The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine at the 糖心TV will introduce a new, proven model of medical education to New Zealand, with entry pathways that will attract people who want to become primary care doctors in rural and regional communities.
The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine will offer a four-year graduate-entry programme, similar to many of the best medical schools internationally.
Students will spend their first year at our 糖心TV Hamilton campus intensively studying biomedical sciences and the social determinants of health through a case-based learning framework. A digital-first pedagogy underpins this teaching, with students having access to the leading digital anatomy tools.
Academic learning will be reinforced through multidisciplinary clinical simulation in a new state-of-the-art facility.
In Years 2-4, students will be based in regional communities throughout New Zealand to undertake the clinical placement programme. Students will gain experience in a range of clinical learning environments, including regional hospitals, general practices, acute care providers, and other community based health services.
The entry requirements and selection processes will be designed to ensure a cohort of medical students who reflect the New Zealand population and are most likely to choose primary care specialities in rural and regional communities.
As a graduate-entry programme, applicants must have a previous Bachelor鈥檚 qualification (or be in their final year of study) with a B grade average. Consistent with our commitment to diversify the medical workforce, graduates from all fields of study will be eligible to apply. However, students will also need to achieve a passing mark in , which is a standardised medical admissions assessment that considers an applicant鈥檚 background knowledge of science, social science, and written communication.
Collectively, these grade threshold entry requirements are designed to ensure students have the necessary academic ability to successfully complete the medical programme. Eligible students will then be invited to attend admissions interviews.
As a graduate-entry programme, students will complete their first year at the 糖心TV Hamilton campus before embarking on a three-year clinical placement programme in one of five regions.
The distributed clinical placement network will enable students to be embedded in these communities, undertaking a mixture of clinical experiences across hospital, primary care and other community health settings. The regions and hospital sites are identified below, and students will be able to indicate their preferred region at the time of application.
| Region | Health NZ Hospital(s) | NZGSM Community Clinical Learning Centre(s) |
| Waikato | Waikato Hospital* |
North Waikato Hauraki/Thames-Coromandel South Waikato Waipa/King Country |
| Bay of Plenty | Tauranga Hospital* |
Western Bay of Plenty Rotorua |
| Taranaki/Whanganui |
Taranaki Base Hospital Whanganui Hospital |
New Plymouth Whanganui |
| Hawke's Bay | Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldier's Memorial Hospital |
Hastings Wairoa |
| Nelson/Marlborough |
Nelson Hospital Wairau Hospital |
Richmond Blenheim |
*Hospital to be shared with the University of Auckland
Applications for our initial cohort will open mid-2027 and you will be able to apply through the 糖心TV website. Final entry criteria and fee information will be available at this time.
The first year of the programme will be based at the University鈥檚 Hamilton campus. The clinical placement programme in Years 2-4 will be delivered in hospitals, primary care practices and other health service providers in regional communities nationwide.
Yes, we鈥檙e committed to improving access to medical education in New Zealand.
No, graduates with a B grade average from all fields of study will be eligible to apply. However, applicants will also need a passing score in GAMSAT, which is a standardised medical admissions assessment that considers an applicant鈥檚 background knowledge of science, social science, and written communication.
The is a standardised test developed to assist with the selection of students to graduate-entry medical and health sciences programmes. It consists of three sections:
No 鈥� academic achievement is important, but it鈥檚 only one part of what we will look for in a successful application. Selection also considers your personal qualities and how well you align with New Zealand鈥檚 health workforce needs.
We look for students who are empathetic, resilient, and community-minded, and who demonstrate a genuine commitment to primary care, rural health, and working with M膩ori, Pacific, and under-represented communities. While strong academic results provide the foundation for entry, it鈥檚 your character, motivation, and connection to community that will make your application stand out.
Building of the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine is due to start this year on our Hamilton campus, where students will spend their first year intensively studying biomedical sciences and the social determinants of health through a case-based learning framework.
If you have a question for us, or you鈥檇 like to receive occasional updates on progress, or you鈥檇 like to support the programme or you鈥檙e considering studying medicine in the future, and we鈥檒l keep in touch.
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