Prospective Students
Thinking About Studying at the University of Otago?
School Liaison Officers
The University's Liaison Officers provide prospective students with information and advice about courses and other aspects of life at Otago. They can help you plan your course of study. They are available for individual interviews at their offices and for advice by phone, fax, letter or e-mail.
There are Liaison Officers located in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. All of the Liaison Officers travel around their regions visiting high schools.
For further information
Telephone 03 479 8247
Fax 03 479 7377
Email liaison@otago.ac.nz
Web http://www.otago.ac.nz/services/liaison_office.html
Foundation Year
Foundation Year has two programmes that prepare students for entry into the University of Otago: the two-semester Foundation Studies Certificate (FSC) and the one-semester Certificate in University Preparation (CUP). These programmes provide specific academic preparation for undergraduate studies and are open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and international students (FSC only). Students can study some papers part-time.
For further information
For further information, please refer to our website http://www.otago.ac.nz/foundationstudies or contact us by phone at (03) 479 5250.
Full-time or Part-time Study?
The decision whether to study full-time or part-time can be a hard one for any student. The following information may help you.
Limited Full Time Study
If you have an illness or disability that prevents you from taking on a full-time workload, you may be entitled to apply for limited full-time status. Limited full-time status acknowledges that you have to put in as much effort, when completing a part-time workload, as does another student completing a full-time course. Limited full-time status will allow you to study 3 or 4 papers over the course of the year, or 2 papers over the course of one semester, without losing your student allowance or loan. For more information contact a Disability Information & Support Student Advisor or check out the information at Study Link http://www.studylink.govt.nz/thinking-about-study/what-studylink-offers/limited-full-time.html
Entry to University
Not all students are able to meet the common entry requirements for attending university. Some have been failed by the education system, others have missed sections of their education and qualifications because of illness or an accident. Many such students are capable of study at university and the university has a number of entry methods that recognise this. Contact one of the university's Liaison Officers to discuss your options.
Tel 03 479 8247
Fax 03 479 7377
Email liaison@otago.ac.nz
Web http://www.otago.ac.nz/study/entrance.html#formalqualification
Information Open Days
Each year the University of Otago holds two Open Days. These are held during term time, and give visiting school students and others the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of the Otago campus, to attend special presentations and tours, and to visit the Residential Halls and Colleges.
This is a good chance to check out the university environment to see if it meets your needs. Disability Information & Support runs events on these days. Check out the Open Days programme or "What's New" on the Disability Information & Support website for more information.
If you are interested in receiving a copy of the programme for the Dunedin Tertiary Information Days, please contact:
Claire Cook
Promotions & Events Manager
Tel 64 3 479 8098
Toll-free 0800 80 80 98
Fax 64 3 479 8086
Email claire.cook@otago.ac.nz
Hands-on Science
The University of Otago's Hands-on Science Week is an experience open to all students. Being Deaf or having an impairment is no barrier to participating in this programme. By attending this week, Deaf and disabled students are able to experience "university life". Each year students attend who have a wide range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, a specific learning disability, partial vision and students who are Deaf and use sign language. The feedback from students attending these weeks is very positive.
Traditionally the area of science has not been seen as a study or career option for Deaf or disabled students. Deaf and disabled students at the University of Otago are studying successfully in the Division of Sciences, and we want to encourage even more students to enter this area of study.
The University of Otago Disability Information and Support Office offers two grants of a maximum of $1,000 each for students who are Deaf or who have a disability to assist them in attending Hands-on Science.
For more information check out http://www.otago.ac.nz/handsonscience/ or contact the Learning Support Manager of Disability Information & Support.
Preparing For Your First Year
NewStart
NewStart is a programme providing an introduction to university for mature students who are returning to study.
Run each year on a Saturday in early December, the programme provides information on how a degree is put together, how you learn at university, how student allowances work and other useful facts.
For further information
Tel 64 3 479 8247
Fax 64 3 479 7377
Email lyn.saunders@otago.ac.nz
NewSkills
NewSkills is a series of seminars run through the Student Learning Centre particularly designed for those who are not coming to university directly from school, have not attended university before, or who have not studied for some years.
Run early in the year, the programme covers such topics as a positive approach to learning, effective use of study time, improving reading ability, essay, assignment and report writing, and note-taking.
For further information contact:
The Student Learning Centre
Tel 03 479 5788 or 03 479 5786
Email student-learning-centre@otago.ac.nz
