Course details

Summary

The Master of General Practice (MGP) degree is a one year full-time equivalent qualification that can be completed as a thesis. Students enter the MGP after completing the Postgraduate Diploma in General Practice (PGDipGP). The MGP is an internationally recognised qualification for practitioners in the field of general practice. Graduates from the programme are equipped to work in academic and clinical settings.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of one of the following:

• a thesis on an approved topic (120 points); or
• a research portfolio (120 points); or
• a research portfolio (90 points) plus approved research methods papers(s) worth 30 points.

A candidate may not present a thesis or research portfolio which has previously been accepted, in whole or in part, for another degree.

The programme of study including, as appropriate, the topic of the thesis or research portfolio and the supervisors of the research, or the component papers, shall be approved by the Academic Board of the Otago Medical School.

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.

Entry criteria

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 awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in General Practice, and have completed the prerequisite papers: GENA 821, or an equivalent research paper approved by the Board of Postgraduate Studies in Primary Health Care, and GENA 820 (or PRHC 701), and 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, and have commenced vocational training for general practice or have had at least two years' approved experience in general practice.

Every applicant shall be registered for medical practice in the country in which the programme is taught or have an exemption from this requirement from the Dean of the Otago Medical School.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22; Paper-based TOEFL score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.