As New Zealand's first university, founded in 1869, the University of Otago has earned an international reputation for the quality of its research and teaching. 

Among the top 3% of universities in the world and New Zealand's top-ranked university for research, Otago attracts the best and brightest students from within New Zealand and around the globe. Based on national data, we have the best performance indicators for any university in the country due to the rigour of our academic programmes.

Achieving high approval ratings in employer surveys, Otago graduates are sought after and appreciated with many occupying influential positions in industry, government and within their communities across the world.

We strongly encourage students to undertake postgraduate study at Otago; we have a higher proportion of PhD students than any other university in New Zealand.

Our academic staff hold more national teaching awards and produce more highly cited papers per capita than any other university in the country.

Otago has the highest concentration of internationally trained staff anywhere in New Zealand and the fifth highest concentration of internationally trained staff in the world. 70% of Otago’s academic staff are foreign born or are New Zealanders who have gained their PhD overseas. Otago’s staff are truly world class.

Campus life

Dunedin is the only true university city in New Zealand and Australia with more than 21,000 young people coming not only to learn, but also to live in our beautiful coastal city. In 2013, the Huffington Post listed the University of Otago as one of the fifteen most beautiful university campuses in the world.

Located on the edge of the Dunedin Botanic Garden, Otago’s stunning campus offers students an unrivalled campus experience and vibrant cultural life. Situated just a few blocks from the city centre, almost all students live within walking distance of the campus and key facilities. Most undergraduates study at the main campus in Dunedin and stay at one of our 15 residential colleges or in character-filled flats/apartments close to campus.

Otago has world-class teaching facilities and libraries and our state-of-the-art gymnasium enables students to get fit and stay fit while they study. Our students are also spoilt to live in New Zealand’s first ‘Gigatown’, meaning that the city has access to the fastest internet in the Southern Hemisphere.