12 June 2024
By email
: [FYI request #26894 email]
Tēnā koe Mar
I refer to your information request dated 21 May 2024 made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). You have requested:
“I am requesting for what the criteria is to now receive a 2025 entry interview for BDS. As this
year the UCAT has been removed as an entry requirement, which historically had thresholds
that needed to be met in order to obtain an interview, I’m wondering how it will work
particularly for the HSFY General Category applicants to receive an interview.
Will there be a minimum semester 1 4-paper average needed to be able to obtain one out of
the pool of applicants? Or will it work slightly differently to this – please specify all detail.”
Please see below our response to your request.
As noted on th
e Dentistry: Guidelines for Admission webpage, the Dental Admissions Committee may
set a minimum academic requirement for applicants to proceed to the interview stage. This will be
determined by the Committee on an annual basis, and may vary for equity group applicants. This
year’s minimum academic requirement for entry to the 2025 BDS programme has not been set yet,
but will be set from year to year following the semester 1 examination period.
Therefore, we are unable to provide you with the minimum academic requirement for applicants to
the 2025 BDS programme, or what the minimum academic requirement will consist of, as it has not
been confirmed yet. On that basis, we decline your request pursuant to section 18(g) of the Act, as the
information requested is not held by the University. If you would still be interested in receiving this
information at a later date, we would welcome another request from you – we expect that this
information would be available by the end of July/early August.
Despite this refusal, we note that in terms of the interview process, all eligible applicants in the HSFY
and Graduate categories who meet the standard set each year will be invited to interview.
Approximately 300 applicants across all admissions categories will be invited to undertake an
interview. The interviews will be conducted by Zoom in early October 2024 (exact dates to be
confirmed). Candidates will be assessed as suitable for admission based on the interview panel’s
overall assessment of aptitude for the programme, taking into account motivation, decision-making,
and communication skills. Suitable candidates will be put forward for final selection.
I trust that this information will be helpful.
If you are not satisfied with our response to your information request, section 28(3) of the Act
provides you with the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate and review this response. However,
we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.
Ngā mihi
Kelsey Kennard
Official Information and Compliance Coordinator
Office of the Registrar
