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undergraduate

Degree

Health Sciences First Year (BSc) (Coursework)

undergraduate

Degree

Health Sciences First Year (BSc) (Coursework)

Quick facts

  • Annual tuition (2022)

    $37,723 NZD

  • Application fee

    Free

  • Duration

    1 years

  • Min GPA

    70 out of 100

Deadlines

Term start& deadline Deadline
Fall-February 31-October-2022 2022-10-31
Fall-February 31-October-2023 2023-10-31
Fall-February 31-October-2024 2024-10-31
Fall-February 31-October-2025 2025-10-31

Overview

Health Sciences First Year (BSc)

Bring science to life

Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) is a foundation year for five of the University of Otago’s health professional programs and is also an excellent way to begin your degree in biological or biomedical sciences.

The Health Sciences First Year course is a general course designed to prepare students seeking entry into any one of the Health Sciences professional degrees:

  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
  • Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty)

Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) is a prescribed 126-point course to be completed in the first year of a student’s university study, starting in the first semester. 

The course also provides an excellent foundation for the Bachelor of Dental Technology, Bachelor of Oral Health, and Bachelor of Radiation Therapy, as well as advanced study in the biological, biomedical, and other sciences.

Students who have completed not more than one year of university study in subjects other than Health Sciences First Year compulsory papers (or equivalent) may be granted a dispensation to undertake the Health Sciences First Year. 

No student will be permitted to take an examination in a subject of the first-year course in which a pass has already been gained.

Admission to second-year classes in Dentistry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy is determined by Admissions Committees and is most commonly gained through a competitive Health Sciences First Year. 

 

A separate application for admission to second-year classes must be submitted no later than 15 September in the year preceding that to which access is sought.

 

Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) Category

All school leavers or others who have not previously attended a university or tertiary institution must seek entry to the health professional degree programs by completing the HSFY course in their first year at Otago. 

The HSFY course can be taken at Otago only.

Estimate your cost

Residency
Count of person

$56,419

Total costs

yearly

Details


Cost of living 1 person $4,140
Accommodation 1 bed room $18,696
Tuition 1 person $37,723

Hourly wage

Min wage

21.20 NZD / 1 hour

in New Zealand every student can work 20 hour per week

Required documents

  • 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)

Language requirements

GRE
not required
GMAT
not required

IELTS

6
5.5
listening
5.5
writing
5.5
speaking
5.5
reading

TOEFL

80
-
listening
20
writing
-
speaking
-
reading

PTE

50
42
listening
42
writing
42
speaking
42
reading

Cambridge

176
169
listening
169
writing
169
speaking
169
reading
Language pathway (conditional offer) is available

TOEFL iBT Home Edition is currently accepted for applications for intakes commencing semester 2 2022 and 2023 intakes.

Pearson Test of English Academic Online is currently accepted for applications for intakes commencing in semester 2 2022 and 2023 intakes.

 

Don’t meet the English language requirements?

The University of Otago Language Centre English for Otago programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements.

 

Entrance requirements if you are not sitting the English for Otago entrance exam

If you are not sitting the English for Otago entrance exam, these are the entrance requirements:

CourseTestEntrance requirement
Undergraduate programmeIELTS5.5 (no band below 5.0)
 IELTS Online5.5 (no band below 5.0)
 TOEFL iBT70 (writing 15)
TOEFL iBT Home Edition is currently accepted for applications for intakes commencing semester 2 2022 and 2023 intakes.
 Pearson Test of English (Academic)PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36.
Pearson Test of English Academic Online is currently accepted for applications for intakes commencing in semester 2 2022 and 2023 intakes.

Study period

  • October 2022 intake: 15 weeks
  • February, July and October 2023 intakes: 12 weeks

Education pathway


Academic background and requirement

Undergraduate entrance requirements

The university recognises many other qualifications as equivalent to the New Zealand qualification for entrance. To check if the university recognises your previous studies, determine the country where you gained the qualification. Examples of countries entrance requirements:

China entrance requirements:

Senior High School graduation and one year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing; or Senior High School graduation and completion of a diploma with high passing grades at a recognised 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 recognised 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)
    • A minimum of CCC across the NCUK IFY,
  • Satisfactory completion of one year's study at a recognised tertiary institution. A recognised institution is generally a college or university that is listed in the World Higher Education Database.

Health Sciences – Recommended Background Subjects to Year 13: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Statistics or Calculus, Language-rich.

 

Health Sciences First Year (HSFY) Category

All school leavers or others who have not previously attended a university or tertiary institution must seek entry to the health professional degree programmes by completing the HSFY course in their first year of study at Otago.

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