Connecting with whānau aspirations for hauora.

Learn how to weave together te ao Māori and health practice to make a difference for hauora across the life course.

Kia matomato te tipu o te pā harakeke.

Learn from inspirational hauora Māori teachers, and how to connect with and work alongside Māori individuals, whānau, and communities.

Understanding Māori health for the benefit of New Zealand's communities

Māori Health focuses on making a difference for Māori health outcomes. 

You will learn about providing culturally responsive health practice when working with Māori individuals, whānau, communities, organizations and populations.

The University of Otago's immersive learning environment empowers its students to impact health care for Māori by:

• Developing tools to work with Māori individuals, whānau, and communities
• Applying te ao Māori values within the New Zealand health system
• Becoming an agent of change for hauora Māori

Specifically, you will learn:

• Historical, social, and cultural contexts to Māori health and strategies for understanding and addressing health inequities and key health issues, including Māori health research
• How to apply and integrate indigenous knowledge and practices in your chosen health and social services-related career
• Life course stages and health promotion, and how to grow your health knowledge base
• How to work within Māori communities in a way that reflects te ao Māori and integrates your learning into positive or strengths-based health practice

Note: The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) is different from Health Sciences First Year (HSFY). 

BHealSc does not lead to entry into the professional Health Sciences programs.

If you are intending to apply for one of the Health Sciences professional programs based on your performance in your first year of study, you need to enroll in the Health Sciences First Year course.

• Academic Transcripts
• Educational Credential Evaluators report (ECE) (If required)
• Proof of your identity (Full name, date of birth, and nationality)
• Certified/notarised copy (passport or birth certificate)
• English Language Proficiency (If Available)

Undergraduate entrance requirements

The university recognizes many other qualifications as equivalent to the New Zealand qualification for entrance. 

To check if the university recognizes your previous studies, determine the country where you gained the qualification. Countries entrance requirements example:

China entrance requirements:

Senior High School graduation and one year of successful study at a recognized institution of university standing; 
Or Senior High School graduation and completion of a diploma with high passing grades at a recognized institute or university.

Students with the requisite scores in Gaokao may be given direct entry to bachelor degree programme.

India entrance requirements:

Minimum overall average of 75% in the All India Senior School Examination (CBSE) or Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) with a minimum of 70% in English.

The scores are calculated on the best four academic subjects excluding local languages and non-academic subjects.

Iran entrance requirements:

One year of successful study at a recognized institution of university standing, or successful completion of a University of Otago Foundation Year programme or equivalent.

The university also accepts the following international qualifications:

• International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 24 points.
• Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) GCE Advanced Levels: minimum Numerical Score of 8.
• Northern Consortium United Kingdom (NCUK) International Foundation Year (IFY)
• Satisfactory completion of one year's study at a recognized tertiary institution.

Health Sciences – Recommended Background Subjects to Year 13: Biology, Statistics, Language-rich, Sciences, Chem, Health.

Pathway programme

Study in your chosen subject area and gain a university entrance qualification

The University of Otago Pathway programme offers a university entrance qualification within two 13-week semesters, called the Foundation Studies Certificate (FSC) for domestic and international students.