Life on Campus

Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand’s first and finest university. It enjoys a world-wide reputation for excellence, successfully balancing the traditions of its history with modern scholarship and research. It offers a unique campus lifestyle, creating a culture of learning that reflects the special characteristics of New Zealand together with international academic values.
The University of Otago today is a multi-faceted institution whose influence spreads far beyond its campuses, contributing strongly to the culture and economy of New Zealand as well as to international development.

The Otago University campus is home to over 20,000 students (2000 International students from 81 countries), 80 per cent of which come from outside of Dunedin.

Research excellence is the foundation of Otago’s international reputation and the heart of its academic activity. A strong reputation and the heart of its academic activity. A strong research culture is fostered across all disciplines. Otago has been recognised by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology as New Zealand’s most research-intensive university and was also ranked top for research quality in the Tertiary Education Commission’s PBRF Quality Evaluation.

The University’s own Centre for Innovation provides an incubator facility, bringing research and industry together on campus.

Accommodation

Almost all students take the opportunity to live close to the campus. A special feature is the 14 residential colleges that lie within easy walking distance of the heart of the University and of the social, sporting and commercial activities that support student life. Among these are Abbey College, New Zealand’s only residential college specifically for postgraduate students, and the University's Executive Residence. Places in these colleges are highly sought after by students new to Dunedin. However, the majority of students live in the many flats and apartments that nestle around the campus. This proximity enhances the youthful vibrancy that is a feature of Dunedin life and contributes to the loyalty that is a marked characteristic of Otago graduates.

Student Services

Otago provides an outstanding range of services for students including the Student Health and Counselling Service, the Maori and Pacific Islands Centres, Student Job Search, Disability Support, the Student Learning Centre, the Careers Advisory service and the University chaplaincy. There is a vast range of sporting, cultural and recreational clubs and activities, with a great number of Otago students participating in sport both at social and competitive levels.

The University Library collection includes more than 3 million single items and is held in a number of facilities. The largest is the Central Library, housed in the Information Services Building (ISB). It alone holds more than 700,000 items in Arts, Commerce, Education, Theology, Physical Education, Social Sciences, Fine Arts and general reference, with an increasing emphasis on online collections. The rare books collection includes more than 9,000 books printed before 1800. There are more than 2,000 study spaces, 17 group study rooms and 132 computer terminals.

Campus Layout

The Dunedin campus is located on the edge of the Water of Leith just a short distance from the city’s Botanic Garden. The Dunedin campus is widely acknowledged for its beauty and international interest, with an eclectic collection of buildings that range from the iconic neo-gothic 1879 Clocktower building to the award-winning Information Services Building, a state-of-the-art library, information retrieval centre and student support facility.

The Clocktower acts as a central reference point of the Campus with the Centre for Innovation to the North, the award winning ISB to the South and the School of Business situated on the East; all of which is just 10 minutes walk from the Dunedin city centre.

MBA Facilities

The Otago MBA programme has its own dedicated teaching and computing facilities within the School of Business, complete with wireless internet access, available on a 24/7 basis to students.
The School of Business is committed to ensuring its computers and software are updated regularly. As such, students have access to the latest software packages from word processing software through to desktop publishing and referencing software. Printing, scanning, copying, binding and technology facilities are available in the MBA resource room.

Each learning group on the MBA has its own dedicated study room, fitted out with whiteboards and additional computers. Here groups can brainstorm problems, discuss and debate points and practise presentations as well as produce reports. The MBA area also has a well-equipped kitchen and digital Sky TV.