How Distance Learning works at Otago
Below are brief answers to some of the most common questions prospective distance students ask. After enrolment, your Department’s distance programme Administrator will send you the very useful Distance Learning Information and Support handbook which explains everything you need to know as a student.
Email the University Information Centre for the answers to any other queries.
You may also like to review the following:
Download the Distance Learning Information and Support booklet (1,146kb in PDF format, 64 pages)
FAQs
- How are distance papers taught at Otago?
- Do I need access to the internet?
- Will any part of the course require on campus attendance?
- How much study time should I allow?
- What is the teaching period per paper?
- How is my work assessed?
- When are exams held and where?
- How do I enrol?
- How do I register?
- When do I need to register?
- When do my fees need to be paid?
- What is Course Approval?
- I live outside New Zealand. What additional information do I need?
- After enrolment, how soon can I start?
- What is Blackboard and how do I access it?
How are distance papers taught at Otago?
Distance learning involves self-directed study using course material and completing assessments. Some papers involve attendance at on campus residential schools. Interaction with other students and lecturers might be by audio conference, web conference or online discussion forums. Course material may be provided in hardcopy, online or via CD-Rom or DVD.
Do I need access to the internet?
Most courses provide course material and interact with students online via a web-based learning environment such as Blackboard. Internet access is required for those courses, preferably Broadband or similar. Email is required to receive important University communications.
Will any part of the course require on campus attendance?
Some papers require attendance at on campus residential schools. These may run for a period of 2 - 5 days. Contact the programme administrator for details. Papers which can be studied by students residing overseas AND which do not require attendance at any course component in New Zealand are marked in the prospectus with an icon.
How much study time should I allow?
An 18 point paper taught over one semester will require approximately 15 hours per week study time, including reading, research, audio conferences and assignments. For a 30 point single semester paper, allow 25 hours a week. For Full Year papers, halve the number of hours per week.
What is the teaching period per paper?
The University year is split into two semesters each of 13 weeks, followed by an exam period. The start date for distance papers may vary, however Semester One and Full Year courses generally commence around the start of March and Semester Two starts in mid June.
Summer School is a full time intensive programme with teaching covering a six week period from early January to mid February.
How is my work assessed?
Assessment will vary from programme to programme and from paper to paper. In many papers, however, there are generally two assignments and an exam. You can request an exam venue close to your home. Exams take place in June for Semester One papers. Full year and Second Semester exams are around October/November. Other assessable activities could include:
- online quizzes
- compulsory attendance at contact courses
- participation in online discussion forums
- audio conference attendance and participation
Information on assessments for your course can be found in your Course Outline/Administration Guide.
When are exams held and where?
Exam periods: The University of Otago has three main examination periods:
- The Summer School examinations run from around mid February
- Semester One examinations are in June
- Semester Two and Full Year examinations run from mid October to mid November
The dates for these periods are set two years in advance.
Location of Exams: Where practicable, students will sit their examinations at a local centre based on their semester address in PIMS. Some students, however, might be required to travel distances of up to an hour’s drive.
Check the Examinations website for more information on these and other matters.
How do I enrol?
For most students, enrolment is a three-step process involving:
- Registration,
- Payment of fees
- Course Approval
Before registering, you are strongly encouraged to contact the department or departments concerned to check your eligibility to take your planned course.
Acceptance into the University of Otago requires that students:
- Meet the academic criteria for entry into the selected programme, and
- Satisfy the University’s admission criteria (see notes below for international students if applicable)
Detailed enrolment information can be found at www.otago.ac.nz/study/enrolment
How do I register?
You can register in one of three ways:
- online at the University’s website: www.otago.ac.nz/OnlineReg; or
- on a paper form by requesting a registration pack at:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/study/requestinformation.html ; or - by telephone: 0800 80 80 98 within New Zealand; 64 3 479 7000 from overseas.
When do I need to register?
Registration should be completed by the following dates:
- 10 December – all new students and recommencing students
- 15 January – all other returning students taking first semester or full-year papers or courses
- 15 June – students taking only second semester papers or courses.
Later enrolments may be accepted if facilities for tuition remain available, but you may be liable for an additional fee.
All necessary documentation concerning entrance qualifications, including name, date of birth, citizenship and/or residency must be provided at registration.
When do my fees need to be paid?
Payment of fees must be arranged by:
- 14 January (for Summer School papers) or
- 10 February (for courses beginning in the first semester) or
- 10 July (for courses beginning in the second semester).
What is Course Approval?
Course approval is the final step in enrolment. Once accepted into a course, a course approval form will be sent to you for signing and return.
Course approval is not complete until the signed form is received by the University. Once course approval is complete, you will have access to the Library and Blackboard.
I live outside New Zealand. What additional information do I need?
International students (excluding New Zealand citizens living abroad) enrolling with the University for the first time must apply for admission using the standard Application Form for International Students available at:
Web www.otago.ac.nz/international
Email international.admissions@otago.ac.nz
After enrolment, how soon can I start?
Course material is generally made available 1-2 weeks before the semester starts. Access to Blackboard occurs on the first day of the semester. You may be able to obtain a reading list earlier by contacting your programme administrator.
What is Blackboard and how do I access it?
Blackboard is a web-based learning environment used by the University of Otago. Lecturers use Blackboard in many ways, but major purposes are to provide course material and to support interaction between students and lecturers. Not all papers at Otago use Blackboard; some use Oceanbrowser or Moodle.
For information about Blackboard, including instructions on how to access your courses go to Student IT Services
