University of Otago (reviews)

The University of Otago, New Zealand, is the only comprehensive university in New Zealand that offers majors in consumer and applied sciences, dentistry, physiotherapy human nutrition, pharmacy and sports. It has a large offering of courses with over 20,000 students enrolled. The main campus is located in Dunedin, New Zealand, which is a comfortable and safe area for students to study. It is located close to the student flats and a short walk to the shops too.

The University of Otago is highly praised for having one of the best student-cultures in New Zealand, but being down here for two years has made me realise its not all that. The University has shut down all student bars which means theres no longer any places where students can gather. There are a few good parties a year but besides that most drinks get boring after the first hour. Theres no recreational activities to do, the clubs are awful and the music sucks. The campus itself is also pretty average. Don’t get me wrong some of the science buildings are pretty impressive and the walk past Leith river next to the clock tower is also quite nice but don’t have high expectations when it comes to the art department. The dark, gross, cold 1960s Art department is depressing. If you study Film, good luck with that, you’ll be doing nearly zero practical work because the film department is incredibly underfunded. So overall, the University of Otago is just not as good as we were told.

The University of Otago is, in many ways, a very unique University. It offers a sense of community like no other, given that half the city is run by students. The clubs and societies are, in my opinion, unmatched. They provide every student with unique opportunities to get involved and create experiences for themselves that will last a lifetime. Creating a community for myself where I belong has been the biggest positive factor in my University experience so far, and there is nowhere else I would rather have gone than Otago for this very reason.

I like the vibe around the university in that the university area is all mostly students and everything we need (like libraries, gyms, labs) are all so close together. Since most people are students, there is a very friendly environment as everyone is in the same boat.

At Otago University, I was able to major in Neuroscience, something I have been interested in for years. Although the program is highly ranked, with exceptional levels of academia that are taught to many students, there is a lack of inclusion for students who have specific learning disabilities. There is not enough support for students who struggle with University style teaching, requiring more one-on-one learning styles which are not offered.

This year I have completed my third year at the University of Otago, where I have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and minoring in Management. The University of Otago provides high-quality facilities around campus, including the gym, various libraries, and multiple services to guide students towards their desired career. Every lecturer I have had over the past three years are experienced and intelligent individuals who provide insights into what the working world looks like, and what we need to be prepared for.

The University of Otago campus and surrounding city is often lauded as being one of the most student-friendly places in the country. There is a true air of collegiality at Otago, and a strong sense of student community. Having also attended high school in Dunedin, I can say with certainty that the student experience breathes life into the city and gives it purpose. Being a student city, it is also unsurprising that Dunedin tends to be on the more progressive and cutting-edge side of things, socially and also politically. However, I believe that there is more that the University faculty itself could be doing to protect students and their diverse identities – without leaving all of the activism and grassroots change up to student-led and run groups and clubs. The fact that Dunedin is a student city does not change the fact that it is a city in the South of New Zealand, where there is less racial diversity and, historically, more conservative attitudes towards change. This can lead to an uncomfortable experience particularly for students of colour at Otago who receive support primarily from student groups but not from the faculty.

Personally, Otago University has been a thoroughly great experience. The University encompasses the city around it to fully maximise the experience for students across New Zealand. The teaching is very good and the lecturers are always open to having a conversation or help with extra study, especially during the exam periods.