1. University of Auckland

Institutional Overview:
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and highest-ranked university (top 100 globally; #1 NZ by QS and THE). The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) hosts the country’s largest medical school, Auckland Medical School, and is affiliated with Auckland City Hospital and other major regional hospitals.

Clinical Fellowships & Programs:

• Postgraduate Clinical Fellowships: The university, in partnership with Auckland DHB (now Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ), offers clinical fellow positions (commonly called “Clinical Fellows,” “Senior Registrars,” or “Clinical Research Fellows”) across specialties—cardiology, oncology, surgery, emergency medicine, critical care, pediatrics, psychiatry, and more.
• Academic Fellowships: The School of Medicine offers research fellow, clinical academic, and postdoctoral fellow positions for those interested in combining clinical work with research or teaching.
• Advanced Subspecialty Training: Through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), and equivalent bodies, advanced trainees may do accredited clinical fellowships in recognized specialties (e.g., interventional cardiology, neonatal intensive care, advanced gastroenterology, stroke neurology).
• Duration: 1–3 years typically.
• Research Fellowships: Research-focused positions, often for PhD/MD/DM (Doctorate in Medicine) candidates, combining clinical practice and bench/bedside research, usually in partnership with Auckland City Hospital and the Liggins Institute.
• Funding: Salaried clinical positions are paid at senior registrar/fellow level (NZD $100,000–$160,000 per annum); research fellowships may be funded by grants, university scholarships, or hospital research foundations.

Application & Eligibility:

• Applicants must hold an MBChB/MD or equivalent and be eligible for registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
• Advanced/senior fellows usually have completed basic training in their specialty.
• International applicants must meet English proficiency and MCNZ licensing requirements.

Research & Teaching Opportunities:

• Fellows may participate in clinical trials, translational research (especially in cancer, cardiovascular, endocrinology, respiratory, infectious diseases, maternal & child health, Māori & Pacific health).
• Teaching roles are available for medical students and junior doctors.

Career Trajectory:

• Fellows commonly transition to consultant positions in New Zealand, Australia, or internationally, or to academic/clinical scientist careers.

Distinctives:

• University of Auckland is known for the Liggins Institute (world leader in fetal medicine), the Centre for Brain Research, and the Maurice Wilkins Centre (infectious diseases, cancer, metabolic diseases).
• Strong emphasis on Māori health, Pacific health, and rural health research.

2. University of Otago

Institutional Overview:
Otago is New Zealand’s oldest university (founded 1869), with its medical school in Dunedin, and clinical campuses in Wellington and Christchurch. Otago is ranked #2 nationally and in the top 200 globally for medicine and health sciences.

Clinical Fellowships & Programs:

• Clinical Fellow/Registrar Positions: Offered at Dunedin Hospital, Wellington Hospital, Christchurch Hospital, and affiliated regional centers, often as post-specialist training (“fellow year”) or “Research Fellow” for those combining research and advanced clinical work.
• Otago Clinical Research Fellowships: Support PhD/MD candidates and early-career clinicians to pursue research in clinical and translational fields—cardiovascular, oncology, rural health, respiratory, gastroenterology, women’s/children’s health, mental health, and Māori health.
• Advanced Subspecialty Fellowships: Most clinical subspecialties (cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, neurology, ICU, surgery, radiology, anaesthesia) offer 1–2 year post-fellowship positions for “super-specialization.”
• Funding: Paid fellowships (NZD $100,000–$160,000), or research grants via Health Research Council (HRC), Otago Medical Research Foundation, or NZ Heart Foundation.

Application & Eligibility:

• MBChB or international equivalent; MCNZ registration; completion of specialist training (for subspecialty fellowships); evidence of research potential for research/academic tracks.
• International candidates welcomed, subject to licensing and visa requirements.

Research & Teaching:

• Otago’s Health Sciences Division is a research powerhouse in cardiovascular genetics, public health, rural/remote medicine, cancer, infection, and aging.
• Fellows often supervise/teach undergraduates and participate in curriculum development.

Career Trajectory:

• Consultant jobs in New Zealand/Australia, academic posts, leadership in clinical research, or return to home country with advanced skills.

Distinctives:

• National strengths in public health, rural/remote health, Māori and Pacific health, and “bench-to-bedside” translational research.
• Otago hosts several world-class centers: HeartOtago, Edgar Diabetes Centre, Cancer Society Research Centre, and NZ Brain Research Institute.

3. Other New Zealand Universities (and relevant programs)

While no other NZ universities offer classic medical fellowships for doctors, many are national leaders in allied health, public health, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, psychology, or health law. Below are their relevant advanced research and clinical training opportunities:

3.1. Massey University

• Focus: Public health, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, food safety, health psychology, and rehabilitation.
• Fellowships: PhD and postdoctoral fellowships in public health (e.g., Centre for Public Health Research, SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre), occupational health, and zoonotic disease.
• Clinical Link: No direct clinical medicine, but strong in health research, mental health, epidemiology, and rural health workforce training.

3.2. University of Canterbury

• Focus: Psychology, speech-language therapy, medical physics, health engineering, disaster medicine.
• Fellowships: Research-based PhD/postdoc fellowships (no clinical doctor fellowships), especially in child/youth mental health and communication disorders.
• Clinical Link: Hospital partnerships for research, but not clinical fellowships for MDs.

3.3. Victoria University of Wellington

• Focus: Psychology, health policy, social work, health law, biomedical science.
• Fellowships: Doctoral and research fellow positions in mental health, social determinants of health, and bioethics.
• Clinical Link: Research-based, not clinical.

3.4. University of Waikato

• Focus: Nursing, health sciences, psychology, health economics.
• Fellowships: Health research, rural/indigenous health PhD fellowships.
• Clinical Link: Allied health, not medicine.

3.5. Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

• Focus: Nursing, physiotherapy, paramedicine, medical imaging, health management.
• Fellowships: Advanced research/PhD in rehabilitation, physical therapy, and indigenous health; not clinical fellowships for doctors.

3.6. Eastern Institute of Technology, Unitec, Otago Polytechnic, Wintec, and other Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics

• Focus: Nursing, midwifery, allied health.
• Fellowships: Research and teaching positions, no clinical medicine fellowships.

4. New Zealand Clinical Fellowship Pathways through Hospitals

New Zealand’s public hospitals (now under Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand) are often the primary location for clinical fellowships:

• Major hospitals in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, and regional centers offer “Fellow” or “Senior Registrar” roles (post-specialty training), often recognized by Australian and NZ medical colleges (RACP, RACS, RACGP, ANZCA, etc.).
• Application: Directly through hospital career websites, Te Whatu Ora, or via medical recruitment agencies.
• International Medical Graduates: Must have MCNZ registration; some hospitals may sponsor short-term clinical “observer” posts.

5. Short-term & Visiting Clinical Fellowships

• Australasian College Fellowships: Short-term clinical fellowships or observerships in NZ via Australian/New Zealand specialty colleges.
• International Observerships: Some hospitals offer 1–6 month clinical observerships for international medical graduates.
• Health Research Council NZ, Heart Foundation, Cancer Society: Offer clinical research fellowships for MDs and PhDs to conduct patient-oriented research at NZ hospitals and universities.

3. Massey University

Institutional Focus:
Massey is one of New Zealand’s top research universities, with campuses in Palmerston North, Wellington, and Auckland. It is highly regarded for public health, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, food safety, occupational and environmental health, and rural health research.

Fellowship & Advanced Training Opportunities:

• PhD Fellowships: Offered in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, occupational health, zoonoses, and rural health. The Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR) and the SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre are internationally recognized.
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Support advanced projects in cancer epidemiology, respiratory health, indigenous health, disaster medicine, and One Health (human-animal-environment interface).
• Veterinary Medicine: Massey’s vet school is the only one in NZ and is internationally accredited; offers clinical internships and residencies in veterinary medicine, public health, and epidemiology.

Eligibility:
For PhD: relevant master’s or MBChB/MD degree; for postdoc: completed PhD; research experience, publications, and English proficiency.
Funding:
University, Health Research Council (HRC), MBIE, and international scholarships.

Distinctives:

• National leader in occupational/environmental health, agricultural health, and Māori health research.
• Strong ties to Ministry of Health, NGOs, and international agencies.

4. University of Canterbury

Institutional Focus:
Based in Christchurch, Canterbury is a leader in psychology, speech and language therapy, child and family health, and disaster medicine/mental health.

Fellowship & Advanced Training Opportunities:

• PhD and Research Fellowships: Health sciences, especially in child/adolescent mental health, disaster recovery, and brain injury.
• Medical Physics and Health Engineering: Advanced fellowships in medical imaging, radiation therapy, and rehabilitation technology, often in partnership with Christchurch Hospital and the University of Otago Christchurch campus.
• Speech-Language Therapy: Clinical training and research fellowships in communication disorders.

Eligibility:
Relevant undergraduate or graduate health qualification; for fellowships, a master’s or PhD as appropriate.

Distinctives:

• Affiliated with Christchurch Health Precinct and involved in earthquake/disaster recovery health research.
• Not a clinical medicine fellowship provider, but strong in allied health and clinical research.

5. Victoria University of Wellington

Institutional Focus:
VUW is highly regarded for psychology, public health, health policy, biomedical science, and health law/bioethics.

Fellowship & Advanced Training Opportunities:

• PhD and Research Fellowships: Mental health, addiction, neuroscience, health policy, social medicine, and bioethics.
• Collaborations: Partners with Wellington Hospital and University of Otago Wellington for clinical research, but not clinical fellowships.

Eligibility:
Relevant degree, research background, and English proficiency.

Distinctives:

• Leadership in policy, mental health, and bioethics.
• Hosts centers for women’s health research, suicide prevention, and medical law.

6. University of Waikato

Institutional Focus:
Waikato is strong in nursing, public health, psychology, indigenous/Māori health, and health economics.

Fellowship & Advanced Training Opportunities:

• PhD and Research Fellowships: Topics include health disparities, rural health, child and family health, indigenous studies, and health informatics.
• Allied Health Training: Offers advanced degrees and research fellowships in nursing, social work, and community health.

Eligibility & Funding:
Bachelor’s/master’s for PhD; PhD for postdoc; scholarships available via University, HRC, and iwi (Māori tribal) funding.

Distinctives:

• National reputation in Māori and Pacific health.
• Focus on health equity and rural healthcare delivery.

7. Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Institutional Focus:
AUT is a leading institution for allied health: nursing, physiotherapy, paramedicine, public health, and rehabilitation sciences.

Fellowship & Advanced Training Opportunities:

• PhD and Research Fellowships: Musculoskeletal health, rehabilitation, brain injury, physical activity, indigenous health, and community health.
• Clinical Simulation: Advanced simulation labs for training health professionals; some projects have clinical research elements.

Eligibility:
Relevant bachelor’s/master’s degree, research experience for higher-level fellowships.

Distinctives:

• Strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and Māori/Pacific health.
• Major clinical and public health research collaborations with Auckland hospitals and the University of Auckland.

8. Other Institutes (Otago Polytechnic, EIT, Wintec, Unitec, etc.)

Focus:
These institutes are mainly providers of practical, applied health education in nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, paramedicine, and public health.

Fellowships:
No classic fellowships for MDs, but advanced research, professional doctorate, and “lecturer-researcher” positions exist, especially in healthcare improvement, education, patient safety, and indigenous health.

Eligibility:
Professional qualification in health field; advanced degrees for research fellowships.

Distinctives:

• Strong ties to local health services and community health projects.
• Many lead innovations in simulation-based health education.

10. Crown Research Institutes and National Health Agencies

AgResearch, ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research), Plant & Food Research, Scion, NIWA, GNS Science:

• These are not universities but play a supporting role in health research, especially in public health, biosecurity, food safety, environmental health, genomics, and disease surveillance.
• Fellowships: Postdoctoral or project-based research fellowships in population health, epidemiology, zoonoses, environmental toxicology, or lab-based infectious diseases.
• Eligibility: PhD in life or health sciences.
• Application: Directly through their careers pages or via government research grants.

Distinctives:

• Highly collaborative, often partnering with Otago, Auckland, Massey, and hospitals for translational research and national health priorities (e.g., COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance, foodborne illness).

11. Major Teaching Hospitals as Fellowship Providers

Outside of university oversight, some large teaching hospitals (especially Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Waikato, Dunedin) may directly advertise “clinical fellow,” “senior registrar,” or “research fellow” positions—especially in:

• Surgery (all subspecialties)
• Cardiology, ICU, Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine
• Oncology, Hematology
• Neonatology, Paediatrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Medical Imaging

Eligibility:

• Medical Council of New Zealand registration required.
• Application via hospital HR or centralized Te Whatu Ora portal.

Distinctives:

• Many posts are co-appointed with universities for research/teaching integration.
• International graduates are welcomed, but licensing/visa process must be planned.

12. Specialty Colleges & Research Societies

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), and others:

• Fellowships: Advanced specialty fellowships (often accredited across Australia/NZ) in all clinical fields; research and audit fellowships for physician and surgeon trainees.
• Application: Usually via your training program or the college; sometimes hospitals/universities advertise directly.
• International Collaboration: Many NZ doctors do fellowships in Australia or vice versa; direct “exchange” programs are possible.

13. Short-Term Visiting Fellowships and Observerships

For overseas doctors or researchers wanting NZ clinical/research exposure:

• Observerships: Usually 1–6 months, often in major teaching hospitals or specialist centers.
• Short research attachments: Possible in public health, medical research, or allied health.

Application:

• Contact relevant department or hospital; approval and MCNZ observer status required