Some medical students falsified documents so they could go travelling, instead of completing placements at hospitals overseas.

Some Otago medical students who lied about their overseas work placements have expressed remorse after being caught out by an investigation.

The University of Otago confirmed academic misconduct findings against 15 trainee intern medical students in their sixth and final year of training.

Stuff last month reported Kiwi medical students had allegedly been using fake documents to take two-month holidays while pretending to be on mandatory work placements overseas.

The allegations suggest some interns choose specific medical centres in Belize, Bosnia and Italy, where they can get their placement signed-off – sometimes for cash – after only a week or less.

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Instead of gaining experience and providing vital medical support to the communities, the final-year students then go on holiday. They also fund their flights with a government grant.

The rort requires the students to provide false documentation, usually signed-off by overseas doctors for money.

Following a formal investigation, the university has written to 15 Christchurch-based trainee interns who were found to have submitted reports that were misleading about their level of commitment while on overseas elective placements.

Some students worked just one out of a five week placement, spending four weeks travelling instead.

Supplied Medical students have been falsifying their placement documents to go on extensive holidays, it was claimed. The University of Otago has found supporting evidence. (File photo)

Those involved were now required to resubmit accurate elective reports and to "undertake additional work addressing issues of integrity".

"After this, a case-by-case assessment will be made as to whether each student's overall work across the 12 months of the trainee intern year is sufficient for a pass to be awarded."

The students had been asked to make the appropriate repayment of their stipend to the government.

The students exercised "very poor judgment and acted unethically in doing so", the university said in a statement.

"Some of the students have expressed remorse, regret and embarrassment at their actions", however none had made repayments "as yet".

Otago Medical School dean Professor Barry Taylor said the university was extremely disappointed its trust had been seriously broken and the students involved had breached academic and ethical standards.

"The majority of our students have diligently completed their electives and reported honestly on them. However, a number of students have exhibited very poor judgement in taking varying, but significant, amounts of time away from placement activities to travel and holiday and then not accurately reflecting this in their elective reports.

"In doing so they have let the school, the public, their colleagues and themselves down badly."

Students must complete a three-month placement, either in New Zealand or abroad, during which they are called trainee interns. The idea is they gain valuable experience before becoming registered doctors.

One medical student, who asked not to be named for fear of repercussions, told Stuff in October they were compelled to speak out as although most trainee interns did fulfil their degree requirements, "about 10 per cent" attended only "one day or one week" at the placement before going travelling.

The student said the issue was known to university staff and believed the medical school – particularly the Christchurch and Wellington campuses – had "covered up" the potential scandal.

Some of this year's interns used all or part of the three-month placement as a holiday, they said.

"This group lied to the medical school about it in interviews, faked elective reports and covered for each other with more lies.

"I believe that letting these students go without consequences is reinforcing this bad behaviour, which is likely to be detrimental to these students when they become practising doctors and to the patients they are treating."

The university said it was reviewing its own processes to prevent the misconduct occurring again. The placement scheme will be reviewed in time for the 2020 electives. It will also look into any further possible cases if relevant information comes to hand.

"We understand the public disquiet on learning of this breach of trust, and we will take appropriate steps to prevent this happening again," Taylor said.

The university said it was not aware of any complaints about similar behaviour in previous years.

In a statement, the Tertiary Education Commission said it was disappointed "a small number of Otago University Christchurch-based medical students chose to provide misleading documents relating to evidence of their overseas medical placements".

The commission was following up with Otago University and Auckland University to ensure government funding was being used appropriately by medical students, a spokesman said.

New Zealand Medical Students' Association president Fraser Jeffery said the association had been supporting the students involved, who had made an "error in judgement".

"They have all now taken responsibility for their actions and I trust that they will be able to move on with their careers once this process is complete."