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University of Otago
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Location : New Zealand ,Otago
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The University of Otago is New Zealand’s oldest university, founded 1869. Otago’s main campus is in Dunedin (population 121,000) with further campuses for medical and health sciences in Christchurch and Wellington. Undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications are offered across Business, Humanities, Health Sciences and Sciences
Otago has the highest satisfaction scores of any New Zealand university for the international student experience (International Student Barometer 2013). Otago is one of only two New Zealand universities to be ranked in the top 200 universities on the QS World University Rankings. In the 2014 QS subject rankings Otago has 11 subjects in the top 100, including Psychology (19th), English Language and Literature (28th), History (30th), and Law (38th).
Courses
Admission
International Undergraduate Entrance Requirements
General Entrance Requirements
The University recognises many other qualifications as equivalent to the New Zealand qualification for entrance and some of these are listed below.
| African, Middle East, South American countries | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme. |
|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Year 12 qualification with an appropriate ranking score |
| Bangladesh | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme. |
| Canada |
Canadian High School Graduation with a minimum overall grade average of 70%. Specific requirements may vary from Province to Province. Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a minimum average of 70% in six subjects in Grade 12 |
| China | Appropriate Gaokao score and Senior High School graduation; or Senior High School graduation and one year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing; or Senior High School graduation and completion of a diploma with high passing grades at a recognised institute or university. |
| Denmark | Studentereksamen (Gymnasium, HHX – Hojere Handeleksamen, HTX – Hojere Teknisk Eksamen) or Hojere Forberedelseseksamen. |
| Fiji | Minimum of 270/400 (including English) in the Fiji Form VII or USP Foundation Studies Programme. |
| France | Baccalauréat Général. |
| Germany | Abitur/Zeugnis der Allgemeine Hochschulreife/Fachhochschulreife. |
| Hong Kong | Completion of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) with achievement at Level 4 or higher in English and at least two elective subjects, and Level 3 or higher in two other subjects (excluding Chinese language). |
| Hungary | Érettségi |
| India | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing; or a minimum overall average of 75% in the Indian School Certificate or the All-India Senior School Certificate with a minimum of 70% in English |
| Indonesia | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year Programme. |
| Iran | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year Programme. |
| Israel | Bagrut (Matriculation) or Mechina. |
| Japan | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing; or completion of a junior college diploma of 2 or 3 years' duration (for admission to general degrees only). |
| Malaysia |
Minimum of three STPM "Principal" level subjects with appropriate grades . All passes must be gained in one sitting. |
| Netherlands | VWO-Gymnasium A or B; VWO-Atheneum A or B. |
| Norway | Vitnemål fra den Videregående Skole with appropriate grades |
| Pakistan | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme. |
| Philippines | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme. |
| Samoa | A minimum of B3 (60%) average over 8 papers (including English A) in the University Preparatory Year of the National University of Samoa. |
| Singapore | Passes at Advanced Level with appropriate grades Completion of a Polytechnics Diploma with appropriate grades.
|
| South Africa | Completion of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) with appropriate grades. |
| South Korea | Completion of High School Leaving Certificate plus one year’s successful study at a recognised institution of University standing, with good passing grades. |
| Sri Lanka | A minimum of three Sri Lankan Advanced Level subjects taken at one sitting with appropriate grades. |
| Sweden | Slutbetyg Från Gymnasieskolan with grades of VG and MVG. Examensbevis with minimum grade of C.
|
| Taiwan | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme. |
| Thailand | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing. or successful completion New Zealand Foundation year programme. |
| United Kingdom | Three passes at Advanced Level taken at one sitting with appropriate grades . In Scotland, appropriate passes at Higher Level are acceptable. BTEC National Diploma at Level 3 with appropriate passes will be considered on a case-by-case basis. |
| USA | High School Graduation Diploma with minimum B grade average and appropriate SAT Reasoning Test scores or a minimum ACT composite score of 24. |
| Vietnam | One year of successful study at a recognised institution of university standing, or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme. |
| International Qualifications | International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 26 points. GCE Advanced Levels: minimum grade of 8.
|
The minimum requirement for students from many countries not listed is the completion of a high school qualification plus satisfactory completion of one year of study at an approved tertiary institution.
Entry requirements are constantly reviewed and the University reserves the right to amend the above requirements at any time.
Students who do not hold acceptable qualifications may qualify for admission to the University of Otago by completing the University of Otago Foundation Year.
Applying for an undergraduate programme
Meeting the English language requirements - If your first language is not English you must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English language proficiency. You can submit your application without an English result and provide this at a later date.
Please Note: If you are an NCEA student, only the NCEA literacy requirement will be acceptable.
The most commonly used English language tests we recognise are as follows:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0)
- Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5)
- Internet-based TOEFL of 80 with a writing score of 20
- IB International Baccalaureate - English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher level in Language B
- University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd - successful completion of ‘English for Undergraduate Academic Purposes’ paper
If your first language is not English you must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English language proficiency. You can submit your application without an English result and provide this at a later date.
Please Note: If you are an NCEA student, only the NCEA literacy requirement will be acceptable.
Applying for a Postgraduate Programme
Meeting the English language requirements -If your first language is not English you must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English language proficiency. You can submit your application without an English result and provide this at a later date. The English language test must have been taken within two years of the proposed study start date.
Any offer made will be conditional until the English requirement has been met.
The English language tests we recognise are as follows:
- University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0)
- Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 with TWE (Test of Written English) 4.5
- Internet-based TOEFL score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169)
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169)
- APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57
- Successful completion of the English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) with a B Grade in the University of Auckland English Language Academy (ELA) pathway programmes.
- Successful completion of the University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) with a B Grade.
The following programmes require higher levels of achievement than the minimum requirements listed above:
- Postgraduate Diploma/Master/PhD in Public Health - IELTS of 7.5 - must be provided before applications will be considered
- Master of Teaching and Learning / Graduate Diploma in Teaching - IELTS of 7.5 in the academic module with no individual band below 7.5
- Postgraduate Dentistry, Law, and Surveying courses -
• Internet-based TOEFL - 102 or better with a minimum of 24 in each section
• Paper-based TOEFL - 600 or better with a TWE (Test of Written English) of 5.0 or better
• IELTS (Academic) of 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7 in each band - Master of Dietetics – IELTS 7.5 in the academic module with no individual band below 7.0
Students enrolling in courses leading to the Diploma for Graduates (regardless of content or endorsement) must meet the standard postgraduate English requirements above.
Accommodation
Otago is famous for its residential college communities. We have 15 diverse colleges catering mostly for first-year students.
Flatting is also an important part of university life, offering both responsibility and independence. Dunedin has a wide range of rental accommodation from historic houses to multi-unit, purpose-built complexes.
Accommodation for International Students
The International Office provides a guarantee of accommodation placement services to all international students who receive an academic offer.
There are several accommodation options for international students and it is important to consider whether you prefer an independent lifestyle or enjoy living in a community.
The Student Accommodation Centre staff look after the application process for University Managed Accommodation. Once international students have received an offer of an academic place, their accommodation application will be forwarded to their first preference for consideration.
If your first choice of accommodation is not available, the University will offer you an alternative where possible. Aquinas College, Salmond College and Toroa College are the approved Residential Colleges for International Students under the age of 18 and comply with the University of Otago Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
International students who are accepted for a residential college are expected to be active participants in the social, cultural and recreational programmes organized by the residents' association.
If you are arriving before your booked accommodation is available or if you wish to find your own accommodation on arrival, you should book temporary accommodation.
Families and Couples
A limited number of University Flats are available for small families and couples. Please contact the Accommodation Office for more information. Alternatively the Accommodation Office can provide lists of privately owned accommodation.
Scholarships
Currently there are no scholarships available.
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