13 May 2026
By email: [FYI request #34172 email]
Tēnā koe Steve
I refer to your email of 6 May 2026 concerning our response to your request for information
dated 19 March 2026, made under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You have requested
reconsideration and/or clarification of the following points:
To clarify, the key aspect of my request is the aggregated breakdown of applicant outcomes
by admission category, including the distinction between those with below and above a 65%
HSFY average. This distinction is central to understanding how academic thresholds relate
to admission outcomes across the various equity pathways.
As for the second part of my request, I now understand the University's Mirror on Society
policy. However, I would like clarification on the rural component, as I believe this contains a
Government-funded aspect to it.
Our response to your first point follows.
We provided links to the Dentistry: Guidelines for Admission and Medicine: Guidelines for
Admission. In both cases these Guidelines state that:
To be eligible to be selected for admission
under the Health Sciences First Year category an applicant must … pass all (HSFY)
papers with an
average mark of at least 65% in the applicant’s best seven papers … . We have published the range of
average marks to receive an offer of admission for each HSFY
admission pathway, all which are above 65%. We have also published the numbers of
offers and
admissions for each HSFY admission pathway, which likewise include only applicants with an
HSFY average mark of 65% or above.
Finally, we have also published the numbers of
applications for each HSFY admission pathway.
While these may include applicants with an HSFY average mark below a 65% average, we have not
compiled this data separately. This is the only part of your request we have declined to provide, for
the reasons stated in our original response.
Our response to your second point follows.
We have provided the information above in relation to the Rural admission pathway. This pathway
is explained in the Dentistry: Guidelines for Admission and Medicine: Guidelines for Admission. The
‘Mirror on Society’ policy no longer applies, having been replaced by the Admissions Policy for
Health Sciences Professional Programmes also available on our website.
We hope this further information is helpful. We would be pleased to consider any new request for
information you may choose to make.
Office of the Registrar and Secretary to the Council | Te Tari o Te Pouroki me te Kaituhi ki te Kaunihera
PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
[University of Otago request email]
otago.ac.nz
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
Bill Frewen
Manager Policy and Compliance
