On the Pacific Ocean, 1,200 miles east of the Australian coast, lies a beautiful island country called New Zealand. Thanks to their remoteness, the New Zealand islands were the last major islands to be habituated, which happened towards the beginning of the 14th century. After the Europeans came 3 centuries later, the population of New Zealand became very diverse, which remains to be the case to this day. The main language of communication today is English.New Zealand is one of the most highly developed nations, currently having the smallest amount of national debt out of any other nation in the world. Since the 1980s, when the country turned into a liberalized free-trade economy, New Zealand has been experiencing exponential growth in nearly all areas of life, including education, which has attracted a large number of foreign students and immigrants.

In this article, we will be talking about the best medical schools you can apply for in New Zealand.

Can Foreigners Study in Medical Schools in New Zealand?

Yes. Everyone regardless of nationality is free to apply to any medical school in New Zealand they want. According to some reports, New Zealand is one of the best countries for studying medicine, due to the curriculum that heavily relies on research. That being said, international students will have to pay rather high tuition fees, unless they can secure a scholarship.

You can read up on more information about studying medicine as an international student at the University of Otago. Spots at this, and all other New Zealand medical schools are limited, for both foreigners and New Zealanders, which is why you should apply to multiple schools instead of just one. The reason for this is the small number of medical schools despite the high demand.

What is the most prestigious medical school in New Zealand?

Founded in 1875, Otago Medical School is by far the oldest one in New Zealand, and for nearly 100 years was the only medical school in the country. As such, it played a key role in preparing and providing qualified medical staff for the developing nation. Its pivotal role in New Zealandโ€™s education system remains intact to this day, as it is the most prestigious and hard to get into schools to get into, with only 300 spots available each year.

Many of New Zealandโ€™s top surgeons, doctors, psychologists, dentists, and medical researchers were graduates of the school, including Muriel Bell, Brian Christie, Archibald Durward, Sir Peter Buck, and many others.

Best Universities In New Zealand For Medicine

1. University of Auckland โ€“ School of Medicine

Since its foundation in 1968, the University of Auckland School of Medicine has grown to become the largest and highest-ranked medical school in New Zealand, and home to nearly half of the countryโ€™s medical students. The main priority for the school is to provide top-of-the-line undergraduate clinical training programs, in addition to highly developed postgraduate training in a variety of medical fields. The University of Auckland is the best medical school in New Zealand.

All of that being said, admission to the school can be quite challenging, and there are a few requirements that potential candidates need to meet. First, they will need to sit through the mandatory UCAT exam and complete eight first-year courses with a minimum GPA of 6.0. After this, a select group of students will be invited for a series of mini interviews, and depending on their performance in these interviews which will test their medical knowledge, it will be decided whether they can be admitted to the school.

2. University of Otago Medical School

The University of Otago contains three schools of medicine, with the main one in Dunedin, and two others in Christchurch and Wellington. Otago Medical School has been one of the best medical schools for New Zealand for over a century, making it one of the most important institutions in the history of the nation.

Gaining entry to the Health Sciences first-year program is very competitive, and only the best students are able to advance to the 2nd and 3rd year of studies, which take place in Dunedin, where students will undergo various theoretical and practical training which will enhance their clinical, and communication skills. After that, from year 4 to 6, students can choose whether to continue studying in Dunedin or move to Christchurch or Wellington. The final two years are centered around clinical work and talking with people.

3. Massey University โ€“ School of Health Sciences

The School of Health Sciences at Massey University offers a wide range of study programs in many disciplines, with the aim of equipping its students with the knowledge, ability, and creativity to be able to assist and improve the health of their future patients.

At this top medical school in New Zealand, you can choose whether you want to focus on clinical sciences, or some of the other study paths for medical students such as environmental health, population health and policy, mental health, and much more.

4. Auckland University of Technology โ€“ Health Sciences

AUT is ranked top 125 in the world in providing pre-clinical, clinical, and health sciences education. The study programs are based on the best and latest practices in the field and heavily rely on research to provide the students with as much value as possible.

Students will also gain real experience by work placements in their field during the studies, as well as working n the health clinics that are on campus, which provide various services to the community. There is a long list of both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as short and summer courses.

5. Victoria University of Wellington โ€“ Faculty of Health

Established in early 2017, the Faculty of Health is the newest faculty at the Victoria University of Wellington. This top medical school in New Zealand was founded to help the country reach a satisfactory number of qualified health professionals that were educated in New Zealand. The programs at the university mainly focus on nursing and midwifery, in addition to some other more theory-based health-related subjects such as health promotion, health leadership and management, and more.

medical universities in new zealand for international students

In the peace and tranquility of New Zealand lies two universities offering a world class MBBS degree. MBBS in New Zealand medical colleges is a six-year degree offering state-of-the-art technology and premium quality infrastructure to the aspirants. There are two universities in New Zealand offering MBBS degree and both make it to the top medical colleges (2022) QS Rankings. Each university has two medical colleges, however, only the medical college of University of Otago is approved by MCI (Medical Council of India). 

Students are required to have passed class 12 with science subjects including Biology. For international students, the average cost of studying this program from New Zealand universities is around 70,000-80,000 NZD (~3.7-4.2 Lakh INR). One can earn around 150,000-160,000 NZD per year after completing an MBBS degree in New Zealand.

Top Universities for MBBS in New Zealand

The University of Otago and the University of Auckland offer MBBS programs in New Zealand. The rankings, tuition fees and related details of the two colleges offering MBBS in New Zealand are given below:

UniversityQS World Ranking 2022ProgramTuition Fees (NZD)Application Deadlines
University of Auckland85Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)77,328December
University of Otago194x q1`Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)35,216September

Why Study MBBS in New Zealand?

  • The medical council of New Zealand registers over 1500 new doctors each year. 
  • One of the medical colleges in New Zealand is approved by MCI, allowing students with an MBBS degree from University of Auckland to practise in India as well
  • There are nearly 17,000 doctors practising in New Zealand out of which 40% are from outside New Zealand.
  • There is a university regulatory board โ€˜New Zealand Qualifications Authorityโ€™ which ensures that the education imparted in the universities must be of supreme quality. 
  • Both the universities offering MBBS in New Zealand are state-sponsored.
  • The income of doctors in New Zealand is around 150,000 NZD (~79 Lakh INR) which is almost five times the income of doctors in India after MBBS.
  • The country has a high demand for overseas medical practitioners due to the shortage of doctors.

About MBBS in New Zealand Course

  • MBBS in New Zealand is a six-year course dealing with the study of medicine and surgery. 
  • There is a two-year pre-clinical theoretical course and post-completion of that, a three-year clinical practice course is required. 
  • In the sixth year, the subjects are elective as per the desired specialization. 
  • The clinical practice mainly covers departments like general medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, dentistry, general practice and more. 
  • At the end of the fifth year, the college conducts an exit exam to determine the eligibility for sixth year. 
  • The students can also take a four week elective course in any particular subject offered in the fifth year and eight weeks in the sixth year.

It is important for Indian aspirants to understand the course structure for MBBS program in New Zealand which is slight different from MBBS programs in the home country. The registry of the two colleges within the clause of New Zealand Qualification Authority ensure that irrespective of the difference in the course structure high-quality education is imparted to the students. 

Admission Process for MBBS in New Zealand

Students are required to have a minimum of 75% score in 12th standard to apply for MBBS in New Zealand. However, the admission requirements for studying in New Zealand vary as per the medical college. Given below are the sections briefing the details of the same

How to Apply for MBBS in New Zealand

Link for application and application fee for both the universities offering MBBS in New Zealand is tabulated below:

UniversityApply linkApplication Fee in NZD
University of Auckland85
University of OtagoNIL

Eligibility for MBBS in New Zealand Admission

Apart from having competed class 12th in Science subjects with Biology and English with an aggregate of at least 75%. The basic eligibility criteria for the two universities varies. Details of the same are as follows:

MBBS at University of Auckland

For admisions with University of Auckland in MBBS program an international student can apply through two enteries: First year entry from BHSc/BSc or through Graduate Entry. 

First Year Entry: As a first year applicant you are required to complete eight required courses in the first year of BSc or Bachelor of health science at University of Auckland. It is important that the FT-courses are completed in first attempt and in the year of application for MB ChB program. 

  • A GPA of 6.0 on a scale of 8.0 will be required in all eight courses to be eligible for an interview. 
  • UMAT score should also be submitted. 

The admission decisions will be made on the basis of GPA (60% weightage), UMAT score (15% weightage), and multi-mini interviews (25% weightage). 

Graduate Entry: For graduate entry to MB ChB program at the university, international students are required to have a previous relevant degree. The degree can be in any pre-medical course. Shortlisted applicants based on their performance will be shortlisted for a skype/phone interview. 

Admissions will be offered based solely on the academic excellence and interview performace. 

MBBS at University of Otago

Similar to University of Auckland, getting admisions at University of Otago will require an international medicine aspirant to take entry through one of the following routes:

Health Sciences First Year: You are required to be enrolled with the health sciences program of the university. You are required to pass all the suggested papers with 70% marks and fulfill the entry requirements of the medical admissions committee to successfully make it to the MB ChB program. It is important to keep in mind the courses are passed in first attempt while pursuing the program full-time. 

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Gradaute Entry: You are required to have a previous bachelors degree/bachelor in Hons degree from any university in New Zealand. The degree must be completed in minium time and you must have a GPA fulfilling the medical admissions committeeโ€™s standards. 

Admissions are solely dependent on the academic merit of the individual. In cases where interviews are held, your admission decision may be affected by your performance in the interview.  

Proof of English Proficiency for International Students

International students are required to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Minimum score requirement for pursuing MBBS in New Zealand is:

  • IELTS: 6.0
  • TOEFL (iBT): 80

The general requirement for getting admissions in MBBS programs in New Zealand will require you to either have a previous bachelors degree or complete an year of education at the respective university you wish to apply for with a specific GPA. Non-native English speaking students will be required to submit proof of language proficiency along with other documents. You will also be required to sit for UMAT exam (now UCAT) which is a medicine entry test. 

Cost of Studying MBBS in New Zealand

The average cost of living for the students in New Zealand is about 14,000-16000 NZD per year. It includes accommodation charges, food, traveling and other essentials. In most of the colleges, there is a hall of residence (hostel) that is on a twin sharing basis. This is the cheapest option for international students as it is provided by the college. 

There are other options available i.e. furnished flats which are a part of private hostels provided by the college. Homestay is another option for the students who donโ€™t want to be accommodated in college hostels. 

One can opt to stay with a New Zealand family in their home as a paying guest. Public transport is very cheap in New Zealand. The usual ticket rates for the metro range between 1.25-2.00 NZD.

Pre Arrival Cost

These expenses are required to be paid before getting enrolled in the university. An average cost is tabulated below: 

Type of expenseCost (in NZD)
New Zealand student visa330
IELTS fee420
TOEFL fee410
Airfare450-700

Tuition Fees for MBBS in New Zealand

The tuition fees for the two colleges, University of Auckland and University of Otago are 77,000 and 35,000 NZD, respectively. For an Indian student this will round-off to a sum of 40 Lakhs INR and 18 Lakhs NZD . The cost of pursuing MBBS in India is around 4-15 Lakhs a year. Pursuing MBBS at the University of Otago will not only cost you somewhere similar to what it costs to pursue MBBS in India but will also give you additional cultural exposure to studying abroad.

Cost of living in New Zealand

The cost of living in New Zealand is neither expensive nor cheap. The main part of the budget is seized by house rent and food. After getting a scholarship, one can be least bothered about the monthly budget because the maximum part is covered by the scholarship amount. Also, the government of New Zealand provides a lot of schemes for education loan. 

There is a reasonable restriction for education loans that one must obtain residency status before applying for a loan. The loan amount can be easily paid after completing the degree. The type of expenses are tabled below:

Type of expenseMonthly Cost (in NZD)
Hostel1000-1500
Homestay1500-2000
Food480-550
Traveling100

Scholarship for MBBS in New Zealand

There are some scholarships for international students in New Zealand provided by the universities. The scholarship amount also includes traveling and accommodation costs. The eligibility criteria and amount for them is tabled below:

Scholarship EligibilityStipend Per Annum (IN NZD)
New Zealand Excellence AwardMust be an Indian citizen; Minimum GPA should be B+ in the highest qualification18,000
University of Auckland International Student Excellence ScholarshipMust be new, full fee-paying international student; Must be enrolled as โ€˜on campusโ€™. 10,000
Generation Study Abroad Excellence and Travel Awards(only for US student)Must be a US citizen; Minimum GPA-3.03,458 – travel award; 865 – excellence award
TWJ Johnson Scholarship in Clinical MedicineSuccessfully completed part 3 of the MBChB degree at the University of Auckland; Required GPA – 7.0 6000
University of Auckland MBChB Graduate Entry-International student scholarshipPursuing MBChB; Admission through international graduate entry categoryUp to 70,000

Job Opportunities after MBBS in New Zealand

After MBBS, you can pursue surgery with an effective restriction of performing solo surgery. As the experience is less, the student is allowed to pursue group surgeries. There is a shortage of doctors in the country so the demand is very high. 

After completing the degree, the average annual income of a doctor is around 100,000-250,000 NZD. State-of-the-art technology in New Zealand provides a great opportunity for medical students to earn handsome money after completing the degree. 

The qualified candidates hired by the District Health Board get an annual salary of around 150,000-200,000 NZD. Physicians working in the private sector can earn around 20,000 more as private hospitals pay good amounts of salary in this country. Some common jobs in New Zealand after MBBS are discussed below:

Job RolesJob DescriptionAverage Annual Salary (NZD)
Medical Practitioner and SurgeonDealing with group surgeries and medicine155,000
General physicianDealing with multiple diseases, without involving surgery140,000
PsychiatristDealing with mental health and psychological disorders160,000
OphthalmologistDeals with eye disease and surgery140,000

MBBS in New Zealand is a 6-year course after which one can start practicing in the country with a good income. About 30,000 international students are pursuing MBBS and similar undergraduate courses from the universities of New Zealand. 

The MBBS degree from New Zealand has been recognized globally and the degree has a very high value. After pursuing MBBS from New Zealand universities it becomes easier to go for a master’s in the country as the universities prefer the candidates who have graduated from New Zealand.


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