New Zealand’s first university
THE University of Otago, founded in 1869, is New Zealand’s oldest university. Over its long history, it has developed strong traditions of excellence in teaching and groundbreaking research.
It is ranked among the top 3% of universities in the world and is one of New Zealand’s most researchintensive universities.
Otago is also New Zealand’s leading postgraduate research university and is proud to have the highest proportion of PhD students in the country.
Otago’s academic staff are truly world- class – they hold more national teaching awards and produce more highly cited papers per capita than staff at any other university in the country.
These staff also bring an international “flavour” to teaching at Otago, which has the highest concentration of internationally trained staff in New Zealand – 70% are foreign- born or are New Zealanders who gained their PhD overseas.
Dunedin is Australasia’s only true University City, and Otago is famous for its unrivalled student experience.
Dunedin is a city that is often referred to as the Education Capital of New Zealand, as 25% of the city’s population are students, 80% of them come from outside Otago province.
Otago’s stunning campus situated right in the centre of town, was recognised as one of the 15 most beautiful campuses in the world by Huffington Post.
It is home to most of the university’s 20,000 students, who either live in one of 15 residential colleges or in character- filled flats or apartments within walking distance of the university’s state- of- the- art classrooms, libraries and laboratories and recreational facilities.
Students can also choose to live in one the specially selected Dunedin homestay families, which further gives them insights into New Zealand’s “way of life”.
Home to a large number of internationally ranked departments, Otago ranks among the top 100 in the world in eight different subject areas ( four of those falling in the top 50).
Otago has particular teaching and research strengths across the areas of Applied Sciences, Accounting and Finance, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Dentistry, Earth Sciences, Economics, Education, English Language and Literature, Food and Nutrition, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Public Health and Tourism.
Otago is also home to New Zealand’s only dental school, the only school of surveying and the country’s only standalone botany programme.
It also has the largest science communication programme in the world, the most successful genetics programme in Australasia, the oldest and largest medical school in New Zealand, and it’s law school is regarded the best in the country.
The University of Otago is unique as the only university in New Zealand to offer students a full pathway within the same institution and on the main university campus.
Students can choose the pathway into the University of Otago through the University of Otago Language Centre and the University of Otago Foundation Year, with both programmes offered in the same building on the east side of campus.
It is a special pathway with some students having even progressed from English to Foundation Year, and then to Undergraduate, followed by Postgraduate and eventually being awarded a PhD.
The University of Otago Foundation Year offers an eightmonth intensive programme to prepare students for their intended undergraduate degree.
Prospective Malaysian students can enrol in the University of Otago Foundation Year after completing O- Levels ( or the equivalent), which means that students can enter university a year earlier. This pathway is becoming more common.
Prior to enrolment in Foundation Year or at the University of Otago, students who need to improve their English skills can study at the University of Otago Language Centre.
The Language Centre offers five levels of English from elementary to advanced.
Also available is the English for Otago ( EFO) programme, which allows students to meet English language requirements for undergraduate or postgraduate study at the University of Otago without needing to take IELTS or other recognised English proficiency examinations.
With its unique environment and flexible programmes, the University of Otago and Dunedin have a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer Malaysian students.
For further information on the University of Otago and its programmes, visit www. otago. ac. nz.