Anatomy

Entry requirements

1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
2. Every applicant must either
   1. be a graduate with an average grade of at least B for the appropriate 300-level papers, or
   2. have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
3. An applicant seeking admission to the thesis-only option of the programme (see regulation 2(c) below) on the basis of the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or equivalent must have achieved a grade of at least B+ for the research report, thesis preparation, or dissertation requirement of the qualification concerned.
4. In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant's performance in the programme.

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.

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 Master of Science (MSc) is a two-year degree which encompasses both coursework and research. The first year involves mainly coursework and preliminary research preparation. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to existing fields of research, or to begin to develop new areas.

Students who have a Bachelor's degree will complete the MSc by papers and thesis (at least two years of full-time study). Students who have a Bachelor's degree will complete the MSc by papers and thesis (at least two years of full-time study). Students who have an Honours degree or postgraduate diploma can complete the degree by thesis only (minimum of one year of study).

Anatomy is a diverse discipline encompassing the study of the structure of the body (especially, but not exclusively, the human body), at both the visible and microscopic levels. As such it encompasses traditional approaches to study of the human body, as well as very modern molecular and microscopical approaches using the latest techniques and ideas. It seeks to discover the relationship between the structure of organs and cells and the function they perform.

It is an integral part of the biological disciplines, closely related to Physiology, Biochemistry and Biological Anthropology, and fundamental to all biomedical science.

Papers and Thesis

• ANAT 458 Current Topics in Anatomical Science
• ANAT 495 Master's Thesis Preparation

Three of:

• ANAT 451 Functional Human Anatomy
• ANAT 452 Reproductive Biology
• ANAT 453 Advanced Topics in Anatomical Science 1
• ANAT 454 Neurobiology
• ANAT 455 Research Topic
• ANAT 456 Developmental Biology
• ANAT 457 Advanced Topics in Anatomical Science 2
• BIOA 401 Advanced Biological Anthropology

ANAT 5 (thesis)

Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Structure of the Programme

1. The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects listed. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) the degree may be awarded in a subject not listed above.
2. The programme of study shall be as prescribed for the subject concerned.
3. A candidate whose qualification for entry to the programme is the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or equivalent may achieve the degree after a minimum of one year of further study, normally by completing a thesis or equivalent as prescribed in the MSc Schedule.
4. A candidate may be exempted from some of the prescribed papers on the basis of previous study.
5. A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in a thesis, secure the approval of the Head of the Department concerned for the topic, the supervisor(s), and the proposed course of the investigation.
6. A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
7. A candidate taking the degree by papers and thesis must pass both the papers and the thesis components.
8. For the thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.

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.

Find out more about study at Otago through our International Prospectus

Fees and funding

New Zealand is a relatively affordable country to live in. Dunedin, being a student-focused city, has living and entertainment options for all budgets.

The University of Otago recognises academic excellence and supports international students at all levels of study with a range of scholarships: otago.ac.nz/international/future-students/international-scholarships