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The University of Otago staff, experts in pathology, microbiology, public health, and immunology, have worked closely with the New Zealand Government to make the university a world leading institution in its fight against Covid-19. Government decision-making has been positively impacted by their calls to action and Otago staff are now some of the most prominent faces of the country's highly praised evidence-based response.

Along with the teaching and academic support given to students during this unprecedented time, Otago has implemented student-focused initiatives such as:

• Online learning

A greater number of Otago qualifications are available for online study. To view the complete list of programmes and papers, students can visit the Learning at Otago in 2021 section of the university website.

• 2021 international scholarships

In addition to scholarships already available, Otago now also offers students international pathway, undergraduate, and postgraduate scholarships to support their academic goals.

• Pūtea Tautoko Student Hardship Fund

This is a support fund for international students who experience financial hardship due to Covid-19.

• AskOtago and international student support

This serves as a focal point for special support and communication, where students are connected to important university services and information.

Students should check the Otago site regularly for its latest updates on the Covid-19 situation. If students have questions that are not covered on the Otago Covid-19 page, they can contact AskOtago.

Otago is among the best research universities in the Asia-Pacific region. It has an unmatched record in the National Teaching Excellence Awards having won six supreme awards over the past nine years. Its diverse staff members are world-class and are among the most internationally-trained in the world, fostering global collaborations and offering an international perspective.

Many of the university's study options are the only qualifications of their kind at a national level. The university tops all of the TEC (Tertiary Education Commission) educational performance indicators in New Zealand for areas such as course and qualification completions, retention of students, as well as progression to higher study. Students at Otago benefit from research-led teaching and are taught by academic staff who are dedicated to teaching, as well as internationally recognised for their research.

Student voices

''I have had a wonderful experience with the staff, they are very approachable. I have found that studying is not merely learning, it is much more than that, it has become an exciting and fun task for me. Even in the theoretical classes, concepts are taught in a practical way. The labs are simply amazing. Otago has made both the living and the learning invigorating.'' - Khushboo Soni (India)/ Bachelor of Applied Science (Forensic Analytical Science)

To help international students achieve their goal of studying at Otago, the University of Otago Language Centre and Foundation Year (UOLCFY) offers a pathway for students to meet the entrance requirements for both undergraduate and postgraduate study. The UOLCFY also provides excellent preparation for academic study.

The University of Otago Language Centre delivers a range of English-language programmes, as well as pathway programmes leading to further study. Five levels of tuition in general English are offered, from elementary to advanced. The lessons are learner-centred and the materials reflect a contemporary New Zealand context. The average class has 14 students and is a full-time course of 23 hours a week. Upon completion of a programme, each student receives a certificate and a report detailing their achievement.

The University of Otago foundation year offers a programme of two 13-week semesters where students can choose to study one of the four academic streams which align with the four University of Otago academic divisions namely business/commerce health science arts/humanities and science/applied science/life science. Students who successfully complete the ten-paper, 26-week programme are awarded the foundation studies certificate. This certificate guarantees students' entry to their chosen University of Otago first-year course (except those with limited intakes) and is recognised by all New Zealand universities as an entrance qualification.

Students in the UOLCFY are offered full student support services, a comprehensive orientation and a weekly programme of student activities and events.

Violina Gunawan, former foundation year student and recipient of 2019 Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship said, ''UOLCFY has provided an excellent academic and non-academic transition. I feel very safe and well-supported studying here. The amount of help that is offered is unbelievable and it makes me feel that I belong here and I deserve the chance to be successful.''

For all international students whose first language is not English, evidence of a satisfactory level of English language proficiency must be provided. Students should include with their application a certified statement of results from an accepted English language test that has been taken within two years of the start of their proposed studies at Otago.

For undergraduate study, students will usually need the equivalent of IELTS 6.0 overall in the academic module, with no individual band below 6.0. For postgraduate study, students will usually need the equivalent of IELTS 6.5 overall in the academic module, with no individual band below 6.0. Some courses may have a higher English language requirement and students are advised to check with the international office.

To study at the University of Otago, students also need a recognised university entrance qualification, along with the required score in a recognised English language test. The university recognises many international qualifications as equivalent to a New Zealand qualification for entry.

For undergraduate study, Otago offers both general and specialised bachelors' degrees. Specialised degrees have additional entry requirements and limits on the number of students who may enrol to general bachelor's degrees.

The entry requirements for students who wish to pursue postgraduate study differs by programme, with courses requiring a qualification at a bachelor's degree level in the same area of study, and programmes having further requirements, like relevant work experience.

Some master's degrees require students to complete a postgraduate diploma, then proceed to their second year of study. If students are interested in studying a new subject at postgraduate level, the university has a diploma for graduates, which can act as a bridge to postgraduate study.

To study a PhD, students usually require a master's degree or good honour's degree in the same or related discipline as their intended area of research.

In recognition of the on-going difficulties faced by international students, Otago is proud to offer those joining in the year 2021, a range of dedicated scholarships at all levels namely pathway, undergraduate and postgraduate.

For undergraduate study, Otago supports all eligible international students with the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship worth NZD 10,000 (conditions apply). This scholarship is designed to support students to continue their academic journey with Otago, whether on-campus in Dunedin or online (selected programmes) from their home country. To ensure the best possible home-away-from-home, New Zealand-based students also receive a guaranteed place in university-owned accommodation (conditions apply).

For postgraduate study, the NZD 10,000 Otago International Excellence Scholarships support high-achieving international students commencing study in coursework/taught masters or postgraduate diplomas. These are available to students both on-campus and online (selected programmes) from within New Zealand or their home country, across humanities, business and science subjects. Existing scholarships are also available for research degree students.

The NZD 4,000 Otago International Pathway Scholarship is available to high-achieving students enrolling in the foundation year programme at the University of Otago Language Centre and Foundation Year.

The graduates of the University of Otago are highly sought-after globally as they are known for their negotiating and interpersonal skills. Additionally, they possess analytical and conceptual skills, as well as independent judgement.

The university's career development centre's new employability award programme, OtagoExtra equips students with the skills they require for life after they graduate.

The centre has been voted the best among New Zealand's universities two years consecutively by the New Zealand Association for Graduate Employers (NZAGE).

The university's division of commerce, the Otago Business School is an Asia-Pacific leader in education and holds EQUIC and AACSB accreditation, ensuring its qualifications are globally portable and internationally recognised. The school's business graduates have an excellent reputation in the international business arena and are well-known throughout the world for their independence and practicality, derived from the Otago culture.

Health science graduates from the University of Otago are well respected throughout the world for their skills, and their clinical and research excellence. All health science programmes at the university include substantial clinical or laboratory-based learning, providing students with the experience, skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for a rewarding and successful career as a healthcare provider.

Students of humanities are encouraged to embrace critical thinking, applying ground-breaking methodologies, theories and approaches to make sense of human experience.

The division of sciences develops the essential lifelong learning skills that employers seek such as critical thinking, communication skills, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and analytical and problem-solving skills.