How to Study Medicine in New Zealand for International Students

New Zealand is a popular study abroad destination with two two main medical schools: the University of Auckland and the University of Otago. These two schools are renowned for their medical courses, and known for their fantastic research facilities and numerous opportunities available to students.

A typical New Zealand medical degree is gotten in six years, and as you can imagine is really challenging, however, the good thing is that once you get to the end of it, you’ll achieve a successful and highly rewarding career in a coveted and esteemed medical field.

Medical Degree Programs in New Zealand consist of the following:

School of Medical Sciences;
School of Medicine;
School of dentist;
School of Nursing;
School of Pharmacy;
School of Population Health;
School of physiotherapist;
School of medical laboratory scientist;

Related Post:2019 List of Low Tuition Medical Universities in South Korea

Study medicine in New Zealand for 6 years

Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) is the defined pathway to a career in healthcare or medical and biomedical research in New Zealand. These careers allow you the opportunity to work in private practice, community clinics, hospitals, academia, research institutions, industry and even emergency services.

The HSFY is purely for general scientific education; involving chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, population health plus behavioural programs that lead to the development of:

proper sense of the interconnectedness between varied fields and knowledge across health sciences.
a solid understanding of broader principles and concepts that tie all of the biomedical and life sciences together.
a strengthened understanding, commitment, excitement, and enthusiasm for science and underlying scientific method.
an awareness and understanding of why this field of study/knowledge is relevant to the study of ill-health.

During the HSFY program, students are able to apply for admission into any of the five professional programmes in order to qualify to become a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, physiotherapist or medical laboratory scientist.

2 years of 6-year medical program is basically spent learning and understanding rudimentary biomedical sciences and the normal and abnormal function of all the body parts plus systems. Also included are personal development, social influences on health and illness and the role a doctor plays.Please note that teaching is lecture based, with small group tutorials (which are often case-based) and laboratory classes.

3 years clinical studies: During this period, students are taught a wide of range of areas of general clinical medicine. This continues into the fifth year, with a bigger emphasis placed on specialized areas of medicine and surgery. Exit exams will take place around end of year 5, and should be passed before students are allowed into the sixth and final year of medical school.

The Final year of clinical medicine involves students going on to become TRAINEE INTERNS, where they start working as interns in hospitals, but now at a respectable level of involvement and responsibility for inpatient care.

Tuition fees for undergraduate programs in New Zealand:

Tuition is approximately 40,000€/year

List of Medical Universities

New Zealand has only two universities with medical faculties, but a total of four medical schools.

University of Auckland teaches medicine in Auckland and Waikato Clinical Schools,

Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago (based in Dunedin): teaches medicine in three medical schools:

Dunedin School of Medicine;
University of Otago Wellington School of Medicine;
University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine;

We would highly recommend medical studies in New Zealand as the Universities of medicine in New Zealand are globally recognized and appreciated for their medical courses, and known for their impeccable research facilities and the immersive opportunities they present to local and international students.