The University of Otago, established in 1869, holds the prestigious title of being New Zealand’s oldest university and one of the oldest in Oceania. Led by Thomas Burns, the university was officially founded by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council. Known for its vibrant student life, Otago students, also known as “Scarfies,” have a tradition of naming their flats and embracing the cold southern winters with scarves. The university’s graduation song, Gaudeamus igitur, iuvenes dum sumus, reflects the spirit of students who continue to rise to the challenge. With a rich history and a strong sense of community, Otago is a place where students thrive and excel.
The University of Otago regularly proves its excellence in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. The sports-related subjects rank 12th in the world (2024). In addition, Otago has more top-50, top-100, and top-200 subjects in 2024 compared to 2023, solidifying its position as one of New Zealand’s top universities. Notably, Otago has four subjects in the global top 50, including Sports Related Subjects at 12th place, Anatomy & Physiology at 30th, Dentistry at 40th, and Hospitality & Leisure Management at 44th (2024 data).
The University of Otago’s main campus is located in Dunedin, where you can find the Central Administration, Health Sciences, Humanities, Business School, and Sciences divisions. The stunning architecture and beautiful gardens of the Dunedin campus have earned it a spot on the list of the world’s most gorgeous university campuses by The Daily Telegraph and The Huffington Post. Apart from the main campus, the university also has satellite campuses in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Invercargill.
The Christchurch campus is home to the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Science, offering medical and physiotherapy clinical training programs, research opportunities, distance education, and postgraduate programs.
The Wellington campus, on the other hand, is situated at the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Science, providing similar offerings in medical and physiotherapy training, research, distance education, and postgraduate studies.
The Auckland campus, located at the Auckland Centre on Queen, offers a variety of teaching and distance learning courses while engaging with the wider Auckland community and alumni.
The Southland Campus, known as Ahuahu Te Mātauranga, is a part of the University of Otago College of Education, offering early childhood, primary, primary bilingual, and secondary teacher education programs. Additionally, the University of Otago’s Department of Marine Science runs the Portobello Marine Laboratory in the Otago peninsula.