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Call 020 7353 7200
159 - 161 Temple Chambers, 3 - 7 Temple Avenue,
London EC4Y 0DA.
The University of Otago is
New Zealand’s first university, founded in 1869. Its outstanding academic
reputation, strong research culture and famously vibrant campus lifestyle
attracts students from all over New Zealand and the world. Over 80 percent of
Otago’s students are from outside Dunedin, making education the town’s main ‘industry’-
one in six of Dunedin’s population is a
university student. The campus is just a few blocks from the city centre, and
almost all students live in walking distance of the campus and key facilities. Otago graduates achieve
high approval ratings in employer surveys and pursue successful careers all
over the world. Otago has extensive research and student exchange partnerships
with leading universities in Europe, the UK, Asia, and the Americas. Location The University’s main
campus is in Dunedin, the southernmost of New Zealand’s main centres. Although
a relatively small city of 120,000, Dunedin boasts many natural attractions as
well as facilities usually offered only by cities many times its size. Dunedin
is a gateway to Central Otago and Fiordland, where, just a few hours’ drive
from the city, opportunities abound for hiking, skiing, water sports, adventure
tourism, or admiring the spectacular landscape. Research excellence The University of Otago
has been identified as New Zealand’s top-ranked university for research by the
New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission’s assessment for the Performance
Based Research Fund (PBRF). This examined the quality and research performance Teaching quality University staff are
committed to student learning and Otago takes great pride in the achievements
of its staff, students and graduates. It is continuously seeking to enhance
teaching practice, and offers professional and innovative support services
enabling students to develop their full potential and to reach educational
goals. Student health services, library facilities and the Student Learning
Centre offer extensive services to support Otago students at all levels of
study. Otago degree programmes Undergraduate: Bachelor
degrees are offered in applied science, arts and humanities, biomedical
science, business, law, consumer and applied science, dentistry, pharmacy,
music, medical laboratory science, oral health, physiotherapy, physical
education, theology, sciences, surveying, teaching and tourism. Postgraduate: A full range
of Postgraduate Diploma, Master and PhD programmes are offered in all the areas
listed above. In addition, specialist programmes are available in medicine,
science communication (including in natural history filmmaking and
communication), entrepreneurship, business administration (MBA), international
studies, indigenous studies, and wildlife management. OTAGO AT A GLANCE Ranked top in New Zealand for
research (PBRF 2006). Ranked one of the top 125
universities in the world by The Times Higher Education Supplement (2009). Ranked the most research intensive of all New Zealand
universities by the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology (MORST
2006). Otago’s Business School holds EQUIS accreditation (European
Quality Improvement System).
of academic and research staff in New Zealand
universities and tertiary organisations. The PBRF assessment highlighted Otago’s
specific research strengths – the University had the top ranked staff across a
wide range of subject areas including biomedical, clinical, and earth sciences,
medicine, history, law, economics, education, public health, philosophy,
English language and literature, and sport and exercise science. Otago is home
to world-quality research and researchers passionate about their fields of
study.
“What made me choose Otago? I was keen to study in a new country, and New Zealand had always attracted me. Then, when I looked into it, I found Otago has the best reputation for marine science (and all scientific research) in NZ.
“I arrived a month before term - my sister and I bought a car in Auckland and did a road trip from north to south island. My first impressions of the country have stayed with me – Kiwis are just the friendliest, chilled-out people and the country is totally stunning.
“I’ve found my course really positive. A couple of my papers have been practical-based – one looking at different skills within marine science (chemistry, physical oceanography, plankton/benthic biology, geology etc) and the other a subtidal ecology diving paper where we dived extensively around Dunedin, then went and stayed on the department’s research vessel for a week of diving at Stuart Island – an amazing experience. Now I’m into the research side of my masters and have been lucky enough do many fieldtrips around Fiordland with lots of diving and fishing, learning new skills.
“The facilities here are great. Otago has a very good library and excellent online facilities such as electronic journals – it’s way better than when I was at Edinburgh University! There's lots going on too, particularly in Orientation week when they get excellent Kiwi bands like Fat Freddy’s Drop in.
“Otago is in the perfect location – the peninsula has loads of seals, penguins, albatrosses and sea lions, huge white sandy beaches, great surfing (if you can handle cold!), and snowboarding and skiing just three hours away. Fiordland and Stuart Island are close by – they have some of the most remote, untouched marine environments.
“My advice to someone thinking of studying here? Go for it!"
