Aviation Medicine

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.

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 Master of Aviation Medicine (MAvMed) qualification is a 4-year part-time, distance-learning course offered globally. The core of the Master’s degree begins with the Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine (PGDipOccMed) or the Postgraduate Diploma in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport (PGDipAeroRT). These four papers lead into four additional advanced papers required to complete the Master’s qualification. Once completed, students will have earned a Diploma in addition to a Master’s qualification.

The degree is available only to registered medical practitioners.

Students who wish to undertake a research-based Master’s degree should enrol for the Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc), endorsed in Aviation Medicine degree programme.

Aviation Medicine is also available as a subject of study for the Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of papers to the value of 240 points.

At least 180 points must be from papers selected from

• AVME 711 Aviation Physiology
• AVME 712 Human Performance
• AVME 713 Airport and Travel Health
• AVME 714 Clinical Aviation Medicine
• AVME 715 Principles of Occupational Medicine
• AVME 716 Clinical Occupational Medicine
• AVME 717 Medical Logistics in Aeromedical Transport
• AVME 718 Operational Aspects of Aeromedical Transport
• AVME 719 Aeromedical Studies for Nurses and Paramedics
• AVME 720 Clinical Analysis in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport
• AVME 721 Clinical Care in the Air
• AVME 722 Organisation of Aeromedical Systems
• AVME 723 Managing Occupational Medicine
• AVME 724 Health and Industry
• AVME 726 Special Topic
• AVME 780 Research Project
• AVME 785 Research Methods
• AVME 801 Occupational Medicine Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• AVME 802 Vocational Rehabilitation
• AVME 803 Specialist Aeromedical Retrieval
• AVME 804 International Assistance Operations

Subject to the approval of the Dean of the Otago Medical School, papers which have been completed at the University of Otago, another university, or an approved examining body may be credited to the programme and/or used as the basis for exemption from the requirements of above, provided that this previous study is directly relevant to the candidate's proposed and approved programme of study, to a maximum of 120 points.

A candidate who has completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Aero medical Retrieval and Transport, Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine, Postgraduate Certificate in Aero medical Retrieval and Transport, or Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Medicine may be exempted from one or more papers in the programme for the degree to a maximum of 120 points.

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

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

Students are eligible for the Otago International Excellence Scholarship.