Health Sciences First Year
Overview
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 1 October in the year preceding that to which admission is sought.
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)
It is a prescribed 126 point course to be completed in the first year of a student's university study. The course also provides an excellent foundation for 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.
Papers
| Papers | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 192 | Foundations of Biochemistry | 18 |
| CELS 191 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 18 |
| CHEM 191 | The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health | 18 |
| HUBS 191 | Human Body Systems 1 | 18 |
| HUBS 192 | Human Body Systems 2 | 18 |
| HEAL 192 | Foundations of Epidemiology | 18 |
| PHSI 191 | Biological Physics | 18 |
Students may take an additional optional paper selected from an approved list (available on the Health Sciences website). The results in the best seven papers will be counted for the purposes of admission to the professional programmes, provided that the compulsory seven papers are passed at or above the required minimum standard.
All Health Sciences First Year students will sit a compulsory English diagnostic test, to be held in late February at the St David Lecture Theatre. Students who fail the test will be required take ENGL 126.
If you have not studied Chemistry or Physics at NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent) you may find CHEM 191 and PHSI 191 quite challenging.
Admission to the Health Sciences professional courses is governed by the regulations contained in the University Calendar (and on the pages listed above). You should read these regulations to ensure you are familiar with the admission requirements. Please be aware that the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) must be taken as part of the selection process for Dentistry, Medical Laboratory Science, Medicine and Physiotherapy.
Further Information
Health Sciences Admissions
Fourth Floor
Physiotherapy Building
PO Box 647
Dunedin
All enquiries
Tel 64 3 479 7428
Fax 64 3 479 5058
health-sciences@otago.ac.nz
