Dunstan Hospital rural hospital specialist and Alexandra co-ordinator for the immersion programme Dr Rachel Lynskey said the programme allowed fifth-year bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery students to spend a full year immersing themselves in the rural workforce and community.
It is the second year Dunstan Hospital has taken part in the programme, which started in 2007.
Dr Lynskey said the ultimate aim of the programme was to attract medical students into a career in rural medicine.
"The longer the placement the more likely students are to return post-study," she said.
Students will gain experience working on the wards or in outpatients at Dunstan Hospital as well as working with general practice doctors, midwives and health providers such as Uruuruwhenua Hauora.
"The idea is that students can learn more treating patients," Dr Lynskey said.
Students who want to take part in the programme have to apply and be interviewed to take part.
They then list their preference for where they would like to take part in the programme, with Dunstan being one of the options.
Medical student and programme participant Millie Simpson said there was more opportunity for hands-on work at Dunstan compared with the cities.
Fellow medical student and programme participant Anna Donaldson said she liked the smaller towns as they offered more variety.
She also felt medical practitioners were more valued in rural settings compared with the cities.
