The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) degree is commonly referred to as the 'medical degree'. School leavers enrol at Otago for the common Health Sciences First Year course and then apply for admission to second year medicine.

Graduates may also apply for admission at second year. If successful, students will complete a further five years, then after graduation work for another year under probation in order to gain general registration.

There is a wide range of specialisation available in the public and private sectors, involving research, academic medicine, public health, clinical medicine and other areas. Specialties include Cardiology, Oncology, Paediatrics, Psychological Medicine, Surgery, Pathology, Public Health, General Practice and many others. Most doctors complete postgraduate training in their chosen specialty.

Medicine is a respected, rewarding, and truly international career.

GPA of 8.0 or better in the upper secondary education graduation diploma (on completion of year 12) at a school for the gifted students.

Have passed the equivalent of the papers prescribed for the Health Sciences First Year course, and have achieved a minimum academic standard to be determined by the Dental Admissions Committee in any papers undertaken at university level (usually a minimum of a B (GPA of 5) (Otago equivalent))