The University of Otago is New Zealand’s oldest university and was founded in 1869 by an act of the Otago Provincial Council. The new college was given 100,000 acres of grazing land and authorized to award degrees in art, medicine , law , and music. The university was originally located in a building on the site of John Wycliffe House in Princes Street, but when the northern parts of the Clock Tower and Geology Department buildings were completed in 1878 and 1879, it was moved to its more current site. The university is part of the Matariki Network of Universities (MNU). We bring you a blog with detailed information about the University and the University of Otago’s admission rates .
Highlights
| University type | State University |
| Year founded | 1869 |
| Number of campuses | 5 |
| Number of residential colleges | 15 |
| Graduate employment rate | 95% (full time) |
| Accepted applications | Online (via eVision) |
| Studying the work | Accessible |
| Intake type | Semester wise |
| Program mode | Face-to-face and online |
| Acceptance rate | 58% |
| Contact | +64-3-479-7000, university@otago.ac.nz |
| Website | https://www.otago.ac.nz/ |
University of Otago Review
Story
The University of Otago was founded in 1869 by an act of the Otago Provincial Council. The university was initially given 100,000 acres of land and the right to award degrees in medicine , art , music and law. The university opened in July 1871 with just three teachers and initially used the site of John Wycliffe’s house in Princes Street. The university is currently divided into four academic departments: Otago Business School, Health Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences.
Campus
The University of Otago has five campuses in New Zealand. The main campus of the University of Otago is in Dunedin. The Dunedin campus houses central administration as well as four academic faculties including business, medicine, humanities and sciences . The University of Otago Christchurch campus is home to health sciences, the Otago Medical School, clinical education, the school of physiotherapy and clinical education. The Auckland Campus manages the Invercargill campuses for children’s issues, course information, communications and distance learning. These include the Southland Campus College of Education and Health Sciences Southland Research Centre. The University of Otago Wellington includes research, distance learning and postgraduate education.
Achievements
The university has received many awards, including the Best Paper Award, the Evert Gummesson Award for Outstanding Research, the Sir Frank Holmes Award, the OUSA Teaching Award 2015 and others. The Rowheath Foundation Prize and the Carl Smith Medal were awarded to Professor Benjamin Schonthal and Associate Professor John Shaver in 2021.
Why study at the University of Otago?
Some points for choosing University of Otago are mentioned below:
Courses
The University of Otago offers over 200 programmes. Some of the University of Otago’s most desirable and highly rated programs include medicine , pharmacy , dentistry and computer science .
Facilities
At the University of Otago, international students can choose from more than 200 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university is in high demand for its excellent medical and agricultural courses. Dentistry is one of the most sought after programs at the university. In addition, 13 specialized undergraduate programs with specific curriculum and admission requirements are offered to international students.
Scholarships
The institute offers various scholarships to international students. Undergraduate scholarships offer up to NZ$10,000 for tuition. On the other hand, postgraduate students can receive up to NZ$15,000 per year along with partial tuition fee waiver.
Placements
The university offers 17 internship portals for various departments. In addition, the Career Center helps students explore career opportunities and conduct self-assessment. Some of the recruiting companies are ANZ Bank, Deloitte, Hilton, Bank of New Zealand and Fulton Hogan.
Student diversified
- The university welcomes approximately 3,000 international students from more than 100 countries. This reflects the multicultural diversity of the university campus. It is known for its 14 college residential complexes.
- With a large international student population and strong links with many international institutions, the university is committed to providing students with a global perspective and overseas employment opportunities. Sonia, the university’s student placement system, offers students the opportunity to expand their practical knowledge and improve their professional skills to undertake internships with reputed companies.
University of Otago rankings
| University Ranking – THE (Times Higher Education) 2023 | #301-350 |
| World University Rankings – QS 2023 | #217 |
| Global Universities – US News and World Report 2023 | #247 |
| US News and World Report’s Best Global Universities in New Zealand 2022 | #2 |
| Best Global Universities in Australia or New Zealand, according to US News and World Report, 2022. | #17 |
| Graduate employability ranking according to QS World University Rankings, 2022. | #251-300 |
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University of Otago acceptance rate
More than 3,000 international students study at the University of Otago. Since the international student acceptance rate is around 58%, it is quite difficult for students to get admitted to this university. If you want a degree that will guarantee employment along with a higher education, then this university is the best option for you.
Important dates for the University of Otago
Some important dates related to admission to the University of Otago are given below:
| Program | Deadline |
| Applications of International Students (UG and PG) | October 31 |
| Applications for International Students to Study Abroad (UG) | December 1 |
| New, renewing and returning students applying for Summer School or first semester Entry Pathway (UG) | December 10 |
| Most awards, master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates. | December 10 |
University of Otago fees
Tuition fees at the University of Otago are as follows:
| Program | Average annual tuition fees (in New Zealand and Indian rupees) |
| Bachelor’s degree | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| graduate student | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
Note. These figures are approximate. Contact the experts at Leverage Edu for more details.
Cost of living at the University of Otago
The cost of living for students in New Zealand depends on their lifestyle. Below is the total cost of living:
On campus (per year)
- Books and supplies – NZD 500 (INR 23,000).
- Accommodation and meals – NZD 170 (INR 7,000).
- Other expenses: NZD 4 (INR 180).
Off campus (per year)
- Accommodation and meals – 12,000 New Zealand dollars (60,000 INR).
- Other expenses: NZD 4 (INR 180).
Use the cost of living calculator for a more detailed breakdown of living costs in different countries.
Courses offered at the University of Otago
Below is a list of some of the best University of Otago courses and their annual tuition fees.
| Well | Duration | Annual Tuition Fees (in New Zealand Rupees and Indian Rupees) |
| BCom in Finance | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| BCom in Human Resource Management | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| BCom in International Business | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| Bachelor of Computer Science | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| BCom in Management | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| BCom in Marketing | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| BCom in Tourism | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| BCom in Accounting | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| Bachelor of Economics | 3 years | NZD 26,400 (INR 13,16,378.99) |
| MCom in Finance | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
| Master of Computer Science | 1 year | NZD 39,377 (INR 19,63,449.07) |
| MCom in International Business | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
| MCom in Management | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
| MCom in Marketing | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
| MK in economics | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
| MCom in Tourism | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
| MCom in Accounting | 1 year | NZD 34,161 (INR 17,03,364.49) |
You can select the course and university of your choice using AI Course Finder .
Qualifications for admission to the University of Otago
Some of the general requirements for admission to Keele University are as follows:
Eligibility for a bachelor’s degree
- To obtain a bachelor’s degree, an applicant must obtain first class marks in 12th grade.
- Some specific undergraduate courses require an applicant to have an SAT or ACT score .
- If the original transcript is not in English , the student must also provide an official translation.
- English language proficiency tests such as PTE , Duolingo , TOEFL , IELTS, etc. are required for any course.
Eligibility for master’s studies
- For admission to the Master’s degree, all applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. The bachelor’s degree must have a first or second class (2.1) or at least a 4 (or international equivalent) GPA .
- These graduate courses require GMAT or GRE scores . Some medical courses require UCAT scores.
- MBA and some other specialized master’s programs require applicants to have at least 2 years of full-time work experience.
- If the original transcript is not in English, an official translation must also be provided.
- English language proficiency tests such as PTE, Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, etc. are required for any course.
Required test results
| Test | Check |
| IELTS | 6 |
| TOEFL | 95 |
| PTE | 58 |
Read also: IELTS Exam
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Application process to the University of Otago
The University of Otago application process is below:
- List your courses using our AI Course Finder and get expert advice. Experts will then initiate your application process at Keele University via our shared dashboard platform, where you can also check the status of your application process yourself.
- The next step is to collect and organize all your documents such as SOPs , essays, certificates and LORs , as well as test results such as IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, ACT, etc.
- If you are not yet prepared for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GMAT, GRE etc. which is definitely an important factor while studying abroad, you can join our Leverage Live classes. You will be trained by experts to get a high score.
- After submitting your application and all required documents, specialists will begin the process of applying for accommodation, student visa and scholarship or student loan .
- Now is the time to wait for your offer letter, which may take around 4-6 weeks or more. Once your offer letter has been accepted, it is time to pay your semester fee.
Required documents
Some of the required documents are listed below:
- Official academic transcripts
- Scanned copy of passport
- GMAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL or required test report
- Professional or academic LORs
- SOP
- Essay (if necessary)
- Portfolio (if necessary)
- Updated resume or resume
- UK passport and student visa.
- Bank details
Contact Leverage Edu Experts for assistance in writing an attractive SOP and student visa.
Scholarship programs
Some of the best University of Otago scholarship programs are listed below:
| Scholarship | Quantity |
| Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships | NZD 10,000 (INR 4,98,628.41) |
| University of Otago Entrance Scholarship | NZD 5,000 (INR 2,49,314.20) |
| Otago International Excellence Scholarship | NZD 10,000 (INR 4,98,628.41) |
| Otago International Pathway Scholarships | NZD 4,000 (INR 1,99,451.36) |
Must Read: Scholarships and Applications to Study Abroad
You can also get an education loan according to your course and university to study abroad through Leverage Finance .
Placements
The University of Otago Career Development Center helps students explore career opportunities and build their future careers. It helps students with career planning, applying for jobs, gaining experience and finding jobs.
Salary information for University of Otago graduates and graduates by employment type is shown in the table below:
| Employment sector | Average starting salary (in NZD and INR) |
| Executive management and change | NZD 260,000 (INR 1,29,64,338.53) |
| Financial services | NZD 240,000 (INR 1,19,67,081.72) |
| Compliance, AML, KYC and monitoring | NZD 184,000 (INR 91,74,762.65) |
| Legal department | NZD 175,000 (INR 87,25,997.09) |
| Program and Project Management | NZD 173,000 (INR 86,26,271.41) |
| Financial control and strategy | NZD 124,000 (INR 61,82,992.22) |
Notable alumni
Being one of the most respected and renowned universities across the country, it has a rich alumni base. Below is a list of distinguished alumni of the University of Otago:
- David Benson-Pope – politician
- V. D. Borri – demographer
- Kristin Jensen Burke – mountaineer
- Dame Sylvia Cartwright – Governor General
- Brian Christie – neuroscientist
- Nathan Cohen – world champion and Olympic champion in rowing
- John Coverdale – academic psychiatrist
- John Crump – Infectious Disease Specialist
- David Cunliffe (Carrington) – politician
- Thomas Davis – politician, diplomat and explorer
Frequently Asked Questions
Question. Is the University of Otago a good university?
The University of Otago is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world and has a 5+ star rating in the QS Global University Performance Ratings.
Question. What is the University of Otago entry level?
The University of Otago’s acceptance rate is 58%.
Question. What is the University of Otago famous for?
The University of Otago is famous for its gold and wool rushes, which made Dunedin the largest and richest city in New Zealand.
