The number of Maori and Pacific students training to be doctors and dentists has skyrocketed

The University of Otago say there's been an increase in the diversity of students entering health professional programmes in recent years, especially Maori, Pacific and rural students.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor of health sciences professor Peter Crampton says he's disappointed there's been little change in the overall socioeconomic profile of health professional students.

Crampton says the University is trying to address this by including two further categories in admissions criteria - low socioeconomic groups and refugees.