The change, which would be introduced in 2015, would mean students who indicated they had a preference for one particular programme - for example physiotherapy - would be given preference over those who did not give a preference.
The change would not apply to dental and medical students, but would affect how students were chosen for medical laboratory science, radiation therapy, pharmacy and physiotherapy.
This was a departure from the present situation, whereby students were offered places in programmes based on exam results.
Academic and international deputy vice-chancellor Prof Vernon Squire said at this week's council meeting the change would likely result in increased student performance.
''It's observed that ... students who choose only one programme do better because they are more passionate,'' Prof Squire said.
The fact admissions were based on exam results also made the University of Otago a ''riskier proposition'' for students.
Students would receive ''lots'' of information about how the new system worked and would have until ''quite late on'' in the academic year to choose their preferred programme.
They would able to select more than one programme, or not specify a favoured programme, but this would put them at a disadvantage to those who selected only one.
The change would not apply to international students, who were chosen separately.
