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    Explore how life connects across mountains, forests, oceans and cities – discover your place in Ecology at Otago.

    Why study Ecology?

    Ecology is your invitation to understand life’s big story. How plants, animals and environments connect, change and shape our world. At its heart, ecology gives you the tools to explore questions like: where do organisms live, why do they live there, and how do they interact with each other and with their surroundings?

    You’ll gain real-world skills and up-to-date knowledge of global ecological trends. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to use that knowledge to protect habitats, manage natural resources and care for ecosystems, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.

    Career opportunities

    A degree in Ecology equips you with the knowledge and tools to make a real impact – locally and globally – opening doors to careers in conservation, research, policy, education, and beyond, all focused on understanding and protecting the natural world.

    Graduates find careers in areas such as:

    • Crown Research Institutes
    • Government agencies or local and regional councils
    • Environmental and ecological consultancies
    • Conservation and ecotourism operations
    • Data analysis and environmental modelling

    How you will learn

    Studying Ecology at Otago means learning by doing. Alongside lectures and tutorials, you’ll get out into the field to build hands-on skills and real research experience.

    Dunedin’s amazing natural surroundings are your classroom – from marine shores to grasslands and rainforests. You’ll explore diverse landscapes, work in teams, design your own investigations and learn from staff who are leading research in ecology, conservation and biodiversity.

    You can also shape your studies around what interests you most – marine or freshwater ecology, molecular or paleoecology, or the fascinating relationships between plants and animals.

    Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study

    A broad background in science is helpful but students without science subjects are accepted.

    Choose a study option

    Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Undergraduate qualifications

    For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.

    Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.

    Ready to apply?

    Take the first step towards your future in this subject.

    Further study opportunities

    Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

    Explore life where it happens – in the lab, in the field, and across New Zealand’s extraordinary ecosystems – learning how our planet truly works

    At Otago, you’ll study Ecology without boundaries. From your first year, you’ll connect with world-class research and passionate staff working across marine, freshwater, molecular and evolutionary ecology.

    Our programme brings together experts from Botany, Marine Science, Geography, Zoology and Information Science. That means you’ll see the natural world from every angle and find your own direction as you go.

    As you study, you’ll build strong skills in data analysis, communication and project management, the kind of skills that help you take on real environmental challenges with confidence and creativity.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject.

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level BIOL 112 Animal Biology 18
    BIOL 123 Plants: How They Shape the World, or PTWY 132 Introduction to Plant Life 18
    ECOL 111 Ecology and Conservation of Diversity 18
    STAT 110 Statistical Methods, or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics 18
    At least one of:
    EAOS 111 Earth and Ocean Science
    GEOG 101 Physical Geography
    MARI 112 Global Marine Systems

    Notes: (i) PTWY 132 is only available to students enrolled in the Diploma in Science. (ii) Students who have passed at least one of EAOS 111, GEOG 101, or MARI 112 as part of another subject’s requirements do not need to pass another one of these papers to fulfil the Ecology major subject requirements.

    		 18
    200-level ECOL 211 Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems 18
    ECOL 212 Ecological Applications 18
    STAT 210 Statistical Methods 2 18
    One of BTNY 201, BTNY 202, BTNY 203, CHEM 201, CHEM 205, CHEM 206, GENE 222 , GEOG 282, GEOG 284, GEOG 285, GEOG 286, GEOG 287, GEOG 288, GEOG 289 , GEOG 290, GEOG 298, GEOG 299, GEOL 252, GEOL 263, GEOL 272, MARI 201 , MARI 202, MARI 204, STAT 260, STAT 270,SURV 220, ZOOL 221, ZOOL 222, ZOOL 223 18
    300-level ECOL 313 Ecology Field Course or ECOL 314 Pacific Field Ecology 18
    ECOL 321 Ecology of Species Introductions and Invasions 18
    Two of AQFI 352, BTNY 301, BTNY 302, BTNY 303, ECOL 313, ECOL 314, GENE 312 , GEOG 388, GEOG 389, GEOG 390, GEOG 392, GEOG 393, GEOG 394, GEOG 395 , GEOG 397, GEOG 398, GEOG 399, GEOL 372, MARI 302, STAT 311 , SURV 309, ZOOL 313, ZOOL 315, ZOOL 316, ZOOL 318, ZOOL 319 or another suitable 300-level paper approved by the Programme Director. 36
    Plus 126 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above.

    Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science

    Students majoring in Ecology must pass STAT 110 or STAT 115 and STAT 210 before taking ECOL 313 or ECOL 314.     		126
    Total 360

    A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

    Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

    You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.

    Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level ECOL 111 Ecology and Conservation of Diversity 18
    200-level

    ECOL 211 Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems

    ECOL 212 Ecological Applications

    18

    18

    300-level

    Two of BTNY 301, BTNY 303, ECOL 313, ECOL 314, ECOL 321, GEOG 390, GEOG 397 , GEOL 372, MARI 301, MARI 302, ZOOL 315, ZOOL 318, ZOOL 319

    36

    Total   90


    Effective 2026 onwards

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level ECOL 111 Ecology and Conservation of Diversity 18
    200-level

    ECOL 211 Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems

    ECOL 212 Ecological Applications

    18

    18

    300-level

    Two of BTNY 301, BTNY 303, ECOL 313, ECOL 314, ECOL 321, GEOG 390, GEOG 397 , GEOL 372, MARI 302, ZOOL 315, ZOOL 318, ZOOL 319

    36

    Total   90

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    ECOL papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    ECOL111 2026 Ecology and Conservation 18 points Semester 1
    ECOL211 2026 Community Ecology 18 points Semester 1
    ECOL212 2026 Ecology in the Real World 18 points Semester 2
    ECOL313 2026 Field Ecology 18 points 1st Non standard period (26 January 2026 - 5 June 2026)
    ECOL314 2026 Pacific Field Ecology 18 points 1st Non standard period (23 January 2026 - 2 June 2026)
    ECOL321 2026 Ecology of Species Introductions and Invasions 18 points Semester 2
    ECOL411 2026 The Ecologist's Toolbox 20 points Semester 1
    ECOL450 2026 Special Topic 20 points Not offered in 2026
    ECOL480 2026 Research Project 40 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 16 June 2027)
    ECOL490 2026 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 16 June 2027)
    ECOL495 2026 Master's Thesis Preparation 40 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 16 June 2027)

    More information

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    Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.

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