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UoO HSFY 2026

melonmonke said:
studying for UCAT + how frequently? Would you suggest booking a test later or earlier during the testing period from July-
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I think HSFY get hectic fast based on the heavy content of the course and its nice having UCAT out of the way by familiarizing yourself with the pattern of question & practising early on or every now and then :)
 
orange4345 said:
Yeah 90th is the hardest but i dont rlly know how hard it is to achieve 10-20%
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i had a little look and this was for last year:
[MedStudentsOnline.com.au] UoO HSFY 2026
 
Technically, you could get away without any textbooks, as (at least last year), there was nothing on any test that hadn't been covered in a lecture.
However, some of the books are more useful than others.
Definitely don't bother with the cells textbook, as it isn't really even mentioned in the lectures at all, and one of the lecturers told me not to bother getting it.
The hubs lecture slides take many of their illustrations from the textbook, and I would say this one is good for visual learning, and filling out the background knowledge. You can also use it for hubs 192 in semester 2.
In chemistry, they assign optional homework questions from the textbook which are a good way to stay up to date with the content and make sure you are understanding everything. Make sure you have the more recent edition though, because the older one doesn't have them.
Physics also has practice questions in it, and can potentially be good for general understanding, especially because some of the lecturers (in my opinion) were really confusing. However, you could also just try and watch YouTube videos etc instead if you want something free.
For semester 2, don't bother with bioc, as the department writes its own set of accompanying notes that are much better. As for the poph epidemiology one, I didn't buy or look at it, so I can't give you an much of an opinion, but I can say I never felt I was missing out on anything.
You can also get all the textbooks from the library if you don't want to spend money.
 
yeah honestly u can flip through the online versions now till like week 1 or 2 and see if u find them useful. if u do like them and feel that paper copy works better, you can get it from the library or secondhand!
 
hey guys, a bit off topic but how much r u guys packing? I feel like i have sooo much compared to some yt videos i watched xD
 
FYI it seems as though the limit on LATs for Chem have changed from only 3 trials? - ‘You can repeat the LAT as many times as you like within the three-week period’.
 
ceeb_b said:
HUBS191: "Past MCQ questions and answers are embargoed"
how should we revise for mcq then?
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theyll give you a practice mcq paper about a week or so before each test/exam - use that it will be extremely helpful. until then just actively recall all the content you've been taught.
 
melonmonke said:
FYI it seems as though the limit on LATs for Chem have changed from only 3 trials? - ‘You can repeat the LAT as many times as you like within the three-week period’.
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I believe it’s changed from this year.? Not sure why it’s suddenly unlimited now lol
 
Hi, I have literally ZERO connections in Otago, so I ended up here for some help for my future! I hope you guys can help!

I am planning on doing HSFY next year (2027) with a goal of getting into dentistry the year after (very hard I know). I had 120E credits in level 2 (just for reference).

1. Do you guys have any honest and realistic tips or statements? I really, really, really want to become a dentist. Eg. how many hours of studying are expected, what are some good study tips, how to socialise while being an academic weapon, just ANYTHING.

2. I have no idea which hall I want to go to, and by the sounds of it, people are saying "academic" halls and "non-academic" halls are not important for getting into med or dent. How true is that?

3. What are the pros and cons of the halls that you guys were in?

4. I really want to get into a hall with GOOD food. Can anybody rank the halls from best food to worst food?

5. What should I expect for HSFY (pace, competitiveness, environment, etc.)?

My top picks for halls so far are Selwyn (for its good food reputation) and Carrington (for its good academic reputation with a healthy lifestyle), or St Margaret's for being studious as well (although I've heard some people are toxic and the food is bad).

I like to study by myself, but at the same time, I feel like having friends for studying sometimes is good so that they can correct me or I can get new perspectives on a concept. I want to meet people who feel the same.

I am really worried and struggling with hall picks, what to expect, and what I can do to maximise my chances of doing well. I want to get into a hall I am satisfied with (in terms of how well I can study, the noise levels at night, if it is good for studying at night, etc). Big overthinker here, but I would really appreciate if I could get some answers!

All the best of luck!
 
hani.hani. said:
Hi, I have literally ZERO connections in Otago, so I ended up here for some help for my future! I hope you guys can help!

I am planning on doing HSFY next year (2027) with a goal of getting into dentistry the year after (very hard I know). I had 120E credits in level 2 (just for reference).

1. Do you guys have any honest and realistic tips or statements? I really, really, really want to become a dentist. Eg. how many hours of studying are expected, what are some good study tips, how to socialise while being an academic weapon, just ANYTHING.

2. I have no idea which hall I want to go to, and by the sounds of it, people are saying "academic" halls and "non-academic" halls are not important for getting into med or dent. How true is that?

3. What are the pros and cons of the halls that you guys were in?

4. I really want to get into a hall with GOOD food. Can anybody rank the halls from best food to worst food?

5. What should I expect for HSFY (pace, competitiveness, environment, etc.)?

My top picks for halls so far are Selwyn (for its good food reputation) and Carrington (for its good academic reputation with a healthy lifestyle), or St Margaret's for being studious as well (although I've heard some people are toxic and the food is bad).

I like to study by myself, but at the same time, I feel like having friends for studying sometimes is good so that they can correct me or I can get new perspectives on a concept. I want to meet people who feel the same.

I am really worried and struggling with hall picks, what to expect, and what I can do to maximise my chances of doing well. I want to get into a hall I am satisfied with (in terms of how well I can study, the noise levels at night, if it is good for studying at night, etc). Big overthinker here, but I would really appreciate if I could get some answers!

All the best of luck!
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1. For study tips, consistency is key (cliche but true). I did HSFY last year and would mainly do a 9-5ish, going to the library between lectures, and then extra at night if it had been a particularly busy day, plus 3-6 hours each on saturday and sunday, and more around tests. I used anki daily, but everyone has their own methods, so if you find anything that works for you, stick to it. You can definitely be social if you want to, just try and stay up to date, and actually go to lectures.
2/3/4. All university owned halls have the same catering company/standards. Privately owned halls (Selwyn, St Margs, Knox, Salmond) don't have these restrictions, so you can get perks like dessert every night instead of just twice a week (unsure if this is all of them or not). I was at Carrington last year and loved it, the vibes were so good, and I liked the bush/gardens, and all the birds. The worst part was definitely the hill, but I survived (and it was good bonding at the start of the year) Selwyn sounds like a good choice for you because of the food, but in my year everyone at St Margs was really nice as well, so don't worry about the toxicity too much. You'll find lovely people who also want to study wherever you go.
5. The pace of HSFY takes a while to adjust too, and it's normal to feel overwhelmed at times, but you'll settle in. Contrary to what some people say, I found a lot of my NCEA stuff quite helpful, so it's worth paying some attention in class this year, but they teach you everything you need to know. One other big change is there aren't really any past papers to use for study (especially cells and hubs) so you just have to go over the content lots, but everyone is in the same boat, so it isn't too much of an issue.
At this stage, don't panic and enjoy Year 13. Dentistry is competitive, but as long as there are HSFY spots in dentistry, someone has to fill them and there's no reason it can't be you :)
 
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