University of Otago
Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka
New Zealand's oldest university, a residential, student-run campus town in Dunedin built around a Gothic clocktower.
- Students
- 21,295
- International
- 13%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- NZ$39,690
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1869
About Otago
The University of Otago was established by ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council in 1869 and began teaching in 1871, making it New Zealand's oldest university. Its main campus in Dunedin, anchored by the Gothic revival Clocktower complex, hosts the Health Sciences, Humanities, Business School and Sciences divisions, and the university also has campuses in Christchurch and Wellington (medical and health sciences), Auckland and Southland.
Otago has a long-standing reputation in health sciences, with medical schools in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, and in 2006 a government research assessment ranked it New Zealand's top university overall, first in clinical medicine, biomedical science, law, English, history and earth science. A 2006 ministry report also found it the country's most research-intensive university, with 40% of staff time devoted to research.
Dunedin is a student city, and Otago is famous for its residential culture: it owns or is affiliated with fourteen residential colleges, most of them catering mainly for first-year students, and students are known as "Scarfies". Otago suits students who want a traditional campus-town experience, a strong academic reputation in health, sciences and commerce, and a close-knit community.
Sapere aude
“Dare to be wise” — university motto
Why students choose Otago
New Zealand's oldest university, with a Clocktower campus often listed among the world's most beautiful.
Fourteen owned or affiliated residential colleges, most catering mainly for first-years, provide catered housing and an instant community.
Otago was ranked New Zealand's top research university in the 2006 government assessment, first in clinical medicine and biomedical science.
Business School degrees such as the BCom and BEntr accept international students in both Semester 1 (March) and Semester 2 (July).
Admissions
2027 academic year (Semester 1 from 1 March 2027; Semester 2 from 12 July 2027)
Selectivity
Otago does not publish an overall acceptance rate. General bachelor's degrees admit students who hold University Entrance (or an equivalent) and meet English requirements; specialised bachelor's degrees have extra entry requirements and limited places.
Typical entry requirements
| NCEA University Entrance (New Zealand) | NCEA Level 3 with 14 credits in each of three UE-approved subjects, plus UE literacy (10 credits at Level 2+) and numeracy (10 credits at Level 1+) |
|---|---|
| International qualifications | A qualification Otago accepts as equivalent to University Entrance; you must also be at least 16 when classes start and meet English requirements |
| Specialised bachelor's degrees | Additional entry requirements and a restricted choice of papers apply; check Otago's list of specialised bachelor's degrees |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 80 with writing 20 (tests taken before 21 January 2026) or 4 overall with writing 4 on the new scale; PTE Academic 50 (no skill below 42); Duolingo 105. Tests must be no more than two years old. Some programmes set higher levels. NCEA students and those taking IB or Cambridge in New Zealand meet English through the UE literacy requirement. |
Deadlines
- Applications open (2027 entry) Non-binding Passed1 May 2026
Opening date for most programmes starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2, 2027.
- International (offshore), Semester 1 2027 Non-binding Next deadline · In 40 days15 November 2026
Deadline for international students outside New Zealand applying for full degree study starting in Semester 1, 2027.
- Most bachelor's degrees and Health Sciences First Year (domestic) Non-binding In ~2 months10 December 2026
Otago lists 10 December as a standing annual date for new students in the BA, BCom, BSc, BHealSc, LLB (first year), Health Sciences First Year and other general degrees.
- International (onshore), Semester 1 2027 Non-binding In ~2 months10 December 2026
Deadline for international students already in New Zealand.
- International, Semester 2 2027 Non-binding In ~7 months30 April 2027
Deadline for international applications starting in July 2027. Domestic students taking only Semester 2 papers apply by 15 June.
Domestic dates on Otago's key dates page are standing annual dates (no year given); international dates are published for 2027. Applications for the health professional programmes (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and others) are due 13 August, for students already eligible to enter them; most school leavers start with Health Sciences First Year. Residential college applications open 1 August and close 30 September for onshore students (1 December 2026 for offshore international students). Semester 1, 2027 lectures begin on 1 March 2027 and Semester 2 on 12 July 2027.
How to apply
Apply online to Otago for admission and enrolment. You must be at least 16 when classes start, meet English language requirements and hold NZ University Entrance or an equivalent. Specialised bachelor's degrees have additional requirements.
What admissions looks for
- University Entrance or an accepted equivalent qualification.
- English language proficiency to Otago's published standard.
- For specialised degrees, the additional subject and selection requirements of the programme.
Tips for applying to Otago
- 1 If you are at a New Zealand school, make sure your NCEA Level 3 subjects are UE-approved and that you have the literacy and numeracy credits.
- 2 Apply for a residential college by 30 September (offshore international students by 1 December 2026); Otago's colleges cater mainly for first-year students.
- 3 If you are aiming for a health profession or another specialised degree, check the extra entry requirements early, as places are limited.
- 4 International students should compare fees by subject area: Otago charges per paper, and 2027 bachelor's fees run from about NZ$39,690 for some BA majors to over NZ$100,000 a year in the clinical years of Medicine and Dentistry.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in NZD
Otago offers entrance scholarships (applications open 1 July; the onshore international deadline was 15 August 2026) and international scholarships. Fees for continuing students may rise by at most 5% a year, and tuition is calculated per paper, so the actual fee depends on the papers you take. New Zealand's Fees Free final-year scheme ends on 31 December 2026.
- 5%
- Maximum annual fee increase for continuing students
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (Semester 1 and Semester 2), plus summer school
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
Majors from Accounting to Philosophy, Politics and Economics, with Semester 1 and 2 intakes; 2027 international fee NZ$42,840-46,200 depending on major.
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A 360-point Business School degree with Semester 1 and 2 intakes; 2027 international fee NZ$44,835.
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Home to the physics department that produced the Southern Hemisphere's first Bose-Einstein condensate in 1998.
Health sciences and medicine
Otago's Division of Health Sciences spans campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, where medical and physiotherapy clinical training takes place.
Research
- In 1998 Otago's Department of Physics made the first Bose-Einstein condensate in the Southern Hemisphere.
- A 2006 government report found Otago the most research-intensive university in New Zealand.
- Otago runs the Portobello Marine Laboratory on the Otago Peninsula.
Schools & faculties
- Division of Health Sciences
- Division of Humanities
- Otago Business School
- Division of Sciences
Student life
Otago is known for its student culture: students are called "Scarfies", after the scarves worn in Dunedin's cold winters, and student flats traditionally get their own names. Orientation week, run by the Otago University Students' Association, includes the toga party and an annual clocktower race. Fourteen owned or affiliated residential colleges provide catered accommodation, social life and welfare support, mostly for first-years.
- O-Week toga party and clocktower race.
- The "Scarfie" tradition and named student flats.
- Fourteen owned or affiliated residential colleges.
- Fellowships such as the Robert Burns Fellowship bring writers, artists and musicians to campus.
Housing. Otago owns or is affiliated with fourteen residential colleges that provide food, accommodation and pastoral support, most of them catering mainly for first-year students.
Location
Dunedin is a harbour city in the south of New Zealand's South Island, with the Otago Peninsula, home to Otago's Portobello Marine Laboratory, close by. The Dunedin campus is the university's heart, and much of student life happens in the flats and streets around it. Winters are cold, which is where the Scarfie nickname comes from.
Nearest airport: Dunedin Airport (DUD)
Notable alumni
- BE Bill English39th Prime Minister of New Zealand
- JF Janet FrameNovelist and author of An Angel at My Table
- SH Sir Harold GilliesPioneer of plastic surgery
- DS Dame Silvia CartwrightFormer Governor-General of New Zealand
- DK David KirkRugby World Cup-winning All Blacks captain and businessman
- RB Rayyanah BarnawiSaudi astronaut
- ES Emily SiedebergFirst female medical graduate in New Zealand
- SM Sir Malcolm GrantLawyer, head of University College London (2003-13) and later Chairman of NHS England
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to get into the University of Otago?
You need NZ University Entrance or an equivalent qualification, to meet English requirements and to be at least 16 when classes start. Specialised degrees have extra entry requirements.
What IELTS score does Otago require?
Undergraduates need IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 80 with writing 20 on the pre-2026 scale. Some programmes require more.
How much are Otago's fees for international students?
Fees depend on subject and are charged per paper. For 2027, international bachelor's fees start at about NZ$39,690 a year for some BA majors; a BCom costs NZ$42,840-46,200 and a BSc NZ$44,520-50,925.
Where do first-year students live at Otago?
Many first-years live in one of the fourteen residential colleges Otago owns or is affiliated with; most colleges cater mainly for first-year students and provide meals, accommodation and support.
When is the application deadline for the University of Otago?
International students outside New Zealand must apply by 15 November 2026 for Semester 1, 2027 (onshore international students by 10 December 2026), and by 30 April 2027 for Semester 2. Domestic applications for most bachelor's degrees are due 10 December.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Otago: International tuition fees
- University of Otago: 2027 international fees, Otago Business School
- University of Otago: 2027 international fees, Sciences
- University of Otago: 2027 international fees, Humanities
- University of Otago: 2027 international fees, Health Sciences
- University of Otago: Domestic tuition fees
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Otago in the QS World University Rankings 2027.