Changes to University of Auckland Medicine Entry (for 2028)
6 hours ago by Chris
The University of Auckland (UoA) has announced significant changes to how students will be selected into the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). For students applying in 2027 for 2028 entry, the admissions process will look quite different to what it is today. Here is what you need to know.
What is changing?
From 2027, a new Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BBiomedSc) will be introduced.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) first year programme will be refreshed to offer two new majors that are eligible as first year programmes for admission into the MBChB:
- Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) – Community Health major
- Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) – Health Systems and Data Analytics major
The following additions to the Bachelor of Science will also serve as qualifying first-year pathways into the MBChB and other clinical programmes, alongside the expanded Bachelor of Health Sciences and new Bachelor of Biomedical Science degrees:
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Cell and Molecular Bioscience major
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Exercise Sciences major
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Medicinal Chemistry major
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Nutrition major
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Pharmacology major
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – Physiology major
The biggest change to admissions for 2028 entry is the removal of the UCAT from medicine selection at the University of Auckland. From 2027 applications onwards, the UCAT will no longer be required for Auckland medicine. Instead, final selection will be based on a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and a test called Casper.
A GPA of 6.0 (B+) and grades of at least B or higher on all first year core papers will be required to meet the minimum entry threshold and receive an interview offer. Beyond that, final selection will be based entirely on MMI performance (50%) and Casper (50%), replacing the current model which weighted cumulative GPA at 60%, UCAT at 15%, and MMI at 25%.
The table below summarises the key changes to the first year MBChB entry requirements:
|
Current (2027 Entry) |
New (2028 Entry) |
|
|
Eligible programmes |
BHSc or BSc (Biomedical Science) |
BHSc (Community Health or Health Systems & Data Analytics); or BBiomedSc; or BSc (six health-related majors) |
|
Academic threshold |
GPA of 6.0 across seven core courses, no fails |
GPA of 6.0 across four core courses, and no grade lower than B in any of the eight first year courses |
|
Admissions test |
UCAT required |
Casper required |
|
Final selection |
GPA 60%, UCAT 15%, MMI 25% |
MMI 50%, Casper 50% |
Does this mean I don’t need to sit UCAT?
Not necessarily. If you are applying for medicine in 2026 for 2027 entry, you will still need to sit the UCAT to gain entry into Auckland university medicine.
While UCAT is no longer required for University of Auckland medicine from 2028 entry, it remains a requirement for the University of Otago medicine and for the majority of Australian medical schools that accept New Zealand applicants.
For New Zealand students, applying to Australia is a popular and attractive option, as there are significantly more medical schools to apply to, which increases your overall chances of gaining entry into medicine. New Zealand students can also sit UCAT in Year 13, meaning you can apply to Australian medical schools directly from school without needing to complete a year of university first.
Given this, many New Zealand students will still benefit from sitting UCAT, particularly if they are keeping Otago or Australian schools as part of their application strategy.
Why is the University of Auckland making this change?
The MBChB admissions changes sit within a larger overhaul of health education at the University of Auckland. The University of Auckland has stated that once the academic bar is met, ranking applicants by small GPA differences has limited value in terms of selection, and that MMI performance is a stronger predictor of clinical competence. The university's position is that combining the MMI with Casper better identifies well-rounded candidates beyond what aptitude testing alone can measure.
UoA also believes that the current model disproportionately advantages students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, and the new selection tools are intended to support a more diverse intake into medicine that better reflects the makeup of New Zealand society.
What is the Auckland MMI?
The Multiple Mini Interview is already used at the University of Auckland as part of the current admissions process. It assesses non-academic qualities relevant to healthcare, including communication skills, empathy, resilience, ethical reasoning, and commitment to equitable care.
From 2026, University of Auckland's MMIs for medicine will be delivered in an asynchronous online format using the Kira Talent platform. This means applicants record timed responses to pre-recorded questions rather than attending a live interview.
There are eight stations in total — seven are assessed, and each gives you 30 seconds to read the question and three minutes to respond. The 8th station serves as a facility for checks related to Police Vetting.
MedEntry has an asynchronous interview platform that replicates the experience of sitting the Auckland MMI interview.
Interestingly, the University of Auckland will also use an asynchronous interview format for entry into the Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom), Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm), Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours) (BMedImag(Hons)), Master of Audiology (MAud) and Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (MND) clinical programmes.
What is Casper?
The Casper (Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics) test is a situational judgement test used in medical school admissions internationally, including at Curtin University in Australia. It presents a series of video and written scenarios and asks you to respond in writing or via video. The scenarios are designed to assess how you reason through realistic situations involving professional judgment, ethics, communication, and interpersonal challenges.
Casper assesses domains such as your reasoning, your awareness of others, and your ability to reflect on competing considerations.
MedEntry provides comprehensive preparation for Casper.
What does this mean for your preparation?
If you are currently applying for Auckland medicine in 2026 for 2027 entry, the current selection process still applies and UCAT remains a requirement. The only change is that the MMI interview will now be held asynchronously online for all applicants simultaneously on 8 September 2026, rather than over the course of several days. This pre-recorded format replaces the live, online interviews used in previous years, meaning you will not interact with a live interviewer on the day; instead you will provide responses to asynchronous or video- recorded models.
If you are planning to apply for Auckland medicine in 2027 for entry in 2028, UCAT will no longer be required. It is, however, important to note that UCAT remains a requirement for entry into Otago medicine and for Australian medical schools. If you are keeping multiple pathways open (which is advisable given how competitive medical entry is in New Zealand), UCAT preparation should be considered alongside your MMI and Casper preparation.
Both the MMI and Casper reward the same core skills: clear and considered communication, the ability to reason through complex scenarios, self-awareness, and engagement with the kinds of challenges that arise in healthcare. These skills can be developed with focused practice.
Furthermore, regardless of which pathway you are pursuing, achieving a strong GPA remains essential across both New Zealand medical schools.
As always, university entry requirements are subject to change. It is recommended to check directly with the university you intend to apply to confirm the latest requirements.
How should you prepare?
MedEntry offers Casper test preparation to help you understand the format and develop the skills needed to perform well. We also offer comprehensive MMI preparation tailored to Auckland university, held in asynchronous interview format like the live Auckland interview. Whether you are just starting to think about medicine or are in the final stages of getting your application ready, our resources are designed to give you the best possible chance of entry.
