About OUMSA

Welcome to the home of the Otago University Medical Students’ Association.

We are the association of medical students from the Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand. The Otago University Medical Students’ Association (OUMSA) is an incorporated society with charitable status, which is run by our members for our members.

The Executive members of the association are elected annually and work on a voluntary basis. The association is non-profit and relies on nominal student subscriptions. These are paid at the start of your time at Medical School and last for the remaining years of your medical degree.

The Otago University Medical School opened in 1875, six years after the University of Otago was established as a corporate body. The Otago University Medical Students’ Association followed fifteen years later in 1890, and has been serving medical students ever since, making it one of the longest serving students’ associations in Dunedin.

We provide advocacy and representation within the University and at a national level alongside the New Zealand Medical Students’ Association (NZMSA). We act as the link between our student body and the faculty, and to make sure your voice is heard by those who can make changes for you. We also work alongside organisations such as NZMSA to advocate on your behalf on issues such as reducing medical student debt and streamlining the transition from Medical School to the health workforce. Furthermore, we organise a multitude of events to promote collegiality, some of which include the annual ball, Wine and Cheese, Med Revue, Interfaculty sports and Performance Night. We also facilitate educational development courses and conferences, a common room, careers evenings, and political forums.