciences or the BSc in Biomedical Science at Auckland with very high grades, then compete for entry to Year 2 of the MBChB. Strong Class 12 results (with the required science subjects) are needed to enter the first year. 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:
There is no unusual age bar; applicants must meet the first-year entry and then the MBChB selection requirements. Indian students should note that the degree does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India.
Applicants need first-year admission and strong results, the UCAT ANZ, a strong MMI, English proficiency and a student visa. 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.
Win a First-Year Place, Then Compete
Plan to enter the Health Sciences/Biomedical first year with top marks, then achieve a high GPA, UCAT and MMI to compete for one of ~30 international MBChB seats.
Fund the Full Six Years
Budget realistically: about ₹3.4–4.0 crore all-in over six years. Plan around the 2028 entry changes before committing.
Selection into Year 2 of the MBChB uses first-year academic results, the UCAT ANZ and a Multiple Mini Interview.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| First year | Bachelor of Health Sciences or BSc Biomedical Science at Auckland (very high GPA; first attempt counts) |
| Admissions test | UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test) |
| Interview | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), held around September |
| International quota | ~30 international places in the MBChB (vs ~317 domestic): extremely competitive |
| India-side | NEET UG not part of admission; the degree does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India |
Indian applicants typically provide the following for the first-year/MBChB application and the New Zealand student visa:
Admission Guidance & Pathway Planning
Get an honest assessment of your chances at a ~30-place international quota, and help planning the first year, UCAT and MMI, from our team.
Programme Structure
The Auckland MBChB is a six-year programme taught in English, from a common first year and pre-clinical study to full-time clinical placements across Auckland and regional New Zealand hospitals.
Total Duration:
6 Years (a common first year in Health Sciences/Biomedical Science + Years 2–6 of the MBChB)
Degree:
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), a school-leaver-entry primary medical qualification (New Zealand's MBBS-equivalent)
Year 1
A full-time first year in the Bachelor of Health Sciences or BSc Biomedical Science, covering foundational sciences and the courses required for MBChB selection:
Years 2–3
The early MBChB years integrating biomedical and clinical sciences with early clinical and communication skills, through case-based learning:
Years 4–5
Full clinical placements rotating through the major disciplines across Auckland and regional New Zealand teaching hospitals:
Year 6
The final 'trainee intern' year, working as part of clinical teams under supervision as a transition to internship (PGY1) and registration:
Clinical training takes place across Auckland and regional New Zealand hospitals, based at the Grafton campus next to Auckland City Hospital. In New Zealand, graduates complete a paid internship (PGY1) as part of gaining registration. This job is matched by Health New Zealand and is not the 12-month university internship the NMC requires. An indicative pattern is:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| MBChB Years 4–6 | Clinical placements across Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, O&G, Psychiatry, General Practice and specialties in Auckland and regional NZ hospitals, ending in the trainee-intern year |
| After graduation (NZ) | Paid internship (PGY1) leading to general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand, then prevocational and vocational training |
| India | The degree does not meet the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021, so it does not lead to the FMGE or NMC registration |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to understand the MBChB structure, the pathway and everything you need to plan.
Legacy
The University of Auckland's medical school (founded 1968) is younger than the world's historic schools, so its distinction rests above all on world-changing research, from antenatal steroids to the Liggins Institute. Where someone is famous as a researcher or professor at Auckland rather than an MBChB graduate, that is stated plainly.
Sir Graham Liggins was one of New Zealand's most eminent medical scientists, working at the University of Auckland. With Ross Howie he showed, in a 1972 clinical trial, that giving corticosteroids to mothers at risk of premature birth matures the baby's lungs, a treatment that became the global gold standard and has saved the lives of countless premature babies. The University's Liggins Institute is named in his honour.
Ross Howie was a New Zealand paediatrician who, with Sir Graham Liggins at the University of Auckland, ran the landmark 1972 randomised controlled trial demonstrating that antenatal corticosteroids improve the survival of premature babies. His careful clinical work was essential to a discovery that transformed newborn care around the world.
Peter Gluckman trained in medicine at the University of Auckland and became a leading paediatric and developmental scientist. He served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and founding Director of the Liggins Institute, and was New Zealand's first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister (2009–2018), shaping science policy nationally and internationally.
Jane Harding is a University of Auckland perinatal and neonatal researcher at the Liggins Institute, internationally recognised for her work on the nutrition and care of premature and vulnerable newborns, including landmark studies on treating newborn low blood sugar. Her research has changed newborn care guidelines worldwide.
Auckland's medical programme is delivered by the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the Grafton campus, through the University's research institutes (including the Liggins Institute) and Auckland's teaching hospitals. Named leaders below are as of 2025.
Dean of Medical and Health Sciences: Professor Warwick Bagg (appointed ~2024)
New Zealand's #1 university
Medical school founded 1968
Home of the Liggins Institute (antenatal steroids legacy)
Grafton campus next to Auckland City Hospital
Clinical placements across Auckland and regional NZ
World-leading perinatal research
Guidance for Indian students on the India position and staying in NZ/Australia
About University
A sandstone heritage building at the University of Auckland's City campus, with a large oak, Auckland, New Zealand
Get all information about studying medicine at the University of Auckland in our free brochure
Read on to understand the real pathway to the University of Auckland MBChB.
Role in medicine
Heritage villas at the University of Auckland City campus with a 'Faculty of Arts' sign, Auckland, New Zealand (City campus, not the Grafton medical campus)
Get all information about studying medicine at the University of Auckland in our free brochure
Read on to understand the real pathway to the University of Auckland MBChB.
Cost of living
Auckland is New Zealand's largest and most expensive city. The figures below are indicative monthly living costs for a student and are SEPARATE from the high MBChB tuition (about NZ$86,561 / ₹47 lakh a year for Years 2–6). INR figures are approximations at about NZ$1 ≈ ₹54.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (student housing/rental share) | NZ$1,000 – NZ$1,900 (₹54,000 – ₹1,03,000) |
| Food & Groceries | NZ$400 – NZ$700 (₹22,000 – ₹38,000) |
| Transport & Personal | NZ$150 – NZ$300 (₹8,000 – ₹16,000) |
| Utilities & Extras | NZ$150 – NZ$350 (₹8,000 – ₹19,000) |
Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
NZ$1,700 – NZ$3,100 (₹85,000 – ₹1,55,000)
Housing
Students at the University of Auckland live in university halls of residence, university-affiliated accommodation, or private rentals in Auckland.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
100% Veg options available. Vegetarian food is easily available in cafeterias, restaurants, grocery stores and student accommodation across Auckland. As one of the world's most diverse cities, Auckland is very good for Indian and vegetarian food.
Auckland has a large Indian community and many Indian restaurants and eateries, with a famous hub in Sandringham ('Little India') and others across the city, so Indian food, including regional cuisines, is easy to find.
Halal food is widely available across Auckland's multicultural food scene, so Muslim students are well catered for.
Auckland has strong vegetarian and vegan options, with dedicated vegetarian restaurants and clearly labelled menus, so vegetarian students eat well.
Indian grocery stores across Auckland (especially Sandringham) stock spices, dal, atta, rice, ready-mixes and fresh produce, and many deliver, so students can cook familiar food.
Food-delivery and grocery apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, and the major supermarket apps operate across Auckland for both restaurant meals and groceries.
Major supermarket chains (Countdown/Woolworths NZ, New World, PAK'nSAVE) and markets stock lentils, rice, dairy, flour, fresh produce and international staples, with Indian grocers filling any gaps.
Location
University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Grafton Campus, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand (the main City campus is nearby in central Auckland)
Nearest Airport
Auckland Airport (AKL) is about 20 km from the campuses. Indian students typically fly one-stop via a Southeast Asian or Gulf hub (or via Australia). Students need a New Zealand student visa. Auckland (NZST) is about 6.5–7.5 hours ahead of Indian time depending on daylight saving
Local Transport
Auckland has buses, trains and ferries (and the new City Rail Link); the Grafton medical campus is next to Auckland City Hospital and close to the city centre, so students get around without a car
Your Roadmap to Success
Auckland MBChB graduates complete a paid internship year (PGY1) and gain general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand, then progress to prevocational and vocational (specialty) training.
Because the MBChB is accredited by both the MCNZ and the Australian Medical Council, graduates can pursue registration and careers in both New Zealand and Australia, which have post-study work and residence pathways for doctors.
A University of Auckland MBChB does not meet the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021, because the first year after graduation is a Health New Zealand hospital job rather than a 12-month internship at the same university, so graduates admitted after 18 November 2021 cannot sit the FMGE or register in India.
As a WDOMS-listed school, graduates can pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE, opening the pathway to US residency.
An Auckland MBChB supports the GMC's routes for the UK and licensing pathways in other countries, each with its own requirements.
With the Liggins Institute and world-leading perinatal research, Auckland is a strong base for students interested in academic medicine and research.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of registration in New Zealand, licensing elsewhere and why the degree does not lead to practice in India.
Practising in 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.
Step 1
The MBChB runs for six years in English, long enough for the NMC's 54-month rule. 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.
Step 2
The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 set conditions on course-plus-internship duration completed at the same institution, English-medium teaching, and a degree that entitles practice in the country of study. The first year after graduation is a hospital job matched by Health New Zealand, not the 12-month internship at the University of Auckland, so these conditions are not met. New Zealand graduates are matched first, then Australian graduates, then international graduates.
Step 3
Graduates who secure a job register with the Medical Council of New Zealand and train in New Zealand or Australia. The NBEMS FMGE bulletin says students admitted abroad on or after 18 November 2021 who do not meet the FMGL rules cannot sit the FMGE.
Student Life Style
Being a medical student in Auckland combines a demanding MBChB at New Zealand's #1 university with life in a beautiful, diverse harbour city, in a country famous for its outdoors.
Lake Pukaki with the road towards Aoraki/Mount Cook in the South Island, New Zealand (national scenery about 1,000 km from Auckland, shown for travel context)
The Champagne Pool at the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal area near Rotorua in the North Island, New Zealand (about three hours from Auckland, shown for travel context)
Fees & Financial
This is a major planning issue for an Indian family: the Auckland MBChB is one of the most expensive medical degrees in the world, and Auckland is New Zealand's most expensive city. Realistic, honest financial planning across the full six years is essential.
International fees are about NZ$42,818 for the first year and about NZ$86,561 per year for Years 2–6, so tuition alone is roughly NZ$475,000–600,000, and the full six-year investment with living costs is about NZ$625,000–745,000 (roughly ₹3.4–4.0 crore at about NZ$1 ≈ ₹54).
The University of Auckland and New Zealand offer some scholarships, but medicine scholarships for international students are very limited and highly competitive, and rarely cover the full MBChB fee. Do not assume a scholarship will materially reduce this cost.
Because of the scale, most families fund this through substantial savings and a large education loan. We can guide families realistically on loan sizing, collateral and whether the numbers make sense, without pushing anyone toward a decision they cannot afford.
Compare
Compare the University of Auckland (MBChB) with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
University of Auckland (MBChB) vs AIIMS New Delhi (MBBS)
| University | University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand | AIIMS New DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| Degree & Entry | MBChB: school-leaver entry via common first year, then selection (MBBS-style) | MBBS: school-leaver entry after Class 12 |
| Medium | English | English |
| Duration | 6 years (first year + Years 2–6) | 5.5 years including internship |
| Tuition | ~NZ$42,818 (Yr 1) + ~NZ$86,561/yr (Yrs 2–6); ~₹2.6–3.2 crore; ~₹3.4–4.0 crore all-in | Nominal (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Admission | First-year GPA + UCAT ANZ + MMI; only ~30 international places | NEET-UG (extremely high rank) |
| Recognition | AMC + MCNZ accredited; WDOMS-listed; does not meet NMC rules for India | NMC-recognised |
| World Ranking | #65 in the world overall; #1 in New Zealand (QS 2026) | India's top medical institute (NIRF #1) |
Compare Top MBBS Universities for Me
See key differences in fees, ranking, eligibility and recognition.
Our blog
Articles that turn complex medicine-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Short, honest answers to the questions Indian students and parents ask most about studying medicine at the University of Auckland.
Campus photographs supplied by the client (three genuine University of Auckland City-campus views: the ClockTower/Old Arts Building, a sandstone heritage building, and heritage villas with a 'University of Auckland City Campus / Faculty of Arts' sign). Scenery and tourism images are New Zealand stock (Shutterstock and similar): Piha Beach near Auckland; the Hobbiton movie set in the Waikato; the road to Aoraki/Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki in the South Island; and the Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu near Rotorua. Only the three client photos show the University, all of the City campus rather than the Grafton medical campus.
