Anyone interested in studying medicine or taking a medical course in New Zealand has many options for university courses and a couple of good medical schools to attend.
With so many things to consider, here's our quick guide to medical schools and courses in New Zealand.
The Top Medical Schools in New Zealand
There are eight universities in New Zealand, but not all offer medical courses or have a medical school.
While some of these institutions may offer medical courses, most rankings for medical education in New Zealand only include the University of Otago, the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, and the University of Canterbury.
Auckland University of Technology, Lincoln University, and the University of Waikato are not included in the rankings.
Here is the average ranking of each university for medicine in reverse order.
University of Canterbury
Every source we looked at ranked the University of Canterbury fifth in its medicine rankings. Generally, the University of Canterbury is ranked 6th in the country behind Waikato, but it ranks fifth in medicine since the University of Waikato doesn't rank in medicine.
After the University of Otago, the University of Canterbury in Christchurch is New Zealand's second-oldest university. It was started as Canterbury College in 1874 and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand.
Technically, New Zealand only has two medical schools, but the University of Canterbury offers undergraduate health science programmes and the Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (BSLT).
Massey University
Massey University typically ranks third in New Zealand, but its average ranking from the sources we found for medicine and medical courses places it fourth, just behind Victoria University of Wellington.
The university was initially part of the University of New Zealand until it became a separate university. It was briefly part of the Victoria University of Wellington before becoming a fully independent university in the 1960s.
Massey University offers Bachelor's programs in Health Science, Nursing, and Social Work. The Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) allows for majors in paramedicine, rehabilitation, and environmental health.
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was founded in 1897 as Victoria University College. Ranked fourth globally, it just beats Massey University in the rankings for medicine and medical studies, though the two were always either third or fourth, depending on who you ask. On average, it ranks third in New Zealand for medical courses and medicine.
It offers medical courses through the Faculty of Health, including the Bachelor of Health (Bhlth), the Bachelor of Midwifery (Bmid), Bachelor of Global Studies (BGS), Graduate Certificate in Health (GcertHlth), and Graduate Diploma in Health (GDipHlth).
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin, Otago, is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in Oceania. The Otago Medical School is the country's oldest.
It and the University of Auckland are home to one of the country's two medical schools, which is why it and Auckland rank above all the others for medical courses.
The University of Otago offers many different medical courses. We'll go through a few of them later in this article.
University of Auckland
Last but not least, we have the University of Auckland. Not to be confused with Auckland University of Technology, this is the top-ranked university in New Zealand in general and for medicine.
Every source we could find agrees that the University of Auckland and its medical school are the best for students interested in studying medicine or related subjects.
The School of Medicine at the University of Auckland offers a range of subjects and specialisations in medicine. Be sure to have a look through their course catalogue and website.
Here's a summary of each medical school's ranking according to various online sources and the average ranking.
| Rank | EduRank | Crimson Education | CollegeDunia | MedEntry | Medify | Average Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Auckland | University of Auckland | University of Auckland | University of Auckland | University of Auckland | University of Auckland |
| 2 | University of Otago | University of Otago | University of Otago | University of Otago | University of Otago | University of Otago |
| 3 | Massey University | Victoria University of Wellington | Massey University | Victoria University of Wellington | Victoria University of Wellington | Victoria University of Wellington |
| 4 | Victoria University of Wellington | Massey University | Victoria University of Wellington | Massey University | Massey University | Massey University |
| 5 | University of Canterbury | University of Canterbury | University of Canterbury | University of Canterbury | University of Canterbury | University of Canterbury |
The Different Medical Courses Available in New Zealand
Now that you know that the medical courses in New Zealand will likely be at one of these five institutions, here are some of the most popular medical courses and a little bit about what they include.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Otago is the course that leads to qualification as a doctor.
The course typically lasts six years full-time and includes clinical placements in hospitals and medical centres as part of the course.
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc)
The University of Auckland offers the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc). Majors include population health, biomedical science, and medical science.
For those who choose the paramedicine major, the course is typically three years of full-time study and includes practical training in emergency response and ambulance services.
The University of Otago also offers the BHSc program with majors available in public health, pharmacology, and medical laboratory science.
Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs)
The Bachelor of Nursing (Bnurs) program is offered by the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), the University of Auckland, and Massey University.
The AUT BNurs program offers majors and specialisations in acute care and long-term conditions.
The University of Auckland program focuses on nursing practice, health promotion, and clinical placements.
A Bachelor of Nursing typically lasts three years of full-time study, including clinical placements in hospitals and community health settings.
Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
The Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) is a 4-year full-time program focusing on pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice.
Both the University of Otago and the University of Auckland offer this qualification. Both courses typically focus on pharmaceutical sciences.
Bachelor of Medical Imaging (BMedImag)
The Bachelor of Medical Imaging (BmedImag) is a 3-year program that covers diagnostic radiography and medical imaging technology.
The University of Auckland offers these courses, which include options in diagnostic radiography and radiation therapy.
The University of Otago offers a BMedImag degree with a specialisation in diagnostic radiography.
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
This is a 3-year degree course for those interested in laboratory diagnostics and biomedical science.
This course is offered at the University of Otago and the Ara Institute of Canterbury. The latter provides the BMLSc degree, which focuses on laboratory techniques and clinical pathology.
Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)
The Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) is available at the University of Otago, focusing on dental hygiene and therapy.
This course is typically 3 years of full-time study and comes with practical training in dental clinics.
Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom)
The University of Auckland offers the Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom), a degree in optometry and vision science.
The BOptom usually is 4 years of full-time study with clinical placements and practical training in optometry clinics.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhysio)
The University of Otago offers the Bachelor of Physiotherapy, a four-year course focused on physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Like many of the University of Otago's courses, this course includes clinical placements.
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BBiomedSc)
The University of Auckland offers the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BBiomedSc) degree, focusing on biomedical research and laboratory techniques.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Massey University offers the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), which is a 4-year course.
The focus of this course is social work in healthcare and community settings.
Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (BSLT)
The University of Canterbury offers the four-year Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (BSLT) course, which focuses on speech-language pathology.
This course is usually 4 years of study and also includes clinical placements.
Get Help with Medical Studies from a Private Tutor
Medical courses are rarely easy, so it's normal for students to require help with their studies.
No matter your specialisation, search for it on the Superprof website and browse potential tutors' profiles.
There are three main types of tutoring available: face-to-face tutoring, online tutoring, and group tutoring.
Face-to-face tutoring is usually one-on-one with just the tutor and the student, allowing the tutors to tailor every session to the student.
If you can't find any suitable tutors in your local area, online tutors often offer an affordable alternative. Since they don't have to travel to their students, they usually charge less than their face-to-face counterparts.
For those on a budget, group tutoring is a way to share the cost of the tutor's time and expertise with your fellow classmates.
With many tutors offering the first session for free, you can always try a few before choosing the one that's right for you and your learning style!
Just search for "Medicine" on the Superprof website today!
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