Dean’s Determination of the Application of Selection Criteria – FMHS 2025
This document presents the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences Dean’s Determination for
how selection criteria, including but not limited to the weighting of GPA, MMI and the
Clinical Selection Test will be applied in assessing the merit of applicants for the 2025 intake
of clinical programmes. This document should be read in conjunction with th
e FMHS 2025
Programme Limitations for Clinical Programmes that sets out numbers of places and
selection criteria for each programme.
General Admissions
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) – First Year Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on the four core courses (BIOSCI 107, CHEM 110, POPLHLTH 111 and
MEDSCI 142)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
• UCAT score
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) – Graduate Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on al courses assigned to the qualifying programme (most recent,
successful y completed Bachelor’s, PGDip, Hons, Masters or PhD degree)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
• UCAT score
Bachelor of Optometry – Undergraduate Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on the seven core courses (CHEM 110, BIOSCI 107, POPLHLTH 111,
MEDSCI 142, BIOSCI 101, BIOSCI 106, PHYSICS 160, or, if applying from the
University of Otago: CHEM 191, CELS 191, PHSI 191, BIOSC 192, HUBS 191, HUBS
192, POPH 192)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
Bachelor of Optometry – Graduate Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on the last two years of ful -time study (105 points or more across
Semester One and Two)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Hons) – Undergraduate Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• (CHEM 110, BIOSCI 107, POPLHLTH 111, MEDSCI 142, BIOSCI 101, BIOSCI 106,
PHYSICS 160, or, if applying from the University of Otago: CHEM 191, CELS 191, PHSI
191, BIOSC 192, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, POPH 192)
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•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Hons) – Graduate Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on the last two years of ful -time study (105 points or more across
Semester One and Two)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
Bachelor of Pharmacy – First Year Entry
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on the four core courses (BIOSCI 107, CHEM 110, POPLHLTH 111 and
MEDSCI 142, or, if applying from the University of Otago, the seven core courses:
CHEM 191, CELS 191, PHSI 191, BIOSC 192, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, POPH 192)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
Bachelor of Pharmacy – Alternative Admissions
Selection criteria for 2025 entry include:
• GPA calculated on the last two years of ful -time study (105 points or more across
Semester One and Two)
•
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Score
Weightings
The weightings for 2025 of each criterion for each of the four clinical programmes are
presented below:
Criterion and Weighting
Programme
GPA
MMI
UCAT
MBChB
60%
25%
15%
Optometry
50%
50%
-
Medical Imaging (Hons)
50%
50%
-
Pharmacy
50%
50%
-
MMI
The interview component of the admissions process is comprised of 8 Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
stations. Each station has one interviewer and takes 8 minutes to complete.
7 of these stations are
assessed and have the fol owing format: 2 minutes for the applicant to read and think over the given
scenario and then 6 minutes to discuss that scenario with the interviewer. Each station is marked
out of 30 and the final MMI score is a total of al the individual station marks. The remaining one
station is used as an administrative station for ID verification and meeting the requirements of the
Children’s Act (2014).
MMI scores are modified using a “fair score” process that seeks to take into account the variability in
difficulty of scenarios applicants are asked to discuss with the interviewer AND the harshness of the
interviewer.
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The MMI raw scores (marks) wil be fitted to the many-facet Rasch measurement model. Unlike
standard Rasch measurement, the many facet model can account for multiple facets instead of just
two (candidate and item in our case). The facets used in our model are:
• Candidates
• Raters/Interviewers
• Scenarios
• Qualities/Items
The analysis was implemented using JM Linacre’s Facets computer programme for many-facet Rasch
measurement. The same software has been used by the MPD since at least 2016.
UCAT
Only the MBChB programme uses the
UCAT-ANZ as part of its admissions criteria. The UCAT-ANZ is
weighted 15% in the final rankings. All applicants (excluding International Graduate applicants) must
have a current UCAT-ANZ result and achieve a score in all five of the UCAT-ANZ sections:
1. Verbal Reasoning
2. Decision Making
3. Quantitative Reasoning
4. Abstract Reasoning
5. Situational Judgement
Since the number of questions and the answer format varies between the five subtests, the raw
marks from each section are converted to scale scores that share a common range from 300 to 900.
The UCAT-ANZ website provides further detail on the test format, and the scoring and marking of
the five sections.
For selection into the MBChB programme, the scale scores for each of the five sections are
combined to give a final score.
MAPAS Admissions
The Faculty’s Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS) for the clinical programmes uses all of
the same data points related to student performance (e.g. GPA, CST, course grades) that are used in
the General Admissions process to select candidates as well as additional information held by the
MAPAS programme (e.g. a MAPAS interview, personal circumstances). Rather than ranking students
by a single data point (e.g. GPA), each data point is considered separately to help predict a
candidate’s potential success in the clinical programmes and as a future health
professional. Eligibility for interview and final decision-making on acceptance considers all aspects
of the MAPAS student’s performance holistically.
All MAPAS candidates participate in the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) run by the Faculty of
Medical & Health Sciences as part of the General Admissions process. MAPAS candidates then take
part in a second 5-station MMI (the MAPAS Speciality Interviews) run by the MAPAS programme
that focuses on the programmes’ key indicators of success for Medicine, Pharmacy, Optometry and
Medical Imaging under MAPAS. To be eligible for a MAPAS Specialty Interview for MBChB, BPharm,
BOptom and BMedImag (Hons), applicants must have met the programme entry requirements.
Applicants must also have verified Indigenous New Zealand Māori or Pacific whakapapa/ancestry. A
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MAPAS Admissions Panel comprised of senior Māori and Pacific academics with knowledge of these
clinical programmes reviews al MAPAS applications and determines whether an applicant is offered
a MAPAS Specialty Interview based on an applicant’s academic record (as above).
At the end of the application and interview process, data from both interviews and the other
indicators of student performance are then reviewed by the MAPAS Admissions Panel to make the
final recommendations on which students to admit to these programmes.
Regional & Rural Admissions Scheme (RRAS)
The Rural Regional Admission Scheme (RRAS) is designed to encourage students to train and return
to their rural area to work and utilise their education and skil s. Evidence shows that students
identifying with regional or rural backgrounds are more likely to work outside urban areas.
In order to qualify as a regional/rural student, applicants must meet at least one of the following
criteria:
1. Five years or more of primary education (Years 1-8) spent in a school within the defined
geographical boundaries, or
2. Three years of more of secondary education (Years 9-13) which is located within the defined
geographical boundaries
A regional/rural area is defined as
• Rural = Medium urban area, medium urban accessibility, low urban accessibility, remote,
very remote
• Regional = Large urban area, high urban accessibility
• Urban = Major urban area
Applicants must indicate their desire to be considered under this scheme by selecting the
appropriate box on their online application form and also arranging for their regional/rural
educational institution to provide a letter confirming their attendance.
RRAS applicants are assessed and ranked in the same way as applicants in the General Admission
category, however, they are ranked separately against other RRAS applicants.
Undergraduate Targeted Admissions Scheme (UTAS)
UTAS is the University’s Undergraduate Targeted Admission Schemes for eligible applicants who are
Māori, Pacific, disabled, or from low socioeconomic or refugee backgrounds. UTAS reserves a
number of places in our undergraduate programmes for applicants who have met the University
Entrance (UE) standard but have not met the guaranteed entry score for the programme of their
choice.
In the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Māori and Pacific students are admitted through
the MAPAS (as above) or through the General Admissions category.
UTAS students are expected to meet the same high academic standards as al other undergraduate
students at the University.
In FMHS, UTAS is available to eligible:
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• Applicants with disabilities
• Applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds (for the purposes of UTAS, school leavers*
from decile 1-3 schools)
• Applicants who have themselves or whose parents/primary guardian(s) have been granted
refuge in New Zealand. This includes applicants from the Afghan Emergency Resettlement
Category (AERC).
UTAS applicants are assessed and ranked in the same way as applicants in the General Admission
category, however, they are ranked separately. Applicants in each UTAS category are ranked against
other applicants in the same category.
Number of UTAS Seats Available
MBChB
Optometry Medical Imaging
(Hons)
Pharmacy
Students with disabilities
2
1
1
1
Students from refugee
backgrounds
1
1
1
1
Students from low socio-
economic background
6
2
1
2
If there are insufficient applicants to fill the seats available in one UTAS category, these seats may be
real ocated to another UTAS category. E.g., For MBChB, if there are only four valid applicants for the
Low Socio-economic Background category, the remaining place may be reassigned to the Disabilities
or Refugee Background applicant pool. If there are no further applicants in any of the UTAS
categories, the seats would go back to the General pool.
International Admissions
First Year/Undergraduate international applicants are assessed and ranked in the same way as those
applicants in the General Admission category, however, they are ranked separately against other
international First Year/Undergraduate applicants.
International Pathway students are undergraduate applicants who undertake First Year Health
Sciences (Bachelor of Health Sciences) but already hold a conditional offer for year 2 MBChB, and
have often undertaken a prior Foundation Year. They are assessed separately from all other
applicants. These applicants are required to achieve a GPA of 6.0 (no fails) across all First Year
courses to meet the conditions of their offer and proceed to Year 2 MBChB. They are not required to
sit the UCAT. They are required to sit and achieve a pass mark in the MMI.
International Graduate applicants are assessed separately from al other applicants. This is due to
the fact that these applicants are often overseas and were therefore unable to attend the MMI
when it was held in person.
Applicants who meet the entry requirements, include the minimum GPA/GPE for the programme are
invited to a panel interview held by two senior staff members. These interviews are arranged on an
as-needed basis and are held throughout the year.
International Graduate applicants are not required to sit the UCAT-ANZ. As such, ranking for the
programme is based only on their GPA/GPE and interview score. The International Manager and the
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Programme Director/Head of Admissions consider the applicants and make a recommendation to
the relevant Admissions Subcommittee regarding which applicants should be offered a place.
Details for creating final ranked lists for admissions decisions
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Final ranking of applicants for admission to MBChB uses z scores to rank applicants.
The specific formula for calculating an applicant’s ranking score is as follows:
((applicant's GPA-mean GPA)/Std Dev GPA) X 0.6
+
((applicant's MMI score-mean MMI score)/Std Dev MMI score) X 0.25
+
((applicant's UCAT-ANZ score-mean UCAT-ANZ score)/Std Dev UCAT-ANZ score) X 0.15
In each admission category, the First Year and Graduate applicant data is analysed together to
calculate the mean and standard deviation of the admissions category. The fol owing groups are
analysed together:
• General entry First Years + General entry Graduates + UTAS First Years + UTAS Graduates
1 • RRAS First Years + RRAS Graduates
• Disability First Years + Disability Graduates
• Refugee Background First Years + Refugee Background Graduates
• Low Socioeconomic Background First Years
2
Each of the above groups is then sorted based on their ranking score to determine an ordered list of
highest to lowest ranking. Offers are made to applicants in order until the places in each category
are filled.
Bachelor of Optometry
The specific formula for calculating an applicant’s ranking score is as follows:
(applicant's GPA)/9) X 100
+
(applicant's MMI score/210
3) X 100
Applicants are ranked together in the fol owing groups:
• General Undergraduates + General Graduates
• RRAS Undergraduates + RRAS Graduates
• Disability Undergraduates + Disability Graduates
• Refugee Background Undergraduates + Refugee Background Graduates
• Low Socioeconomic Background Undergraduates
4
Offers are made to applicants in order until the places in each category are filled.
1 See “Consideration of UTAS Applicants in the General Entry Pool”
2 Low Socioeconomic Background is only applicable for First Year entry.
3 The maximum MMI score obtainable for that year.
4 Low Socioeconomic Background is only applicable for First Year entry.
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Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Hons)
The specific formula for calculating an applicant’s ranking score is as follows:
(applicant's GPA)/9) X 100
+
(applicant's MMI score/210
5) X 100
Applicants are ranked together in the fol owing groups:
• General Undergraduates + General Graduates
• RRAS Undergraduates + RRAS Graduates
• Disability Undergraduates + Disability Graduates
• Refugee Background Undergraduates + Refugee Background Graduates
• Low Socioeconomic Background Undergraduates
6
Offers are made to applicants in order until the places in each category are filled.
Bachelor of Pharmacy – First Year Entry
The specific formula for calculating an applicant’s ranking score is as follows:
(applicant's GPA)/9) X 100
+
(applicant's MMI score/210
7) X 100
Applicants are ranked together in the fol owing groups:
• General First Years + General Alternative Admissions
• RRAS First Years + RRAS Alternative Admissions
• Disability First Years + Disability Alternative Admissions
• Refugee Background First Years + Refugee Background Alternative Admissions
• Low Socioeconomic Background First Years
8
Offers are made to applicants in order until the places in each category are filled.
5 The maximum MMI score obtainable for that year.
6 Low Socioeconomic Background is only applicable for First Year entry.
7 The maximum MMI score obtainable for that year.
8 Low Socioeconomic Background is only applicable for First Year entry.
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Document Outline
