The University of Otago

The University of Otago is recognised as the first university in New Zealand, and will celebrate its 150^th anniversary in 2019, a significant milestone for Dunedin, New Zealand, as well as the university.

The anniversary will be marked with a year-long course of events celebrating and highlighting the University of Otago’s achievements, reflecting on its contributions to society, as well as engaging with its community and more.

The university was established in the year 1869 to create an educational environment that is world-class and suitable for life in New Zealand.

The university is currently recognised as a significant educational, cultural and economic force, and has over 20,000 students and over 4,029 staff in employment. It has more than 150,000 former students and enjoys a reputation worldwide for its outstanding teaching and research.

Otago is New Zealand’s only university offering both academic excellence and outstanding student experience. Otago leads the way when it comes to world-class teaching and student lifestyle. It has an unparalleled reputation in the National Teaching Excellence Awards with seven Supreme Award wins over the past 15 years.

The university tops all of the TEC (Tertiary Education Commission) educational performance indicators for areas such as course and qualification completions, retention of students, as well as progression to higher study. Students at Otago are taught by academic staff who are dedicated to teaching, and who are internationally recognised for their research.

The research awards Otago staff have won include the Rowheath Trust Award which aims to develop research at the university as well as to provide recognition to the remarkable research performance of early career staff.

Otago is placed in the world’s top 50 Universities (QS rankings 2018) for the study of anatomy, archaeology, development studies, education, physiology, dentistry, and sports-related subjects. The university’s internationally accredited business school is an Asia-Pacific leader in education and research, and its arts and humanities are ranked in the top 100 in the world.

Otago has earned an international reputation for the quality of its research and training. It is home to 12 flagship multidisciplinary research centres and 17 research themes with particular teaching and research strengths across the areas of biomedical sciences, applied sciences, accounting and finance, clinical medicine, dentistry, earth sciences, economics, education, English language and literature, food and nutrition, law, medicine, pharmacy, philosophy, physics, psychology, public health, and tourism.

Otago offers a first-class education delivering over 195 undergraduate programmes, as well as postgraduate programmes across:

Commerce

The world needs business graduates who are flexible, capable and determined to succeed. The Otago Business School meets these needs with more than 20 programmes from undergraduate level through to postgraduate certificates, diplomas, masters and PhD programmes. Choose from a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in International Business or Tourism, or gain your Master of Business Administration from the top MBA programme in New Zealand.

Health sciences

The Division of Health Sciences consists of the Otago Medical School, the only Faculty of Dentistry in New Zealand, the School of Pharmacy and the School of Physiotherapy. Health sciences provides a range of qualifications leading to careers as medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and medical laboratory scientists. The division also provides programmes in the areas of Radiation Therapy, Dental Technology, Oral Health and Biomedical Sciences.

Humanities

The value of a humanities degree is that it imparts essential knowledge and understanding about humans and the world we live in. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree, with its wide range of majors, Otago offers music, performing arts and theology, as well as professional programmes in law, social work and teaching. Otago also offers a diverse set of outstanding postgraduate programmes that are highly competitive.

Sciences

The division has research and teaching strengths in fundamental and applied sciences, health and human performance, and environmental science. It provides a range of disciplines which are unique to the university. Alongside the cornerstone Bachelor of Science, the division also offers qualifications like the Bachelor of Surveying, Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Sports Technology and the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Natural History Filmmaking.

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.

The entry requirements for students who wish to pursue postgraduate study differs by programme, with most of them requiring a qualification in the bachelor level in the same area of study, and some having 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 honours degree in the same or related discipline, as their intended area of research.

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 current 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: 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.

Arina Aizal, a 2018 first year anatomy student in 2018 from Malaysia studied in the Foundation Year Programme in 2017, said, “I consider Foundation Year the best 8 months of my life. We are all set in classes of around 20 people and it is very diverse, we have this special bond because we see each other every day, all the time.”

Most study at the University of Otago takes place at its campus in Dunedin, a safe city that is easy to get around and has a relatively inexpensive cost of living. The university also has campuses in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill, where there are different facilities to meet the needs of its diverse population of students.

Most international students choose to live in one of the 15 residential colleges situated on or near the university’s campus, accommodating nearly 3,500 students. This is a great way for them to meet new friends and adjust to their new home. Others prefer to stay in university-managed flats, and there are also private accommodation options. Whichever students choose, the Accommodation Office will help them find accommodation that is best suitable for them.

The University of Otago is recognised for its advanced research labs, lecture theatres, and libraries. There is unlimited Wi-Fi across campus and computer labs are open 24/7.

For students who are serious about sports, the university hosts international cricket, minutes away from campus, and has an international rugby stadium right next door.

The university’s gym facility, Unipol Recreation Centre, provides everything students require for physical exercise free of cost, including weights and cardio, group fitness classes, a sports hall, social sport and outdoor adventures.

The Otago International Friendship Network (OIFN) helps new incoming international students connect with friendly and returning Otago students to ensure they settle into Dunedin as well as adjust to university life. OIFN is a supportive and fun way to meet more people and can smooth the path for international students to settle well in a new place.