International Students
Application information for:
International students are most-welcome and important members of our department - adding enthusiasm and diversity to our teaching, research, and social life. Typically, we host around 30 international undergraduate students annually, in addition to our international postgraduate students.
Our broad approach to teaching and research is generally familiar to incoming international students, but details differ. For example, we use a different terminology for course structure, as explained on the right.
For undergraduate students, the paper most commonly chosen by international students is "Field studies and New Zealand Geology", a first semester (February-June), predominantly field-based paper with a total of around two weeks spent at a field school.
If you are not from New Zealand and like to find out how to apply for admission into our courses then start at our application information page and feel free to contact us for more information. It is particularly important for us to see a copy of your educational record/transcript (or similar guide to previous experience in geology/ earth sciences), so that we can advise you on the appropriate courses. We look forward to hearing from you. On the main University of Otago website there is a section aimed particularly at international students who are considering coming here for a semester or more.
Important: before you finalise your travel, please check dates for the semesters at Otago. For undergraduate courses, you must be here at the start of semester, and you must remain in Dunedin after the end of the semester to sit final examinations after classes finish. If you miss the examinations, you may not gain credit for your courses. Examination periods are typically as follows: at the end of Semester 1, for the first 3 weeks of June; at the end of Semester 2, from the 3rd week of October to the end of 3rd week of November.
Important: the exact dates for examinations in particular courses are set by the University administration, and advised about the middle of Semesters 1 and 2. The Department of Geology cannot change these dates to accommodate the plans of individual students.
Important: some field schools (GEOL252, GEOL302, GEOL351) run shortly before the official start of semester - web pages for those classes give details. Some other courses (e.g. Geol 272/372, 263/363) have weekend field trips early in the first semester. Geol 273/373 has a compulsory marine sedimentology course in early July, just before official start of second semester. Please be sure to check the web pages for these papers or others you wish to take.
Semester dates are on the University website at http://www.otago.ac.nz/study/keyevents.html
Check out this website made by some students from Williams College, USA who spent time at the department. Good pictures and commentary from the perspective of newly arrived USA students.
On the website of the Department of Geology and Geography, Denison University, Ohio, USA there is another page based on talks given by two of their students who spent a semester here with us.
International students participate in many different geology courses at Otago. Here, the Geology 263/363 Basin Studies class is in the field at Broken River, inland Canterbury.
Comments from previous international students include:
I had a great time in the 252 field course. The labs were pretty challenging, but the field trips made the whole thing more than worthwhile. I know that at home I would not have had the opportunity to spend two weeks out in the field, and definitely not in such spectacular settings. Our trip to Fiordland was absolutely amazing; not only was the scenery beautiful, but the geology was explained in such a way that I could actually understand it despite the obvious complexities. The department is great, too; the professors are friendly and the students form a pretty close group. It was nice to be in a class with so many Kiwis because it was a great way to meet people from down here. If you’re a geology student from the States, definitely take a field course at Otago – you won’t be sorry.
Jeb Berman, Brown University, USA
I know that Dave and Lawrence had a great time at your school thanks to everyone in the department. We'll certainly recommend Otago to other students who want to go south.
Raymond A. Coish, Professor Middlebury College, USA
I had a fabulous time at Otago... ...I found my experience at Otago to be extremely fulfilling. The Geology department is a particularly tight knit group. After travelling around NZ I found myself glad to be back in Dunedin. It is a great city and there is never a lack of something to do, whether it be at the pubs or a small cafe.
Lawrence Klein, Middlebury College, USA
If I were to have any advice for anyone it would be to stay for the year if you can. Another piece of advice is to take at least one class that gets you out in the field. How many other Universities take week long field trips? I was so jealous of my classmates when they would talk about their excursions, because as a geologist, that is the fun of it all!
I was highly impressed with the classes I took and heard amazing stories from fellow Americans that were in other, more advanced classes. Above all, I miss afternoon tea in the middle of lab!
Karen Eller, Trinity University, USA
I really, really enjoyed the Field Studies 302 class. It was a wonderful way to make friends, particularly kiwi friends. Most importantly, it made me feel comfortable with the geo department immediately upon my arrival to Otago. I already knew people in my other geo papers on the first day of class due to the field excursion during orientation week.
I also enjoy the friendliness of the department, and the small size. I come from a very small department back home (maybe 30 people), so it was nice to not be too overwhelmed here at Otago.
Suzanne Mills, Bryn Mawr College, USA