RMIP 2025
The Rural Medical Immersion Programme (RMIP) is a one-year academic programme available to University of Otago fifth year medical students. In 2025, up to 35 students will spend their year living and learning in small groups in one of nine rural communities across the South and lower North Islands.
RMIP aims to cover the clinical knowledge and skills of the ALM5 curriculum through experiential learning, while promoting students' understanding of rural health and healthcare delivery. Students follow patients through their healthcare journey across general practice and rural hospital settings, under the guidance and mentorship of experienced general practitioners, rural hospital generalists, visiting specialists and other members of the healthcare team.
RMIP is popular with students for its 'hands-on' approach to learning, prioritising time with patients, small group and self-directed learning, and continuous relationships with local teaching and health professional staff. RMIP's growth since it began in 2007 has been on the basis of this popularity, its proven academic record and its effectiveness in attracting programme graduates to careers in rural generalist practice.
Application Information
RMIP 2025 is open to applications from all 2024 University of Otago fourth year medical students.
Applicants are asked to write a statement about themselves and their background (about 600 words), indicating why they think they would be a suitable candidate for RMIP.
Applicants are asked to indicate their order of preference for each of the teaching centres in their application, noting that the application is to RMIP, not to a particular site.
- Wairoa
- Tararua
- Wairarapa
- Marlborough
- West Coast
- Ashburton
- Queenstown
- Alexandra
- Clutha
Applications will be accepted via SONIA from 30 June and close 1 September 2024.
All applying students will be invited to a Zoom interview
- Interviews will be conducted 9–11 September, and interviewed applicants will have until 16 September to let the RMIP administrator know of any changes they would like to make to their application, including withdrawal or site prioritisation.
- Successful applicants will be offered a position on the programme (including site) in late September. Where possible sites will be prioritised to student situations and preferences discussed at interview. In the event this is not possible, students are expected to commit to an alternative site and the opportunities it will provide. If the programme position is declined based on site allocation it may instead be offered to another student.
- Successful students will be advised of the full class list and site allocations in early October 2024.
RMIP Information Sessions
RMIP representatives (teachers and students) will visit the main schools mid-year to talk about the programme and answer questions.
We look forward to seeing you there!
| Campus and Room | Day and Time |
| Dunedin - Hercus D'Ath Lecture Theatre | Wednesday 10 July 11:30am–12:15pm |
| Christchurch - Room 506 | Thursday 11 July 4:45pm–5:15pm |
| Wellington - Nordmeyer Lecture Theatre | Thursday 18 July 12:00pm–12.45pm |
Contact details
Dr Janine Lander
Director RMIP
Email janine.lander@otago.ac.nz
Dr Emma Boddington
Director RMIP - Student Support
Email emma.boddington@otago.ac.nz
Dale Bennett
RMIP Administrator
Email rmip.administrator@otago.ac.nz