Undergraduate International students
There are six important steps involved in the process of coming to the University of Otago to study as an undergraduate student;
Application Closing dates
All bachelor degree programmes can be commenced in the First Semester. In addition, most three-year degree programmes can also be commenced in the Second Semester.
A Second Semester start may not be recommended for all majors. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible in order to be sure of a place in your chosen course, and for the University to be able to finalise your accommodation arrangements well in advance of your arrival.
Application closing dates are as follows;
- Summer School start (January) 31 October of the preceding year
- First Semester start (February) 31 October of the preceding year (late applications not requiring evaluation for credit, will be considered until 1 December)
- Second Semester start (July) 30 April of the year you intend to commence your study
Note: Applicants for direct second year entry to professional courses in the Health Sciences must apply by 1 October for a First Semester start.
Important dates for international students
Submitting an application
An application can be submitted in one of two ways:
As an individual
All independent International applicants must apply for admission to the university through the International Office,
using the appropriate application form.
Once completed please send your application form, together with all required documentation, to:
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
Through an agent
Official University of Otago representatives & agents
Please note: International student applications are assessed individually. We cannot assess an application without the application form, proof of English proficiency and academic transcripts.
An assessment of credit for prior study can only be undertaken on receipt of a completed application.
What happens with your application
Once your application has been received, it will be allocated to an International Admissions Co-ordinator and assessed.
Your International Admissions Co-ordinator will contact you directly if additional information is required. They will also notify you of the outcome of your application and provide the information you will need to complete arrangements to study at Otago.
Meeting the entrance requirements
To be eligible for entry to undergraduate programmes, all students must hold qualifications that are acceptable to the University of Otago.
The entrance and English requirements for students who are intending to use their NCEA results for entrance to the University of Otago are as follows;
- a minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of 14 credits at level 3 or higher in each of two subjects from an approved subject list, with a further 14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects.
- a minimum of 14 credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics on the National Qualifications Framework
- a minimum of 8 credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori; 4 credits must be in Reading and 4 credits must be in Writing. The literacy credits will be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards.
Note: If you are an NCEA student, only the NCEA English Language requirement above will be acceptable.
You cannot use IELTS, TOEFL etc. to replace the NCEA English language requirement.
Applicants for Physical Education and Law will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for the Health Sciences First Year course are strongly recommended to have achieved at a much higher level than the minimum standards quoted above.
If you are applying to the University of Otago using NCEA as your method of admission you do not need to supply your forecast results with your application form. Final NCEA examination results will be automatically supplied to the University of Otago in mid-January.
International Undergraduate Entrance Requirements for all other applicants.
You are required to provide certified or original copies of your high school transcripts (awards gained, marks, grades), or forecast or trial results if final results are not available at the time of your application.
Students who are basing their application on previous university study are also required to provide certified or original copies of the relevant transcripts. They may also be required to submit an Educational Credentials Evaluators Evaluation (ECE).
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.
Please note all international students seeking admission on the basis of NCEA will be required to demonstrate literacy by achieving 8 credits at Level 2 or higher in English (4 credits in Reading and 4 credits in Writing).
You cannot use any of the tests listed below to meet these requirements.
The minimum requirements are:
International Tests
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0)
- Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5)
- Internet-based TOEFL of 80 with a writing score of 20
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - grade B
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - grade C
- GCE 'A' Level General Paper (English) - grade C or higher
- APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language) Examination - grade 3
- International Baccalaureate - no evidence of proficiency needed if programme taught in English
University of Otago
University of Otago Language Centre English for Otago with a grade of C or higher.
Denmark
A minimum of 7 in A-level English and 10 in B-level English for the Upper Secondary School Diploma (Studentereksamen, HHX, HTX and HFX (HF)
Fiji
Fiji Form VII English score of 50%
Hong Kong
A minimum test score of C in the Use of English paper in the Hong Kong A level examination
India
A minimum of 70% in English for the All India Senior School Certificate(CBSE) or the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (CISCE)
Netherlands
A minimum of grade 7 in the VWO-Gymnasium or the VWO-Atheneum A or B
New Zealand
Cambridge International Exam (CIE) (as offered in New Zealand)-a 'D' grade or higher in AS English
Norway
A grade of 4.0 or better in English in the final year of studying English in the Vitnemål fra den Videregående Skole
Samoa
A score of B3 (60%) in English A in the University Preparatory Year of the National University of Samoa.
Singapore
GCE 'O' Level English - grade C or higher
Sweden
A grade of VG or MVG in English A & B in the final year of the Slutbetyg Från Gymnasieskolan
Please Note: Applicants for the Bachelor of Teaching or Bachelor of Education Studies require an IELTS of 7.0 with no individual band below 7.0.
If your country is not listed above you will have to submit an International test.
If your English proficiency does not yet meet the required standard you may take pre-sessional courses in English at the University of Otago Language Centre (UOLC).
The Language Centre offers courses in General English and English for Academic Purposes, and is a registered test centre for TOEFL and IELTS.
The University also offers three papers, ENGL126 English for University Purposes, ENGL127 Effective Writing and ENGL128 Effective Communication, which are intended to help students for whom English is a second language and which can also be credited to many degree programmes.
Payment of Fees
- 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 about our international tuition fees
If you have any further queries please ask the International Office for further details on the application procedures.
