Overview

The University of Otago is New Zealand’s oldest established university, founded in 1869, and has earned an international reputation in the fields of humanities, sciences, health sciences, and business. The campus buildings are a beautiful blend of historic structures and modern facilities clustered around courtyards, gardens, and a river.

The University of Otago is ranked in the Times Higher Education Supplement listing of 100 best world universities. The Otago MBA program is ranked in the top 100 MBA programs in the world by the Economist newspaper – the only New Zealand MBA to be mentioned in the rankings.

The university is located in Dunedin, a city of 120,000. Dunedin is a coastal city located in the southern part of the South Island. The city has a strong Scottish character due to early immigrants from Scotland who settled in Dunedin in the 1800s. Today it is a modern city with all urban conveniences, with beautifully preserved historical buildings.

The region surrounding Dunedin is well known for its natural beauty, unique wildlife, and wide variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city is located on the coast, but also enjoys close proximity to the mountains (the Southern Alps). From Dunedin, access to the rest of the South Island is affordable and convenient by bus.

Dunedin enjoys mild winters (average of 48-54° F) and warm summers (66-72° F). However, due to its location on the ocean, the weather can be unpredictable. Dunedin offers many fine cultural facilities, including museums, art galleries, libraries, and theaters. The city center has a number of department stores and specialty shops, as well as a wide variety of restaurants offering everything from fast food to sophisticated dining. The university and city center are within easy walking distance and most students walk or ride a bike to get around the city.

Academic Highlights

Otago is a comprehensive university offering courses in business, education, liberal studies, languages, social sciences, Māori and Indigenous studies, performing arts, natural and physical sciences, and health sciences. International students may take courses offered in most disciplines, as long as they have met course prerequisites. (There are some courses in clinical health sciences that are not generally available to international students).

Facts

Location: Dunedin, South Island
Overseas Students: 2500
Staff: 3000
Total Enrolment: 20000