At Otago, there’s more than one way to begin a rewarding career in health. While Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) is the required entry pathway for competitive programmes like Medicine, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Medical Laboratory Science, it’s not the only route into the health professions.
If you’re a school leaver with University Entrance (UE) and have completed/or in the process of completing NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent), you can apply directly for the following health-focused programmes – no HSFY required:
Health Sciences Professional Programmes (no HSFY required):
In addition to these professional degrees, Otago also offers a range of three-year Health and Biomedical Science programmes. These are ideal if you’re passionate about the science behind health, or want to contribute to public health, research, or community wellbeing:
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Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
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Bachelor of Health Science
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Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
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Bachelor of Science (with relevant health-required majors)
Applications for 2026 entry into the Bachelor of Dental Technology, Bachelor of Oral Health, and Bachelor of Radiation Therapy open 1 July 2025 and close 14 August 2025. Check specific entry requirements here: otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/students/professional
If you have any questions about applying to study at Otago in 2026, contact your Schools’ Liaison officer: otago.ac.nz/connect
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