The University offers a variety of programmes and papers through Distance Learning. Instruction is given through printed material, web-conference sessions, the Internet, and residential schools and workshops.
Further information can be found in the Distance Learning Prospectus.
In addition to Otago’s formal distance papers listed below, the University has approved a selection of additional papers to be temporarily delivered online to support students impacted by COVID‑19. For a list of these papers, and eligibility requirements, see Learning at Otago in 2021.
Subject areas available via Distance Learning
Follow the links to departmental and paper/programme information.
* There is a block course, workshop or other component requiring you to be physically on-campus/on-site at some point during the course. Before applying for enrolment in these distance papers, please contact Student Experience for more information about the on-site activities should COVID-19 Alert Levels change.
Undergraduate and graduate subject areas
- Aquaculture and Fisheries*
- AQFI 301 Field Methods for Assessment of Fisheries and Aquatic Habits
- Chemistry
- Introductory Chemistry (Foundation preparation for entry into first year Chemistry)
- CHEM 150 Concepts in Chemistry*
- Computer Science
- Education
- English and Linguistics
- LING 140 Language, Brain, and Being Human*
- History
- Materials Science and Technology
- MATS 204 Treasure or Trash: Sustainability of Materials
- Media, Film and Communication
- MFCO 231 Journalism Now: Seeking the Truth in a world of Disinformation and Fake News
- Politics
- POLS 321 Public Policy in New Zealand
- Religious Studies
- Social Work (3rd and 4th years only)
- Spanish
- SPAN 131 Introductory Spanish 1
- Surveying*
- SURV 101 Introductory to Surveying
- Theology (Postgraduate programmes also offered)
- Tourism
Postgraduate subject areas
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Addiction and Co-existing Disorders
- Aviation Medicine, including Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport
- Postgraduate Certificate in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport
- Postgraduate Certificate in Civil Aviation Medicine
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science Endorsed in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport
- Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Medicine
- Postgraduate Diploma in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport (WLG)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science Endorsed in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport
- Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine
- Master of Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport
- Master of Aviation Medicine
- Master of Occupational Medicine
- Master of Health Sciences endorsed in aeromedical Retrieval and Transport, Aviation Medicine or Occupational Medicine
- Bioengineering
- BIOE 404 Medical Devices and Technology
- Bioethics*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences endorsed in Bioethics
- Master of bioethics and Health Law
- Master of Health Science endorsed in Bioethics
- Business Administration*
- Chemical Hazards
- Child Health
- Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy
- COBE 404 Advanced Topics in Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy*
- Continence Management*
- Dentistry
- Digital Health
- Education (not initial teacher education)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) and Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Education
- Master of Arts in Education thesis option
- Master of Arts in Education coursework option*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education and Learning
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Learning
- Master of Education and Learning
- Doctor of Education
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Entrepreneurship*
- Family and Systems Therapies
- Forensic Psychiatry
- General Practice and related (see also Primary Health Care, and Travel Medicine)*
- Hazard Assessment and Management
- Health Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management
- Master of Health Sciences Endorsed in Health management
- Higher Education
- Human Nutrition*
- Human Sexuality and Health
- PSME 201 Human Sexuality and Health
- Information Science
- INFO 411 Machine Learning and Data Mining
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy*
- Management
- Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Medical Technology*
- Mental Health*
- Musculoskeletal Management*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences endorsed in Musculoskeletal Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences endorsed in Musculoskeletal Management
- Master of Health Sciences endorsed in Musculoskeletal Management
- Musculoskeletal Medicine*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine
- Postgraduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal Medicine
- Nursing*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing
- Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) endorsed in Nursing
- Obesity Prevention and Management*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Obesity Prevention and Health Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) endorsed in Obesity Prevention and Health
- Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Women’s Health (PGCertWHlth)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology (PGDipOMG)
- Occupational Health and Safety*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Occupational Health
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) endorsed in Occupational Health
- Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) endorsed in Occupational Health
- Occupational Medicine (refer to aviation medicine)
- Ophthalmology*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Basic Sciences (PGDipOphthBS)
- Oral Health*
- Master of Oral Health (MOH)
- Pain and Pain Management
- Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Pain and Pain Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) endorsed in Pain and Pain Management
- Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) endorsed in Pain and Pain Management
- Perinatal Mental Health
- Periodontology*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry: Periodontology (PGDipClinDent endorsed in Periodontology)
- Pharmacy*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacy (PGCertPharm) endorsed in Medicines Optimisation
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (PGDipClinPharm)
- Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MClinPharm)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing (PGCertPharmPres)
- Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Physiotherapy* – (Individual papers available via Distance)
- Primary Health Care
- Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care (PGCertPHC)*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care (PGDipPHC) (unendorsed)*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care (PGDipPHC) endorsed in Long-term Condition Management
- Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care (PGCertPHC)*
- Public Health*
- Rehabilitation
- Postgraduate Certificate in Rehabilitation (PGCertRehab)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation (PGDipRehab)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) unendorsed
- Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) endorsed in Rehabilitation
- Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice*
- Postgraduate Certificate in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice (PGCertRPHP)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice (PGDipRPHP)
- Science Communication
- Social Work
- Master of Social and Community Work (Applied) (MSCW(Applied))
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Sport and Exercise Medicine*
- Suicidology and Suicide Prevention
- PSME 449 Introduction to Suicidology and Suicide Prevention
- Surgical Anatomy*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy (PGDipSurgAnat)
- Theology
- Bachelor of Theology with Honours (BTheol (Hons))
- Postgraduate Diploma in Theology (PGDipTheol)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Chaplaincy (PGCertChap)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Chaplaincy (PGDipChap)
- Master of Chaplaincy (MChap)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Ministry (PGDipMin) and Master of Ministry (MMin)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Faith-Based Leadership and Management (PGDipFBLM) and Master of Faith-Based Leadership and Management (MFBLM)
- Travel Medicine
- Postgraduate Certificate in Travel Medicine (PGCertTravMed)*
- Postgraduate Diploma in Travel Medicine (PGDipTravMed)*
- Master of Travel Medicine (MTravMed)
- Ultrasound
