Learn about domestic tuition fees at the University of Otago and understand how they are calculated.
The tuition fees on this page apply only to domestic fee-paying students.
If you are an Australian student, check whether you qualify as a domestic or international fee-paying student.
Fees Free study – what you need to know
Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme.
Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study, or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.
When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan.
Find out more at StudyLink
You can apply for Fees Free via Inland Revenue after you complete your qualification. For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it's best to apply for Fees Free, visit:
Fees Free – Inland Revenue
Understanding how tuition fees are calculated
Each figure in the table below shows the tuition fee for a normal full-time course made up entirely of papers from the specified subject area. For example, a normal full-time course made up entirely of papers from Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Music and Science will cost $8,788.00.
However, many students take papers from various subject areas or study more or less than a full-time load (1.0 EFTS) in a year.
As a result, your actual tuition fee is calculated based on the specific papers you select. Each paper's fee is calculated by multiplying its subject area fee by the paper's EFTS 'value', which is the proportion of a full-time study load (1.0 EFTS) it represents.
Tuition fees may change from year to year. If your programme extends beyond a calendar year (January–December), you'll need to pay the updated fee for each year you study.
Tuition fees do not include the Student Services Fee or administration fees.
Annual tuition fees by subject area
The main tuition fee bands, which include GST and associated fees, apply to New Zealand citizens and individuals holding a New Zealand residence visa who are residing in New Zealand for the duration of their study programme.
The fees listed in the table show the cost of a normal full-time course made up entirely of subjects from one area.
Undergraduate tuition fees
| Foundation Studies Certificate | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Commerce | $6,144.00 |
| Sciences | $6,408.00 |
| Undergraduate (excl. Honours) | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Languages, Theology, Mathematics, Education | $7,354.00 |
| Commerce, Teaching | $7,022.00 |
| Law (excluding Honours) | $8,204.00 |
| Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Music, Science | $8,788.00 |
| Physical Education | $8,788.00–$10,159.00 |
| Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Surveying | $10,159.00 |
| Dentistry | $19,538.00 |
| Medicine | $19,538.00 |
| Physiotherapy - Years 2 and 3 | $8,788.00 |
| Physiotherapy – Year 4 | $10,257.00 |
Approximate tuition fees for specific undergraduate programmes are also listed on their qualification pages.
Postgraduate tuition fees
| Postgraduate Taught | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Languages, Theology, Mathematics, Education, Commerce | $9,993.00 |
| Education - MTchgLn | $14,989.00 |
| Law Honours | $9,586.00 |
| Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Science | $11,468.00 |
| Health Sciences | $13,947.00 |
| Dentistry - MDS | $45,686.00 |
| Postgraduate Thesis (Research Master's and PhD) and Honours | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Languages, Theology, Mathematics, Education | $8,362.00 |
| Commerce | $8,063.00 |
| Law (thesis only) | $9,042.00 |
| Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Music, Science | $9,765.00 |
| Human Nutrition (thesis only) | $12,118.00 |
| Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Surveying | $12,385.00 |
| Medicine | $12,385.00 |
| Dentistry thesis (Non-clinical) | $12,638.00 |
Find out more about fees for graduate research candidates (Research Master's and PhD)
Calculating your exact tuition fees
If you already know which papers you want to take
Fees are calculated on a per-paper basis. You can check the fees for each paper in our 2026 tuition fees document, then add them up to get the total cost of your programme.
You can also see your tuition fees in the eVision application portal once you select your papers.
Download the 2026 domestic and international paper fees document.
To make it easier to find the tuition fees for available papers in 2026, we have compiled all tuition fees by paper code. (XLSX, 348KB).
DownloadIf you are not yet sure which papers to choose
You can search for specific papers, or you can explore available papers for each subject or qualification on our subject and qualification pages. For more details about each paper please refer to individual paper pages.
Contact us for help with your fees
For further information about fees please log an enquiry with AskOtago.
AskOtago enquiry form
Student Finance Office
Tel +64 3 479 9006