UCAT Scores for —
University of Otago Medicine

The University of Otago uses the UCAT ANZ as a significant component of its medical admissions process. For most domestic applicants, the pathway into Otago medicine begins with the Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) — a competitive first-year program where your grades are combined with your UCAT score to rank candidates for selection into the MBChB program.

All four UCAT subtests contribute to your assessment: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and the Situational Judgement Test. The three cognitive subtests produce a total out of 2700, while the SJT is assessed on Bands 1–4. Otago evaluates both the cognitive total and SJT band as part of the composite ranking.

The exact weighting given to the UCAT relative to HSFY grades is published on Otago’s admissions website and can change between cycles. A strong UCAT score can partially compensate for slightly lower HSFY grades, but both components need to be competitive for a realistic chance of selection.

The Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) is a competitive prerequisite for entry into Otago’s medical program. Most domestic applicants complete the HSFY at Otago’s Dunedin campus, studying papers in biomedical sciences, chemistry, and physics. Your HSFY grades are then combined with your UCAT score to produce a composite ranking for medical selection.

The HSFY is not exclusive to medicine — it also serves as the entry pathway for dentistry, pharmacy, and other health professional programs at Otago. This means competition is intense, with a large cohort of students all aiming for a limited number of places across multiple programs.

Alternative pathways exist for graduate-entry applicants and those with prior degrees, though these pathways have their own specific requirements. International applicants and cross-Tasman students should check Otago’s admissions website for how their qualifications are assessed relative to the HSFY pathway.

If Otago is your target, begin UCAT preparation at least six to eight weeks before the test. Focus on developing timed strategies for each subtest — the combination of HSFY academic pressure and UCAT preparation demands careful time management. Many successful Otago applicants sit the UCAT during the summer before or during their HSFY year.

Research the three clinical campuses (Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington) before your application. Understanding the strengths and clinical environments of each campus demonstrates genuine engagement with Otago’s program and can help you in interview settings.

Compare Otago with Auckland — New Zealand’s only other medical school — to determine which pathway and learning environment suit you best. Auckland’s admissions process differs from Otago’s HSFY model, and each school offers distinct clinical training networks and campus cultures.