University of Otago

The University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand has campuses in Auckland, Dunedin, Invercargill, Christchurch, and Wellington. The University of Otago, Dunedin was established in 1869 through an ordinance issued by the Otago Provincial Council. It is the oldest university in New Zealand. It was granted an endowment of 100,000 acres of land and authorized initially for awarding degrees in medicine, arts, music, and law.

Infrastructure of the University of Otago

The University’s Dunedin campus is the main center with its administrative building, academic departments, and more. The campus in Auckland has the course information and liaison office, distance education facility, and children’s issues department. The Christchurch campus has the Otago Medical School, research facilities, postgraduate education programs, and more. The campus at Invercargill houses the health science and education departments. The campus in Wellington is home to various departments and schools as well. 

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study is an ongoing research initiative that is highly acclaimed for its extensive study of the development, well-being, and health of New Zealand citizens. Other research studies and projects include brain imaging study (MRI), the next generation study, the family health history study, and the parenting study. There are several research centers and groups along with databases for health science and media. 

Academics at the University of Otago

The admission cycle is as follows- 

Undergraduate Courses: 

Postgraduate Courses: 

Admission Process of the University of Otago

The University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand admission process involves direct applications to the university with the following: 

• Academic transcripts. 
• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) Report for applicants of specific countries. 
• You may submit applications via any authorized agent or partner institution. 
• Identity proof. 
• Notarized/certified copy of birth certificate/passport. 

The University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand admission requirements include the following: 

• At least 75% in the CBSE/CISCE with 70% in English for undergraduate courses. 
• Postgraduate programs require at least a bachelor’s degree. 
• English language proficiency is required. 
• You will need at least 6.0-6.5 in IELTS and 80-95 in TOEFL iBT. 
• Other accepted examinations include PTE, TOEFL PBT, CAE, CPE, CIE, LanguageCert, and more. 

The University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand acceptance rate is 52%. The university offers 200+ UG and PG courses for students. Some of the popular courses include agricultural innovation, accounting, applied geology, botany, biochemistry, communication studies, data science, computer science, economics, health sciences, and more. 

Formal lectures begin on 28th February and graduation takes place around 14-17 December (these are all approximate timelines). The university will re-open in January and summer school programs will begin thereafter. 

Extra-Curriculars & Diversity 

The University hosts 2,500+ international students from 100+ countries on campus. There are numerous student societies and clubs available for pupils. They can also start their societies if they wish. The Otago University Student Association offers several events and recreational activities throughout the year along with sports facilities, tournaments, and cultural clubs. The UVC (University Volunteer Centre) offers various opportunities to students throughout the year as well. 

Career/Professional at the University of Otago

The University has strong ties with businesses and enterprises, offering them services like research, enterprise solutions, intellectual property, and more. The University helps students with career planning, finding the right pathways, and branding them suitably for the job market. It also helps with the Otago Career Ambassador Programme where students get an opportunity to develop their skills and attributes in areas like leadership, project management, and more. Students can participate in several workshops, seminars, and career fairs throughout the year for connecting with prospective employers. 

They can also find vacancies at the NZUniTalent job board, which is available at MyCareerSpace. They get assistance with their cover letters and CVs along with interview practice and applications. Employers get services for advertising vacant positions and also connecting with students. There are summer work programs or internships available for students as well. 

The list of famous alumni includes the following names: 

• Stella Maxwell, model. 
• Bill English, politician. 
• Jamie Joseph, rugby player, and coach. 
• Nikki Kaye, politician. 
• Juliet Marillier, writer. 

Financials at the University of Otago

The University of Otago Dunedin fees vary, depending on the course. For example, a Bachelor of Arts degree will cost roughly NZD31,366 per year while a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts will cost around NZD34,566 onwards and the same is true for an MA (Thesis) program. A B.Sc degree may cost around NZD 36,625-38,336 or slightly near these figures. M. Sc degrees may cost around NZD42,957 and upwards. The tuition fee for B. Com degrees can cost you approximately NZD35,461. For Indian students, this will roughly be equivalent to anywhere between INR 16.58 lakh to INR 22.71 lakh on average for these programs.