The University of Auckland is reviewing its procedures after a man was able to pose as a medical student for two years without being detected.
He applied for entry into the university's medical programme in 2010 and was unsuccessful but continued to attend classes.
"Because of the size of the medical class, and by not submitting assessments or sitting tests, the individual was able to deceive classmates and teachers," said the dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor John Fraser.
"Ultimately the presence of this person was detected when an assignment was submitted that did not match any name on the class list."
The imposter was not given any confidential or restricted training material, and was not, to the university's knowledge, ever able to examine any patients or receive confidential patient information, Prof Fraser said.
The university is investigating how this could have happened.
Professor Fraser said they were taking the matter very seriously. He said this was the first such incident in the 43-year history of the medical school.
