The University of Otago, founded in 1869 by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council, is New Zealand's oldest university. The new University was given 100,000 acres of pastoral land as an endowment and authorised to grant degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law and Music.
Otago is famous for its residential college communities. We have 15 diverse colleges catering mostly for first-year students.
Flatting is also an important part of university life, offering both responsibility and independence. Dunedin has a wide range of rental accommodation from historic houses to multi-unit, purpose-built complexes.
The Student Accommodation Centre's accommodation advisers are available to talk to you Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm, or you can talk to a schools' liaison officer.
Studying at the University of Otago is so much more than an excellent academic experience – the accommodation you choose can shape your whole Otago experience.
Otago's Residential College community offers a supportive and collegial living experience, while living in a shared University-managed flat will enable you to develop the valuable life skills of responsibility and independence, whilst still receiving support in a collegiate based community.
Private accommodation in Dunedin is in high demand and many students sign a lease (contract) for a flat/house/room many months in advance of the lease beginning. Most students return to Dunedin in January or February, resulting in peak demand for the remaining rental properties and rooms. During this time, it may take weeks rather than days to find private accommodation. We recommend that students view their potential accommodation in person before they sign a lease, so organising some short-term (temporary) accommodation is advised.
Dunedin campus
The University of Otago main campus is located in Dunedin.
The Dunedin campus includes:
Central administration
Four academic divisions:
- Business
- Health Sciences
- Humanities
- Sciences
Auckland campus
Available through the Auckland Centre are:
- Children's Issues
- Course Information and Liaison
- Distance Education
Christchurch campus
The University of Otago's Christchurch campus is based at the University of Otago, Christchurch.
Available through the Christchurch campus are:
- Health Sciences
- Otago Medical School
- Clinical training
- School of Physiotherapy
- Clinical education
- Research
- Distance education
- Postgraduate education
Invercargill campus
The University of Otago, Invercargill hosts education and health sciences students, academic staff, and clinical staff.
We have two sites in Invercargill:
College of Education Invercargill Campus on Nelson Street
Health Sciences Study Hub at Southland Hospital
Wellington campus
The University of Otago's Wellington campus is based at the University of Otago, Wellington.
Available through the Wellington campuses are:
- Health Sciences
- Otago Medical School
- Clinical training
- School of Physiotherapy
- Clinical education
- Research
- Distance education
- Postgraduate education
Top global ranking
The University of Otago is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world, and has the highest-possible rating of 5 Stars Plus in the QS global university performance ratings.
Outstanding graduate employability
Employers love Otago graduates. 95% of our graduates go directly into work or further study.
Otago graduates are recognised for their interpersonal and negotiating skills, conceptual and analytical skills, and independent judgement.
Academic excellence
The University of Otago is New Zealand's top university for educational performance.
For 8 of the past 11 years, our teachers have beaten all other universities and polytechnics to win the Prime Minister's Supreme Award for Teaching Excellence.
At Otago, you'll be taught by lecturers and professors who are some of the best in New Zealand, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best in the world.
Amazing facilities
The University of Otago's Central Library (one of nine libraries at Otago) has been ranked 13th in the world as an absolute must to visit. The lnformation Services Building, which incorporates the Central Library, has won a number of architectural awards.
Our Dunedin campus is recognised as one of the world's most-beautiful campuses.
We also have genuinely world-class teaching and research labs, performance spaces, lecture theatres, study areas, and sporting facilities.
Extremely high student satisfaction
Student surveys show 98% satisfaction with administration and support; 98% with campus safety; 99% with libraries; 98% with residential colleges; and 97% with sport and recreation facilities.
Sustainability and positive social impact
Otago is the first university in New Zealand to achieve Fair Trade status.
Our Social Impact Studio achieves student-driven change through volunteering and leadership. We believe in channelling student creativity, vision, and insight for maximum social impact through our incredible volunteer programmes. Around 4,000 Otago students are registered volunteers, working with over 200 community organisations.
Unmatched student experience
In addition to being a centre of academic excellence, Otago is New Zealand's only true residential university. This gives you a student lifestyle that is unparalleled in New Zealand.85% of our students come from outside Dunedin (including 3,000 international students from 100 countries).3,500 of our first-year students live at one of 14 residential colleges, located on or near campus.Most of our 21,000 students live within 1 km of the Dunedin campus – creating our iconic student quarter that features academic, cultural, social, and sporting facilities, just a short walk from the Dunedin city centre.Being a residential university, Otago offers dozens of on-campus support services. These range from our modern student health centre (with subsidised medical and counselling services), to a superb disability support service, specialised IT support, and a careers service to prepare you for the graduate job market.And at Otago, there are over 140 student clubs and societies to choose from – so you'll find it easy to make new friends and discover new interests.
The University of Otago proudly claims being ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world as per the QS World University Rankings.
While there is no definitive agreement on the exact number of universities in the world, a generally agreed conservative count is that there are around 25,000-26,000.
QS use various techniques to ensure they assess the top universities in the world when they calculate their rankings, but only end up publishing their top 1,500.
The 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings sees the University of Otago move up to 206th place overall, from 217th in 2023 and now 214th place in 2024
