Due to a govt. policy change, there'll be almost no place for self-sponsered international students in Medicine. Places in other health professional programmes (eg dentisty) are unaffected.

So if you're entering First Year Health Sciences in 08, hoping to enter medicine in 09, you probably dont have a place.....

Below is an email forwarded to me from my education advisor agent.
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Dear Otago representatives,

As a result of discussions between the two universities offering Medicine and the New Zealand government, the government has decided to fund additional domestic places in undergraduate Medicine. For Otago this will mean that an additional 20 places will be offered to domestic students from 2009. As Otago is unable to increase the total pool of medical places, we will be reducing the number of international places by 20 places. As a result of this change, we will not normally be able to offer places in second-year Medicine from 2009 for self-funded international students or any sponsored students who are not coming as part of a specific existing agreement between Otago and an overseas government ministry/agency.

Please note that priority will be given in the allocation of international places for medicine to those students who are sponsored by overseas governments and with whose ministries or agencies the University has obligations under formal agreements. If possible, the University will endeavour to allocate a very small number of places in medicine to other international students. However, in normal circumstances, we anticipate that no places will be available for students in the above categories.
Prospective students who have already been given an Offer of Place for the 2008 Health Science First Year course will be contacted and advised of the changes. The affected students will receive a revised Offer of Place and the attached information sheet.

If you are currently working with students on applications for Health Science professional programmes, I would be grateful if you could advise them of the changes.

We anticipate that the change will apply indefinitely from 2009.

I attach an information sheet which updates the availability of Health Sciences professional degree places.

Places in other health professional programmes are unaffected and we hope that students will consider these programmes or medical science related programmes of study.

Kind regards,
Wayne Angus



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Wayne Angus
Manager, International Marketing and Liaison
International Office
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand

Tel: (64 3) 479 8361
Fax: (64 3) 479 8367
Email: wayne.angus@otago.ac.nz
Web: www.otago.ac.nz/international
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