The Otago Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree is a prestigious four-year programme positioned at the cutting edge of physiotherapy education. It is internationally renowned for excellence because the graduates it prepares for the profession are among the best in the field. The academic year is from late February to November. The programme is of four years' duration with years 2 to 4 being undertaken at the School of Physiotherapy. In the first year, students take the Health Sciences First Year course and in the majority of cases, students are selected from this year. Students who complete all the competencies of the four years of study are then eligible to apply for registration as a physiotherapist with the New Zealand Physiotherapy Board.