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EQ support

2019 EQ students catching up over kai
Our 2019 students at the EQ Project office.

At the start of the year we'll invite you to an information session to meet the team. You'll learn more about the EQ Project support and free services available to make the most of your Health Sciences study.

While most EQ students will be enrolled for Health Sciences First Year (HSFY), the EQ Project also supports those eligible who are already studying meet their aspirations for a career in health.

Depending on your personal goals and programme/professional interests we will guide you with course advice, degree planning and admissions information. All EQ students are also included and involved in academic and social activities and events throughout the course of their study, contributing to the wider EQwhānau here in Health Sciences at Otago.

The programme includes:

  1. HSFY Study skills peer mentoring (KAHA)
    • Get tips on navigating HSFY from EQ students who know what it's like
    • Develop study strategies to enhance your learning
    • Feel connected and motivated through the demanding HSFY course
  2. Full group support
    • Get tips on transition to university study and maintaining a positive mindset
    • Benefit from extra HSFY subject supplementary learning sessions and module wrap-up workshops
    • Be introduced to health professional programmes and study areas that can lead to careers in health
    • Get to know other EQ students with team-building activities, social events, and kai
  3. Individual support from the Socioeconomic Equity (EQ) Project team
    • Admissions advice about the Socioeconomic Equity sub-category
    • Help with course advising, degree planning and admissions processes for Health Sciences professional programmes
    • We'll look out for your wellbeing / hauora

More about KAHA

KAHA is a peer-led study skills programme specific to HSFY. It's designed and led by EQ students who have already gained entry into a health professional programme.

At KAHA, you'll learn how to:

  • Navigate HSFY effectively
  • Manage workload, have balance, become part of a learning community
  • Take notes, summarise, and revise lectures
  • Use important apps to make student life easier
  • Know what the essential support services on campus are

Jargon

We use a bit of jargon here, so we've provided some definitions to help:

Decile and the Equity Index
From 2023, the decile funding system will be replaced by the Equity Index (EQI).

Deciles were a relative socioeconomic measure of schools' student communities. Eg: Decile 1 was the 10% of schools with the highest proportion of students from low socioeconomic communities,
The EQI uses more detailed data to estimate the extent a school's students face socioeconomic barriers to achievement. Each school has an individual EQI value on a scale between 344-569 (where the higher value represents greater need).
Division of Health Sciences
The University of Otago is split into four academic divisions. The Division of Health Sciences includes:
Domestic student
Students are classified as domestic if they are New Zealand citizens (including citizens of the Cook Islands, Tokelau, and Niue), or holders of New Zealand residence class visas granted under the Immigration Act 2009 residing and studying in New Zealand, or Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia resident and studying in New Zealand. All other students are classified as international students.
Equity Index (EQI)
From 2023, the Equity Index (EQI) will replace the decile system of school equity funding. The EQI estimates the extent to which a school's students face socioeconomic barriers to achievement.
Equity Index – Ministry of Education website
Health Sciences First Year (HSFY)
HSFY is the first year of the University of Otago's health professional programmes. HSFY must be taken in your first year of university study, and takes place on our Dunedin campus. After successfully completing HSFY, you can apply for admission to the health professional programmes.
Otago Medical School
Otago Medical School is made up of:

The Otago medical degree takes six years. All medical students spend their first three years in Dunedin (including Health Sciences First Year). Then, the class is split evenly between Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington for three years of clinical training.
Socioeconomic equity
A person's socioeconomic status is typically based on household income, education, and occupation. Equity refers to justice and fairness in society. Socioeconomic equity is about achieving fairness for people with different socioeconomic backgrounds.

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