Apply online
To apply for a space in any University of Otago College including University College, you can apply online through the Otago Student Accommodation Centre.
To apply for a place at UniCol and join our community simply choose us as your FIRST CHOICE.
Apply online through the Otago Student Accommodation Centre
When to apply
Applications for full year accommodation at University College are accepted by the Student Accommodation Centre from August 1st each year and it is a good idea to have this completed by 30 September.
The application process
Once completed, your application is sent to the College you selected as your first choice. Each college selects applicants for their college and returns any unsuccessful applications to the Student Accommodation Centre where it is sent on to the college you selected as your second choice.
The process is repeated for the third choice. Offers for this year will be sent electronically via email during the first week in October, so it is important to monitor the progress of your application via the Te Puna student accommodation portal.
If you do not receive an offer from your chosen colleges then your application will be placed on the general waiting list. If you are on the waiting list any college may consider your application and make you an offer of reidence. While the October selection round is normally over-subscribed many applicants will be offered places from the waiting list as spaces open up from November onwards.
If you have any questions about the selection process you are encouraged to contact the Student Accommodation Centre.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have an MSN email account e.g. hotmail, outlook.com, please ensure you add the University of Otago as a safe sender otherwise you may not receive any emails from us.
You can go through the following steps to add the University into your safe senders on your accounts:
- Log into your Hotmail/Outlook.com account
- Click on the Settings cog at the top right of your screen
- Select Options
- Select Safe and blocked senders
- Click on Safe senders
- Enter @otago.ac.nz in the field provided
- Click on Add to list
- You will see @otago.ac.nz is now in your safe senders and domains list
Student Accommodation Centre
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
Tel +64 3 479 8950
Fax +64 3 479 8249
Email accommodation@otago.ac.nz
2023 Compulsory College Fees
Student Placement & Activities Fee
Student Placement Fee: $519.00
Activities Fee: $375.00
Total: Student Placement & Activities Fee $894.00
Payable at time of accepting offer via the Te Puna student accommodation portal.
For full year applications, the Student Placement and Activities Fee ($894.00) is 50% refundable for all withdrawals received prior to 1 February 2023.
College Boarding Fees: $18,696.00
38 week contract period (mid-Feb to early-Nov). There are three payment options available and these are outlined in the Fee Payment Schedule.
Once you accept your offer and have paid your Student Placement & Activities Fee you will need to select one payment option.
Resident Handbook (PDF)
Other Fees and Service Charges
Re-keying charge (where key is lost) $35.00 Replacement cost
Replacement Tag (Forth St Mews) $75.00 Replacement cost
Accommodation & Boarding Fee payments via internet banking or Credit Card:
Payments can be made through the Te Puna student accommodation portal.
Payments may be made via internet banking as follows and must include Payee Particulars, Code & Reference details as below:
• Via direct payment to the University bank account - for security reasons we direct all requests for the University's account number to our website. The University's account number can be found on the web site using the following navigation:
www.otago.ac.nz
- Otago Staff
- Service Divisions
- Financial Services
- FAQs
- Accounts Receivable
- What is the University's Bank Account and Swift Code details?
Payee Particulars: Student/Resident Name e.g. Smith, John
Payee Code: UNICOL
Payee Reference: ZS H06 8201
"UniCol has provided a wonderful, friendly environment to settle into Dunedin life."
"Make the most of it and get to know heaps of people because UniCol is the perfect place.