Applying for Accommodation at Otago

Are you eligible to apply?

You may apply if you are a current or future student of the University of Otago.
Prospective students from other institutions may be eligible to apply for limited places in City College & Salmond College.
This application is for accommodation only.

Applications open on 1 August for the full academic year, or if you are eligible, for Semester One of the following year.
Postgraduate students are welcome to apply at any time for full academic year accommodation at Abbey College.

We recommend that applications for full academic year accommodation in the Residential Colleges are made before the end of September.
International Students eligible, for Semester One accommodation in the University Flats should apply before the 1 December each year.
We recommend that applications for Semester Two should be made before the 1 June each year.
Applications received after these dates will still be considered as places become available.

The University of Otago requires applications to be made online.
You must complete all questions on the application form in full, so that your application can be included in the selection process. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.
If you cannot apply online at all, please contact the Accommodation Office for a hard copy of the application form. Please note that this is not the preferred option and may cause delays in the processing of your application and should only be used in exceptional circumstances.

Before your application will be considered, you must complete the following steps:

Complete an online application form.
If you are applying for a Residential College, you will be required to indicate three college preferences.
If the colleges you have selected are unable to make you an accommodation offer, your application maybe considered by colleges that have vacancies.
Places are limited, therefore we recommend that if you receive an offer from a college that was not your first preference, it should be accepted.
If you are a prospective first year student applying for a residential college, we require the University of Otago confidential school reference or two character references if you are not a school leaver.
Please note that it is essential that you use the approved University of Otago confidential reference form as it contains all the relevant information used in our selection process. Alternative forms may contain information not collected for evaluative purposes.
Ensure your reference, if required, is received by the Accommodation Office. You are responsible for ensuring that we receive your reference in time.
If you are transferring from another university in New Zealand, your application will be considered once you have confirmed entry to the University of Otago.
We do not require references if you are an International Student applying for the University Flats.
Postgraduate students applying for Abbey College do not require references.