University of Otago: UCAT and entry requirements
| Uses UCAT ANZ | Domestic HSFY and Graduate applicants need UCAT from the application year in all four domains. AskOtago says all domestic and international medicine applicants must sit UCAT from 2028. [1][2] |
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| How UCAT is used | For 2027 entry, general applicants need VR at or above the 20th percentile and SJT at or above the 10th percentile. UCAT has no further weight after these thresholds. Thresholds for other domains may be applied later. [1] |
| Interview | No interview for HSFY or Graduate entry, including their equity groups. Alternative category applicants are selected for a Zoom interview using academic achievements, statement of interest and CV, about eight weeks after applications close. [1] |
| Other selection requirements | HSFY requires all seven first-year papers at Otago in the application year, not previously completed together in one year. Average at least 65% across the best seven papers, including an optional eighth paper, plus a pass in the HSFY English Diagnostic or ENGL 128. Only one HSFY application is allowed. Academic score is the final deciding factor after admission requirements are met. [1] |
| Pathways | HSFY, Graduate and Alternative categories. Alternative applicants do not need UCAT under the current category rules. Equity groups: Māori, Resident Indigenous Pacific (NZRIPO), Refugee Background, Socioeconomic Equity and New Zealand Rural Origins. Rural origins requires four years in GCH Rural 1 to 3. [1] |
| Place allocation | Alternative category: up to 10% of places. Of the remainder, as near as possible to 70% go to HSFY, with the balance to Graduate entry. Selection order: Māori, Resident Indigenous Pacific, Refugee Background, Socioeconomic Equity, Rural government-funded places, then general applicants. [1] |
| Equity group requirements | Membership is confirmed with documents such as ancestry verification, supporting statements and NZRIPO community endorsement. The Divisional Academic Board or its delegate considers applicants against the attributes for their group; no equity-group interview is listed. [1] |
| 2027 entry dates | HSFY and Graduate applications: 1 July to 13 August 2026. HSFY outcome by 18 December. Alternative applications: 1 April to 1 May, with outcomes by 31 August. [1] |
| Dentistry interview | Approximately 350 applicants across all categories are invited to a Zoom interview in late September or early October. Once the interview threshold is met, interview performance has no further selection weight. UCAT is not listed on the dentistry admissions page. [3] |
What this means for your UCAT prep
For 2027 entry, prepare to clear the VR and SJT thresholds because UCAT has no further weight after that. Protect your study time because HSFY selection is decided by academic score, without an interview.
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