If you're doing a degree and aiming for graduate entry to Otago Medicine or Dentistry, the papers you pick for 2027 aren't only about interest or prerequisites. Under Otago's weighted GPA, each paper you take adds to or drags down the number you'll be ranked on, and some count far more than others.
Results come out in December and enrolment for next year follows soon after, so now is a good time to think it through. Here's how we'd approach it.
The rule that drives every choice
Otago's graduate category ranks you on a weighted GPA. In short:
- Your best 300 level papers are picked first, up to 120 points, at a weight of 1.5.
- Your best 100 and 200 level papers are pooled and picked by grade, up to 240 points, at 0.5 for 100 level and 1.0 for 200 level.
- The ceiling is 9.00, the same as an A+.
We go through the maths with a full worked example in how Otago's weighted GPA works for graduate entry. For choosing papers, the main point is simple: a grade at 300 level moves your GPA three times as much as the same grade at 100 level.
Choose papers you'll score highly in
This sounds obvious, but a lot of people do the opposite. They pick the papers that sound most like medicine, like advanced physiology or pharmacology, because they think it looks good. Otago's graduate category ranks on the weighted GPA, so a paper you do well in counts for more than one that sounds impressive.
Here's what that difference is worth. Say you're choosing a 20 point 300 level paper. In one, you expect an A (8 grade points). In the other, which sounds more medical, you'd realistically expect a B+ (6). At 300 level that paper carries 20 x 1.5 = 30 weight. Two grade points times 30 is 60. In the worked example from our weighted GPA post, where the total weight is 370, that's about 0.16 off your weighted GPA. That's a big gap when offers can be separated by tenths.
The best paper is one where you like the content, know how it's assessed, and have a realistic shot at an A-range grade. If a medical-sounding paper also fits that, great.
What to think about at each year
If you're going into second year (200 level)
Your 200 level papers count at 1.0, and they compete with your 100 level papers for the 240 point pool. A strong 200 level year can push weaker first-year grades out of the pool completely.
- Pick 200 level papers that lead to 300 level papers you'd want to take. If a 300 level paper you'd do well in needs a particular 200 level prerequisite, plan for it now.
- Look at how each paper is assessed. If you consistently do better in coursework than exams, or the other way round, use that.
- Don't overload. One extra paper you do badly in can cost more than it gains.
If you're going into third year (300 level)
This is the year that matters most. Your best 120 points at 300 level carry nearly half the total weight.
- Check how many 300 level points your degree requires, and plan for your best 120 to be in papers you're strong in.
- As the rules are written, 300 level papers beyond your best 120 points don't go into the 100 and 200 level pool, so taking extra 300 level papers won't lift your GPA unless they beat one of your top 120.
- If you're applying in 2027, remember that Pre-Christmas Summer School papers taken in the year you apply aren't counted from 2027 entry.
If you've just finished HSFY and missed out
Pick a degree you can do well in for three years, not one you chose in a rush. Look up the 300 level papers each option leads to, because those are the ones that will count most. Your HSFY papers are 100 level, so they carry the lowest weight in the graduate calculation. Our post on getting into medicine in New Zealand sets out how the graduate route compares with the other ways in.
Do you need particular subjects?
Otago's graduate category ranks on the weighted GPA from your degree, after the UCAT ANZ screen for Medicine. Check the current admission guidelines for any eligibility conditions that apply to your degree, and ask AskOtago if you're not sure. Don't assume a science major is required or that it helps by itself.
Science papers can still be useful once you're in, and some people find that the content helps with the UCAT or with the first years of Medicine. That's a reason to include a few if you'll do well in them. It isn't a reason to take papers you'll struggle in.
Keeping Auckland open too
The University of Auckland also takes graduates. From 2028 entry it selects on the MMI and Casper, half each, with a GPA of 6.0 (B+) as the minimum, according to its May 2026 announcement. If you're aiming at both, your paper choices are mostly about Otago's weighted GPA, as long as you stay well clear of Auckland's minimum. The interview and Casper need separate preparation.
Waikato's new medical school is graduate entry too, with its own process. We cover what's confirmed so far in Waikato Medical School.
A quick checklist before you enrol
- Write down every paper you've done so far, with its level, points and grade.
- Work out which ones would make your current 240 point pool.
- List the 300 level papers your degree leads to, and mark which ones you'd realistically get an A-range grade in.
- Check the prerequisites for those, and make sure next year's choices lead there.
- Run your expected grades through Otago's official weighted GPA calculator.
FAQ
Is it better to take easier papers for graduate entry?
It's better to take papers you'll score highly in. That isn't always the same as "easy". An interesting paper where you'll work hard often gets a better grade than an easy one you lose interest in.
Does the subject of my degree matter for Otago?
Otago ranks graduates on the weighted GPA. Check the current guidelines for any conditions that apply to your degree. What usually matters most is the grades, especially at 300 level.
Can I take extra papers to raise my GPA?
At 100 and 200 level, a strong extra paper can replace a weaker one in the 240 point pool. At 300 level, only your best 120 points count. Don't overload, because a bad grade won't help either.
Want a plan for which papers would lift your weighted GPA most? Get your free roadmap.
Cutline is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Otago or the University of Auckland. Rules are from Otago's admission guidelines and weighted GPA calculator, checked 23 September 2026. Check the official guidelines for the year you're applying, and talk to AskOtago about your own degree.
