The University of Otago (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka) was founded in 1869 and is New Zealand’s oldest university. Its main campus is in Dunedin, a compact student city in the south of the South Island, and it also teaches health sciences in Christchurch and Wellington. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 198th in the world and second in New Zealand. It’s best known for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and the health sciences, as well as the sciences, business and law.
Otago has a strong residential college tradition, and most first-year students live in a college. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Otago’s own guidance and official New Zealand government information.
1. Choose your programme and know how entry works
For most bachelor’s degrees, such as the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts, you’re admitted if you meet Otago’s entry requirements. Professional programmes are different. To study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science or radiation therapy, you usually start with Health Sciences First Year (HSFY), a one-year programme with no subject requirements for entry, and then apply for a place in the professional programme based on your results. Places in these programmes are limited and competitive, so have a back-up plan, such as continuing with a science degree.
2. Check the entry requirements for your qualification
Otago publishes minimum requirements for school qualifications from many countries. For example, you need the IB Diploma with at least 24 points, or, for Cambridge International, at least 120 points on the New Zealand tariff at AS and/or A Level across three syllabus groups. Otago strongly recommends Chemistry, Physics and Calculus if you’re planning to take Health Sciences First Year. Some applicants may also need an external assessment of their credentials. University of Otago: entry requirements for international students.
3. Apply before the deadline
Teaching for Semester One 2027 begins on 1 March 2027, after an orientation week from 22 to 26 February. If you’re applying from outside New Zealand for a full degree starting in Semester One 2027, the deadline is 15 November 2026. If you’re already in New Zealand, it’s 10 December 2026. Some programmes have earlier dates, so check the page for your programme. University of Otago: key dates for international students.
4. Apply through eVision and upload your documents
You apply online through eVision, Otago’s student system, using the “Apply now” button on your programme’s page. You’ll need certified copies of your academic records in English, and you can scan and upload them in eVision. If your application is successful, you’ll get an Offer of Place letter in eVision, and you secure your place by accepting it there. Research master’s and PhD applicants also need a research proposal and a confirmed supervisor.
5. Meet the English requirement
For undergraduate study, Otago asks for IELTS Academic of 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or an equivalent score in another accepted test. Some programmes set a higher bar: Law needs 7.5 overall, and Dentistry needs at least 7.0 in each band. If you’re not there yet, the Otago Language Centre and Foundation Studies offer pathway programmes. Test results are usually valid for two years. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests. University of Otago: language requirements.
6. Get scholarships without a separate application
Some of Otago’s international scholarships are assessed automatically when you apply. The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship for International Students gives NZ$10,000 towards your tuition fees for one year, and the Global Scholarships give NZ$15,000 to new bachelor’s students holding a passport from one of the listed countries. The competitive International Academic Excellence Scholarship is worth about NZ$35,000 in total, covering a place in a residential college in your first year and NZ$7,000 towards tuition in your second and third years. For master’s students, the Global Master’s Scholarship gives NZ$15,000 for selected taught programmes starting in 2027 or 2028. University of Otago: scholarships for international students.
7. Apply early for a residential college
Otago’s residential colleges are a big part of first-year life, and they provide meals, academic support and a ready-made community. Places are allocated separately from your admission, so apply as soon as you’ve applied to study. Dunedin is cheaper than Auckland or Wellington, but you’ll still need to budget for rent after your first year, when most students move into shared flats near the campus.
8. Understand the fees
International tuition is calculated for each paper you take, so the figures are estimates. For 2027, Health Sciences First Year is estimated at NZ$45,415, Bachelor of Commerce majors range from about NZ$42,840 to NZ$46,200 a year, and a Bachelor of Science in Geology is about NZ$47,775. Medicine is far more expensive: about NZ$101,567 a year in years 2 and 3 and NZ$116,080 in years 4 to 6. You’ll also pay a student services fee, and fees for continuing students can rise by up to 5 per cent a year. University of Otago: international tuition fees.
9. Accept your offer and apply for your student visa
Once you’ve accepted your offer of place from the University of Otago, you can apply online for a Fee Paying Student Visa, which costs from NZ$850 and can be issued for up to four years. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) asks you to apply at least three months before you travel, because October to March is its busiest period. You’ll need to show that you’ve paid your tuition fees for one year (or for the whole course, if it’s shorter), although if you apply from outside New Zealand you can wait to pay until INZ approves your visa in principle. You must also show at least NZ$20,000 for each year of study for your living costs, or have an acceptable sponsor, as well as medical and travel insurance for your whole stay, and you may need a chest X-ray and police certificates. You can apply with a conditional offer, but you’ll need an unconditional offer before your visa can be granted. Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
Most student visas let you work up to 25 hours a week during term and full-time in scheduled holidays. Since 1 April 2026, the adult minimum wage has been NZ$23.95 an hour. After graduating, you can apply once for a Post-Study Work Visa, which gives you open work rights for up to three years. A master’s or doctoral degree, if you studied in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks, gives you three years, and a bachelor’s degree usually gives you a visa as long as the time you spent studying for it. You must apply within three months of your student visa expiring (six months after a doctorate) and show at least NZ$5,000 to support yourself. From 16 November 2026, Indian graduates with a New Zealand PhD will be able to get a visa of up to four years under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Jobs on the Green List of occupations in demand can lead to residence. The University of Otago’s careers service can help you find part-time work, internships and graduate jobs. Immigration New Zealand: Post-Study Work Visa.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Otago?
For a research master’s or a PhD, you’ll need a research proposal and the name of your confirmed supervisor when you apply, so contact potential supervisors early. Otago offers doctoral scholarships for strong applicants. International doctoral students who live in New Zealand currently pay the same tuition fees as New Zealand students, which makes a PhD here unusually affordable, but check the current rules, because this policy can change. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Otago’s professional health programmes are very competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to the University of Auckland, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Canterbury. Our guide to studying in New Zealand explains how the New Zealand system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Otago’s official admissions, language, fees and scholarship pages, Immigration New Zealand and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on the University of Otago’s international website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Otago.