University of Otago

About the university

Available places: 1 semester place for academic year 2025/2026

Established: 1869 which makes it the oldest university in New Zealand.
Number of students: 17,000
Campus: The university has five campuses, main campus is located in the centre of Dunedin.
Student life: The Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) offers a wide range of support and activities for students, for example: volunteer programmes, film festivals, representation in classes, introduction to the university and OUSA Recreation: a hub including OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre, OUSA Aquatic Centre and OUSA Squash Courts.

About Dunedin

Dunedin is a university city with over 120,000 inhabitants. The city is one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the southern hemisphere. There are beaches and rocks at the Pacific Ocean, perfect for surfing or for watching seals and penguins. In Dunedin city center, just a few minutes walk from the university area, the city offers entertainment, such as sports events and social and cultural activities. Dunedin is renowned for its culinary experiences in the form of fresh local seafood and delicacies. Further inland, just a few hours drive, there are other attractions, such as indigenous forests and ski resorts and vineyards.

Information from University of Otago

Restrictions

Exchange students from Umeå may only be accepted to Dunedin campus.

Closed programmes/courses:
Teachers college
Medicine
Dentistry
College of Education
Psychiatry
Physiotherapy
Pharmacology
Pharmacy or any other clinical courses

Programmes/courses with limited access: Some courses such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science Communication and Wildlife Management and Marine Science are restricted in admissions - see the notes in the course catalogue.

Undergraduate diploma needed
Students will have to complete a bachelor's degree, and need an undergraduate diploma in order to apply for graduate courses.

Courses

Course levels:
100: 1st year courses (often first year papers; most have no pre-requisites). 
200: 2nd year courses (you must meet prerequisites to take these courses at Otago.) 
300: 3rd year courses (you must meet prerequisites to take these courses at Otago.) 
400: 4th year courses (Honours/Graduate level papers.)

Course types: Courses are called 'papers' at University of Otago. Most papers are 18 points respectively.

Course information:
Courses at University of Otago
Explore Otago courses  

Full time studies (corresponding to 30 hp):

Undergraduate studies: 60 credits
Postgraduate studies: 60 credits

Academic year

Term 2: July–November
Term 1: Feb–June

Additional costs

As an exchange student, you do not need to pay tuition fees. However, additional costs may incur.

Please note that students will need to pay for mandatory health insurance (Studentsafe-University). For more information, please see website   

Accommodation

Students are encouraged to apply for Uniflats. All the University Flats are located within an easy walk of the University campus and main shopping centre. Students share the cleaning and cooking duties and usually shop together for the food. Rent fees include electricity, internet, bed linen, kitchen equipment, UniFlats community events and the services of the University Flats. Flatting expenses are shared with the other students in the flat and are not included in the rent.
University Flats

Student support

Study with disabilities (umu.se)

Disability Information And Support  

Additional information

Student grants and loans for studies outside of Sweden

You may be entitled to student grants and loans from CSN when studying abroad.

As the cost of living and accommodation may be higher abroad, you can apply for an extra loan known as an additional loan for studies abroad.

You can also apply for an additional loan to cover additional costs, i.e. travel and insurance costs.

Latest update: 2024-10-09