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New Zealand's oldest university (1869) and oldest medical school (1875), in Dunedin on the South Island. Otago awards the 6-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), an MBBS-style school-leaver degree ranked around #157 in the world for Medicine (QS 2026), but with very few international places, so it is one of the harder medical schools in the world for an overseas student to enter.
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New Zealand
Country
Dunedin
City (South Island)
MBChB
6-year Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery
Since 1875
New Zealand's oldest medical school
Introduction
Lake Pukaki and the road towards Aoraki/Mount Cook, South Island, New Zealand — scenery about 250 km from Dunedin, 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 Otago is genuinely world-class and, unlike most MBBS-abroad destinations, its rankings are real. It is New Zealand's oldest university and its medical school is the country's oldest and among its highest-ranked, sitting around #157 in the world for Medicine in the 2026 QS subject rankings.
#157 for Medicine
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Medicine)
Top in NZ
Among New Zealand's leading universities and medical schools
The University of Otago (Otago Medical School), New Zealand's oldest medical school (1875), offers an MBChB accredited by the Australian Medical Council (which accredits New Zealand's medical programmes), with graduates registering through the Medical Council of New Zealand, and the school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. As a WDOMS-listed school, graduates can also pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE for training in the United States. Indian students who intend to practise in India must still meet the National Medical Commission's conditions (see FMGE & NExT) — there is no blanket NMC approval or FMGE exemption.
Complete Information About Studying Medicine at the University of Otago
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
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Academic Excellence
Otago offers a historic, world-class, MBBS-style medical education in New Zealand's classic student city. 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 Otago MBChB is via the Health Sciences First Year and then competitive selection into Year 2, with only a small international quota. Confirm the exact current process and quota on otago.ac.nz.
International school-leavers first enrol in and complete the Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) at Otago, passing the prescribed papers (reportedly a minimum ~65% at first attempt for the medicine pathway).
Sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) in the year of application, meeting the annual threshold.
Apply for entry to Year 2 of the MBChB; selection is on HSFY grades, the UCAT ANZ and the Multiple Mini Interview, competing for a small number of international places.
Shortlisted applicants attend a Multiple Mini Interview assessing communication and ethical reasoning.
Successful applicants receive an offer, meet English requirements (IELTS/equivalent) and apply for the New Zealand student visa.
Indian students who intend to practise in India must have qualified NEET-UG before starting the medical program and obtain the NMC Eligibility Certificate; this does not apply if the plan is to practise in New Zealand/Australia (see FMGE & NExT).
International school-leavers must first gain admission to and complete the Health Sciences First Year at Otago with high grades, then compete for entry to Year 2 of the MBChB. Strong Class 12 results (with the required science background) are needed to enter the first year. Indian students who intend to practise in India must also qualify NEET before starting.
Prerequisites:
There is no unusual age bar; applicants must meet the first-year entry and then the MBChB selection requirements. Indian students planning to return to India should note the NMC's own rules (including NEET) apply to them.
Applicants need first-year admission and strong grades, the UCAT ANZ, a strong MMI, English proficiency and a student visa; Indians intending to practise in India also need NEET and the NMC Eligibility Certificate.
Win a First-Year Place, Then Compete
Plan to enter the Health Sciences First Year with top marks, then achieve high grades, a strong UCAT and a strong MMI to compete for one of the few international MBChB places.
Fund the Full Six Years
Budget realistically: about ₹3.4-3.7 crore all-in over six years (Dunedin living is cheaper than Auckland). Confirm the current fees and any entry changes before committing.
Selection into Year 2 of the MBChB uses Health Sciences First Year grades, the UCAT ANZ and a Multiple Mini Interview. Confirm the current thresholds and the international quota on the official site.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| First year | Health Sciences First Year at Otago (7 prescribed papers; reportedly min ~65% first attempt for the medicine pathway) |
| Admissions test | UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test), meeting the annual threshold |
| Interview | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) |
| International quota | Only a small number of international MBChB places each year — extremely competitive |
| India-side (if returning) | NEET-UG qualification + NMC Eligibility Certificate for later FMGE/NExT |
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 very small international quota, and help planning the first year, UCAT and MMI, from our team.
Program Structure
The Otago MBChB is a six-year program taught in English, from a common first year and pre-clinical study in Dunedin to full-time clinical placements across Otago's Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington campuses. Confirm the exact current structure on otago.ac.nz.
Total Duration:
6 Years (a common Health Sciences First Year + Years 2-6 of the MBChB across Dunedin/Christchurch/Wellington)
Degree:
MB ChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) — a school-leaver-entry primary medical qualification, New Zealand's MBBS equivalent
Year 1
A full-time first year covering foundational health sciences and the prescribed papers required for MBChB selection, based in Dunedin:
Years 2–3
The early MBChB years in Dunedin, integrating biomedical and clinical sciences with early clinical and communication skills:
Years 4–5
Full clinical placements rotating through the major disciplines across Otago's three clinical campuses:
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 Otago's Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington campuses and their hospitals. In New Zealand, graduates complete a paid internship (PGY1) as part of gaining registration; Indian graduates who return to India follow the NMC route. An indicative pattern is:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| MBChB Years 4–6 | Clinical placements across Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, O&G, Psychiatry, General Practice and specialties in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington 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 |
| If returning to India | Clear the FMGE/NExT and complete the required internship in India before NMC/State Medical Council registration |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to understand the MBChB structure, the pathway and everything you need to plan.
Legacy
Over 150 years, the Otago Medical School has produced and hosted some of the most important figures in New Zealand medicine, from the father of fetal medicine to public-health pioneers and a Nobel laureate. The figures below are verified; where someone is famous as an Otago professor rather than a graduate, that is stated plainly.
Albert William Liley graduated from the Otago Medical School in 1954 and became known as the 'father of fetal medicine'. He developed the technique of intrauterine blood transfusion for babies severely affected by rhesus disease and, in 1963, led the team that carried out the world's first successful fetal transfusions, opening the entire field of treating the unborn patient. It is one of the great achievements of New Zealand medicine.
Charles Hercus trained at Otago (completing the medical course in 1914) and served as Dean of the Otago Medical School from 1937 to 1958. With colleagues he traced New Zealand's widespread goitre to iodine deficiency and championed iodised salt, effectively ending the country's goitre endemic and preventing countless thyroid operations and cases of developmental harm. The Hercus name endures in Otago's medical buildings and awards.
Muriel Bell was the first woman awarded an MD by the University of Otago (1926). As Director of Nutrition Research at the Otago Medical School and New Zealand's first State Nutritionist (1940-1964), her research underpinned the introduction of iodised salt and water fluoridation in New Zealand, and she became a household name for translating nutrition science into public health.
John Eccles was Professor of Physiology at Otago from 1944 to 1951, where, with colleagues, he made the breakthrough discoveries on how nerve cells communicate across synapses that would earn him the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Eccles was educated in Australia and Oxford; his Nobel-winning work was done as an Otago professor rather than as a graduate.)
Otago's medical program is delivered by the Otago Medical School across its Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington campuses. Named leaders below are verified as of 2025; reconfirm current office-holders on the official site before publishing.
Dean of the Otago Medical School: Professor Suzanne Pitama (the School's first wahine Māori Dean; succeeded acting Dean Professor Tim Wilkinson)
New Zealand's oldest medical school (1875)
Clinical campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington
Research strength in fetal medicine, public health and physiology
A strong collegiate culture in Dunedin
Clinical training across three cities
A world-leading research legacy (fetal medicine, public health)
Guidance for Indian students on FMGE/NExT vs staying in NZ/Australia
About University
The University of Otago's Clocktower (Registry) building beside the Water of Leith in Dunedin, in autumn
Get all information about studying medicine at the University of Otago in our free brochure
Read on to understand the real pathway to the University of Otago MBChB.
Role in medicine
The University of Otago Clocktower (Registry) building with spring blossom, Dunedin, New Zealand
Get all information about studying medicine at the University of Otago in our free brochure
Read on to understand the real pathway to the University of Otago MBChB.
Cost of living
Dunedin is New Zealand's classic student city and is more affordable than Auckland. The figures below are indicative monthly living costs for a student and are separate from the high MBChB tuition (about NZ$80,000-95,000 a year). INR figures are approximate at about ₹50 per NZ$1.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (hall/flat share) | NZ$800 – NZ$1,500 (₹40,000 – ₹75,000) |
| Food & Groceries | NZ$350 – NZ$600 (₹17,500 – ₹30,000) |
| Transport & Personal | NZ$120 – NZ$260 (₹6,000 – ₹13,000) |
| Utilities & Extras | NZ$130 – NZ$300 (₹6,500 – ₹15,000) |
Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
NZ$1,400 – NZ$2,600 (₹70,000 – ₹1,30,000)
Housing
Students at the University of Otago live in residential colleges, university-affiliated accommodation, or the famous Dunedin student 'flats'. Confirm current options and prices with the University's accommodation service.
Otago has a large number of residential colleges near the Dunedin campus (such as Knox, Selwyn, St Margaret's, Arana, Studholme and others) offering catered accommodation and a strong first-year community; confirm current room types and fees.
University-managed and affiliated student accommodation offers rooms and apartments close to campus, with the University's accommodation service listing verified options.
Dunedin is famous for its student 'flatting' culture, where many students share houses in the streets around campus (North Dunedin), often more economical than colleges; confirm the current rental market.
Dunedin has one of the highest student-to-resident ratios in New Zealand, so the whole city is oriented around student life, which helps international students settle in.
Dunedin has Indian restaurants, halal options and grocery stores (smaller than Auckland's, but present), so Indian and vegetarian students can eat well (see the Food section).
Dunedin is compact and walkable, with the campus close to the city centre (the Octagon) and beautiful surroundings including the Otago Peninsula.
Dunedin living costs (around NZ$20,000-25,000 a year, roughly ₹10-12.5 lakh) are lower than Auckland's; this is still on top of the high MBChB tuition, so plan the full budget carefully.
The University's accommodation and international-student services help with settling in; our counsellors can help with housing, visa and pathway guidance.
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 available in cafeterias, restaurants, grocery stores and student accommodation in Dunedin. As a university city, Dunedin caters well to students, including Indian and vegetarian diets, though options are fewer than in Auckland.
Dunedin has several Indian restaurants and eateries serving North and South Indian food, popular with the student population, so Indian food is accessible.
Location
University of Otago, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand (the Otago Medical School also has clinical campuses in Christchurch and Wellington for the senior years)
Nearest Airport
Dunedin Airport (DUD) serves the city (domestic and trans-Tasman); most international students fly into Auckland or Christchurch and connect. Indian students typically fly via a Southeast Asian or Gulf hub (or via Australia), and need a New Zealand student visa. Dunedin is about 6.5-7.5 hours ahead of Indian time depending on daylight saving
Local Transport
Dunedin is compact and walkable, with the campus close to the city centre (the Octagon); local buses serve the city, so students rarely need a car
Your Roadmap to Success
Otago 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.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of registration in New Zealand and the exams needed to practise in India or elsewhere.
Practising in India
An Indian graduate of the University of Otago who wants to practise in India follows the National Medical Commission (NMC) route: qualifying NEET before starting, meeting the NMC's foreign-graduate conditions, clearing the screening examination (currently the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), completing the required internship in India and registering. The 6-year MBChB maps reasonably to India's rules, but many Otago graduates instead build careers in New Zealand or Australia.
Step 1
An Indian student who intends to practise in India must have qualified NEET-UG before beginning the medical program abroad, and obtain the NMC Eligibility Certificate. This applies to the India-return plan; it is not a New Zealand requirement.
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 6-year English-medium MBChB that entitles practice in New Zealand maps reasonably to these conditions, but confirm in writing with the NMC how the Health Sciences First Year and trainee-intern year are counted.
Step 3
Graduates returning to India must clear the qualifying examination (FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), complete the required internship in India, and register with the NMC or a State Medical Council.
Student Life Style
Being a medical student at Otago combines a demanding MBChB at New Zealand's oldest medical school with life in Dunedin, the country's classic student city, in the beautiful South Island.
The Hobbiton movie set near Matamata in the Waikato, New Zealand's North Island — travel context about 1,300 km from Dunedin, not the campus
The Champagne Pool at the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal area near Rotorua, New Zealand's North Island — travel context about 1,300 km from Dunedin, not the campus
Fees & Financial
This is a major planning issue for an Indian family: the Otago MBChB is one of the most expensive medical degrees in the world, though Dunedin's living costs are lower than Auckland's. Realistic, honest financial planning across the full six years is essential.
International MBChB tuition is broadly NZ$80,000-95,000 per year (six-year tuition roughly NZ$475,000-600,000), and the full six-year investment with Dunedin living costs (about NZ$20,000-25,000 a year) is roughly NZ$690,000-750,000 (about ₹3.4-3.7 crore at ₹50 per NZ$1). Confirm the current fees on otago.ac.nz.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience studying medicine at the University of Otago.
4.6
46 reviews
Compare
Compare the University of Otago (MBChB) with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
University of Otago (MBChB) vs AIIMS New Delhi (MBBS)
| University | University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand | AIIMS New DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| Degree & Entry | MBChB — school-leaver entry via Health Sciences First Year, then selection (MBBS-style) | MBBS — school-leaver entry after Class 12 |
| Medium | English | English |
| Duration | 6 years (first year + Years 2-6 across Dunedin/Christchurch/Wellington) | 5.5 years including internship |
| Tuition | ~NZ$80,000-95,000/year (₹40-48 lakh); ~₹2.4-3.0 crore; ~₹3.4-3.7 crore all-in | Nominal (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Admission | HSFY grades + UCAT ANZ + MMI; only a few international places | NEET-UG (extremely high rank) |
| Recognition | AMC-accredited, MCNZ registration; WDOMS-listed; India route via NMC conditions (FMGE/NExT) | NMC-recognised |
| World Ranking | ~#157 for Medicine (QS 2026); New Zealand's oldest medical school | India's top medical institute (NIRF #1) |
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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 Otago.
Campus photographs supplied by the client: three genuine University of Otago views in Dunedin — a historic sandstone medical/campus building, and the University's Clocktower (Registry) building beside the Water of Leith in autumn and in spring. All other photographs are New Zealand stock scenery and are captioned as such, not as the campus: Lake Pukaki and the road towards Aoraki/Mount Cook and a South Island coastal bay (South Island, roughly 250 km and further from Dunedin), Piha Beach near Auckland, the Hobbiton movie set in the Waikato and the Champagne Pool at Wai-O-Tapu near Rotorua (all North Island, about 1,300 km from Dunedin). Image licences are being confirmed and genuine Otago Medical School / Dunedin campus photographs will replace the scenery images.
