Overview

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, formerly known as AustraLearn, offers semester and year abroad programs at the University of Otago. The University of Otago is New Zealand’s first university, established in Dunedin in 1869. It is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious universities, and has an international reputation for teaching and research excellence.

Dunedin is New Zealand’s only true University City – one in six of Dunedin’s population is a university student. Offering students an unrivalled campus experience and vibrant social and cultural life, the campus is just a few blocks from the city center, and almost all students live within walking distance of the campus and key facilities.
 

Location

About Dunedin

The University of Otago is located in the southernmost of New Zealand’s main centers, in the province of Otago. Although relatively small in size, Dunedin boasts many natural attractions as well as facilities usually offered only by cities many times its size.

Located on the edge of the Dunedin Botanic Garden, the Otago campus is very beautiful. The Water of Leith winds its way past the majestic stone Clocktower (a visible reminder of the University’s history and tradition of learning), the state-of-the-art Centre for Innovation and the many character villas which house much of Otago’s student population.

Dunedin is a gateway to Central Otago and Fiordland where opportunities abound for hiking, skiing, water sports, adventure tourism (including bungee jumping), or just admiring the spectacular landscapes.
 

Around the University

The campus life at Otago is legendary. Almost all students live with walking distance of the main campus, and most students walk between their flats, campus, and the city center - which is just a few minutes’ walk from the center of the campus. The colorful city center is full of cafes, restaurants, bars, boutiques and shopping centers of an international standard.

The University Union is the hub of social life on campus. Centrally located, Union facilities include a clothing and gift shop, bar and restaurant, and an extensive food court cafe where students can meet between lectures for study breaks, meals or just coffee with friends.

Other attractions around the campus include the 28 hectares of trees and park-land in the city’s Botanic Gardens, which is located just a few hundred meters from lecture theatres. The gardens are a popular lunch-time venue for students and staff. Also close by is the fairy-tale-like architecture of the historic Dunedin Railway Station, and reputedly the World’s steepest street, Baldwin Street, which runs an annual (and literal) gut-buster race. A recent and popular addition to the city is the peaceful Chinese Gardens, created to remember the city’s Chinese industrial past.

Students benefit from Dunedin’s relatively inexpensive cost living, and it is a safe city in which to live. It is also easy to get out and about and take advantage of everything it has to offer - from the Pacific Ocean 10 minutes’ drive from the campus, to one of the 150 walking tracks in the Dunedin surrounds.
 

Academic Highlights

• Earth and Ocean Sciences (Geology, Marine Science)
• Environmental Sciences (Ecology)
• Biological Sciences (Botany, Zoology)
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Medical Sciences (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology)
• Social Sciences (Anthropology, Geography)
• New Zealand and Pacific Studies
• History, Literature, Art History, Political Studies
• Communication Studies
• Maori Studies
• Religion & Theology
• Psychology
• Business (Economics, International Business, Management, Marketing)
• Tourism

University Services

Housing

As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad student you are guaranteed pre-arranged accommodation to fit your lifestyle. There are a variety of housing options available which you will apply for after acceptance. Read below for more specific options offered at this university:

Part of Otago’s special character can be found in its accommodation quarter. Study abroad students live in self-catering, shared apartments/houses (or ‘flats’) located immediately around the central campus area. Normally 4-6 students share a house or apartment, and it is possible for our International Accommodation Advisors to place students in apartments with New Zealand resident students.

Flatting is an important part of Otago’s unique student lifestyle. It offers students both independence and responsibility. Living so close to campus, students feel a real sense of community and belonging in a very pleasant and supportive environment.

Orientation

In addition to the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program which is included in your program fees Otago study abroad students are required to take part in a two-day orientation program held immediately before the beginning of each semester. The program provides an ideal opportunity to be introduced to life in Dunedin and New Zealand, and provides practical information about services and facilities at the University for study abroad students. It is also a chance to meet fellow students, student mentors, and University staff and see some of the local sights.

Special Programs/Excursions

Situated in close proximity to varied wildlife, ecological, marine, and geological research environments, the departments across Otago’s Division of Sciences make the most of the huge natural laboratory on their doorstep. New Zealand specific content and exploratory field trips are common components to many science courses in, for example, botany, ecology, geography, geology, and marine science.

Otago offers many courses which provide the opportunity learn about and engage with the culture and language of the indigenous peoples of New Zealand and Polynesia.

Students are able to focus on the Māori culture – language, performing arts, weaving – and/or the culture of the Pacific Islands. Enrolment in one or more papers with New Zealand content will be an excellent complement to the Study Abroad experience.

Otago’s School of Business offers more than 250 courses which cover a diverse range of topics from those with a global perspective to those with a distinctly New Zealand flavor. Consider the ‘New Zealand wine business and tourism’ course and those focusing on ecotourism operations, environmental economics, and event and convention management.
 

Get Involved Abroad

Extracurricular Activities

There are many recreational opportunities within minutes of Dunedin’s city center. The unique natural environment of the Otago Peninsula is home to colonies of yellow-eyed penguins, seals, sea lions, and the world’s only mainland breeding colony of the Royal Albatross. A little further afield, students can explore some of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attractions in the subtropical rainforests of the Catlins or the rich flora and fauna of the fiords in Doubtful and Milford Sounds. 



An exceptionally diverse range of sporting and recreational activities are also readily accessible from Dunedin. The long, natural harbor provides ideal surroundings for wind surfing, diving, yachting, surfing, canoeing, rowing, and fishing. There are more than 150 walking tracks in and around Dunedin, four championship golf courses, and St Clair beach is considered one of New Zealand’s best for surfing.

In contrast to Dunedin’s coastal environment, the inland region of Central Otago boasts stunning lakes, rivers, and mountains and enjoys weather that allows snow sports in the winter and water sports in the summer. The Otago region is home to some of the best ski and boarding resorts in New Zealand and these snow sports, along with kayaking, hiking, fishing, and mountain biking, are just some of the activities readily accessible from Dunedin.

The fashion industry is particularly vibrant, with several of New Zealand’s leading designers based in the city. The Dunedin Art Gallery, the Otago Museum, and other museums and libraries are among the finest in the country, and professional theatre enjoys a high profile. 



An excellent program of activities is available through Clubs and Societies and Recreation Services at the University of Otago. Opportunities range from wine tours, cycle tours, horseback riding, belly dancing classes, mosaic art courses to surfing and sailing classes. A large pool of equipment is also available for hire, while the advice about the recreation and leisure options around Dunedin and the Otago region is freely given.

Community Involvement

While abroad, we recommend getting involved in your local community. It's an awesome way to meet locals, experience the true New Zealand culture, and create long lasting memories. From volunteering to festival-going, we challenge you to make the most of your international experience... See a sample of community involvement opportunities available in Dunedin or discover your own upon arrival!

You'll get a taste of how enriching community involvement can be during your first few days in New Zealand on the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program. The program includes one day of pre-arranged volunteering with the local community. You'll interact directly with locals while giving back to and sharing your own culture with the community that first welcomes you to New Zealand. Plus, you can continue your volunteer efforts later in the semester by signing up for the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Conservation Volunteer Weekend.

Enhance Your Experience

While studying at Otago, you can maximize your study abroad experience by enrolling in the Global Identity course (EdPA 3103 Connecting Your International Experience to Your Future). The course will help you articulate the value of your experience to future employers, demonstrate your intercultural development and skills, and understand intercultural interactions.

This one-credit, online course is offered by the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities exclusively for students studying with AustraLearn. LEARN MORE>

Global Citizens Development Modules

The new Global Citizen Development modules are online learning components designed to help you explore your study abroad destination and experience at a whole new level. These modules are not mandatory, however we strongly encourage your participation as they will introduce you to the opportunities and challenges you may encounter when participating in a study abroad program, as well as expose you to cultural insights and knowledge about your host country to help make your program abroad even more successful and fulfilling. Through the 3 modules, you will refine your skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication.  

Course Catalog

To determine if the classes you need are available at this university, select Courses/Subjects to view the specific course options.

Tips: For advice on navigating the university’s course catalog, use the Selecting Courses link. You may also view the suggested grade and credit transfer information through the Grade Conversion.

If you have any questions about course availability, please contact studyabroad@globalinksabroad.org.

Photo Slideshow

Watch a slideshow of photos highlighting the University of Otago.

Fees

Fee Includes

Program Fees: As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad study abroad participant, you will be required to enroll as a full-time student; typically this is 3-4 classes, which is equivalent to 12-16 U.S. semester credit hours. Your program fees are in U.S. dollars and include the host university semester tuition for 4 subjects, university administrative fees, overseas health insurance, the Basic ISIC card, our renowned Bridging Cultures Program on-site orientation and the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Personalized Support and Service.

With GlobaLinks Learning Abroad you will receive Personalized Support and Service through our four point philosophy to manage your program:

1.) Personal Program Selection & Planning: Personal service & advising, academic planning and credit transfer assistance, program location, housing advice, financial assistance.

2.) Pre and Post Orientation and Preparation: Our MyLearn on-line enrollment information and process, comprehensive program information and departure webinar, immigration visa support and advice, airline ticket and group flight assistance, global citizen development modules.

3.) Cultural Integration: On-site Bridging Cultures Program, on-site resident director services and advising, academic support, guaranteed housing and placement, volunteer and community involvement opportunities.

4.) Reflection and Application of the Experience: Beyond Study Abroad Program, The EnCompass Alumni Program, program evaluation opportunity, resume building and review, alumni handbook and transcript services. 

Housing Fees: The Housing Fees are approximates and are in addition to the Program Fees. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad offers you “Housing to Fit Your Lifestyle” and you are guaranteed a placement in a wide variety of quality housing options to accommodate your academic, personal and budgetary needs during your experience abroad. The housing fees listed indicate an approximate cost for the options available on that program which may represent apartments/flats, houses and/or dormitories/residential halls, living within the local community or on-campus with locals and other international students. Private single rooms are standard (although double rooms are available) and are fully furnished, including comfort amenities with access to internet and telephone. Students who choose to arrange their own accommodation upon arrival will be charged the Program Fee only, as they will be responsible for making payment directly to the housing provider once accommodation has been arranged.

Additional Subject & Gym Membership Fees: Additional charges may apply for science, media, fine arts, or journalism subjects at some universities and students who undertake subjects where the university requires additional fees will be billed directly by the home university upon final enrolment. Gym and student union memberships are optional to students. If you wish to join, you may do so on arrival by contacting the international office at your host university.

Fee Advice

Facts

Dates

Entry Requirements

Programs in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji Coordinator

Name: Jan Amann Title: Coordinator, Outreach and Student Services Department: BIO: Jan Amann manages study abroad admission and participant pre-trip services for students attending the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Southern Cross University, La Trobe University, Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology and University of Melbourne. Jan earned her B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Scranton in 2006. After studying abroad at the University of Otago in New Zealand, Jan was inspired to work for her school’s study abroad office and pursue an exciting career in International Education. Following graduation, Jan moved to New Zealand for one year where she had the opportunity to travel and work for the government. She has also worked with youth for many years, and led a group of students on an Experiment in International Living trip abroad in 2010. Jan completed her M.A. in International Education at New York University, where she studied abroad (again!) in Hong Kong, China, and worked with international students. Jan’s additional travels have brought her to Australia, Italy, Canada, Belgium, France, England and the Caribbean. Jan looks forward to helping AustraLearn students plan their semesters abroad! Advice From The Coordinator: Take a Geology course! Otago has a great Geology Department, and the Otago Region is an ideal place to study Geology!