International Postgraduate Application Process
There are four important steps involved in applying for admission to the University of Otago as a postgraduate student.
Note: Australian citizens and permanent residents intending to study in New Zealand should refer to enrolment information elsewhere on this website.
1. Finding a supervisor
As a potential research student, you need to be well-prepared, and show initiative and aptitude.
Prior to application, you need to:
- Identify the research interests of the relevant department(s) and individual staff members. Searching the University of Otago Expertise Database may be a good place to start.
- Develop a possible research topic that fits in with these interests.
- Approach a potential supervisor to see if vacancies exist for research supervision.
When applying, you need to include the following with your application:
- A detailed research proposal
- An up-to date curriculum vitae
- The name of the academic staff member with whom you have been in contact
- An approximate start date
2. Meeting entrance requirements
To be eligible for entry to postgraduate programmes, all students must hold qualifications that are acceptable to the University of Otago.
You are required to provide either original documents or certified copies of relevant transcripts from your previous university study.
You may also be required to submit an Educational Credentials Evaluators evaluation.
Credentials Evaluation information for International Students
3. Meeting English language requirements
All courses at the University of Otago are taught and examined in English. If your first language is not English you must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English language proficiency.
Postgraduate study English language requirements
The University of Otago Language Centre
The Language Centre caters for students needing to improve English proficiency levels prior to beginning studies in Dunedin and for those wanting the experience of living and learning in an English speaking country.
The University of Otago Language Centre
4. Submitting an application
An application can be submitted in two ways:
(a) As an individual
All independent International applicants must apply for admission to the university through the International Office, using the appropriate application form.
International Application forms
Please send the completed application form, together with all required documentation, to:
Postal AddressInternational Office |
Courier AddressInternational Office |
(b) Through an agent
University of Otago Approved Education Representatives
Application closing date
Applicants for research-only (thesis) programmes may make an application at any time of the year, as these courses may be commenced at any time.
Certification Of Documents
Certified/notarised translations of original documents are required where these are not in English.
If original copies are not being provided, all copies should be certified/notarised by an authorised authority such as School Principal, Registrar, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or Solicitor.
Failure to provide certified/notarised documentation will result in a delay of the assessment of your application.
Fee Status of International PhD Students
As the result of a policy initiative by the New Zealand Ministry of Education, PhD students enrolling for the first time at a New Zealand university from 2006 are eligible to pay New Zealand domestic tuition fees.
International PhD students must be resident in New Zealand, apart from approved temporary absences overseas for the purposes of doctoral research, during their study to be classified as domestic students.
Further information on domestic fee rates can be found elsewhere on this website.
As the result of a further initiative of the New Zealand Ministry of Education, from 2006 dependants of PhD students will be treated as New Zealand domestic students for the purposes of enrolment at New Zealand primary and secondary schools.
