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Application Process

Note: Australian citizens and permanent residents intending to study in New Zealand should refer to enrolment information elsewhere on this website.

 

Application Process

Please complete and return the Application Form for International Students to the International Office of the University. You should also provide or note the following:

1. Previous University Study

Category 1

For qualifications from countries or territories listed below, or from institutions with which the University has a Student Exchange agreement, you need to provide a certified or original transcript for your previous university studies (a full academic transcript showing all subjects attempted, awards gained, marks, grades).

Category 2

For qualifications from all other countries you will need to provide a certified or original transcript as above and an external qualifications evaluation from the designated qualification agency;

Education Credential Evaluation
PO Box 514070
Milwaukee
Wisconsin 53203-3470
United States of America
Telephone +1 414 289 3400
Facsimile +1 414 289 3411
Email Eval@ece.org

You are required to request and pay for the course by course evaluation option, with you and the University each receiving a copy of the resulting evaluation report. The evaluation is an important part of the admissions process and helps to ensure that the University is admitting suitably qualified candidates. The application form can be downloaded from the ECE website at http://www.ece.org/

Please note that your application cannot be processed until the evaluation report is received.

Students who lodge their applications through one of the University's approved agents may be eligible for an exemption from an Educational Credentials Evaluation (ECE).  In order to be eligible for this exemption, the University requires agents to provide additional information to assist in the evaluation of an application for admission.  If the information is deemed to be insufficient for admission purposes, the University reserves the right to request an ECE.

 

2. English Language Results

 

3. Research Proposal

 

4. Scholarships for Research Higher Degree Students

Full details on the availability of scholarships and the processes for application.  An application form will be available from the link above.

 

5. Appointment of Agent

If you are submitting your application through an agent, you are advised to check before submission that the agent is an authorised agent of the University of Otago . A full list of authorised University agents can be found elsewhere on this website.

Applications submitted through non-authorised agents will be returned to sender.

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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.

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Fee Status of International PhD Students

As the results 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.

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Application Closing Dates

A. Coursework Programmes

The application closing dates for programmes containing a coursework component are:

First Semester: 31 October

Second Semester: 30 April

Notes

  1. Application for Dentistry programmes close 31 May for commencement in the next academic year. Applicants must complete an additional Dentistry application form can be downloaded from http://healthsci.otago.ac.nz/Division/dental/forms.html
  2. Applicants for the MBA (Master of Business Administration) programme should request a separate application package from the Advanced Business Programme - contact mbainfo@business.otago.ac.nz. You can also browse the MBA website, http://www.otagomba.co.nz. The MBA has a January start date and the application deadline is 1 October. You do not need to complete the application form for postgraduate international students.
  3. Applicants for Physiotherapy programmes containing a clinical component may need to complete an application form for temporary registration as a physiotherapist in addition to completing standard application procedures. Further information can be obtained from the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, http://www.physioboard.org.nz
  4. Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management (PGDipWLM) must submit all application materials by 1 October. Applicants must also complete an additional application form available at http://www.otago.ac.nz/zoology/wildlife_management/application_procedures.html
  5. Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication (PGDipNHFMC) must submit all application materials by 1 March for commencement in July of each academic year. Applicants must also complete an additional application form available at http://www.otago.ac.nz/nathist

B. Research Only Programmes

Applicants for research-only (thesis) programmes may commence study at any time of the year and may make application throughout the year. However, it is anticipated that most candidates will commence study at the beginning of either semester.

C. Otago Research Higher Degree Scholarships

The cloing date for scholarship applications is close 1 November. All scholarship and application documentation must be received by this date.

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Offer Of Place

All applications will be acknowledged and sent to the relevant academic department and divisional office for evaluation and approval. Applications for PhD study will also be assessed by the PhD Academic Advisory Committee.

The application processing time can be up to four weeks for coursework programmes, and up to three months for programmes that are research only. Successful applicants will be sent:

You should return the Enrolment Agreement form to reserve your place in the course.

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