Address: 362 Leith Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Humanities, Health Sciences, Sciences, Commerce
The University of Otago was established in 1869 by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council and opened for teaching in 1871. It is the oldest university in New Zealand. The main campus is in Dunedin, in the south of the South Island, and covers 45 hectares, or 110 acres. The university also has campuses in Christchurch and Wellington for health sciences, in Auckland and in Southland at Invercargill.
The 2024 headcount was 21,315 students, equal to 18,564 equivalent full-time students. In 2019 the total was 21,240. Earlier figures give 15,635 undergraduates and 4,378 postgraduates in 2014, and 1,579 doctoral students. Women made up 12,711 students, men 8,510, and 19 students were gender diverse. The record lists 71.5 percent of European or Pākehā origin, 20.3 percent Asian, 10.3 percent Māori and 5.0 percent Pacific, and these shares can overlap. The staff numbered 1,744 academics and 2,246 administrative employees in 2019.
The academic structure has four divisions: Humanities, Health Sciences, Sciences, and the Otago Business School, which forms the Division of Commerce. The Division of Health Sciences is the best known, with medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and other health programmes, and it gives the university its national weight in training doctors and health professionals.
The alumni include the writer Janet Frame, the philosopher Annette Baier, the athlete Jack Lovelock and the governor-general Silvia Cartwright. Three political figures are named: Bill English, the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand, Robert Stout, also a Prime Minister, and Michael Cullen, a politician and former Deputy Prime Minister.
For an applicant, Dunedin is a true university town, with a large share of the population made up of students, a compact centre and a cold southern climate. Applicants should read the official pages for the entry conditions, which differ for health sciences, and for the scholarships and housing available. Fees differ for domestic and international students. Check the current tariff.
The student community defines the city. Dunedin is compact and cold in winter, with a lively cultural scene, flats close to the lecture halls and a long tradition of student life. The university also contributes strongly to health research and teaching in the south of New Zealand, and applicants should check the divisions that offer their programme.
Domains taught:
Chemistry, Finance, Food Science, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Microbiology and Genetics, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Invercargill, Otago Business School.
Research:
Health sciences, sciences, humanities and commerce.
Famous Alumnis:
Janet Frame, Bill English, Robert Stout, Silvia Cartwright, Annette Baier, Jack Lovelock, Michael Cullen
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3990
Current students***:
21315
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Oldest university in New Zealand, 45-hectare campus in Dunedin, strong health sciences, four divisions.
Cons
Dunedin is far south and cold in winter, competition for health sciences places, smaller city.
Best For
Students who want health sciences and sciences in the oldest university of New Zealand, in a classic student town.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
Think of University of Canterbury when physics and life sciences is the priority: it runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes, and covers geotechnics and civil engineering as well.
The comparison with Victoria University of Wellington is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on finance, physics and life sciences, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
University of Auckland is the closest domestic counterpart for chemistry, physics and life sciences; it is larger, enrolling about 39,183 students against roughly 21,315 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Cape Town in South Africa is the nearest foreign match on finance, chemistry and physics; it covers astroscience and civil engineering as well, and is slightly larger, at about 28,233 students against roughly 21,315 here.
In Germany, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf teaches much the same core subjects, finance, microbiology and genetics and chemistry, and it does not run the mba programmes found here and covers statistics and mathematics as well.
University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa shares the finance, chemistry and physics orientation of this institution, and it covers astroscience and civil engineering as well, and is larger, enrolling about 40,259 students against roughly 21,315 here.
In China, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine teaches much the same core subjects, microbiology and genetics, chemistry and life sciences, and it has almost the same size, at about 20,000 students, and is also a public institution.
For marine science, chemistry and physics outside the home country, University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom is a natural reference; it covers astroscience and mathematics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 11,645 students against roughly 21,315 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of Otago?
In Dunedin, in the south of the South Island of New Zealand.
When was it established?
In 1869, and it opened for teaching in 1871.
Is it the oldest university in New Zealand?
Yes.
How large is the main campus?
45 hectares.
Which other cities host its campuses?
Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Invercargill.
How many students did it have in 2024?
21,315, or 18,564 equivalent full-time.
How many academic divisions does it have?
Four.
Which writer studied there?
Janet Frame.
Which prime ministers studied there?
Bill English and Robert Stout, among others.
What does it cost?
Fees differ for domestic and international students. Check the current tariff.
Biology, Chemistry, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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