Study Abroad
Study Abroad provides the opportunity for students to enrol for one or two semesters at the University of Otago on an independent basis or as part of a Study Abroad programme organised by the home institution or through other universities or Study Abroad placement organisations.
If you are considering coming to the University of Otago as a Study Abroad student you may wish to have a look at the papers that are available or check out our Study Abroad Information Sheets.
Please note: Not all of these papers are available to International students.
There are six important steps involved in the process of coming to Otago University as a Study Abroad student
Application Closing Dates
You may commence study at the beginning of either;
- First Semester (February - June)
- Second Semester (July - November)
- Summer School (January - February)
The deadlines for application are:
- First Semester: 1 December of the preceding year
- Second Semester: 30 April of the current year
- Summer School: 31 October of the preceding year
Important dates for international students
Submitting an application for Study Abroad placement
You should download the Study Abroad application form, complete it and send it to the International Office together with:
- original or certified copies of all previous tertiary level studies undertaken (a full academic transcript showing all subjects attempted, including failures, marks, or grades).
- evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable).
- subject content for courses taken at the home institution.
- an original or certified copy of your birth certificate or passport personal details page.
All documents should be certified/notarised by an authorised authority such as a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Court Official or Solicitor.
A key/guide to the grading system must also be included. Documents not in English must be accompanied by official English language translations.
Witnessed copies must:
- be stamped with an official seal or stamp
- bear the printed name, signature and position of the person certifying the copy
- have the date when the copy was certified.
The International Office will accept documents that have been certified/notarised by staff of Study Abroad offices at your home institution.
Once you have completed the Study Abroad application form please send it, along with all of the required documentation, to the address listed below:
Mailing Address
International Office
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Courier Address
International Office
Archway West
University of Otago
90 Union Place East
Dunedin 9016
New Zealand
Please note: International student applications are assessed individually.
We cannot assess your application without the application form and your academic transcripts.
Choosing Your Course
- 54-72 points per semester can be regarded as an average course load. 54 points is the minimum course load to maintain full-time status for one semester. 18 points is the minimum course load to maintain full-time status for Summer School.
- papers numbered 100 are generally introductory papers. Papers numbered 200-300 normally require the fulfilment of academic prerequisites at your home institution.
- papers numbered above 300 level are postgraduate papers. You will need to have an advanced background in relevant subjects to be accepted for these papers.
- normally, you will not be permitted to take papers from the following degree schedules: Dentistry, Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.
- please select more papers than you need to take in case you are not permitted to take some papers, or in case there are timetable clashes.
- if you are applying for two semesters of study you will need to select papers for both semesters.
- a number of papers are listed as whole year. You may enrol for these papers only if you intend to enrol for two semesters commencing in the First Semester (February).
- normally, there is no restriction on class size for any paper
Subjects and papers offered by the University
Study Abroad Offer/Acceptance
All Study Abroad applications will be acknowledged and assessed for eligibility.
You can expect to learn the result of your application within four weeks of the receipt of application.
Successful applicants will be sent:
- an offer of admission with details of acceptance procedures
- details on how to apply for accommodation.
You should return the Acceptance of Offer form to reserve your place in the Study Abroad course. To secure accommodation in advance you are advised to apply for accommodation as soon as you can.
Meeting the entrance requirements
To be eligible to apply for the Study Abroad or Exchange you usually must have:
- Completed at least one year of study at an accredited tertiary institution. US students are expected to be in their Junior year.
- Current enrolment at an accredited tertiary institution.
- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or greater (USA), or have "credit", "good", or above average results.
Study Abroad students who do not meet all of the above criteria, but wish to study for a semester or two, are welcome to make an application. We will confirm your eligibility for Study Abroad.
If you are participating as part of the Exchange programme, you usually will have been nominated by the Study Abroad/International Office at your institution.
In addition to the requirements above, if you wish to gain entry to higher level undergraduate classes at Otago, you will need to have completed academic prerequisites at your home institution.
Meeting the 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.
Evidence of English language proficiency may be satisfied by one of the following:
- IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (no individual band below 6.0).
- Internet-based TOEFL score of 80 (minimum writing score of 20).
Payment of Fees & Living costs
The University of Otago does not charge an application fee.
Tuition fees must be paid in full before a student visa can be issued.
Tuition fees cannot be paid in instalments.
Information on Study Abroad Tuition Fees & Living costs
Obtaining a Student Visa and Insurance
All international students must have a valid student visa and appropriate medical and travel insurance to complete enrolment at the University of Otago.
Student Visa enquiries made offshore should be directed to your nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission. For more information please visit the Immigration New Zealand website.
If you are already in New Zealand you may be able to take advantage of our Visa on Campus service.
International students are also required to have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand.
If you have any further queries please ask the International Office for further details on the application procedures.
