University of Otago

301–350th
World University Rankings 2024
63rd
Impact Rankings 2023
PO Box 56, Dunedin, Otago, 9054, New Zealand

About University of Otago

Located in Dunedin, the University of Otago was first established in 1869, making it the oldest university in New Zealand. As well as its main campus, there is a nearby campus in Invercargill and two further campuses in Christchurch and Wellington, which both focus on health sciences.

There are around 20,000 students at the university, representing more than 100 nations around the world.

The university is organised into four divisions: health sciences, sciences, humanities and the Otago Business School, also known as the division of commerce. Within these divisions students can choose from around 140 different courses, from economics to anthropology, zoology to neuroscience. There is a flexible structure to undergraduate degrees and students can follow a major and minor style course which allows them to study across a number of different subjects.

There are also a huge range of options for postgraduate study at the University of Otago, which has the highest proportion of PhD students at any New Zealand university.

Most students will study at the main Dunedin campus and live in one of the 15 well-appointed and friendly residential colleges or nearby flats. Dunedin itself is well known for its vibrant student community.

Explore rankings data for University of Otago

All ranked institutions have an overall score and 4 pillar scores. However for each pillar, only institutions ranked in the top 500 overall or the top 500 in this pillar have a publicly visible score

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Key statistics

  • 19,350
    Number of FTE Students
    (1)
  • 20.6
    No. of students per staff
    (1)
  • 16%
    Proportion of ISR Publication
    (1)
  • 61 : 39
    Student Ratio of Females to Males
    (1)
  • 16%
    Percentage of International Students
    (1)
Based on data collected for the (1) 2024 World University Rankings

Subjects taught at University of Otago

  • Engineering & technology

    • General Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
  • Physical sciences

    • Chemistry
    • Mathematics & Statistics
    • Physics & Astronomy
    • Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
  • Clinical, pre-clinical & health

    • Other Health
    • Medicine & Dentistry
  • Social sciences

    • Communication & Media Studies
    • Geography
    • Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
    • Sociology
  • Life sciences

    • Sport Science
    • Biological Sciences
    • Agriculture & Forestry
    • Veterinary Science
  • Arts & humanities

    • History, Philosophy & Theology
    • Art, Performing Arts & Design
    • Archaeology
    • Languages, Literature & Linguistics
  • Education

    • Education
  • Psychology

    • Psychology
  • Law

    • Law
  • Business & economics

    • Economics & Econometrics
    • Accounting & Finance
    • Business & Management
  • Computer science

    • Computer Science