There are no subject requirements for entry into Health Sciences First Year (HSFY). However, it is strongly recommended that you take Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus to NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent), and an English-rich subject.
If you have not taken Chemistry or Physics, there are courses you can take to upskill before starting HSFY.
Preparing to study Health Sciences First Year
Health Sciences First Year should be your first year of study at university. If you have undertaken university study while at high school, you will need to apply for a dispensation.
A dispensation may be granted if you have applied for enrolment to HSFY while having prior university study, but only if:
- You have not studied any degree-level university paper or papers that include any subject that is the same, similar to, or contains, significant portions of any of the prescribed HSFY papers, and
- Your previous degree-level study does not total more than one year of equivalent full-time study
For further information email: health-sciences@otago.ac.nz
All HSFY students sit a compulsory English Diagnostic in the first week of semester 1. If you do not meet the threshold grade, you will be required to pass ENGL 128 in semester 2.