General Practice

Entry requirements

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Academic Board of the Otago Medical School, which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed to the programme.

Every applicant shall

• have been admitted to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of a university in New Zealand or hold an equivalent medical qualification approved by the Academic Board of the Otago Medical School, and
• have commenced and completed formal vocational training for general practice; or
• have been admitted ad eundem statum as entitled to proceed to the certificate.

Every applicant shall be registered for medical practice in either Australia or New Zealand or have an exemption from this requirement from the Board of Studies in Primary Health Care.

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements as follows: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); we also accept a number of other English language tests. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre "English for Otago" programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February, July

Course content

The Postgraduate Certificate in General Practice (PGCertGP) is offered to medical practitioners who require certification of participation and satisfactory completion of approved postgraduate papers.

The discipline of general practice involves comprehensive, continuing, community-based medical care of individuals and families with an emphasis on prevention of disease and the earliest possible identification and intervention.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of approved papers from the schedule of papers for the Postgraduate Diploma in General Practice worth a total of 60 points, including either or both of the core papers, PRHC 701 and GENA 820.

With the approval of the Board of Studies in Primary Health Care, a candidate may substitute for up to 15 points an appropriate paper offered by another university or examining body.

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding