Webinar: Your guide to Otago residential colleges
Join us online to explore the college experience at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – the University of Otago.
Discover what college life has to offer, hear from current students, learn about the application process, and get your questions answered.
Wednesday 19 August 2026, 4–5pm (NZT)
Take a look inside our Residential Colleges
192 Castle College
Walking Time: 5 mins
Beds: 125
2026 Fees: $24,206
Aquinas College
Walking Time: 15 mins
Beds: 224
2026 Fees: $19,988
Arana College
Walking Time: 3 mins
Beds: 342
2026 Fees: $21,470
Caroline Freeman College
Walking Time: 6 mins
Beds: 300
2026 Fees: $21,470
Carrington College
Walking Time: 6 mins
Beds: 241
2026 Fees: $21,470
Cumberland College
Walking Time: 4 mins
Beds: 324
2026 Fees: $21,470
Hayward College
Walking Time: 3 mins
Beds: 174
2026 Fees: $21,470
Knox College
Walking Time: 15 mins
Beds: 260
2026 Fees: $23,500
St Margaret’s College
Walking Time: 0 mins
Beds: 225
2026 Fees: From $22,490.30
Salmond College
Walking Time: 12 mins
Beds: 260
2026 Fees: $21,940
Selwyn College
Walking Time: 0 mins
Beds: 215
2026 Fees: $24,132
Studholme College
Walking Time: 3 mins
Beds: 184
2026 Fees: $21,470
Te Rangihīroa College
Walking Time: 5 mins
Beds: 450
2026 Fees: $21,470 to $24,206
Toroa College
Walking Time: 3 mins
Beds: 152
2025 Fees: $19,988
University College
Walking Time: 0 mins
Beds: 503
2026 Fees: $21,470
Colleges at a glance
| 192 Castle | Aquinas | Arana | Carrington | Caroline Freeman | Cumberland | Hayward | Knox | St Margaret's | Salmond | Selwyn | Studholme | Te Rangihīroa | Toroa | UniCol | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes walk (*free shuttle) | 5 | 15* | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 15* | 0 | 12* | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Number of beds | 125 | 224 | 342 | 241 | 300 | 324 | 174 | 260 | 225 | 260 | 201 | 184 | 450 | 151 | 503 |
| Tutorials | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Music facilities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Member activities (sporting) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Member activities (cultural) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inter-college activities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fully catered | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Special meals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Halal meals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Gym (*or close to Unipol) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No* | Yes | Yes | No* | Yes | Yes | Yes | No* | No | Yes |
|
Laundry (included in fees) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Parking (*costs apply) | Yes* | Yes* | No | No | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | Yes | No | Yes | Yes* | No | Yes* | No | Yes* |
|
Linen (Weekly) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bicycle storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disabled facilities | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Recreational facilities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Summer accommodation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Single sex areas | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Undergraduate/ postgraduate | U | U | U/P | U | U | U | U | U/P | U | U/P | U | U | U | U | U |
| Study rooms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Accommodation options for students with disabilities
The University of Otago is committed to assisting students with disabilities. The residential colleges provide a range of provisions for students with disabilities.
See the accommodation options for students with disabilities
Information for students on the waitlist
The Residential Colleges are very popular and from the 6 October, the Student Accommodation Centre manages a general waitlist for students that have applied for accommodation and have not received an offer of accommodation.
Please refer to FAQs about the general waitlist
Further information
For further information contact the Student Accommodation Centre.
Tel 0800 80 80 98
Email accommodation@otago.ac.nz